Silver Surfer #1
SILVER SURFER #1
Capsule Review
I liked the Dan Slott/Mike Allred collaboration in their previous Surfer series, and since this new book is a direct continuation of the old, it stands to reason that I’d like this book, too. And I did! But this Silver Surfer is substantially different from the golden Silver Age version. For one thing, he’s considerably less grim … and he should be, given he can now roam the cosmos at will, and even “silver down” to become flesh & blood and eat candy corn (which happens in this issue). The original surfer surrendered his humanity to save his own people, and then suffered exile here on earth when he saved the human race — and those things are core to the character — but I was surprised to see that the Surfer could evolve beyond those precepts, and still remain the Surfer. In this I take the opposite of my position on Spider-Man, who I condemned to perpetual adolescence. I suppose the difference is that the Surfer’s circumstances so limited the character, while the core elements of the kvetching Spider-Man seem such an evergreen. Whatever. If you go into this series, be prepared for a Surfer with a young lady companion, Dawn, (echoes of Doctor Who, there), and, yes, art and story that can be a bit twee — but all is forgiven, when Dawn decides the Surfer’s board must be named, “Toomie.” Not your father’s Silver Surfer, to be sure. Anyway, this particular issue is more of the same; I like it plenty, but I can see where it’s not for everybody. Bonus points for this issue including goofy-looking aliens who literally steal earth’s culture.
Approachability For New Readers
Not so great. You really need to have read some recent Silver Surfer to know what is going on. And you still won’t know why the heck Ben Grimm is in outer space at the end of the issue.
Read #2?
To me, issue two!
Sales Rank
Read more about the Silver Surfer on Longbox Graveyard
- Silver Surfer Gallery
- The Power And The Prize
- To Me, My Board!
- Marvel Comics — A Space Odyssey
- Silver Age Gold
Read more capsule reviews of Marvel’s All-New All-Different rolling reboot.
Posted on February 18, 2016, in Reviews and tagged All-New All-Different Marvel, Dan Slott, Marvel Comics, Michael Allred, Silver Surfer. Bookmark the permalink. 19 Comments.
dangvozden
Paul O'Connor
Kris (not Chris)
markginocchio
miloapama
Dean Compton
Moya
ryanmcswain
Longbox Graveyard 
now that looks really fun. Is the previous Allred/Slott run available as a collected edition?
LikeLike
Yes, yes they are @Jim. Here’s a link to the first of 3 volumes of this Slott/Allred run.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785188789?keywords=silver%20surfer%20trade%20paperback&qid=1455826915&ref_=sr_1_fkmr2_2&sr=8-2-fkmr2
Hey, I’m all for this new take on Surfer. He’s moved forward as a character, and left all that “Woe is me/guilt” baggage behind, and hopefully for good.
If Marvel decides to reset him back to being emo Surfer again after Slott’s run is done, that’ll just do a great disservice to Slott’s work on the Surfer.
As you say, he should be happy and more cheerful. He’s basically like a god in that he can go anywhere, anytime he wants. Why would somebody who can do that be depressed?
LikeLike
Thanks for the links, Mr. Morbid. I binged through the Slott/Allred Surfer run via Marvel Unlimited Digital, but I bought those volumes as Christmas presents for my son’s girlfriend — she’s not a comics person at all, but I thought she might identify with Dawn and Eve and enjoy those idiosyncratic outer space adventures.
Hope blooms eternal.
As far as why Norrin Radd might be depressed … well, he is a war criminal that has had a direct hand in the extinction of innumerable planets, and he lost his great love many decades ago, and the people of earth still mostly think him a pariah, so there’s every reason the guy might be depressed (if not bonkers). And to be fair I’m not sure those elements weigh properly in this new interpretation of the Surfer. But I enjoy the series for what it is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem Paul.
Well those were the old reasons why, but he one by one, they were resolved, especially in SS#48 or 49 where he made peace with all that guilt he had for what he did. So those reasons don’t hold up anymore, which is why Slott’s take is a much-needed breath of fresh air, and more positive take on the Surfer, rather than re-tread old, tired ground.
LikeLike
I’ll have to read those Surfers — was that the Ron Lim series?
That’s a lot of guilt to make peace with!
LikeLike
Yes it was. I personally enjoyed Ron Marz and Ron Lim’s take on the surfer at the time. defintiely of the best series to come out of the 90’s. All very solid stories worth collecting in trade if it hasn’t been already.
LikeLike
Thanks! I’ll look it up when I reactive my Marvel Unlimited subscription.
LikeLike
Keep us updated on if she likes them or not. I’m always curious to see what attracts new fans.
LikeLike
Well, it’s been a couple months now, and I haven’t heard and raves, so she may have just written me off as a well-meaning loony at this point. (I’m used to it).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just picked this up! Cant wait.
LikeLike
Let me know what you think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
will do!
LikeLike
I loved the first two softcover collections of this Silver Surfer! I am a huge Allred fan so I would have bought it just for the pretty pictures, but the story/writing did not disappoint in the least either.
I did not realize that there was a 3rd softcover edition! I’ll have to grab that! And of course, I’ll be either buying this new edition in singles or waiting for the softcover.
LikeLike
Yeah, I was fuzzy on whether there were two or three volumes. Since this relaunched Surfer is so clearly an extension of the old, I wonder if the eventual collection will be branded as #4? Hmm.
LikeLike
Hard not to be just utterly mesmerized by everything Mike Allred does.
LikeLike
And yet I know fans who are just as adamantly against his work. He is a polarizing artist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Weird. Everyone I know likes his stuff.
LikeLike
Agreed! I just love everything Allred does, ever sine Madman! The man is an amazing artist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We should lower our friends into one pit and watch them fight to the death.
LikeLike