Essential Silver Surfer Vol 1

[beaglegod]

I just had to say that thus far out of all the Essential volumes Ive read this has got to be one of my favs. Surfer seemed to realy allow Stan to express himself eloquently,and Iv always been a fan of Buscemas pencils,love the short shorts and knee high boots he likes to put on the ladies;) . The art doesnt suffer in my oppinion by lack of color.

One of the truly touching stories Ive read thus far was issue #5 where a good guy "Al Harper" sacrifices everything for people that could care less and would never even realise that he gave his all to save them. If youve not read these stories, I would make this book a priority on your to buy list. Realy good stuff.

Oh and Meohisto has got to be one of the baddest bad guys in comics!

[shaxper]

Al Harper was definitely a sweet character.


As for the volume, here's the Amazon review I wrote about it:

One of the better Essential volumes, but it doesn't start at the begining

To begin with, this Essential volume deserves some serious praise. It makes some exceptionally pricey bronze age issues available inexpensively, manages to reprint the entire run of Silver Surfer vol. 1 in one book, and even goes so far as to include the Silver Surfer's only solo story prior to SS #1, which took place in a Fantastic Four Annual, not in the Silver Surfer title. For these reasons alone, this is one of the more worthwhile Essential volumes out there.

For what it's worth, Silver Surfer #1-14 were reprinted in color (the Essential volumes are in black & white) in "Fantasy Masterpieces" during the late 1970s, and each of those issues can be found in most comic shops for $1 a piece, but the last four Silver Surfer issues and the Fantastic Four annual would be difficult to find inexpensively without this edition.

But my real disappointment with this compilation lies in the fact that it's considered volume 1. Silver Surfer began in Fantastic Four and, unknown to most, spent a lot of time appearing in that title before he recieved his own title, as well as a revamped origin. Silver Surfer appeared in Fantastic Four 48-50, 55-61, 72, and 74-77. Many of these stories were major turning points for the Surfer and featured him prominently. He refers to them frequently in the Silver Surfer series. While it's true that these issues are already reprinted in the Essential Fantastic Four volumes, most fans looking to read up on the Surfer won't know to start there.

Truthfully, I feel that those were some of the Surfer's best stories. In his first incarnation, the Surfer was Galactus's compliant herald, who genuinely seemed to live for serving his master. He roamed throughout the universe, searching for consumable planets so that Galactus wouldn't have to. Galactus gave the Surfer the freedom to travel the cosmos, and the Surfer gave Galactus the freedom to live without constantly searching for nourishment. Through this exchange, the two became more than master and servant. They depended upon each other, traversing the cosmos alone, but together. In essence, they were soul mates.

Stan Lee never wrote anything with much subtlety, yet this relationship somehow managed to remain implied without either character declaring it every five seconds. There was something beautiful about this master/servant relationship. It was functional, liberating, and intimate. Of course, we only saw this relationship briefly, as the two characters made their first appearances in Fantastic Four #48 and #49. Once the Surfer discovered that the newest planet he had found for Galactus (Earth) was inhabited, everything changed.

Later incarnations of the Surfer make this story out to be so simple and black & white, but the original story shows a great reluctance on both the part of the Surfer and Galactus to fight each other. Neither wanted to hurt the other or break the bond of their master/ servent relationship. After the Surfer does defy Galactus, and Galactus condemns him to live on Earth by constructing an invisible barrier around the planet through which the Surfer cannot pass, our hero goes on to regret his decision, wondering why he sacrificed everything for a primitive, hate-filled race that never seems to trust him nor his intentions.

The Silver Surfer series (reprinted in this volume) really plays up the Christ-like qualities of the Surfer, portraying him as being a martyr despite himself. Though he regrets his decision, he's constantly placed in situations where he's forced to sacrifice his freedom for mankind's sake once again. However, the Silver Surfer series also revamps the Surfer's origin, making his sacrifice more about leaving his home planet of Zenn-La than about losing his bond to Galactus (a villain). I found the original premise more complex and fascinating, which is why I prefer the early Fantastic Four appearances. The issues printed in Essential Silver Surfer are good stories too, but someone that really wants to understand The Surfer should start at the begining.

For those of you that are curious, here's the complete listing of the real "essential" early Silver Surfer appearances, as well as where they are reprinted. Though SS does make appearances in several other titles during this time (some of which have yet to be reprinted), none of those appearances could be considered "essential" for Silver Surfer.

Fantastic Four 48-50: SS's first appearance and separation from Galactus,(Essential Fantastic Four vol. 3)
Fantastic Four 57-61: Doctor Doom betrays SS and steals his power, SS loses faith in humanity (never fully regains it), (Essential Fantastic Four vol. 3)
Fantastic Four 74-77: confronts Galactus again (Essential Fantastic Four vol. 4)
Fantastic Four Annual 5: First solo story (Essential Fantastic Four vol. 4 & Essential Silver Surfer vol. 1)
Silver Surfer 1-18: origin is revamped. Fights Mephisto and others for first time (Essential Silver Surfer vol. 1)
Fantastic Four 120-128: Stan Lee's final work on The Surfer for many years (probably in Essential Fantastic Four vol. 6, which has not yet been released)
Fantastic Four 155-157: Not written by Lee, but good stuff! Mephisto fights SS again and brings Shalla Bal into it (probably in Essential Fantastic Four vol. 7 or 8, which has not yet been released
Silver Surfer mini-series 1-2: Stan Lee's final work on the Surfer, also intended to be SS's final confrontation with Galactus (in the future). Reads like an Elsewhere graphic novel, (never reprinted, available CHEAP in comic stores).

And that's about it. In every SS appearance after that, he's a drastically different character, no longer controlled by Stan Lee. I hope this crashcourse was helpful to some of you. Essential Silver Surfer vol. 1 is a necessary volume, but it's not the place to start (or finish).

[beaglegod]

I have yet to order the first 5 volumes of essential FF,but now that will definitely be on my list come payday so I can back track and read more on the Surer.

Tanx shaxper!:p

[Cei-U!]

Shaxper forgot two other pre-solo title Surfer appearances: Tales to Astonish #92-93, published between his appearances in Fantastic Four #61 and FF Special #5.

Cei-U!
I summon the footnote!

[glue]

For some what ever reason Silver Surfer has never appealed to me. Were you a fan before reading this, beagle?

[shaxper]

Shaxper forgot two other pre-solo title Surfer appearances: Tales to Astonish #92-93, published between his appearances in Fantastic Four #61 and FF Special #5.

Cei-U!
I summon the footnote!


Didn't forget the Tales to Astonish issues. It's one of those appearances I mentioned that I didn't think could be considered "essential". FF Special #5 is in the SS Essential volume, though I forgot to list it below. I did include FF #61.

[beaglegod]

Josh S wrote:
Were you a fan before reading this, beagle?

Yes from the little that Ive read with him in the FF issues I had years ago I was intrigued by the character.The realationship between him and Galactus I always found to be a very cool origin for a hero,(I think the concept of Galactus is just too cool). I never read any of the issues reprinted in the essential volume and am loving it, I think it would make such a good movie,realy the first issue has the big scren written all over it!

[Roquefort Raider]

What about this late 70s stand-alone? I haven't read it and it may not be in continuity, but it is a Lee-Kirby production and might be considered "Essential".

http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=32903&zoom=2

[joe bloke]

The first time I came into contact with the Surfer was back in the early 'seventies, in one of the weekly Marvel Uk reprint titles - Mighty World of Marvel. Pretty quickly following on from that, Marvel UK gave the Surfer his own weekly title ( called, not too suprisingly, Silver Surfer Weekly ), where they ran the complete Lee-Buscema series at about a third of a US issue per UK issue ( the rest of the comic was made up of the complete runs of Warlock and Captain Marvel ). These original UK weeklies were black and white, and I think that's got a lot to do with my loving black and white comic strip art so much today. I've picked up a number of the original Surfer run over the years, but, by far, the Essentials book has been my favourite publication yet. Buscema's work never looked better.

[Slam_Bradley]

For some what ever reason Silver Surfer has never appealed to me. Were you a fan before reading this, beagle?


If I were willing to cop Kurt's schtick, I'd summon a ditto. I despise the Silver Surfer. Buscema's art is wonderful on the book, but I find myself constantly wanting to slap the snot out of the angsty alien.

[Agentum]

Yes i don't think the surfer is intresting enough to have a monthly book.
To much inner monologue for me and not that very good done always either, it's not all bad but it is a bit hard to read more than a couple of issues in a sitting.

[sheets]

I think the Surfer would have worked better for a solo series if it hadn't been for Lee reworking Kirby's concept for the character. IIRC, Kirby's idea was that the Surfer was just Galactus's creation, straight out, a blank slate who could constantly learn more and more about humanity as he went along, which could have lead to any number of story ideas. Lee's Norrin Radd origin made him someone already human but brainwashed and then angsty and then Lee went on to do his usual "feared and hated by those he protects" routine, which got too repetitive over time.

[shaxper]

What about this late 70s stand-alone? I haven't read it and it may not be in continuity, but it is a Lee-Kirby production and might be considered "Essential".

http://www.comics.org/coverview.lasso?id=32903&zoom=2

I've never read it yet, so I don't know. I purchased a copy about a year ago, but there was a mixup and it never arrived (and I didn't get my money back). I haven't been in the mood to splurge on one again since. It's never been reprinted anywhere to the best of my knowledge.

[Agentum]

I think the Surfer would have worked better for a solo series if it hadn't been for Lee reworking Kirby's concept for the character. IIRC, Kirby's idea was that the Surfer was just Galactus's creation, straight out, a blank slate who could constantly learn more and more about humanity as he went along, which could have lead to any number of story ideas. Lee's Norrin Radd origin made him someone already human but brainwashed and then angsty and then Lee went on to do his usual "feared and hated by those he protects" routine, which got too repetitive over time.

I think you have right, they could recon the character to your version that to me feels much more intresting.

[shaxper]

I liked the Christ metaphor Lee was working at with Surfer, but I didn't care for his retcon of the Surfer's origin at all. Kirby's Surfer was a creature that abandoned his purpose and freedom in order to do what he felt was right (and even that sacrifice proved to be in vain. He wasn't the reason Galactus finally chose to spare Earth). That's powerful stuff. Lee's Surfer is more obsessed with getting home to his loved one, which is contrived and uninteresting.

[Agentum]

And as we have seen he is not a very succesful character so i think another take on him is in order.

[MWGallaher]

What about this late 70s stand-alone? I haven't read it and it may not be in continuity, but it is a Lee-Kirby production and might be considered "Essential".

It is "essential"--how could the final Lee/Kirby collaboration not be? But it's definitely not in continuity. It retells the first Surfer/Galactus story without the Fantastic Four (or any other Marvel characters like Alicia Masters) and provides a different reason why Galactus didn't eat us all, one that leaves the Surfer in an entirely different situation than he ended the original FF trilogy in. I really would've thought this would be reprinted by now. It should be.

[PeteGunn]

Yet, in the last issue of the original run, Kirby had the Surfer declare war on Earth, after his dance with the Inhumans.

[beaglegod]

sheets wrote:
think the Surfer would have worked better for a solo series if it hadn't been for Lee reworking Kirby's concept for the character. IIRC, Kirby's idea was that the Surfer was just Galactus's creation, straight out, a blank slate who could constantly learn more and more about humanity as he went along, which could have lead to any number of story ideas. Lee's Norrin Radd origin made him someone already human but brainwashed and then angsty and then Lee went on to do his usual "feared and hated by those he protects" routine, which got too repetitive over time.

I had no idea Kirby had a different origin than what Stan wrote,I can definitely see the plusses of Kirbys Origin,however I realy like Stans take on Norrin Rad as well. I mean for some guy to sacrifice everything he is,and has,and might have been, to save his people is pretty strong stuff.However as Im on issue 9,I can see that Stan could have done so much more with the character,and he does seem to repeat the same themes a bit too much,than again when you originaly had to wait 1-2 months between issues it probably didnt seem as extreme as it does reading 2 or 3 issues a night. All in all though its a fantastic read (doesnt take much to make me happy).

[shaxper]

sheets wrote:


I had no idea Kirby had a different origin than what Stan wrote,I can definitely see the plusses of Kirbys Origin,however I realy like Stans take on Norrin Rad as well. I mean for some guy to sacrifice everything he is,and has,and might have been, to save his people is pretty strong stuff.However as Im on issue 9,I can see that Stan could have done so much more with the character,and he does seem to repeat the same themes a bit too much,than again when you originaly had to wait 1-2 months between issues it probably didnt seem as extreme as it does reading 2 or 3 issues a night. All in all though its a fantastic read (doesnt take much to make me happy).

The problem with Stan's take on "Norrin Radd" was that it left the Surfer making two sacrifices - one for his own homeworld and one for Earth. He laments the two interchangably, making the whole premise confusing, unfocused, and repetitive. I think Stan was trying to De-Kirbyize the Surfer, creating this Norin Radd character to essentially take his place. Though the Surfer was still trapped on Earth by people that didn't understand him, Stan was trying to upstage anything else Kirby had established about the character.

[beaglegod]

Stan was trying to upstage anything else Kirby had established about the character.

From what Im reading here,Stan seems (at least in the case of Kirby) to be quite the prick. If what Ive read thus far is true,smells an awful lot like jealousy to me.

[shaxper]

From what Im reading here,Stan seems (at least in the case of Kirby) to be quite the prick. If what Ive read thus far is true,smells an awful lot like jealousy to me.

Not necessarily. Jack spent much of his career complaining and Stan spent most of his time trying to keep the peace and make Marvel continue to look good. As a result, he's gone largely undefended against Jack's accusations.

In terms of the Surfer, Stan was suddenly stuck with a character he hadn't created and did what he did to transform him into a character he knew how to work with. Also, if Jack was so concerned about intellectual property, it's possible Lee was trying to use as few of Jack's ideas as possible.

Who knows. Again, as far as I know, Lee has never told his side of the story.

[beaglegod]

if Jack was so concerned about intellectual property, it's possible Lee was trying to use as few of Jack's ideas as possible.

Yeah that would make sense, making the surfer as much of an original creation as possible,having as much of Stans mark on him as possible. By the way is there like a book on Marvel history that tells about all these behind the scenes stories? Some of them are probably just as good as the stuff they wrote in the comics!

[Agentum]

Not necessarily. Jack spent much of his career complaining and Stan spent most of his time trying to keep the peace and make Marvel continue to look good. As a result, he's gone largely undefended against Jack's accusations.

.
But Kirby was being overrun mostly even if he was as important to the comics and in some cases more important than Lee, i can understand why a such hard workin man would lose his temper after so many years being put down.
I don't put the blame on Lee only, but without those hard working artist they had no Marvel succes would have been possible, no artist of today would do that much for that little gain.

I think when you really find yourself making most of the comic (like Kirby on FF or Ditko on SM) you can be cranky when other people takes decisions over your head.

To clearify that i think Stan Lee was extremly important for Marvels succes i don't think he was a perfect man.

[shaxper]

I simply don't take sides in the matter. I don't know enough about it either way. All I know is that Marvel has worked hard to make Stan look like a saint and some Kirby fanatics have worked hard to demonize him as a result.

Jack is responsible for so much of Marvel's success. That much is true. However, as far as I know, he also signed contracts in which he agreed to certain terms (low pay, not getting back the original art or intellectual rights, etc). If he wasn't satisfied with them, perhaps he should have found another career. It wasn't fair and it wasn't right but, as far as I know (and, again, that isn't very much), he wasn't decieved like Shuster and Siegel were. He simply cried "no fair" after agreeing to those terms.

So, to what degree did Lee take advantage of Kirby? I don't know. But Lee started as underpaid, overworked talent too. I don't know that he was in a position to exploit Kirby when all this happened.

Eh, I'll just shut my mouth, because I really don't know anything about the situation and someone who does is likely to leap on me at this point...

[Agentum]

Nobody here knows about this first hand i guess, it's just a discussion with some diffrent thoughts and opinions, you should not be afraid to write what you think.