Your pitch for a successful Silver Surfer ongoing series

[Billium 3]

According to Wikipedia (It's a valid bit of information, I checked the source out):

[Marvel Comics editor] Bill Rosemann has stated that he considers the Silver Surfer as "the last jewel in the cosmic crown that needs to explode," and that the trick with the Surfer, who he referred to as a "great character", was to figure out "What would make him work as an ongoing hero. We don't want to rush it."

So, my task for you guys is to pitch a successful Silver Surfer ongoing series. Who would write it; who would do the art? YOU perhaps? :wink: What would be the basic plot/premise, the villain(s), storylines, etc?

[Monty_Cristo]

his personality isn't very tangible. so i'd just market him to whoever picked up all of those issues of Nova. just keep throwing Surfer up against gradually escalating cosmic threats; with emphasis on how powerful and out of the regular marvel universe's league he is. i'm sure the feats fanatics will eat it up.

[MisterSmith]

Simple: Make each issue like an episode of Star Trek, but instead of there being some kind of subtext for peace or whatever, the story would end with Galactus devouring a planet. And then they move on and do it again.

By Warren Ellis and Adi Granov, natch.

[Hulk_Is]

Well, first of all to blunt his emo-ful personality, I'd place threats in his way that don't allow him the time to bore readers to death and in an effort for SS to better himself instead of always being an emo-bastard.

Somebody's got their work cut out for them. I'm not really sure about an artist, but how about Harvey Talibao who is doing some upcoming work with him. Or, even better - Ron Lim. :wink:

[Hulk_Is]

Sufer says, "Hi."

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/300px-Silversurfer1.jpg

[Billium 3]

Somebody's got their work cut out for them. I'm not really sure about an artist, but how about Harvey Talibao who is doing some upcoming work with him. Or, even better - Ron Lim. :wink:

Ron Lim, eh? Now we're really cooking with the Power Cosmic! :cool:

[Hulk_Is]

Ron Lim's Surfer.

http://www.silver-surfer.us/Comic_books/surfer1.gif

[Silvermoth]

Does every great character need an ongoing? He would probably be just fine in the occasional, perhaps yearly mini.

[Billium 3]

Does every great character need an ongoing? He would probably be just fine in the occasional, perhaps yearly mini.

Of course all the great characters need an ongoing, or else you get the likes of NFL Superpro, Nightwatch, etc. trying to step up to the plate.

[CyberHubbs]

Ron Lim? No. He did well back in the day, but I'm kind of over his Silver Surfer. I'd like someone else to do more elegant-yet-powerful artwork for a series.

I suppose an ongoing series idea could be that he travels to each world ahead of Galactus and helps the population stop wars or reach their potential as a culture. Has them come to a kind of worldwide peace of mind, so that survivors can take the best of their society, art, technology, etc, and preserve it by simply living another day and settling elsewhere. But he doesn't trick them. Surfer is upfront about Galactus coming to devour their world and what they do with the time left is entirely up to them, though he does aid in small ways.

Edit: I'd be curious to see the Surfer realize how much a world can become and pinpoint that evolutionary threshold, so to speak. Take a population to the pinnacle of their being, even if it's not very much sometimes, and then be like, "This is You. All that you could have and have become. This is my gift to you. Goodbye." And then Galactus descends.

Or even a world that worships Galactus and has been trying to get him to eat their planet. Maybe their world doesn't suit his needs and Surfer is like, "You are unfit for consumption. Continue with your existence." And they're pretty much spurned lovers or fans and they go after Big G and Surfer.

[Hercules Isadore]

his personality isn't very tangible. so i'd just market him to whoever picked up all of those issues of Nova. just keep throwing Surfer up against gradually escalating cosmic threats; with emphasis on how powerful and out of the regular marvel universe's league he is. i'm sure the feats fanatics will eat it up.

"feats fanatics?" is that a reference to Dungeons and Dragons? I don't think I get it.

[Hercules Isadore]

Of course all the great characters need an ongoing, or else you get the likes of NFL Superpro, Nightwatch, etc. trying to step up to the plate.

I definitely agree with you on that. Don't forget Dark Hawk.

[Hercules Isadore]

I would like to see the Surfer chased after by some kind of cosmic hunter/collector that wants his board. Eventually the Surfer would get caught up in a trap involving a supernova, and have to surf along its waves as it explodes.

Mostly a lot of awesome images of a silver man surfing through space, and you can't go wrong.

[SquidSquod]

I definitely agree with you on that. Don't forget Dark Hawk.

Darkhawk definitely can have a longer mini series than Silver Surfer. It has a darker personality, the space suit is not unique, the background of the Raptors are more interesting than just herald of a space giant, the suit is upgradeable, etc-etc. If Nova is the analog of Green Lantern, DHawk is a reformed Manhunter of sort. It's a pity there's no writer yet for this potential Marvel Cylons gone good.

Back to topic, Silver Surfer can only hold a mini based on his stoic personality and constant power. Regular minis once per year is good enough for me.

[CyberHubbs]

You can do an ongoing bi-monthly Astonishing title with the Silver Surfer. Since it would have to be epic, that would give the artist plenty of time to fine-tune his style per issue.

[taozen]

First I would have Galactus go missing and the Surfer would be bold enough to go to Eternity demanding for help. So Eternity would send him on a quest throughout the universe to go save big G.

[Desaad]

"Wolverine's Pal, Silver Surfer!"



...You said successful, right?

In this day and age a good book, a unique book, isn't enough for a character or franchise to survive. Otherwise Blue Beetle, Captain Britain and the MI 13, SWORD, the Shield, and countless other books would still be around.

I think, if anything is seriously missing from a Silver Surfer book to make it palatable to a general audience, it is some sort of grounding of the character, some element of humanity. Norrin himself is not relatable -- he's tragic and epic, on a Shakespearean scale, but not someone you can empathize with -- and I think most readers need that. Maybe I do to, in the long run, to keep me interested.

A writer like John Hickman, who thinks outside the box, is a concept generator, would surely keep such a title INTERESTING for a lot of issues, but only from an intellectual perspective -- and that isn't enough to get people to read the series, to stick with it. You have to form some emotional connection.

In that sense, I do think Giffen had the right idea when he wrote the "Drax" mini series and gave Drax a Lilo and Stitch style relationship with a human child. I think that might be the only way to set up a palatable, digestible dynamic for the Surfer that also exposes him to weakness without depowering him greatly -- his weakness is this little girl (or boy, or adolescent, or whatever) he is for whatever reason in charge of.

Me, I'd be happy to see someone like Hickman just run wild with a Silver Surfer book, go crazy. But in the current Marvel climate, such a book wouldn't survive past issue 5.

[parijat]

The only surfer titles I have read are the classic ones by Stan, kirby and bushchema..

I think there are some writers who can do justice with the silver sirfer...according to me these are the writers who can write him well..

JMS
John Hickman
Neil gaiman
Warren ellis


There are other writers also.

I think what silver surfer titles needs is complicated writing. A writer who can come up with new ideas (cosmic ideas) and who can maintain the philosophical content along with interesting storyline can write silver surfer very well.

[Zolton]

High concept sci-fi insanity done by Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison or Johnathan Hickman. Time-traveling, dimension hoping cosmic craziness.

[CyberHubbs]

It'd be interesting to see Galactus roam into an alternate universe and target a planet there for consumption, and the Galactus of that world tries to intercede. Since this is the primary Galactus, he does get what he wants, but it alerts other Big Gs from alternate universes and their heralds.

[CyberHubbs]

A writer would have to embrace the plain and simple fact that the Surfer and Galactus are at the top of the literal cosmic food chain, and that despite the drama of a world, be it wartorn lovers or a future so bright that the planet has to wear shades, that they are still just a blip on G's hunger radar. That being humanoid and having feelings does not put them above consumption.

[Hulk_Is]

You can do an ongoing bi-monthly Astonishing title with the Silver Surfer. Since it would have to be epic, that would give the artist plenty of time to fine-tune his style per issue.

If Marvel did this and had a capable writer on it and an artist I could deal with (no Tan Eng Huat's!), I'd probably buy it. I love the Astonishing titles and thier wide open premise. Big fan.

[TOAA]

Make it about planets that get destroyed by Galactus. ~15 pages about planet and their civilization. ~5 pages about SS coming, giving a warnning and trying to save something and last page with Devourer consuming planet.

[Zero Hunter]

Whatever it is KEEP HIM OFF EARTH!!!! That killed the last series dead when they brought him back to Earth.

[TOAA]

I agree, thats one of the reasons why i don`t care at all about upcoming Pak`s SS mini. Well that and the fact that Pak is writing it.

[Jer]

*Comes in and starts to burst bubbles of other happy go luck fan boys!*

SS can't have an ongoing series. He's just not interesting enough on paper. Maybe a mini but that's about it.

Besides having all the powers of the universe ... he's just an uncharamastic BORE!!!! And without a regular supporting cast that's actually fun to read about this book goes nowhere fast.

Most of these ideas in this room will tend to lend better towards minis then an actual ongoning.

What an ongoing Silver Surfer needs is at least a "Companion" and campy adventures throughout the cosmos! Not on anything pacific mind you. Some will be more goofy in nature ... some will be more serious.

We can call it, "Dr. Surfer" :tongue:

[Ramage]

I thought the ENglehart and Rogers version was pretty good.

[CyberHubbs]

*Comes in and starts to burst bubbles of other happy go luck fan boys!*

SS can't have an ongoing series. He's just not interesting enough on paper. Maybe a mini but that's about it.

Besides having all the powers of the universe ... he's just an uncharamastic BORE!!!! And without a regular supporting cast that's actually fun to read about this book goes nowhere fast.

Most of these ideas in this room will tend to lend better towards minis then an actual ongoning.

What an ongoing Silver Surfer needs is at least a "Companion" and campy adventures throughout the cosmos! Not on anything pacific mind you. Some will be more goofy in nature ... some will be more serious.

We can call it, "Dr. Surfer" :tongue:

I don't think that is necessarily true. He's a very cerebral character, and how he views the universe is what makes him interesting. He won't be throwing quips around Spidey-style, but following him around would be like watching a high-end Discovery Channel show. Enlightening and thought-provoking.

[LXDTS]

You know what the beauty is of being a writer in fiction?
You can make anything that seems boring extremely fascinating.


----------
Anywho, my idea would go something like:

Silver Surfer, as a Herald of Galactus, tries to find the dying worlds and worlds not worth being saved in the Universe for Galactus to consume. Start off by explaining why Galactus must feed and the importance of it to keep balance. Explain that the Surfer is trying to find worlds that are not worth being saved and that he is basically Galactus' moral guidance (ala Giminey Cricket). <<this is where you can introduce epic worlds and races/species; a good, imaginative artist would do well>>

BUT the peoples of these worlds don't know that and the Surfer begins to become feared, infamous, and villified in certain parts of the Universe as his coming means their world is over. Worlds begin to oppose him and fight him, meanwhile Galactus grows hungrier.

Then you hit him with a moral problem- he gives a planet to Galactus that he thought was fine to devour but then realizes it was really a flourishing world that he didn't inspect fully in his haste to feed Galactus. He gets filled with regret and has a self-conflict.

We introduce a new antagonist or antagonists, who survive from a world or worlds that had been devoured. He/they believe the Surfer to be the master sending Galactus to eat worlds he disapproves of. Basically this character accuses the Surfer of playing god and hunts him for it. Have this character ally with past cosmic figures who have rallied against Galactus/the SS.
Culminate this into an all out war between these "heroes" and the Surfer.

While the Surfer is preoccupied by this, Galactus grows hungry and just begins to devour different worlds in his hunger (like when he got cracked out on Old Power). After the battle, SS returns to an angry, dissatisfied Galactus who once again cuts him loose for a new Herald whom he believes can focus more on his mission. Enter an old real baddie (like Blastaar, but not him exactly... maybe bring back Tyrant) to take the place as Herald.

The new Herald has no regard for life or anything and the Surfer tries to manipulate/steer him to worlds that are more morally sound for Galactus to eat, leading to another big conflict.

Have that end with the Surfer being beaten and falling to a dead world, where he awakens in bad form and his board is missing...

----------

I can go on and on but I hate super long posts, lol.

[Zero Hunter]

I would bring back the Elders of the Universe. With all that went on in the cosmic landscape that last 5 years they have not been seen at all. They do have a long standing hate for Galactus and tried to kill him alreayd once. I would like to see all of them used again even the barely seen ones like the Astronomer, Trader, Obliterator, Architect, Explorer, Judicator in addition to the guys like Grandmaster, Collector, Runner, and the rest.

Maybe have some new monster level cosmic creation hunting down and draining them and they all have to fight together to stop what ever it is and this leads them in to having to work with the Surfer and Galactus. It would be a good chance to really flesh out some of the lesser know blank slate characters and really give the writer the chance to go wild.

[CyberHubbs]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Hate when I get ideas in my head.

Issue #1: A Perfect World

The first issue opens with SS standing in an alien amphitheater. There is a single child seated in front of a "piano", or at least what would pass for one on her planet. There are no sound effects or dialogue in the first few pages. The girl plays, and the reader can see through her movements alone that it is quite the performance. SS transmits a live feed to every corner of the alien planet, filling the sky with a big, blue cloud that reflects an image of the young musician. One should get the sense that if SS could show emotion, he might be moved to tears.

When she is done, that's when you realize that the world is scrambling in the midst of a massive evacuation. People are screaming and shouting. An alien female rushes on-stage to snatch the child up and cast SS a fearful, accusatory glare, before running off. SS is left alone in the amphitheater. He stands atop his board and floats upward, and the farther he rises the better view we get of the chaos on the ground. Shuttles are seen taking off. The ground soon disappears, all blending together into vague land masses. SS lifts up further, through the clouds. Shuttles rocket past him. As he breaks past the stratosphere, we see him look up. The next full-page shot is the reader behind Galactus, looking over his shoulder as he floats above the planet. SS passes his master without a glance nor a word, never looking back as Galactus prepares to feed.

Later, we find SS gliding through a nebulae, the spacestuff that will eventually form new stars and even planets glowing and twinkling all around him. There's a sense of serenity about him. He's a romantic at heart, and despite his role in the universe he can still find a few moments to "stop and smell the roses." The reader sees everything through SS's eyes, every wavelength and some that we don't know about. A grand cosmic pattern to which he (and us, through him) alone is witness to. Soon drawn out of his reverie by a signal being broadcast on a planet several light-years away, he soars out of the nebulae to investigate.

Cut to the planet Tesoom-1. It is a thriving world dominated by a single religion, and the figure at the core of that singular faith is...Galactus. Their entire existence has been to prepare their world for him to consume. They terraformed it to specific conditions that they knew (thought) would whet his appetite. SS's arrival is seen as a time for celebration. But through his eyes we see the flaws in the world's make-up, in ways that the population and their scientists could never begin to fathom. The last few pages is SS turning away from their cheers and celebrations, uttering a single word before flying off. "Unfit."

Tesoom-1 knows violence for the first time in ages when the world's high priest, incensed with rage, turns and strikes the alien next to him. The planet devolves into chaos. And SS doesn't look back.

[Zolton]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Hate when I get ideas in my head.

Issue #1: A Perfect World

The first issue opens with SS standing in an alien amphitheater. There is a single child seated in front of a "piano", or at least what would pass for one on her planet. There are no sound effects or dialogue in the first few pages. The girl plays, and the reader can see through her movements alone that it is quite the performance. SS transmits a live feed to every corner of the alien planet, filling the sky with a big, blue cloud that reflects an image of the young musician. One should get the sense that if SS could show emotion, he might be moved to tears.

When she is done, that's when you realize that the world is scrambling in the midst of a massive evacuation. People are screaming and shouting. An alien female rushes on-stage to snatch the child up and cast SS a fearful, accusatory glare, before running off. SS is left alone in the amphitheater. He stands atop his board and floats upward, and the farther he rises the better view we get of the chaos on the ground. Shuttles are seen taking off. The ground soon disappears, all blending together into vague land masses. SS lifts up further, through the clouds. Shuttles rocket past him. As he breaks past the stratosphere, we see him look up. The next full-page shot is the reader behind Galactus, looking over his shoulder as he floats above the planet. SS passes his master without a glance nor a word, never looking back as Galactus prepares to feed.

Later, we find SS gliding through a nebulae, the spacestuff that will eventually form new stars and even planets glowing and twinkling all around him. There's a sense of serenity about him. He's a romantic at heart, and despite his role in the universe he can still find a few moments to "stop and smell the roses." The reader sees everything through SS's eyes, every wavelength and some that we don't know about. A grand cosmic pattern to which he (and us, through him) alone is witness to. Soon drawn out of his reverie by a signal being broadcast on a planet several light-years away, he soars out of the nebulae to investigate.

Cut to the planet Tesoom-1. It is a thriving world dominated by a single religion, and the figure at the core of that singular faith is...Galactus. Their entire existence has been to prepare their world for him to consume. They terraformed it to specific conditions that they knew (thought) would whet his appetite. SS's arrival is seen as a time for celebration. But through his eyes we see the flaws in the world's make-up, in ways that the population and their scientists could never begin to fathom. The last few pages is SS turning away from their cheers and celebrations, uttering a single word before flying off. "Unfit."

Tesoom-1 knows violence for the first time in ages when the world's high priest, incensed with rage, turns and strikes the alien next to him. The planet devolves into chaos. And SS doesn't look back.

Silver Surfer: In Thy Name has a similar theme going on. Check it out.

[CyberHubbs]

I vaguely remember reading the first issue of it. Might grab the trade.

I'd have the people of Tesoom-1 (God, I hate that name) eventually go after Galactus, but instead of targeting him and SS they would strike at the planets that Big G needs to consume to sustain himself. They're spurned fanboys.

[stingerman]

I'd keep him off earth as well.

Maybe have him return every now and then to touch base - with street level fans. Might get some to pick up whatever he is in. Even a couple thousand would make a difference.

I know Pak has him on earth and by the looks of it, losing his powers - perhaps going for the "human" angle that is missing. Funny it was present in Nova.

Anyway, as others have said Surfer can't survive without a cast. He gets that in DnA's Annihilators. However, I would call them Cosmic Avengers and throw them in the middle of "Fear Itself" to really get these characters somewhere.

[Maestro Hulk]

They should turn Namor's ongoing title into an ongoing team-up book with the Silver Surfer.

[Monty_Cristo]

"feats fanatics?" is that a reference to Dungeons and Dragons? I don't think I get it.

= readers who are only interested in how powerful their favorite character is. they only tune in to see them overpower other characters. and they complain incessantly when their character loses or comes up short.

[Billium 3]

They should turn Namor's ongoing title into an ongoing team-up book with the Silver Surfer.

That might actually be a pretty cool book. They have a history as past Defenders, and Marvel needs a really good buddy book right now (Since they didn't pair Luke Cage and Danny Rand back together for an ongoing team-up book).

[Finganforn]

They should turn Namor's ongoing title into an ongoing team-up book with the Silver Surfer.

I said it before and I shall do it so again. Throw Namor, the barefooted wave rider, Bronze Surfer (after the tanning), T'Challa with Galactus helmet (you need a stylish black guy) and Thor, the god of days without a damn cloud, in a team on the shores of Hawaii, and you have a surfers' epic on your hands!

[tesh_karde]

I would start off with a double-sized issue guest starring both the Fantastic Four and Galactus. The pilot issue would have Galactus on the verge of death, the victim of a strange cosmic virus that is eating him from the inside out (so to speak). The Surfer would be his escort, and would use his friendship with Reed as a bargaining point to get the FF to assist. The FF would set about working to rid the Big G of his illness, while the Surfer visits the planet that he loves so much, but cannot be bound to. He ends up getting into a confrontation with the Wrecking Crew, where he meets and rescues a young girl (Esme) with a fiery soul and a crappy home life. The penultimate scene of the issue would see Galactus healed, but burning with a devastating hunger. Once again the devour of worlds would make a bid to destroy the planet, causing Reed to finally see that there is no solution besides the utter destruction of Galactus. The Surfer and Esme are present. Reed unleashes a better version of the virus that would destroy Galactus in a large burst of energy. The Surfer would apologize for asking Reed to help the Big G, and then would lament how he once again must leave the planet. The Surfer takes off into the space, with the girl that he met earlier in the issue riding on the end of his board. The final page of issue one would have the girl saying, "Norrin...I hunger..."

From that pilot issue I would spin an ongoing tale of Norrin's quest to save the soul of Galactus, as well as dealing with the young girl's now conflicted soul. Main sources of drama would come from:

*The Surfer's guilt at placing the soul and hunger of a world devour into the same vessel as a nearly innocent teen girl.
*The juxtaposition of the morals of a force of nature (Galactus) and a mortal (Esme)
*The girl's feelings about having to devour world's to survive, and her anger at the Surfer for screwing her over like this
*Herald's that want to kill the girl (who is much weaker than Galactus) as well as the Surfer (for allowing Galactus to live)

Something like that...:)

[UltimateMarvel Dude]

How about giving him his 'own earth'/universe where he's a human, that way he'll be way more identifiable and personal to the reader. Give him a girlfirend/relative/etc. he has to care for and let him make it back to earth occasionally in his free time.
You could even let him become a superhero on earth but due to a strict schedule he can't be there all the time and people would get mad at him.
Obviously he won't tell what he's doing when he's gone, which would make him even more interesting imo- sort of like two personalities and one starting to like what he's doing to other planets/people.

P.S.:
Isn't the surfer immortal in 616?
I think that could also provide some interesting characterisation/plots, as he's unable to die and his friends/family around him die, while he can't, which eventually makes him even more inhumane over time.

Just some mumbo jumbo I thought of, dunno if you like it.:tongue:

[Billium 3]

I would start off with a double-sized issue guest starring both the Fantastic Four and Galactus. The pilot issue would have Galactus on the verge of death, the victim of a strange cosmic virus that is eating him from the inside out (so to speak). The Surfer would be his escort, and would use his friendship with Reed as a bargaining point to get the FF to assist. The FF would set about working to rid the Big G of his illness, while the Surfer visits the planet that he loves so much, but cannot be bound to. He ends up getting into a confrontation with the Wrecking Crew, where he meets and rescues a young girl (Esme) with a fiery soul and a crappy home life. The penultimate scene of the issue would see Galactus healed, but burning with a devastating hunger. Once again the devour of worlds would make a bid to destroy the planet, causing Reed to finally see that there is no solution besides the utter destruction of Galactus. The Surfer and Esme are present. Reed unleashes a better version of the virus that would destroy Galactus in a large burst of energy. The Surfer would apologize for asking Reed to help the Big G, and then would lament how he once again must leave the planet. The Surfer takes off into the space, with the girl that he met earlier in the issue riding on the end of his board. The final page of issue one would have the girl saying, "Norrin...I hunger..."

From that pilot issue I would spin an ongoing tale of Norrin's quest to save the soul of Galactus, as well as dealing with the young girl's now conflicted soul. Main sources of drama would come from:

*The Surfer's guilt at placing the soul and hunger of a world devour into the same vessel as a nearly innocent teen girl.
*The juxtaposition of the morals of a force of nature (Galactus) and a mortal (Esme)
*The girl's feelings about having to devour world's to survive, and her anger at the Surfer for screwing her over like this
*Herald's that want to kill the girl (who is much weaker than Galactus) as well as the Surfer (for allowing Galactus to live)

Something like that...:)

Hey that's a pretty cool concept you have there. With her not being as strong as Galactus, would she become stronger with each new planet she consumed? Also, would her physique change after consumption? Like, would she look physically overweight because of it? If she did look more and more overweight after each planet she consumed, I could see this adding fuel to her anger with Norrin. And would she grow taller?

[cliffhanger]

Give him a suit and a desk job. Then have him experience a breakdown from daily stress and blow up the city YEAH! Also Bring back the siver shorts the enuch body suit look isnt working.