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Silver Surfer (1968) #1-5
Silver Surfer: Origins
SILVER SURFER ORIGINS Prepare yourselves for a galaxy full of star-spanning tales written by Stan Lee and drawn by John Buscema. Following the incredible story of the Silver Surfer, from his days serving the all-powerful Galactus, to his battles with some of the fiercest villains in the universe.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2007
3 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,562 books2,344 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 2, 2020
This collection is nothing short of beautiful. The character of Silver Surfer is grossly underrated. He has one of the biggest hearts of the Marvel Universe, and he carries with him such a forlorn Shakespearean quality. Whereas other Marvel heroes reflect the feelings and beliefs of their localized regions (mostly New York and big city life), The Silver Surfer is able to embody an all-encompassing global stage. Buscema and Lee take advantage of this platform to speak truth to power on the world's ailments, and it's stellar.
The art is top-notch as well, and Buscema is able to perfectly balance between that far-out cosmic power and a down-to-earth realism that makes these stories all the more relatable.
This collection of 6 issues is just about perfect.
The art is top-notch as well, and Buscema is able to perfectly balance between that far-out cosmic power and a down-to-earth realism that makes these stories all the more relatable.
This collection of 6 issues is just about perfect.
January 7, 2022
I remember watching Silver Surfer cartoon show as a kid. I had some encounters with him in Marvel crossovers. But I had never imagined reading his solo book will be so much fun. The story, which collects Silver Surfer Origin #1-6, is written so well that I actually felt sorry for tragical life of Norrin Redd. The artwork is ace. I really appreciate classic stories and artworks of old times.
The size of the book is small but even then fonts are not an issue in this collection.
The size of the book is small but even then fonts are not an issue in this collection.
April 8, 2015
Good old comics from the Silver age. Filled with direct references to the dangers of eastern world as well as the violence of the human race, this book follows the Silver Surfer as he tries to understand mankind. A truly nostalgic experience to read this.
June 15, 2018
The Silver Surfer is a strange beast. Cosmic herald with almost unlimited power, child-like super-innocent Jesus figure and counter-culture symbol in one, the Surfer is one of Marvel's most iconic characters but never has been able to sustain a long-running own series. And if you look at it closely that's not too surprising. Norrin Radd may be a fascinating figure, but he is very one-dimensional with limited potential for great storytelling, making the Surfer a welcome supporting character who's able to deliver great action and poignant commentary, but as the star of his own book he tends to get, dare I say it, boring.
Fans tend to swoon over Surfer's philosophical monologues, but reading five issues en-block like in this Classics re-issue, you'll note that his musings are largely repetetive and, by the fourth issue, get a bit annoying (I'm also having my issues with the premise - the Marvel universe is full of strange characters that are widely accepted by the public, just look at The Thing, so I never really got why the whole world hates the Surfer and why he's never really able to make his intention not to harm anyone clear).
The stories collected in this book include Norrin Radd's transformation into the Surfer by Galactus (who, for my taste, is a far more interesting character), his thwarting of an alien invasion and, most interestingly, the fifth issue, dealing with an attempt by the cosmic being The Stranger to destroy the Earth, which Surfer tries to stop with the help of a black scientist named Al Harper, who originally signed up to help Surfer crack Galactus' barrier. It's the best attempt to integrate the Surfer into a exciting and intelligent story (with Harper helping the Surfer because he reminds him of the racial hate he has encountered himself). The artwork is mostly great and there are several nice action scenes, but on the whole it's a rather tenacious read.
Fans tend to swoon over Surfer's philosophical monologues, but reading five issues en-block like in this Classics re-issue, you'll note that his musings are largely repetetive and, by the fourth issue, get a bit annoying (I'm also having my issues with the premise - the Marvel universe is full of strange characters that are widely accepted by the public, just look at The Thing, so I never really got why the whole world hates the Surfer and why he's never really able to make his intention not to harm anyone clear).
The stories collected in this book include Norrin Radd's transformation into the Surfer by Galactus (who, for my taste, is a far more interesting character), his thwarting of an alien invasion and, most interestingly, the fifth issue, dealing with an attempt by the cosmic being The Stranger to destroy the Earth, which Surfer tries to stop with the help of a black scientist named Al Harper, who originally signed up to help Surfer crack Galactus' barrier. It's the best attempt to integrate the Surfer into a exciting and intelligent story (with Harper helping the Surfer because he reminds him of the racial hate he has encountered himself). The artwork is mostly great and there are several nice action scenes, but on the whole it's a rather tenacious read.
August 13, 2025
Part of the Ultimate Graphic Novels Collection.
Prevented from leaving Earth due to the power of his former master, Galactus, the Silver Surfer recalls his former life as Norrin Radd and longs to return to his beloved, Shalla Bal. Distrusted by the humans he seeks to protect, the Surfer runs afoul of villainous entities such as the Badoon, Mephisto, Loki and the Stranger.
First off, I'll say that this is definitely some of Stan Lee's better writing, with far fewer of his irritating idiosyncrasies than many other stories he wrote in the 60s.
His annoying alliteration is almost absent (irony intended) and there aren't large blocks of unwieldy text that just serve to reiterate exactly what's happening in the images. In fact, here the artwork and writing feel far more in-sync than most stories written using the so-called Marvel Method (in which Lee would sketch out a plot, the artists would create the entire actual story and then Lee would just go back and fill in the speech bubbles).
To be honest, the only one of Stan's annoying tropes that is detrimental to this book is his abiding need to have two heroes fight each other due to some sort of misunderstanding. Here it's Thor that the Surfer goes board-to-hammer with and, whilst as pointless as all of these hero-versus-hero stories are, this one at least has both characters staying in-character and trying to overcome their differences, hampered by Loki's ongoing efforts to cause conflict.
All that said, and despite being on the better end of Lee's writing, this book still isn't great by modern standards. It's very much of its time (the 1960s Silver Age) and as a result lacks the complexity or subtlety that some of the themes introduced really need.
It is, however, a perfectly good introduction to the Silver Surfer for anyone looking for his origins and early adventures.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
Prevented from leaving Earth due to the power of his former master, Galactus, the Silver Surfer recalls his former life as Norrin Radd and longs to return to his beloved, Shalla Bal. Distrusted by the humans he seeks to protect, the Surfer runs afoul of villainous entities such as the Badoon, Mephisto, Loki and the Stranger.
First off, I'll say that this is definitely some of Stan Lee's better writing, with far fewer of his irritating idiosyncrasies than many other stories he wrote in the 60s.
His annoying alliteration is almost absent (irony intended) and there aren't large blocks of unwieldy text that just serve to reiterate exactly what's happening in the images. In fact, here the artwork and writing feel far more in-sync than most stories written using the so-called Marvel Method (in which Lee would sketch out a plot, the artists would create the entire actual story and then Lee would just go back and fill in the speech bubbles).
To be honest, the only one of Stan's annoying tropes that is detrimental to this book is his abiding need to have two heroes fight each other due to some sort of misunderstanding. Here it's Thor that the Surfer goes board-to-hammer with and, whilst as pointless as all of these hero-versus-hero stories are, this one at least has both characters staying in-character and trying to overcome their differences, hampered by Loki's ongoing efforts to cause conflict.
All that said, and despite being on the better end of Lee's writing, this book still isn't great by modern standards. It's very much of its time (the 1960s Silver Age) and as a result lacks the complexity or subtlety that some of the themes introduced really need.
It is, however, a perfectly good introduction to the Silver Surfer for anyone looking for his origins and early adventures.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
August 24, 2021
An entertaining volume of stories and a good introduction to the Silver Surfer after his first appearance in the Galactus trilogy (although part of me wished I'd read some more of his FF appearances)
These don't suffer from the same over explanation/narration as Lee's other writing, but while the Surfer's introspective philosophising is welcome, it does get a bit repetitive. The addition of Al in issue 5 shows that the Surfer works better when he has someone to talk to.
Issues 1 and 5 are definitely worth reading, issues 2-4 are okay. As with a lot of classic comics, while I admire the creativity involved in creating the appearances, characterisations, and mythology of the characters, I am certain that I will enjoy more modern story arcs more, simply due to the changes in storytelling methods over time.
Buscema's art is good. Less stylised than Kirby's, but it does a good job of conveying the Surfer's emotions.
These don't suffer from the same over explanation/narration as Lee's other writing, but while the Surfer's introspective philosophising is welcome, it does get a bit repetitive. The addition of Al in issue 5 shows that the Surfer works better when he has someone to talk to.
Issues 1 and 5 are definitely worth reading, issues 2-4 are okay. As with a lot of classic comics, while I admire the creativity involved in creating the appearances, characterisations, and mythology of the characters, I am certain that I will enjoy more modern story arcs more, simply due to the changes in storytelling methods over time.
Buscema's art is good. Less stylised than Kirby's, but it does a good job of conveying the Surfer's emotions.
March 5, 2018
Así como todos odian a Hulk y Hulk odia a todos, el Silver Surfer ama a todos y todos le temen aunque el los quiera salvar. Ya con esa premisa, podemos darnos cuenta de que la originalidad no es el fuerte de la trama de este comic. Aun asi, hay muchos elementos que son interesantes en su origen y en su relación con el universo Marvel por los que vale la pena leer este tomo.
El arte de John Buscema es adecuado aunque no llega a los niveles de otros artistas de la época como Steranko y Kirby.
El arte de John Buscema es adecuado aunque no llega a los niveles de otros artistas de la época como Steranko y Kirby.
June 27, 2018
The Silver Surfer's attitude to humanity in the 1960s - that they're violent, reactionary idiots, who may possibly, possibly be worth defending - chimes very well with 2018. Everyone depicted in the mob scenes reacting to the Silver Surfer and others who are different basically sound like Trump supporters.
August 19, 2021
A big thank you to everyone that read along this week and joined the discussion for Episode 46 - The Silver Surfer: Origins. We appreciate you all and hopefully we'll see you next week! 🤟🏻
Watch our review at
Https://youtu.be/jF_yv5xZVqQ
Or listen to the show on all Podcast providers!
Watch our review at
Https://youtu.be/jF_yv5xZVqQ
Or listen to the show on all Podcast providers!
October 16, 2021
Not Stan Lee's best work, but John Buscema's art is, as always, incredible. Worth a look--if you don't like the story, stop and just stare at the art.
March 15, 2022
The Silver Surfer is an iconic Marvel character for a reason, and it's in these collected six issues of the late 1960's comic. Top notch.
May 25, 2023
Some parts of this were profound while others were slow and a bit silly. A solid time but nothing groundbreaking.
April 11, 2016
For all that Peter Parker’s brash youth defines the Brill Building optimism of the early 60s it’s the Norrin Radd (and to a lesser extent Stephen Strange) who defines Marvel’s output of the late 60s. He’s a curiosity caught at the point where comics are sliding from their pop song phase of one or two issue stories to trying to deal with more philosophical issues over a raised page count – it’s notable that each of the issues collected here runs to 40 pages, double the length of a normal book. Radd is, of course, the eponymous Silver Surfer; a preposterously conceived character who once travelled the universe on a surfboard but, due to betraying his master Galactus is now limited to the environs of Earth.
The first issue fleshes out the backstory for the Surfer presented in the Fantastic Four comics in which he first appeared. Pre-Surfer Radd questions the morals and direction of his homeworld of Zenn La, and when the cosmic disaster known as Galactus arrives to eat his world he sacrifices himself to a life of subservience to save it. It’s interesting to note Lee and Buscema clearly presenting the Surfer’s philosophical nature as part of his time wandering the stars in search of tasty treats for Galactus and that a large part of his dissatisfaction with his existence is down to freshly imposed limits. It’s clear Galactus’s punishment is actually an effective one; allowing the Surfer the sight of the wider universe but keeping it tantalisingly out of his grasp. This seems prescient of post-space race times; where we’ve deliberately limited ourselves to Earth and its skies, a resonance the writers couldn’t possibly have imagined in a decade still pregnant with the possibilities presented by scientific advancement.
Unfortunately the wonderful madness of the Surfer himself gets undermined a little by presentation. Where Peter Parker’s a smart-mouthed teen, Radd chimes more with the more introspective type of teen who lies in their bedroom bemoaning the state of the world and how they’re woefully misunderstood. It’s easy to see how that chimes with the stereotype of a comic book reader; indeed tracing the analogy I’m already overusing it’s possible to see Parker to Radd as the range already growing with its readers. Over the extended page counts it makes the Surfer miserable company; you get the feeling that were he human he’d be bemoaning the girl he can’t have at the bottom of a beer glass every evening. And such a take is hammered home in each story; the Surfer is misunderstood and bemoans the violent nature of mankind, the big hippy. None of these first five stories really find their way out of that rut, even the few truly sympathetic souls end up deceived or dead. The Surfer’s world is a small, cruel place.
Buscema’s art sadly hasn’t aged particularly well, though it’s more than up to scratch in presenting some dynamic action set pieces and the fear and hatred that’s the general reaction to the Surfer. It’s competent but, lacking the idiosyncratic style of a Ditko or Romita, doesn’t present many memorable images beyond the striking free gift of a silver spaceman on a surfboard. And that’s the takeaway of these first few issues – there’s bags of potential in the raw material here but it remains no more realised at the beginning than at the end; he’s a strikingly coloured hamster running around the same wheel all the time. Full marks for the Surfer himself, not so much for the lack of doing anything truly interesting with the character.
The first issue fleshes out the backstory for the Surfer presented in the Fantastic Four comics in which he first appeared. Pre-Surfer Radd questions the morals and direction of his homeworld of Zenn La, and when the cosmic disaster known as Galactus arrives to eat his world he sacrifices himself to a life of subservience to save it. It’s interesting to note Lee and Buscema clearly presenting the Surfer’s philosophical nature as part of his time wandering the stars in search of tasty treats for Galactus and that a large part of his dissatisfaction with his existence is down to freshly imposed limits. It’s clear Galactus’s punishment is actually an effective one; allowing the Surfer the sight of the wider universe but keeping it tantalisingly out of his grasp. This seems prescient of post-space race times; where we’ve deliberately limited ourselves to Earth and its skies, a resonance the writers couldn’t possibly have imagined in a decade still pregnant with the possibilities presented by scientific advancement.
Unfortunately the wonderful madness of the Surfer himself gets undermined a little by presentation. Where Peter Parker’s a smart-mouthed teen, Radd chimes more with the more introspective type of teen who lies in their bedroom bemoaning the state of the world and how they’re woefully misunderstood. It’s easy to see how that chimes with the stereotype of a comic book reader; indeed tracing the analogy I’m already overusing it’s possible to see Parker to Radd as the range already growing with its readers. Over the extended page counts it makes the Surfer miserable company; you get the feeling that were he human he’d be bemoaning the girl he can’t have at the bottom of a beer glass every evening. And such a take is hammered home in each story; the Surfer is misunderstood and bemoans the violent nature of mankind, the big hippy. None of these first five stories really find their way out of that rut, even the few truly sympathetic souls end up deceived or dead. The Surfer’s world is a small, cruel place.
Buscema’s art sadly hasn’t aged particularly well, though it’s more than up to scratch in presenting some dynamic action set pieces and the fear and hatred that’s the general reaction to the Surfer. It’s competent but, lacking the idiosyncratic style of a Ditko or Romita, doesn’t present many memorable images beyond the striking free gift of a silver spaceman on a surfboard. And that’s the takeaway of these first few issues – there’s bags of potential in the raw material here but it remains no more realised at the beginning than at the end; he’s a strikingly coloured hamster running around the same wheel all the time. Full marks for the Surfer himself, not so much for the lack of doing anything truly interesting with the character.
March 6, 2016
self-important pretentious piffle.
August 16, 2016
Nothing great here with regard to story, but it was interesting to read the origin stories of one of the more unique of the Marvel characters.
December 22, 2016
Kvůli 30+ stranám na sešit je to zbytečně roztáhlé. Jinak průměrnej Lee
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews