Publication history Silver Surfer

1 publication history

1.1 appearances
1.2 subsequent series
1.3 2000s
1.4 2010s

publication history

created artist jack kirby, character first appears in fantastic 4 #48 (march 1966), first of three-issue arc fans call galactus trilogy .

early appearances

the silver surfer debuted unplanned addition superhero-team comic fantastic 4 #48 (march 1966). comic s writer-editor, stan lee, , penciller , co-plotter, jack kirby, had, mid-1960s, developed collaborative technique known marvel method : 2 discuss story ideas, kirby working brief synopsis draw individual scenes , plot details, lee adding dialogue , captions. when kirby turned in pencil art story, included new character , lee had not discussed. lee recalled in 1995, there, in middle of story had worked out, nut on sort of flying surfboard . later expanded on this, recalling, thought, jack, time ve gone far . kirby explained story s agreed-upon antagonist, god-like cosmic predator of planets named galactus, should have sort of herald, , created surfboard because m tired of drawing spaceships! taken noble features of new character, turned on master defend earth, lee overcame initial skepticism , began adding characterization. silver surfer became key part of unfolding story.

following surfer s debut, lee , kirby brought him recurring guest in fantastic 4 #55–61, 72, , 74–77 (ranging oct. 1966 – aug. 1968). character made solo debut in backup story of fantastic 4 annual #5 (nov. 1967).

the silver surfer #1 (aug. 1968). cover art john buscema , joe sinnott.

the following year, lee launched solo title silver surfer. john buscema penciller first 17 issues of series, kirby returning 18th , final issue. first 7 issues, included anthological tales of watcher backup stories, 72-page (with advertising), 25-cent giants , opposed typical 36-page, 12-cent comics of time. thematically, stories dealt surfer s exile on earth , inhumanity of man observed noble yet fallen hero. though short-lived, series became known 1 of lee s thoughtful , introspective works.

following series cancellation, surfer made sporadic appearances guest star or antagonist in such comic books thor, defenders, , fantastic four. lee remained partial surfer, asking other writers not use him general rule, , kirby collaborated on seminal 1978 graphic novel starring character, original story featured in marvel fireside books series.

subsequent series

after 1982 one-shot writer-artist john byrne (with scripting stan lee), surfer appeared in second solo, ongoing title in 1987.

initially written steve englehart, series set on earth , 1 issue completed under premise before marvel agreed let englehart remove long-standing restriction regarding silver surfer being imprisoned on earth. first issue shelved , brand new first issue written, set plot twist; original first issue reprinted in marvel fanfare #51. series marked first silver surfer stories not written stan lee, fact lee openly unhappy about. explained:

after gave spider-man else did spider-man, , else did fantastic 4 , doctor strange , x-men , of them. felt kind of nice me have been writer of silver surfer, felt little bit disappointed when else did it. have liked have been person. had known absolutely going have book done, have found time myself. didn t have time have made time, rather have else it. ... not @ criticism of steve [englehart] or of marshall [rogers, artist on series], s s 1 book have liked have done myself. [emphases in original]

englehart introduced many villains silver surfer, featured space politics involving surfer s homeworld zenn-la, caught in middle of renewed kree-skrull war. however, issues regarding englehart wanting use avengers character mantis silver surfer s companion, editorial refusing let him use thanos or other concepts conceived jim starlin, led englehart leave book issue #31. jim starlin took on writer issue #34 after several fill-in issues, , incorporated thanos, adam warlock, , drax destroyer series.

under starlin , later ron marz, series receive acclaim , sales boost due silver surfer s involvement starlin s infinity trilogy, george pérez , j. m. dematteis having brief writing stints on series well. additional artists included tom grindberg, ron garney, , jon j. muth, periodic guest spots john buscema. title experienced great initial success allowed marvel push character other media, including 1990 video game, 1992 trading card set, , 1998 animated series, spinning off variety of other comics series including cosmic powers, cosmic powers unlimited, captain marvel vol. 2, , star masters. ran 146 issues, through 1998. next year followed two-issue miniseries, silver surfer: loftier mortals.

a two-issue silver surfer miniseries (later collected silver surfer: parable), scripted lee , drawn moebius, published through marvel s epic comics imprint in 1988 , 1989. because of inconsistencies other stories, has been argued these stories feature alternate silver surfer parallel earth. miniseries won eisner award best finite/limited series in 1989.

2000s

a new ongoing silver surfer series began in 2003, focusing on character s alien nature , messianic allegory. lasted 14 issues. surfer later appeared in issue of cable & deadpool , has been reunited 3 times superhero group defenders. in 2006–2007, starred in four-issue miniseries annihilation: silver surfer , co-starred in miniseries heralds of galactus, both part of annihilation fictional crossover.

in 2007, silver surfer starred in four-issue miniseries silver surfer: requiem writer j. michael straczynski , artist esad ribic. first issue released may 30, 2007 coincide character s first movie appearance. published under marvel knights imprint, silver surfer: requiem portrays character upon learning dying silver shell encased in deteriorating.

this followed miniseries silver surfer: in thy name, writer simon spurrier , artist ten eng huat.

after appearance in planet hulk storyline in 2006, surfer featured in spin-off series starring hulk s son skaar in 2008, both written greg pak.

2010s

the silver surfer received sixth volume, eponymous 5-issue mini-series written pak, debuting in february 2011. core cast member in thanos imperative (2010), annihilators (2011), , fear itself: deep (2011). beginning in 2011, silver surfer began appearing regularly in mighty thor , new volume of defenders, both written matt fraction.

in march 2014, silver surfer volume 7 began part of all-new marvel now! writer dan slott, artist mike allred, , colorist laura allred. in january 2016 silver surfer volume 8 began special 50th anniversary edition expected release in march 2016.