Silver Surfer

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Silver Surfer
The Silver Surfer. Promotional art for Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2. Art by Gabriele Dell'Otto, 2005.
Publisher Marvel Comics First appearance Fantastic Four #48 (Mar 1966) Created by Jack Kirby Stan Lee
Characteristics Alter ego Norrin Radd Species Zenn-Lavian, from Zenn-La Affiliations Galactus, Heralds of Galactus, Defenders, Secret Defenders, Star Masters, The Order Supporting character of Fantastic Four Notable aliases Silver Savage Abilities Endowed with the Power Cosmic granting him: Superhuman strength Physical Resistance Energy manipulation Molecular transmutation Control over the Fundamental Forces Degree of cosmic awareness The ability to travel at trans-light speeds Suppressed aging process

The Silver Surfer is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in the comic book The Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966).

The Surfer was originally Norrin Radd, a young astronomer of the planet Zenn-La. He agreed to serve as herald to the god-like entity, Galactus, in order to save Zenn-La from the world devourer's insatiable hunger. Granted enormous powers (he wields the Power Cosmic^[1]), a silvery appearance and a surfboard-like vehicle — all of which were modeled after a childhood fantasy of Radd — the Silver Surfer roamed the cosmos, searching for new planets for Galactus to consume.

In the classic “The Coming of Galactus” story arc in Fantastic Four #48-50 (1966), the Silver Surfer encountered Earth's Fantastic Four and betrayed Galactus, who doomed him to exile on Earth.^[2] In tune with the counterculture of the era, the Surfer explored his new home planet in a heavily philosophical late 1960s spin-off series. Another, more cosmically themed series with a freed Surfer was published from 1987 until 1998. A third series followed in 2003, lasting only a year.

The character was featured in adaptations of “The Coming of Galactus” in both the Fantastic Four (1967 TV series) and Fantastic Four (1994 TV series). He starred in a short-lived solo animated series in 1998, which blended cel and computer animation.

A sequel to the 2005 Fantastic Four film, scheduled for 2007, will be called Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Early promotional materials indicate it will be a loose adaptation of "The Coming of Galactus" with the Surfer more of a central villain.

Contents 1 Publication history 2 Fictional character biography 2.1 Herald of Galactus 2.2 Exiled to Earth 2.3 Freedom from exile 2.4 Annihilation 3 Powers and abilities 3.1 Paraphernalia and weapons 4 Other versions of the Silver Surfer 4.1 Ultimate Silver Surfer 4.2 MC2 4.3 Exiles 4.4 Marvel Zombies 5 Appearances in other media 5.1 Television 5.2 Film 5.3 Video games 5.4 Cultural references 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Publication history

The Silver Surfer is a unique product of the Marvel system of comic creation. Unlike in the full scripts employed elsewhere, Lee and Kirby would discuss general storylines or plots initially but leave the specific story elements to the penciller (this was especially so in the case of Kirby)^[3] . Reputedly, Kirby created the character of the Silver Surfer reasoning that a god-like cosmic predator of planets should have some sort of herald. (According to Lee, Kirby said he created the surfboard "because I'm tired of drawing spaceships!") Lee was surprised by this creation but, taken by the noble features of the new character that Kirby had penciled, scripted him, adding to his characterization.

Though Kirby seems to be the primary creator of the Silver Surfer, Lee enjoyed the character and decided to feature him in his own comic magazine. Kirby was unavailable and penciller John Buscema was selected as the artist for the brief run (18 issues). The Silver Surfer comic and character allowed Lee to script some of his most thoughtful and introspective stories. Thematically, the stories dealt with the inhumanity of man as observed by the noble yet fallen Surfer.

After his own comic was cancelled, the Surfer continued to make sporadic appearances as a guest star or antagonist in other comic books. A personal favorite of Lee's, a number of specials and graphic novels featuring the character have been published over the years.

After a one-shot published in 1982, he was given a chance at a solo, ongoing title for the second time in 1987, where he finally managed to escape the confines of Earth and left for the spaceways. This series was originally written by Steve Englehart and illustrated by Marshall Rogers, and later written by Jim Starlin and drawn by Ron Lim. Starlin was later replaced by Ron Marz as writer; later in the series' publication, George Perez and J. M. DeMatteis had brief stints at writing the series as well. Other artists included Tom Grindberg, Ron Garney, and Jon J. Muth, as well as periodic guest spots by the aforementioned John Buscema.

Although the title experienced great initial success, and continued to be buoyed by tie-ins to Infinity Gauntlet and other crossovers, this second ongoing series was ultimately cancelled in 1998 after 146 issues, due to low sales and a change in Marvel's editorial direction.

A new Silver Surfer series began in 2003, focusing on the character's alien nature and messianic allegory, but only lasted fourteen issues. He later made an appearance in Cable/Deadpool, where he was the final line of defense against an overpowered Cable. He has twice been reunited with the superhero group he took part in, The Defenders.

An alternate version of the character appeared in Marvel Zombies in his original role as a Galactus herald. He is currently appearing in a self-titled, four-issue miniseries linked to Marvel's cosmic event, Annihilation.

A Silver Surfer graphic novel was written by Lee and Kirby; another entitled The Silver Surfer: Parable (originally serialized in two parts in 1988-1989) was scripted by Stan Lee and drawn by Moebius. Because of inconsistencies with other stories, it has been argued that they feature an alternate Silver Surfer from a parallel Earth [1]

[edit] Fictional character biography

[edit] Herald of Galactus

In the very earliest stories, Kirby envisioned the Surfer as a semi-divine being created by the godlike Galactus, immeasurably powerful yet lacking the most basic understanding of good or evil. Lee's script allowed this completely amoral entity to develop a sense of compassion through contact with the gentle Alicia Masters, a blind sculptress capable of perceiving the surfer's innate nobility.^[2]

Lee and Kirby continued this theme through a series of subplots where the Surfer encounters negative human traits such as jealousy (when The Thing is driven to rage by the Surfer's relationship with his girlfriend, Alicia); deception, evil and cruelty (de-powered and imprisoned by Doctor Doom, then tortured by Doom's brutal henchmen), despair and hopelessness (languishing in a Latverian dungeon while Doom uses the Power Cosmic to conquer the world); and finally a thirst for revenge (destroying Doom's castle - along with his sadistic captors, presumably - when he finally escapes).

At the same time, the Surfer continued to evolve as an individual, slowly groping his way to a knowledge of his own humanity. No mention, however, was made of any life or existence prior to the Surfer's arrival on Earth, lending credence to the idea that he was a whole-cloth creation of his world-devouring master. Significantly, during this early period, both Galactus and the Surfer fed in precisely the same manner - converting matter directly into energy - suggesting Galactus created the Surfer in his image.

The Surfer's background was retconned with the release of Silver Surfer #1,^[4] providing the character with a previously undisclosed existence, revealing that the character had a life as an ordinary being before he became the Silver Surfer.

In the revised version, the Surfer was born Norrin Radd on the idyllic planet Zenn-La, with his father Jartan Radd, his mother Elmar Radd, and his half-brother Fennan Radd. They were were part of an ancient and advanced civilization that had lost the will to strive or explore, leaving Norrin Radd restless and yearning for something more than the idle pleasure pursued by his fellows. Faced with the total destruction of his world by the planet-consuming Galactus, Radd struck a deal with the omnipotent space god to serve as his herald in return for the safety of Zenn-La and of his lover, Shalla-Bal, at the same time satisfying his desire to discover new worlds and adventures beyond the limits of his home. Galactus accepted the young mortal's sacrifice and imbued him with a portion of the Power Cosmic, transforming him into the Silver Surfer. He served Galactus for an unspecified amount of time, unable to return to Zenn-La or Shalla-Bal, until he came to the planet Earth.

In yet later versions of the story, it was explained that the Zenn-Lavians were an offshoot of the Kree, a scientifically advanced, galaxy-spanning, alien race first created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the Fantastic Four.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Exiled to Earth

On Earth, touched by the nobility of a brave few individuals, the Surfer chose to rebel against Galactus and attempted to prevent his master from consuming Earth. Galactus was eventually driven off, but as punishment for his rebellion, Galactus confined the Surfer to the planet by creating an invisible barrier that only affected him (it first appeared in the Doctor Doom arc the following year and it was explained that this "Great Barrier" deprived him of his space-time powers in the original version).^[5]

Doctor Doom stole the Surfer's Power Cosmic and imprisoned the then powerless Surfer but lost his new might when he collided with Galactus' barrier.^[6] Increasingly pessimistic about humanity, the Surfer attempted to befriend fellow outcast the Hulk, but was driven away by his violent temper. Next, the Surfer took pity on the Mad Thinker's abandoned sentient computer Quasimodo and gave it humanoid form, but he was forced to petrify his new creation after it proved to be criminally insane. Convinced by now that humanity was a savage race that could only survive and evolve if the planet were united against a common foe, the Surfer decided to become that foe; he terrorized the world with his cosmic powers until the U.S. military struck him down with an experimental power-draining "Sonic Shark" missile based on technology developed by Reed Richards. Humbled by the incident, the Surfer, his powers diminished, resumed his wanderings. (though returned later to their original levels when he was finally able to return to space.

Aided by the Fantastic Four, the Surfer resisted attempts by Galactus to regain his services; he also faced foes such as the alien Badoon,^[7] the demonic Mephisto^[8](who became obsessed with breaking the Surfer's spirit and acquiring his soul), Frost Giant (but Asgardian adopted) trickster god Loki (who manipulated the Surfer into battling his brother Thor),^[9] the alternate-future Overlord,^[10] mad scientist Ludwig von Frankenstein,^[11] the ghostly Flying Dutchman,^[12] rogue Zenn-Lavian scientist Yarro Gort (who coveted Shalla-Bal for himself and died trying to destroy the Surfer),^[13] the occultist Warlock Prime and the monstrous Abomination (whom he accidentally summoned),^[14] and the robotic Doomsday Man.^[15] One of the Surfer's few true friends during these early adventures was physicist Al B. Harper, who sacrificed his life to help the Surfer save the world from the enigmatic Stranger.^[16]

Several times during this period, the Surfer was briefly reunited with Shalla-Bal, who was used as an unwilling pawn against the Surfer by foes such as Mephisto and Gort; but circumstances always forced the lovers apart, sending Shalla Bal home each time. Increasingly frustrated by his situation and disgusted by man's inhumanity to man, the Surfer, secretly influenced by Psycho-Man, became more hostile, battling Spider-Man,^[17] Human Torch (Johnny Storm^[18]), S.H.I.E.L.D.^[19] and the Inhumans.^[20]

The Surfer formed a temporary alliance with the Hulk and Namor the Sub-Mariner to oppose a new weather technology that threatened to destroy the world; these "Titans Three" completed their mission despite the misguided interference of the Avengers, and even toppled a minor hostile dictator along the way.^[21]

Namor, Hulk and Doctor Strange soon formed a more enduring heroic alliance as the Defenders, saving the world from Yandroth; they tried to recruit the Surfer for their first mission, but he was recovering from a collision with Galactus' barrier at the time and hence refused.

After aiding Thor against Loki's minion Durok the Demolisher, the Surfer helped the FF defeat Galactus' latest herald, the Air-Walker android. The Surfer soon fell under the mental sway of Calizuma and his Warrior Wizards, agents of the demonic Undying Ones; freed from their influence by the Defenders, the Surfer helped defeat the wizards and became one of the Defenders' earliest recruits, aiding the team against foes such as the Nameless One, Attuma and the Red Ghost. At one point, a quest to restore the petrified Black Knight (Dane Whitman) led the Defenders into a conflict with the Avengers orchestrated by Loki and Dormammu. In the end, the villains were defeated, though the restless Surfer soon left the Defenders.

Tricked into helping Doctor Doom create the deadly Doomsman android, the Surfer helped the FF neutralize this menace, then clashed with the vampire lord Dracula. Later, the Surfer was present at an Avengers-Defenders gathering ineffectually attacked by mind-controlled heroine Jewel (Jessica Jones). After another clash with the Hulk, the Surfer aided the Defenders against the demonic Six-Fingered Hand and their hellish masters, including Mephisto. After aiding the Avengers against the Molecule Man, declining an offer of Avengers membership, attending the funeral of seemingly deceased Defenders teammates Nighthawk (Marvel Comics) and Valkyrie, and participating in another Avengers-Defenders clash orchestrated by alien menaces Nebulon and Supernalia, the Surfer finally pierced Galactus' barrier with the aid of Reed Richards and escaped Earth; but he discovered Zenn-La had been devastated by a vengeful Galactus, barely capable of supporting life. Worse yet, Shalla-Bal had been abducted back to Earth by Mephisto. Though it meant trapping himself on Earth again (since Reed's escape method would work only once), the Surfer returned to Earth and defeated Mephisto, who sent Shalla-Bal back to Zenn-La, though not before the Surfer endowed her with a portion of his cosmic power which she used to revitalize their ravaged homeworld.^[22]

The Surfer helped the Defenders liberate the Squadron Supreme's alternate Earth (Earth-S,Earth-712) from the control of the demonic Null the Living Darkness, then celebrated the Hulk's brief public acceptance after gaining Bruce Banner's intellect; but the Surfer and his fellow senior Defenders Hulk, Namor and Strange were hoaxed into disbanding after the alien Tribunal convinced them that their continued teamwork was fated to cause Earth's doom. The Surfer, meanwhile, helped the FF defeat the cosmic-powered Tyros (formerly Galactus' herald Terrax) and locate a missing Reed Richards, helped Earth's heroes neutralize the threat of the near-omnipotent Beyonder, and teamed with the Molecule Man to undo much of the damage done to Earth by the Beyonder.

[edit] Freedom from exile

Piercing Galactus' barrier again (this time by using the Thing's simple suggestion of trying to pass through it without his surfboard), the Surfer made peace with Galactus by rescuing his current herald Nova (Frankie Raye) from the Skrulls, after which Galactus finally ended the Surfer's long exile.^[23] Radd revisited his homeworld, but Shalla-Bal had become empress of the rejuvenated Zenn-La and was not free to renew their romance.^[24]

The Surfer became embroiled in fresh hostilities between the interstellar Kree and Skrull empires, and intervened in a series of plots by the Elders of the Universe, who planned to destroy Galactus, and the universe with him -- in order to become the supreme powers of a new universe. The Surfer thwarted the Elders with the aid of his new love interest Mantis, the Earth-born cosmic heroine also known as the Celestial Madonna, but she seemingly died in the process;^[25] though she would later return, she never fully renewed her romance with the Surfer. Romantic sparks developed between Nova and the Surfer,^[26] whose influence gradually led Nova to question the morality of her role as a herald.^[27]

Galactus finally replaced her with the far more ruthless Morg, who killed Nova during a conflict with the Surfer and most of the other ex-heralds.^[28]

The Surfer has repeatedly battled space-born menaces such as Reptyl,^[29] Ego the Living Planet,^[30] Super-Skrull,^[31] Midnight Sun,^[32] Nebula, Tyrant,^[33] and perhaps most notably Thanos,^[34] a death-worshipping mutant Eternal who wiped out half the life in the universe using the omnipotent Infinity Gauntlet.^[35] The Surfer has been allied with cosmic adventurers such as Jack of Hearts,^[36] Ganymede,^[37] Genis-Vell^[38] and Adam Warlock's Infinity Watch, who helped the Surfer restore Shalla-Bal to life after she sacrificed herself to save Zenn-La from the supremely powerful Great One. The Surfer also partnered with Quasar, Beta Ray Bill, Morfex and Xenith to form the short-lived Star Masters team, and began participating in occasional Defenders reunions, the Tribunal's hoax having been exposed.

In one of his adventures, he discovered that Galactus had tampered with his mind to allow the Surfer to endure through the powerful emotions of guilt and sadness felt at the decimation of every planet during Galactus's service.^[39] Further aspects of his past life were also revealed which included the revelation of Norrin having witnessed his mother's death through wrist slitting.^[40] Also, his father Jartran Radd, a prominent scientist, was accused of having plagiarized and after Norrin revealed his disappointment, he shot himself.^[41] The Surfer eventually faced these memories of his and forgave himself during the Infinity Gauntlet saga.^[42]

During his travels, the Surfer also met his long-lost brother Fennan. However, Zenn-La and its people later seemingly vanished, and the Surfer came to discover that his homeworld was destroyed in the 1940s by the mysterious, all powerful entity known as the Other. The Zenn-Lavian world and people he had encountered since his leaving the service of Galactus were "re-creations" of the originals. Galactus, after finding Zenn-La utterly decimated by the Other, recreated the planet and its inhabitants in every detail so when the Surfer left his service, as he knew he one day would, he would have a home to return to. So accurate was this new Zenn-La that the Surfer, Skrull, Kree, the demonic Mephisto and even the Celestials never came to realize it wasn't the original planet or people. Why the "new" Zenn-La dissolved was never made entirely clear but it was likely the result of Galactus' temporary absence from the main universe due to being caught in the Ultimate Nullifier's blast.

Losing his capacity for emotion again, the Surfer returned to Earth, eventually regaining his personality during a time travel adventure and sharing a romance with Alicia Masters. They ultimately parted as friends after many adventures together, one of which pitted them against Galactus' new herald Red Shift and led to the temporary destruction of Galactus himself. When a Gaea-powered curse from a dying Yandroth mystically forced Surfer, Namor, Hulk and Strange to assemble in response to any and all threats to the Earth, the ongoing stress of this situation coupled with the subtle emotional influence of the curse itself gradually drove the four senior Defenders mad, and they attempted to rule the world as the Order in the belief that this was the most efficient way to protect the planet. Their fellow Defenders Hellcat, Nighthawk, Valkyrie and Clea teamed with other heroes-- including Ardina, a cosmic-powered woman they mystically created from a portion of the Surfer's own energy-- to oppose the Order and return them to their senses, just in time to prevent the curse from rendering a resurrected Yandroth all-powerful.

More recently, fearing a prophesied apocalypse, the Surfer worked with the alien Annunaki race to gather and protect some of Earth's most extraordinarily gifted children; in the end, one of those children, Ellie Waters, saved Earth from the godlike Marduk entity, preventing the apocalypse and reordering reality as if the Marduk crisis had never happened, though Ellie apparently retains her memories of these events. The Surfer has resumed his interstellar wanderings, but remains ready to aid his adopted homeworld should Earth ever need him.

For some time the Surfer roamed aimlessly with not much to do until a distress signal drew him to a faraway world where the chameleon-like Krosakis had stolen the Uni-Power and captured Gladiator of the Shi'ar. The Surfer battled Krosakis and was able to free the Uni-Power and save Gladiator and an entire world from death. The Surfer made a detour where he was the first to greet the new Captain Universe: Gabriel Vargas.

[edit] Annihilation

Currently, he has banded together with the other heralds of Galactus who are being hunted by the forces of Annihilus's Annihilation Wave for an unknown purpose. In the course of this, Galactus requested the Silver Surfer's help to defend against the coming onslaught of Tenebrous, of the Darkness Between, and Aegis, Lady of All Sorrows, two beings presumably as old as the universe itself who wield vast cosmic power and to a lesser extent, Annihilus and his Seekers. Given the current crisis, Silver Surfer has gained back his position as herald of Galactus, and in return, Galactus has enhanced the Silver Surfer's power and restored his will to fight, giving him a new sense of purpose as Galactus Herald and an envoy of cosmic balance. He is able to defeat the fleet that Annihilus sends against Galactus but is unable to later defeat Aegis and Tenebrous in battle. Aegis and Tenebrous capture the Silver Surfer and Galactus and hand them over to Thanos who has been entrusted by Annihilus to finding "the biological application" of the Power Cosmic.

Later, Thanos learns of Annihilus true goal of using Galactus as a cosmic bomb and attempts to free the Devourer. While freeing Galactus, Thanos is struck down by Drax the Destroyer before Galactus can be freed. Moondragon informs Drax that by killing Thanos he has damned the universe. Galactus could only be freed by Thanos as his prison was keyed to his life signature. When Thanos died so too did the only means of freeing Galactus. Drax tells her she is wrong and there is another way to release Galactus. Drax then shatters the energy sphere that was imprisoning the Silver Surfer and tells the Surfer to use the power cosmic to access and unlock the prison holding Galactus. Using all the power he has left the Surfer succeeds in freeing a very angry Galactus.

Galactus, using his near limitless powers decimates the entirety of the Annihilation Wave. Following Nova's defeat of Annihilus, the Silver Surfer returns to Galactus' side as his herald once more.

[edit] Powers and abilities

The Silver Surfer possesses vast power known as the "Power Cosmic," gained when Galactus restructured his former body. He has the ability to channel ambient cosmic energy into his body at will, and expel it violently as concussive force or gently as a means to restructure molecules according to his mental design. The Surfer can generate beams of energy with sufficient destructive force to destroy a planet or, by contrast, generate such subtle amounts of energy to restructure the molecules of the natural pigments within a plant to change its color. The Surfer can rearrange the molecules of matter to create other configurations and can even directly transmute elements. The Surfer can manipulate "chronal" energies and thus can peel back the veil of time to witness past events or to even directly travel through time. While he can use his power to revitalize life energies and heal the wounded, there is no proof that he can create life from nothingness or return the dead to life.

The Surfer possesses superhuman strength. Additionally, the Surfer can use the Power Cosmic to amplify his physical strength to a level at least rivaling that of an enraged Hulk, and there has been more than one occasion in which the Surfer has defeated him. In addition, his body can move and react at superhuman velocities; he routinely navigates asteroid fields and attacks entire armadas of starships at or beyond the speed of light while maintaining surgical precision.

The Silver Surfer has certain cosmic energy-enhanced perceptions which enable him, through concentration, to become aware of the patterns of energy which surround him. Accordingly, he can sense great concentrations or deployments of energy at a great range, the extent of which is undetermined but is at least on an intra-galactic scale. He has a special affinity for the life energies of living beings, and can use his cosmic powers to augment them to a certain degree. The Surfer's other senses are also thus enhanced: he has demonstrated the ability to see as far as a light year while concentrating and without obstructions to his line of sight. Although the Surfer's senses are superhumanly keen, his sometimes detached and introspective nature occasionally leaves him unaware of his surroundings.

The forces binding together the molecules making up the silvery material that composes the Silver Surfer's "skin" are so great that there are few known forces in the universe great enough to overcome them (in Marvel Zombies it was shown that The Hulk as a Zombie was able to bite off The Surfer's head after much difficulty). The inner portions of his body have also been restructured to be highly resistant to injury. Thus, the Surfer is invulnerable to most forms of physical harm. He can easily withstand great extremes of temperature caused by the build-up of friction within atmospheres, the vacuum of space or the intense heat found within stars. He has flown through the cores of stars and even soared through a supernova explosion on at least one occasion. He can survive without difficulties in the vacuum of outer space and hyperspace, and his body can withstand the stresses of travel at multiples of light speed in hyperspace. He has maintained that he is no longer in fact "mortal", but this is most likely an inference that he now has very little in common biologically with humans, rather than an assertion that he cannot be killed. It is likely that the Surfer does not age; his counterpart in the future timeline of the Guardians of the Galaxy is over a thousand years old and is at least as powerful as his present-day counterpart. The Surfer's mind has also been restructured so that he has considerable resistance to telepathy and other mind control methods. He has the ability to communicate with various alien species regardless of their native language, and to speak to others in the vacuum of space, possibly through a limited form of telepathy.

The Silver Surfer does not need to eat or breathe since he absorbs life-maintaining cosmic energy directly into his body. Although his body does not require sleep, his mind must still rest occasionally in order to give it an opportunity to dream.

By using his board to exceed the speed of light, the Surfer can shift himself into hyperspace, a dimension in which velocity is not limited by the speed of light. The Surfer can also compress his own bodily matter so as to shift himself into a so-called microverse.

Despite these vast powers, the Surfer is not completely unstoppable. He has in the past been wounded by vastly powerful forms of magic and by other users of the Power Cosmic, such as Galactus and his other heralds. He is not completely immune to psionics or other forms of mental attack or manipulation, although his willpower, spiritual strength, and Galactus' mental and spiritual tampering provide him with a superhuman resistance to mind control and psionics.

[edit] Paraphernalia and weapons

While he is flying, the Silver Surfer usually makes use of an object known on Earth as his "board", which was created by Galactus and is constructed of the same unknown substance as the Surfer's body; therefore, it too is virtually indestructible. Even when it was destroyed, the Surfer was able to easily reconstruct it.

The surfboard is psionically linked with the Surfer's mind, to the extent that damage that is somehow dealt to the board also causes the Surfer duress or pain. Apparently only a being possessing the Surfer's cosmic powers can cause the surfboard to fly, and its movement is controlled mentally by the Surfer. When he requires the board, he can call it to himself even from cosmic distances. The surfboard apparently taps ambient cosmic energy in much the same way that the Surfer himself does. Although the Surfer can utilize his cosmic power to fly without it, the surfboard enables him to fly with greater maneuverability and without the expenditure of his own energy.

The Silver Surfer can utilize the surfboard to attain multiples of the speed of light, but flies at speeds considerably slower within the layers of a planet's atmosphere.

In addition, the Surfer and the Fantastic Four realized that Galactus' means of imprisoning the Surfer on Earth was linked to the board since the world devourer knew that his former herald would not think of leaving the planet without it. Putting the idea to the test, the Surfer left the board planetside and the Four transported him off the planet in their spacecraft. Once he realized he was free of Earth, the Surfer remotely converted the board to energy, recalled it to him and reformed it in space. The Surfer then met up with Galactus and rescued his current herald, Nova, from the Skrulls. In return, Galactus fully freed the Surfer and he could once again travel the universe.

[edit] Other versions of the Silver Surfer

[edit] Ultimate Silver Surfer

Warren Ellis' Ultimate Galactus trilogy originally insinuated that the Ultimates' ally the Vision was the Herald of Galactus, as a robotic probe who travels through space, warning civilizations of the impending arrival of Gah Lak Tus. In the final mini-series of the trilogy, Ultimate Extinction, however, the ultimate version of the Silver Surfer is introduced, though not named as such.

The Ultimate Silver Surfers are silvery humanoids, with the ability to grow wings, morph into an ovoid or take an intermediary form, where they glide on the oval surface like it was a surfboard. The silver beings have shown the ability to manipulate large quantities of energy, and in one case possess a mouth with several rows of teeth that they can open extraordinarily wide - possibly as an application of a vaster set of metamorphical abilities.

The silver beings have been sent to the Earth by Gah Lak Tus to start mass suicides, in order to reduce the population's resistance and allow Gah Lak Tus to conserve energy to exterminate and break down the planet into useful energy. Suicide cults founded by the creatures appear all across the world as Gah Lak Tus draws near, with the intent of engineering mass suicides to placate "the angry god." At the conclusion to Ultimate Galactus it would appear that all of the surviving Silver Surfers (winged or not) are called back to Gah Lak Tus when it leaves the solar system.

In Ultimate Fantastic Four #42, The Silver Surfer makes his first named, known appearance, it is unknown if he did appear in the Ultimate Galactus Trilogy or if he is a left over being that was seen, but only as a background character. It is also unknown if this silver surfer has any connection to the ultimate galactus trilogy and the silver surfers there.

[edit] MC2

During the finale of Last Planet Standing, the Silver Surfer prevents Galactus' plan to create a new Big Bang, fusing with Galactus himself in the process. Gaining control of Galactus' powers, the new Super Surfer undoes the damage done by Galactus.

[edit] Exiles

On Earth #552, Norrin Radd had been a great Military Scientist who had accidentally destroyed his own world with his greatest invention. Determined to bring it back to life he approached Galactus, Restorer of Worlds and became his herald in hopes that Galactus would resurrect his world in exchange for his service. However Galactus had taken an oath to only revive worlds destroyed by the Blight. Enraged The Silver Surfer turned against his Master, destroyed those who worshipped him and then attempted to kill Galactus himself and steal the knowledge of world restoration. This led to the destruction of Earth as well as the coming of the Exiles, the deaths of The Shi'ar Imperial Guard Elite (except Manta) and inevitably his own destruction.

In Exiles #90, a viewscreen shows an image of a Female Silver Surfer flying in orbit around a planet.

[edit] Marvel Zombies

The Silver Surfer is a victim of the Marvel Zombies in stories set in that continuity. His demise is met when his head is bitten off by the Zombie Hulk, afterwards his body is torn apart and eaten by other Marvel Zombies. When he was consumed a small amount of the power cosmic was transferred to the zombies.

[edit] Appearances in other media

[edit] Television

Main article: Silver Surfer (TV series)

• The Surfer's first animated appearance was in "Galactus," an episode of the Hanna-Barbera 1967 Fantastic Four animated series which closely followed the Marvel comic series.

• He put in several appearances in the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series that was part of the Marvel Action Hour, voiced by Robin Sachs, which also adhered closely to the original comic book story, recounting his and Galactus's coming to Earth in a two-part episode, and Doctor Doom's theft of his powers, two times.

• The Silver Surfer animated series briefly appeared on the FOX Network in 1998. Among the first to feature computer graphics, blended with cel animated rendered in the style of Surfer creator Jack Kirby, the FOX Kids series diverged from the comic in various ways. However, it accurately retells the Surfer's origin on Zenn-La and the method by which he regained his emotions and memories was altered to not involve the Fantastic Four. While further adventures included appearance by many characters from Marvel's "cosmic" stable such as Thanos, the Watcher, Ego the Living Planet, Mentor, Drax the Destroyer, Pip the Troll, Nebula, Beta Ray Bill, Gamora, Nova, Adam Warlock and the Kree and Skrull empires, their portrayals and roles often differed from their comic book incarnations. Possessed of an unusually serious tone compared to Marvel's other animated projects, with frequent maudlin musings by the Surfer and episode resolutions which were often downbeat, the series was cancelled after only one season of thirteen episodes. Eight further episodes for the next season were written but never animated.

[edit] Film

• The Surfer will appear alongside the Fantastic Four in the 2007 sequel to the 2005 film, entitled Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, a revision from the title appearing on a billboard at the 2006 NYC Licensing Expo, 'Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer'. The Surfer is being played by Doug Jones. USA Today officially released the first promo picture of the Silver Surfer on December 21, 2006.[2]

[edit] Video games

• The Silver Surfer video game, developed by Software Creations, Ltd., debuted on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990.

• Evil clones of the Silver Surfer appear as enemies in Marvel Superheroes: War of the Gems for the SNES.

• The Surfer also appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance as a playable character.

• The Surfer will appear in the upcoming videogame "Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer" being developed by Visual Concepts of 2K Sports. Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer is scheduled for a June 2007 simultaneous release with the upcoming Fantastic 4 movie.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Cultural references

• In the movie Crimson Tide, Denzel Washington's character breaks up a fight between two crewmen. The fight was over a disagreement about which Silver Surfer was better: the Jack Kirby Silver Surfer or the Moebius Silver Surfer (Washington's character preferred Kirby). This scene was written by Quentin Tarantino in an uncredited rewrite of the script.

• In the Quentin Tarantino film Reservoir Dogs, a scene taking place in Mr. Orange’s apartment features a poster of the Silver Surfer on the wall.

• In the movie Breathless, Richard Gere's character reads, and comments on, an issue of a Silver Surfer comic. In a stirring moment, he compares his own alienation with the Surfer's profound cosmic aloneness.

• In his song "Darkside of Aquarius", Bruce Dickinson gets help from the lonely Silver Surfer in keeping the Wheel of Dharma moving.

• Guitarist Joe Satriani has made multiple allusions to the Silver Surfer, including:
  • Classic art of the Surfer was featured on the cover of the artist's album Surfing With the Alien.
    

    

    The Silver Surfer on the cover of "Surfing with the Alien"
  • The song "Back To Shalla-Bal" from his album Flying in a Blue Dream is a Silver Surfer reference.
  • On his 1998 album Engines of Creation, Satriani reprised Surfer references with the tracks "The Power Cosmic 2000" parts one and two.
  • In an episode of the sitcom Scrubs (tv show), JD comments that his favorite super hero was the Silver Surfer, adding "Cowabunga!".

• The character of Norrin Radd is also used by Bal-Sagoth in "The Scourge of the Fourth Celestial Host", a song from their album The Power Cosmic.

• In an episode of the Nickelodeon animated series, Doug, Doug and his friend, Skeeter, pretend to be superheroes. Doug's character, Quail Man, is accompanied by Skeeter's character, The Silver Skeeter, a clear reference to The Silver Surfer. The criticisms of the Surfer's invincibility are noted here, as Skeeter gives his character powers bordering on omnipotence.

• In book #20 of the Animorphs series, Marco complains about having to morph in a dirty Burger King bathroom, asking why he has to and stating that the Silver Surfer never has to do things like this.

• In the book Goosebumps, Attack Of The Jack-O-Lanterns when someone paints her entire body (Including her hair) the main character, Drew, asks "Who is she, Silver Surfer?"

• Clothing company Bathing Ape, or Bape, have a very rare and expensive shoe called the Bathing Ape Limited Edition Silver Surfers, modelled after the Nike Air Force Ones.

• In Kringlan, a mall in Reykjavík, Iceland, an entire wall is covered with The Silver Surfer. The wall was painted by the Icelandic pop artist Erró

• In the "Web" story arc of the television show ReBoot, the surfer character is loosely based on The Silver Surfer (i.e. appears to be telekenitically connected with his surfboard; only feels pain when his board is damaged)

• In the cartoon Dexter's Laboratory, there was a side-story cartoon entitled "Dial M for Monkey", featuring a monkey superhero. In the episode, "Dial M for Monkey: Barbequor", it featured a parody of both Galactus and Silver Surfer as Barbequor, a powerful alien and master of cooking that eats planets, and his partner, the Silver Spooner (who rides a giant silver spoon). This episode was removed from broadcast syndication after complaints were made about the "effeminate" and "narcissistic" parody of Silver Surfer.^{[citation needed]}
• In the episode of the Fairly Odd Parents called "Mighty Mom and Dyno Dad", Timmy wishes he can be a Galactus type being to remove his mom and dad's superpowers. His fairy godparents turn into versions of the Silver Surfer, but they use skateboards and their crowns are still visible. Cosmo makes a reference to how he's naked. Timmy even calls them "heralds" at one point.
• In a second season episode of the television series The Wire the character of D'Angelo Barksdale is offered and turns down the latest copy of a Silver Surfer comic.
• In an episode of the television series Andromeda one of the characters, Seamus Harper makes a comment about the Silver Surfer, only to be held aghast when no-one knows who he is talking about. On a side note Al B. Harper, one of the Silver Surfer's friends, has the same last name as Seamus.
• A parody of the Silver Surfer was briefly seen in Futurama Comics #2, when the Planet Express crew was soaring through space.
• In the song "Things You Can Do", by the underground hip hop supergroup Deltron 3030, Silver Surfer is mentioned.
• The Silver Surfer appears on the first page of Futurama Comics #23. The Planet Express ship knocks him off his board.
• In the DC Comics one-shot The Lobo Convention Special, The Silver Surfer is seen getting knocked off his board.
• The Scandinavian chain of electronics shops, Spaceworld, uses the Silver Surfer as a mascot/logo.
• "Spacejunk", a song by Norwegian group Bel Canto (band), was inspired by the Silver Surfer.
• In addition to numerous references to comics in general (and Jack Kirby in particular,) American rockers Monster Magnet feature an appropriately cosmic-sounding tune called "Ego, the Living Planet" on their 1995 album "Dopes to Infinity."
• In the song "Big Acts, Little Acts" featuring GZA, hip-hop artist Afu-Ra calls himself the silver surfer, mentioning "conquering the globes and universes with Galactus".
• In 1982, "Me And The Silver Surfer" was recorded by Michael Gregtheodeg Waite on his only album "Cosmic Wave". He went on to produce the bands "FM" and "Nash The Slash".
• The English band, Warm Jets recorded a song called "Silver Surfer" in their 1997 album Future Signs.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• MDP: Silver Surfer - Marvel Database Project
• Official Marvel Picture site
• Silver Surfer on the Marvel Universe Character Bio Wiki
• The Complete Silver Surfer Appearance List
• Tv.com Silver Surfer episode guide
• Movie Trailer for Rise of the Silver Surfer: Apple Movie Trailers