SILVER SURFER, THE 575
Th e Silver Surfer fi rst appears in a three-issue sequence of Fantastic Four (known
today as the “Th e Galactus Trilogy”) beginning with issue #48 in March 1966. Here the
Silver Surfer comes to Earth, heralding the coming of Galactus, the devourer of worlds.
While interacting with several characters, notably Alicia Masters, the Silver Surfer
begins to feel confl icted between protecting what he deems as a worthy planet and his
duties to Galactus. His outlook on the goodness and unlimited potential of humanity
refl ects similar humanistic progressive themes in much science fi ction writing of the
time, most notably in Gene Roddenberry’s original Star Trek.
Th e Silver Surfer’s defi ance of Galactus echoes Lucifer’s rebellion and subsequent
exile from Heaven. Although Earth is spared, as a punishment for his transgression
the Silver Surfer is exiled from the cosmos (i.e., Heaven). Th is exile is explored in the
fi rst series, running from August 1968 to #18 in September 1970. In this series, the
Silver Surfer undergoes trials and temptations while continuing to refl ect on the nobil-
ity of humanity despite the day-to-day bigotry and ignorance he sees. To further his
Odysseus-like journey, the Surfer is feared and rejected by the majority of humans with
whom he comes into contact, making his self-sacrifi ce and exile all the more bitter-
sweet. Th is series is among Stan Lee’s most introspective work and refl ects many of the
cultural and critical challenges of the social and political issues raised in the late 1960s.
Th e Silver Surfer wanders the Earth during his exile in the fi rst series, longing to
return to his home planet of Zenn-La and his mate, Shalla Bal. Here, again echoing Th e
Odyssey, as the Surfer takes on the literary and mythological conventions of exile, trials,
and temptation. Th e Surfer stands in for the incorruptible soul, constantly tested and
tempted by a gallery of villains such as Dr. Doom, Loki, and the demon Mephisto. While
Doom desires the Power Cosmic from the Surfer, Loki and Mephisto are attracted to
Doug Jones as the Silver Surfer, in the 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, directed
by Tim Story. Actor Laurence Fishburne provided the voice of the Silver Surfer. 20th Century
Fox/WETA/Photofest
