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Silver Surfer (1968)
Silver Surfer (1968-1970) #1
Silver Surfer's origin on Zenn-La revealed here!
39 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1968
7 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,563 books2,340 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 26, 2025
THE ORIGIN OF THE SILVER SURFER
August 1968
"in every part of the globe..it is the same!
Hatred, Fear and unreasoning Hostility have possessed men's hearts!"
"Where soars the Silver Surfer.
There must he soar alone"
Classic Silver Surfer Origin story...with Norrin Radd saving his planet Zenn-La and love Shalla Bal to become Galactus Herald.
Great late 60s angst.
Plus THE WONDER OF THE WATCHER.
why the Watchers will not interfere in events...now.
August 1968
"in every part of the globe..it is the same!
Hatred, Fear and unreasoning Hostility have possessed men's hearts!"
"Where soars the Silver Surfer.
There must he soar alone"
Classic Silver Surfer Origin story...with Norrin Radd saving his planet Zenn-La and love Shalla Bal to become Galactus Herald.
Great late 60s angst.
Plus THE WONDER OF THE WATCHER.
why the Watchers will not interfere in events...now.
May 15, 2018
This was a first good issue as it revealed the origins of the Silver Surfer as well touch on his journey so far! I enjoyed seeing SS home planet and his thoughts on his adopted one (although they weren't exactly happy!) We saw the people that he left behind and the thrill of adventure in the early days he was herald for Galactus! It was a different issue that was more of a flashback. I'm interested in what happens next for the Silver Surfer!
June 29, 2018
Some really great art and an interesting origin! I love the Silver Surfer, but this is the first I’ve read regarding his earlier life, and it was interesting. His species was very human-looking, but despite that, there were neat concepts behind them and their culture, and how the man who would be the Surfer felt towards them. And the art really was spectacular—the page with Galactus’s hand was downright poster-worthy. Despite being more than fifteen pages longer than most issues, this didn’t feel overly-long, and even the Watcher story at the end was pretty good. I can’t wait to read more of the Silver Surfer!
May 22, 2024
My Marvelous Year Seven: 1968 Pt.2
A big double stuffed first issue. Pacing is a bit slow, as the silver age often is, but there are some big, fun moments. Back up story starring the Watcher.
Read for the origins of the Silver Surfer, and the Watchers’ High Council finding out what happens when you ignore the Prime Directive.
A big double stuffed first issue. Pacing is a bit slow, as the silver age often is, but there are some big, fun moments. Back up story starring the Watcher.
Read for the origins of the Silver Surfer, and the Watchers’ High Council finding out what happens when you ignore the Prime Directive.
May 17, 2018
I may have become indolent but...
I may have become indolent but I can still recognize genius. Put your personal computer aside and enjoy this amazingly prescient comic book in its entirety, True Believer!
I may have become indolent but I can still recognize genius. Put your personal computer aside and enjoy this amazingly prescient comic book in its entirety, True Believer!
March 25, 2018
An enduring classic
My favorite character. A Shakespearean, Promethean powerhouse. Plus Lee and Kirby. Perfection plus! What more could anyone want? The Surfer lives!
My favorite character. A Shakespearean, Promethean powerhouse. Plus Lee and Kirby. Perfection plus! What more could anyone want? The Surfer lives!
February 4, 2025
7/10 - Where soars the Silver Surfer... There must he soar..... alone
Very good, longer than usual, first issue for Silver Surfer's origin.
The related events are coherent with the personality of the character, and it's difficult not to feel empathy with him and the frustration of his current situation.
What also applies for the amoral Galactus, where you feel sorry for his cursed burden to nourish from planets. I liked the talk between him and Norrin Radd, where they understood each other and led to an agreement.
Despite the pace and execution of the plot is enjoyable, the bad point is that the story has become a bit old-fashioned in 60's cliches, typical representation of advanced civilizations and the tendency to exaggerate and simplify concepts and moral dilemmas.
There's also the usual bad habit in those years, where everybody, either alien or human, came to conclusions in no time, out of nowhere. It's way too theatrical to use a mega weapon capable of wreaking massive destruction without knowing the vessel's intentions.
Buscema art is great with some top-notch splash pages and the excellent panels where Galactus turns Silver Surfer on his herald.
Very good, longer than usual, first issue for Silver Surfer's origin.
The related events are coherent with the personality of the character, and it's difficult not to feel empathy with him and the frustration of his current situation.
What also applies for the amoral Galactus, where you feel sorry for his cursed burden to nourish from planets. I liked the talk between him and Norrin Radd, where they understood each other and led to an agreement.
Despite the pace and execution of the plot is enjoyable, the bad point is that the story has become a bit old-fashioned in 60's cliches, typical representation of advanced civilizations and the tendency to exaggerate and simplify concepts and moral dilemmas.
There's also the usual bad habit in those years, where everybody, either alien or human, came to conclusions in no time, out of nowhere. It's way too theatrical to use a mega weapon capable of wreaking massive destruction without knowing the vessel's intentions.
Buscema art is great with some top-notch splash pages and the excellent panels where Galactus turns Silver Surfer on his herald.
February 13, 2022
Love the Silver Surfer. If you are a fan you will like this. so different from the other Marvel super heroes.
August 19, 2024
Classic drawing art, and a catching story about the origins of one of the most mythical, enigmatic and interesting Marvel characters.
May 1, 2020
A Cause For Which To Live
...How does and how did Stan Lee see beyond and Beni the veil? He is a surfer of the Mind that now silver haired secular prophet. His imagination -- made vividly visual with the pop splendor -- arises on every page. His crisp prose seems purple, but his vision performs pure magic in the pondering mind of a reader. Silver Surfer stands solidly sound as sensational and entertaining. Only objectionable notion prominently curried by our culture echoed here in The Silver Surfer. That cherished notion about dying for a worthy cause. Why not curse the notion about dying for what merits allegiance of the Mind? And instead claim allegiance to a cause that warrants life?
...How does and how did Stan Lee see beyond and Beni the veil? He is a surfer of the Mind that now silver haired secular prophet. His imagination -- made vividly visual with the pop splendor -- arises on every page. His crisp prose seems purple, but his vision performs pure magic in the pondering mind of a reader. Silver Surfer stands solidly sound as sensational and entertaining. Only objectionable notion prominently curried by our culture echoed here in The Silver Surfer. That cherished notion about dying for a worthy cause. Why not curse the notion about dying for what merits allegiance of the Mind? And instead claim allegiance to a cause that warrants life?
June 2, 2021
After reading most of his previous body of work, I had concluded that Stan Lee was not an excellent writer. A brilliant creative mind no doubt but his plotting had been weak and his dialogue had been clunky. But now, I see that I was mistaken: Stan Lee had simply been warming up, honing his craft so he could do the Silver Surfer justice in his maiden voyage. This is Sci-Fi at its best: philosophical, poetic and it has some gorgeous art by John Buscema and Gene Colan. Even the backup with the retold origin of the Watchers blew me away; it was so far beyond anything we had seen so far from the bullpen.
I might have been converted into a True Believer. And with high hopes (and higher expectations), I shall Face Front.
I might have been converted into a True Believer. And with high hopes (and higher expectations), I shall Face Front.
March 25, 2023
Silver Surfer’ın ortaya çıkışından yıllar sonra kendi çizgi roman serisini elde ediyor. İlk sayısında daha önce anlatılmayan geçmişini öğreniyoruz. Galactus’un elçisi olmadan önceki hayatını, tutkusunu ve mutsuzluğunu görüyoruz. Elçi olduktan sonra da kendine edindiği misyonunu ve bu misyonun nihayetinde efendisiyle çatışmasına yol açtığı hikayeden kesitler gördük. Silver Surfer ile tanışacaklar için çok güzel bir sayı.
Bu sayıyla beraber dördüncü sayıyı da basan yayıncı Marmara Çizgi keşke bu aradaki sayıları da bassaymış. Sırf Thor ve Asgardlılar var diye satılır diye düşünüp basıldığını zannediyorum dördüncü sayının. Elimde on sekiz sayılık bir seriden bölük pörçük iki fasikül görmek benim için can sıkıcı.
Bu sayıyla beraber dördüncü sayıyı da basan yayıncı Marmara Çizgi keşke bu aradaki sayıları da bassaymış. Sırf Thor ve Asgardlılar var diye satılır diye düşünüp basıldığını zannediyorum dördüncü sayının. Elimde on sekiz sayılık bir seriden bölük pörçük iki fasikül görmek benim için can sıkıcı.
June 6, 2024
Es war sehr interessant, diesen Charakter einmal näher kennen zu lernen. Bisher war der Silver Surfer mir nur aus den beiden Fantastic Four Filmen aus den Zweitausendern bekannt, aber dieser Comic erklärt den Ursprung vom Silver Surfer.
Ich würde sagen: Ein must-read für jeden F4 fan :)
Ich würde sagen: Ein must-read für jeden F4 fan :)
June 9, 2025
Fantastic issue!
This is really a 4.5 for me.
I was already aware of the Surfer’s origin story but to fully experience it here was wonderful. The art by Buscema is so lively.
I wonder how the Surfer will escape his “imprisonment”
This is really a 4.5 for me.
I was already aware of the Surfer’s origin story but to fully experience it here was wonderful. The art by Buscema is so lively.
I wonder how the Surfer will escape his “imprisonment”
January 1, 2026
Red Scare has destroyed what little bit of what was left in the american mind
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews