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Marvel Masterworks: The Silver Surfer #2
Marvel Masterworks: The Silver Surfer, Vol. 2
cover and pages in near perfect shape
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
17 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,566 books2,334 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 28, 2019
the second half of Silver Surfer's silver age run.
I found this a bit funner than the previous volume because it looks like they didn't really know what to do with the Surfer, and so they tried to turn him into a horror comic which ended up being weird in a good sort of way. Instead of just battling it out with space aliens, here The Surfer takes on Dr. Frankenstein, A ghost pirate, and a coven of witches (he even did a guest appearance over at Tomb of Dracula around this time period). Mephisto even returns from the previous volume a couple of times to cause trouble. Like last volume's Thor vs. Surfer issue, the Surfer finds himself taking on heroes here, too. Spider-Man, the Inhumans, and the Human Torch tangle with the silver sentinel.
The main problem here is that Silver Surfer's power level is pretty undefined. Sometimes he can heal a critically dying person with the point of his finger, and sometimes he can't heal people at all. Bullets can't touch him, but a stray chunk of space rock knocks him out cold. He says he can easily use his power to blend in with people, but when he does go incognito he just puts on a hat and trench coat.
Overall, these are decent silver age comics but I'm glad this early run stopped here because they obviously had nowhere to go with Surfer's character at this point.
I found this a bit funner than the previous volume because it looks like they didn't really know what to do with the Surfer, and so they tried to turn him into a horror comic which ended up being weird in a good sort of way. Instead of just battling it out with space aliens, here The Surfer takes on Dr. Frankenstein, A ghost pirate, and a coven of witches (he even did a guest appearance over at Tomb of Dracula around this time period). Mephisto even returns from the previous volume a couple of times to cause trouble. Like last volume's Thor vs. Surfer issue, the Surfer finds himself taking on heroes here, too. Spider-Man, the Inhumans, and the Human Torch tangle with the silver sentinel.
The main problem here is that Silver Surfer's power level is pretty undefined. Sometimes he can heal a critically dying person with the point of his finger, and sometimes he can't heal people at all. Bullets can't touch him, but a stray chunk of space rock knocks him out cold. He says he can easily use his power to blend in with people, but when he does go incognito he just puts on a hat and trench coat.
Overall, these are decent silver age comics but I'm glad this early run stopped here because they obviously had nowhere to go with Surfer's character at this point.
August 9, 2019
I enjoyed this volume more than the first. In V1, Surfer spends more time wallowing in self-pity, but in V2, there's a rising frustration and anger, culminating in one of the most outstanding splash pages I've ever seen in a Marvel comic. It's even more relatable (and timely), if you are the type of generally tries to be and do good in the world, but constantly faced with negative emotions and actions.
As a whole, the series is a little repetitious, with Stan trying to find some reason for the Surfer to interact with at least one other character in the Marvel Universe. The art also solidifies a little with Adkins' inking on the majority of issues, and the very last issue is drawn by none other than the King himself, Jack Kirby. While his style is dramatically different than Buscema's, it's a treat unto itself.
Be warned, the series ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, but it is still a joy to read this early Marvel book.
As a whole, the series is a little repetitious, with Stan trying to find some reason for the Surfer to interact with at least one other character in the Marvel Universe. The art also solidifies a little with Adkins' inking on the majority of issues, and the very last issue is drawn by none other than the King himself, Jack Kirby. While his style is dramatically different than Buscema's, it's a treat unto itself.
Be warned, the series ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, but it is still a joy to read this early Marvel book.
May 19, 2020
Meh.
John Buscema, brilliant penciler. Nice issue by Jack Kirby, as well.
Nevertheless, these stories are not for me. Somehow, boring.
John Buscema, brilliant penciler. Nice issue by Jack Kirby, as well.
Nevertheless, these stories are not for me. Somehow, boring.
September 27, 2017
Marvel Masterworks: Silver Surfer Volume 2 collects issues #7-18, the final issue, of his first solo series. The Surfer has been exiled to Earth by Galactus and bemoans humanities hatred of him while finding the compassion to help them in their times of peril while his loved one, Shalla-Bal, attempts to reach him across the cosmos.
There isn't much that makes this collection any better or even as good Volume 1. The one thing it does have going for it is that the issues are a lot shorter (20 pages now with exception of the awful issue #7 at the original 40 page length). There is also a handful of more prominent Marvel characters and villains, but there is also even more terrible one offs (the most egregious being Frankenstein and his monster in #7). Mephisto makes a couple appearances and his role as the archvillain works out well enough, but no one really seems like a threat to him. My favorite comic of this collection was the final issue where he fight both the evil Inhumans and the good Inhumans.
My big problem with these comics is they make Silver Surfer seem whiny and hypocritical. He talks about how he wants to be non-violent towards humanity because of his compassion, but then loses his shit and attacks them because they are scared of him. At no point does he ever stop and try to communicate who he is and what his purpose is or like tell them he have saved the world a billion times. He's so prone to violence that there is even an issue where the Fantastic Four send Human Torch after him because he's trying to fight the US military and at the end it's revealed that they just wanted him to give them advice about some tech they were inventing and he feels bad, sulking off to lament about the barrier that keeps him here. Don't even get me started on the Spider-Man issue where they literally fight because neither one knows who the other person is. It's dumb.
You can definitely tell there was a lot of confusion on Stan Lee's part about what to do with the Surfer. Should they keep him as a guest in the more mainstream titles? Do they try make his comic more mystical/horror based or keep is cosmic? The final issues teases another Silver Surfer series to follow this one, but it doesn't happen. He became relegated to being a guest character until the late 80s when he got his own comic once again.
All in all, it's sort of fun if you look beyond the fact that the Surfer is never really given any chance to look inwardly at himself and try to address his own aggression and judgments of humans. You can tell Stan Lee really used him as a philosophical conduit and even mentions in the intro to Volume One that Surfer is his favorite character that he created. The shorter comics really improve the pacing and the artwork in these by John Buscema is just phenomenal. Recommended.
There isn't much that makes this collection any better or even as good Volume 1. The one thing it does have going for it is that the issues are a lot shorter (20 pages now with exception of the awful issue #7 at the original 40 page length). There is also a handful of more prominent Marvel characters and villains, but there is also even more terrible one offs (the most egregious being Frankenstein and his monster in #7). Mephisto makes a couple appearances and his role as the archvillain works out well enough, but no one really seems like a threat to him. My favorite comic of this collection was the final issue where he fight both the evil Inhumans and the good Inhumans.
My big problem with these comics is they make Silver Surfer seem whiny and hypocritical. He talks about how he wants to be non-violent towards humanity because of his compassion, but then loses his shit and attacks them because they are scared of him. At no point does he ever stop and try to communicate who he is and what his purpose is or like tell them he have saved the world a billion times. He's so prone to violence that there is even an issue where the Fantastic Four send Human Torch after him because he's trying to fight the US military and at the end it's revealed that they just wanted him to give them advice about some tech they were inventing and he feels bad, sulking off to lament about the barrier that keeps him here. Don't even get me started on the Spider-Man issue where they literally fight because neither one knows who the other person is. It's dumb.
You can definitely tell there was a lot of confusion on Stan Lee's part about what to do with the Surfer. Should they keep him as a guest in the more mainstream titles? Do they try make his comic more mystical/horror based or keep is cosmic? The final issues teases another Silver Surfer series to follow this one, but it doesn't happen. He became relegated to being a guest character until the late 80s when he got his own comic once again.
All in all, it's sort of fun if you look beyond the fact that the Surfer is never really given any chance to look inwardly at himself and try to address his own aggression and judgments of humans. You can tell Stan Lee really used him as a philosophical conduit and even mentions in the intro to Volume One that Surfer is his favorite character that he created. The shorter comics really improve the pacing and the artwork in these by John Buscema is just phenomenal. Recommended.
August 24, 2018
Perhaps some will say it’s the nostalgia talking... but Buscema’s Surfer work never fails to stop me in my tracks. It’s the colors. And the faces. And the poses. And the framing. Simply put, it’s eye-sex. He had those Kirbyesque black dots DOWN. I’ve heard it referred to as the “Kirby Krackle.” Whatever it is, it very effectively conveys blinding heat and Power Cosmic!
These stories are great. They focus on your standard Silver Surfer themes, namely man’s pension for paranoia, greed, deception and violence.
Mephisto may look like a corny villain (he really does,) but he shines in this volume. He’s an irredeemable piece of shit, which contrasts well with the ever-noble Norrin Radd.
It’s a shame that this series was cancelled so early. I’m glad Marvel came to their senses and allowed Englehart to bring the greatest silvery hero ever back to life a decade later.
If you love superhero awesomeness, look no further. Excelsior!!!!
These stories are great. They focus on your standard Silver Surfer themes, namely man’s pension for paranoia, greed, deception and violence.
Mephisto may look like a corny villain (he really does,) but he shines in this volume. He’s an irredeemable piece of shit, which contrasts well with the ever-noble Norrin Radd.
It’s a shame that this series was cancelled so early. I’m glad Marvel came to their senses and allowed Englehart to bring the greatest silvery hero ever back to life a decade later.
If you love superhero awesomeness, look no further. Excelsior!!!!
May 18, 2023
I like the kid in issue 14 who says "What good does it do me to be watchin' all this [Spider-man and Silver Surfer fighting] no one's ever gonna believe it when I tell them!" Even back then people only did it for the Gram. The zombie ghost cyborg pirate villain was a breath of fresh air to the stale plots, but he overstayed his welcome spanning two issues.
Overall this is more of the same from last book. Surfer goes around the world, and people are scared and fight him and then may learn their lesson for a second and forget it or never learn at all. The saving grace in the repetition is the amazing art, though not as psychedelic anywhere as the last collection.
Oh and even though I was way past done with Mephisto stories before too many more appeared here, at least we got to see Mephisto in a blue trench coat trying to be a regular person to hilarious effect.
Overall this is more of the same from last book. Surfer goes around the world, and people are scared and fight him and then may learn their lesson for a second and forget it or never learn at all. The saving grace in the repetition is the amazing art, though not as psychedelic anywhere as the last collection.
Oh and even though I was way past done with Mephisto stories before too many more appeared here, at least we got to see Mephisto in a blue trench coat trying to be a regular person to hilarious effect.
February 25, 2023
Another epic
As with the previous volume, this collection is top notch! Buscema's artwork is unparalelled, and the stories are all out action!
The Surfer's lamenting gets a little tiresome, but this is still a fantastic read and is as true today as it was 50 years ago when it was first published. Mankind is no better, sadly.
A great collection and fantastic read!
As with the previous volume, this collection is top notch! Buscema's artwork is unparalelled, and the stories are all out action!
The Surfer's lamenting gets a little tiresome, but this is still a fantastic read and is as true today as it was 50 years ago when it was first published. Mankind is no better, sadly.
A great collection and fantastic read!
July 21, 2021
Awesome art complemented by some good narrative. I specially liked the numbers involving Warlock.
September 17, 2023
Silver Surfer #7-18.
March 10, 2017
I'm one of the few who was happy when they dropped the page count...it made these issues feel a little less interminable.
Read
May 9, 2021Questo volume ristampa storie apparse sui seguenti albi americani:
Silver Surfer 7-18
Fntastic Four annual 5 (solo una storia breve)
Silver Surfer 7-18
Fntastic Four annual 5 (solo una storia breve)
October 27, 2014
The artwork is less satisfying in last two issues drawn by Buscema: figures become stiff and often seem to float in front of the backgrounds like cutouts rather than inhabiting a three dimensional space. This seems mainly due to the heavily outlined figures inked by Chic Stone and the lack of graded coloring on Mephisto who appears here as a uniform bright red rather than in shades grading from brown and dark red through pink and white as in earlier appearances.
The final issue re-unites the Surfer with his creator, Jack Kirby, and pits him against another signature Kirby creation, The Inhumans. As can be expected of “The King”, each panel expresses maximum energy; Kirby’s more massive Surfer makes his displays of power more convincing. The drawings often seem to embody the laws of physics – each hurtling figure or thrown punch an illustration of mass in destructive motion.
Occasionally during his periods of bemoaning man’s inhumanity, the Surfer works himself into a rage and vows to use his power as a means of chastising humankind. These seldom last more than a few panels before he sees some helpless victim in danger who he feels compelled to help. At the end of issue 18, after becoming involuntarily involved in the Inhumans’ civil war, he works himself up into the grand-daddy of all snits and the issue ends with a full page close-up of the Surfer’s enraged countenance as he vows to battle against mankind and to “be the deadliest one of all!” A teaser line at the bottom of the page says, “Next: The Savagely Sensational NEW Silver Surfer!” Alas, there was to be no issue 19 and the Surfer’s rampage, like the Christian Day of Wrath, has been indefinitely postponed.
The final issue re-unites the Surfer with his creator, Jack Kirby, and pits him against another signature Kirby creation, The Inhumans. As can be expected of “The King”, each panel expresses maximum energy; Kirby’s more massive Surfer makes his displays of power more convincing. The drawings often seem to embody the laws of physics – each hurtling figure or thrown punch an illustration of mass in destructive motion.
Occasionally during his periods of bemoaning man’s inhumanity, the Surfer works himself into a rage and vows to use his power as a means of chastising humankind. These seldom last more than a few panels before he sees some helpless victim in danger who he feels compelled to help. At the end of issue 18, after becoming involuntarily involved in the Inhumans’ civil war, he works himself up into the grand-daddy of all snits and the issue ends with a full page close-up of the Surfer’s enraged countenance as he vows to battle against mankind and to “be the deadliest one of all!” A teaser line at the bottom of the page says, “Next: The Savagely Sensational NEW Silver Surfer!” Alas, there was to be no issue 19 and the Surfer’s rampage, like the Christian Day of Wrath, has been indefinitely postponed.
April 13, 2015
More surprisingly good adventures from the Silver Surfer, this time reprinting issues 7 to 18 (the final issue). Including appearances from Spider-Man, the Abomination and Captain America, it's a real shame that the series was cancelled as it ends on a cliff-hanger that has never been rectified, with the Surfer's next appearance in The Mighty Thor #193 having him acting as normal, rather than how he appears in the final panel of this book.
November 29, 2023
I read these as they came out originally back in the day, but I find the Surfer's whining removes much of the joy of reading him when you have the ability to binge read.
May 7, 2015
August 1969 - September 1970. Silver Surfer, although immensely powerful, sees himself as a man of peace who will not kill, and all humans -- and pretty much everyone else in the universe, except his lady-love -- as hostile and violent. Makes for some odd stories, although he does manage to defeat the super-villains and escape without killing anyone.
April 28, 2023
Buscema & Kirby are gods. The first half is much more a horror comic, & gems include Dr. Frankenstein creating a Frankensurfer, Mephisto empowering the Ghost of the Flying Dutchman, & a witch coven trying to ritualize the Surfer & Abomination. The second half is a Marvel fight comic, as the Surfer battles Spidey, the Torch, S.H.I.E.L.D., & the Inhumans
February 9, 2016
The Marvel Masterworks volumes are fantastic reprints of the early years of Marvel comics. A fantastic resource to allow these hard to find issues to be read by everyone. Very recommended to everyone and Highly recommended to any comic fan.
July 2, 2024
Yet another OCD upgrade/ double-dip. At least I have a perfect version preserved for posterity. The Mephisto stories are my favorites, followed by the one with witches coven where they conjure the Abomination.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews