SILVER SURFER:The Source Material

[Malus]

With all the positive buzz over the new trailer and the influx of new participants in these parts, I thought some might appreciate a look back at the Silver Surfer's beginnings.
Starting, of course, with the legendary Fantastic Four #48 from March of 1966:

Despite the cover date, the comic was actually on newsstands in December of 1965 - 41 years ago this month.

The Surfer doesn't appear on the cover of the cover of FF #48, but he is very vital to this classic story.

Fantastic Four #48 was the creation of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, of course. With a little help from inker Joe Sinnott, who would eventually work on over 200 issues of the comic.

 

[Malus]

And here's Fantastic Four #49, featuring the Surfer's first cover appearance:

 

[Malus]

Fantastic Four #50 concluded what came to be known as "The Galactus Trilogy," widely considered one of the greatest superhero epics ever:

 

[Malus]

The Surfer was incredibly popular with readers and it wasn't long before he was back, seeking the counsel of the sensitive Alicia Masters and finding himself in an unexpected battle with an insecure, jealous and fighting-mad Ben Grimm.
The stunning cover of Fantastic Four #55:

 

[superkong 500]

I wonder if there will be a fist fight between SS and the thing. Probably not but it would be interesting to see.

 

[Agent 194]

You wondered if anyone would enjoy a retrospective of the silver one's origin. I do indeed appreciate it. Bravo.

Those three books are some of the favorites in my collection. I agree, as do some others, that these three books are the ones that propelled comics into a whole new realm. They, IMO, solidified and canonized Marvel's place in history.

Good Christmas present Malus.

 

[Goddessreicho]

I can't believe it, but this is my first post in the FF threads...but anyway, can I see some scans of SS and Alicia, pleeeease, thanks.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Awesome thread Malus i love to see these classic covers,i juts wish these arcs would all be collected in a nice Hardback at a reasonable price

 

[Iron Maiden]

The Surfer accepts a personal invitation to tour the lab of Victor Von Doom....

 

[Malus]

^ Nice page, Maiden. Thanks!
It's hard to believe Jack Kirby could draw 5-6 pages a day, isn't it?

 

[Iron Maiden]

You're welcome...He definitely had a strong work ethic, didn't he? Got to be from his starting out as a small child drawing on the walls of his tenement building in Hell's Kitchen in NYC. I think he pioneered the full page splashes as the result of the fact that artist get paid by the page and he could turn them out more quickly. But they certainly have an epic quality to them.

I have to scan in some of his pencils I have from the Jack Kirby Collector but here's one of the Galactus and the Thing...

 

[Malus]

I have to scan in some of his pencils I have from the Jack Kirby Collector but here's one of Galactus and the Thing...

Seeing these panels in their raw pencil form is great. Most artists will agree that there is something that is lost in the inking process, even when they ink their own work. Kirby was no exception.

Interesting - The above panels pretty much establish that Galactus had never consumed a populated planet. Earth was to be his first "live" meal! So in the original story, Norrin Radd does not yet have blood on his hands.

I did not realize that.

 

[Malus]

I can't believe it, but this is my first post in the FF threads...but anyway, can I see some scans of SS and Alicia, pleeeease, thanks.

Definitely.
I have a friend who's having back surgery later today, so I'll be inactive for a day or so. But soon as I get back, I'll take my copies of FF #48-50 out of "the vault" and scan a few key sequences that will blow you away.

Speaking of the Alicia scenes, I wonder if we're going to get a more faithful adaptation of those scenes than we've assumed?

(Spoiler space, for those who chose not to read the recent MTV article)
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I'm guessing the FF bring a weakened Silver Surfer back to the Baxter Building for his own safety while the four of them contend with a now cosmically-powered Dr. Doom.
So I wonder who would look after him while they're gone...?
We already know Alicia is on the premises at the wedding, just before the FF have to take after the Surfer, so she'd likely be there waiting if they return later.
Just a thought.

 

[Fantastic-Boy]

Very nice!

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

These panels are the first anyone ever saw of the Surfer:

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

The Surfer was incredibly popular with readers and it wasn't long before he was back, seeking the counsel of the sensitive Alicia Masters and finding himself in an unexpected battle with an insecure, jealous and fighting-mad Ben Grimm.
The stunning cover of Fantastic Four #55:

One of my favorites!

Surfer: "why do you enter in such a rage, my friend?"

Ben: "YOU figger it out!"

Next scene is Norrin being knocked through a wall. t:

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

Malus,

I for one am glad you did this. The T-1000 comparisons are getting on my nerves already.

Time for a history lesson.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

You know what's funny? Years ago when i was sitting in the theater watching T2 and T-1000 came strolling out of that semi truck explosion in his true form, the first thing that popped into my head was "Silver Surfer rip-off", lol. t:

 

[Hunter Rider]

Figured you might have some info on these Malus

 

[co2]

Figured you might have some info on these Malus

I have that issue. Hulk tries to take SS's board so he can leave the planet. Surfer actually cures Banner. But then reinstates the gamma rays when he realises he shouldn't mettle.

I have this one also and like it much more.
http://www.hulklibrary.com/hulk/comics/comic-show.asp?Id=tih2&Issue=250

 

[Agent 194]

With the addition of the raw Kirby pencils this is now officially my favorite thread.

Beautiful stuff.

 

[Agent 194]

More. I crave more.

 

[hhuftyruft]

Figured you might have some info on these Malus

man that's sweet never read the comics but it looks awesome

 

[hhuftyruft]

Figured you might have some info on these Malus

man that's sweet,never read the comics but it looks awesome

 

[hhuftyruft]

Figured you might have some info on these Malus

man that's sweet,never read the comics but it looks awesome