THE LAST SILVER SURFER STORY?

by Michael McDaniel

     One of the benefits of owning your own comic book store is reading pretty much whatever comic you can get your hands on. Week after week, I get to read all the new comics that come out without much regard for price. It sounds pretty cool but it can leave you jaded. How so? Well, for every issue of the Astonishing X-Men it seems that there are about five issues of some forgettable comic drawn by Rob Liefeld or another former Image goober (here is his official website here if you want to subject yourself to the pain that is his art!). All in all, I read about maybe fifteen titles a month. And by read, I mean “dissect”, enjoy, and look forward to. I do manage to flip through another 15-20 titles but I don’t really consider that paying them enough attention to call it reading- just keeping up with what is going on in case someone asks.
     From time to time, a comic will come out that gets my attention enough to spark me to tell you all about here on my website. One such comic came out this week and I have felt the urge to share it with you. Marvel has begun publishing a 4 issue limited series entitled ‘Silver Surfer: Requiem’. The comic is written by J. Michael Straczynski and fully painted by Esad Ribic and figures prominently into Marvel’s media blitz for ‘Fantastic Four 2: The Rise of the Silver Surfer’. After I recently purchased the Silver Surfer: Omnibus, a collection of the entire silver-age series in one huge volume, I was pumped to read a new adventure of the former herald of Galactus.

Silver Surfer Requiem #1 of 4 $3.99 On Sale Now!

     After reading the book, I was stunned. The book is marvelously written and the art by Mr. Ribic, who I previously had not heard of, does not disappoint. But those factors are not why I find myself stunned. The content of this book is baffling. Why, on the heels of the Surfer’s moment in the sun via countless movie screens this summer, would Marvel do what they appear to be doing to him.
The series is aptly entitled ‘Requiem’ because Norrin Radd finds out, with the help of Reed Richards, that his time is short and that death is coming. I have always found the Silver Surfer to be profoundly reflective and Zen-like, not to mention one of my all-time favorite characters. He has long been the conscience of the Marvel Universe and one of the purest heroes that Stan and Jack ever created. Many a childhood afternoon was filled with me acting out his exploits in my backyard fighting Galactus, Mephisto, or any other super-villain my imagination could imagine. Seeing him deal with the news of his impending demise is remarkable yet extremely frustrating as I know all too well what happens when heroes begin this march towards their impending doom. Another one of my favorites has already been down this walk and met his end in a similar fashion. I am referring to the now classic “The Death of Captain Marvel” by Jim Starlin that saw the Cosmic Kree Protector of the Universe succumb to cancer or the “Black End” as his people called it.
     As I have stated, the book is good; however, it is another clear example of Strazinski’s ability to weave a fantastic tale but, at the same time, tell a story that may not need to be told or at least… not at this time. Remember, it was JMS that drug ole’ Gwen Stacy through the muck and mire with that business a few years back of her having children by Norman “Death to Spider-man via Pumpkin Bomb” Osborn. Maybe, this is another clear example of the Joe Quesada strategy of “anything can happen in the Marvel Universe” in full effect.
     There are three possible explanations for this story or, rather, these are my opinions as to why the folks at Marvel have decided to release this series upon us now:

1. The Surfer is not going to die. He will find some Deus ex machina fix-all and all will be well.
2. He is going to die and Marvel is simply doing this now to sell more books so they can boast about how many books they are selling. This would fit right into Marvel’s current modus operandi.
3. The book does carry a Marvel Knights logo. Remember that imprint. The story may take place outside of the Marvel Universe or at least in the future. But if this was the case, why not call it Silver Surfer: The End?

     Regardless of the reason for this publication or where the story might end up, the timing is suspect and, based on recent events at Marvel, is another glaring reason for me to fill the website with comments critical of the comic publisher. I want Marvel to be better than what they are. I want my customers to be able to waltz into my store and have only positive comments to say about the Mighty Marvel Universe instead of the current tirades and constant complaints I’m hearing from even the most loyal of Marvel readers.
     Again, I call on Marvel readers to drop Joe Quesada a line and remind him that the Marvel Universe isn’t his personal playground to shake up and makeover how he wants it to be. It is a comic company with a foundation built by the hard work of guys like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, John Buscema, and every other creator that has lent a hand in shaping not just the Silver Surfer but the entire Merry Marvel Universe. Weakening that foundation to sell a few extra books threatens to destroy the house that all of those guys have struggled for years to build and shows a reckless attitude in dealing with the characters that he claims to care so much for. Speaking directly to Quesada now, I say: You call your weekly column on Newsarama.com ‘Cup o’ Joe’. I urge you to go decaf…it might make you a better editor-in-chief and fill those huge shoes your wearing.