There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week we’re traveling the cosmos with the former Herald of Galactus in “Silver Surfer Rebirth” by Ron Marz and Ron Lim. As the Silver Surfer traverses the cosmos, atoning for his past and keeping the universe safe, he must team up with old foes to protect the very concept of reality. If you like cosmic mysteries, classic characters, or the unraveling of the known universe, then this is the comic for you. Join us as we show you why you should be surfing the very fabric of space to keep everyone safe.
Who is this by?
Plenty of people make the new adventures of the Shining Sentinal of the Spacewaves possible. “Silver Surfer Rebirth” marks the return of Ron Marz (“Silver Surfer,” “Thor,” “Green Lantern”) to the adventures of Norrin Radd, as he travels the universe saving the day and atoning for his past as the herald of Galactus. Marz is no stranger to the cosmic adventures of the Marvel Universe and creates a solid mystery for Silver Surfer to investigate. However, reality seems to be in flux, and characters from his past are starting to get involved.
Joining Marz on art is Ron Lim (“Silver Surfer,” “Cable & Deadpool,” “Green Lantern”), who brings a real sense of the vast nature of space in “Silver Surfer Rebirth” as Radd travels the galaxy to save the day. Don Ho (“Incredible Hulk,” “Green Lantern”) joins Lim, and his inks help create vivid backdrops for Lim’s art and Israel Silva (“Shang Chi,” “Alien,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”) provides the colors.
What’s it all about?
To keep the universe safe and atone for his past as the herald of Galactus, Norrin Radd travels the cosmos to save the day and help other heroes with his vast cosmic power. The only problem is that things are starting to go wrong for the Silver Surfer. Radd keeps flashing to alternate timelines that reunite him with dead heroes, smack dab in the middle of ancient conflicts, and even face to face with his old master in “Silver Surfer Rebirth.” While Radd tries to get to the bottom of this mystery, he has to confront his past, namely in the form of Thanos
Radd learns that Adam Warlock distributed the infinity stones amongst some of the galaxy’s most formidable heroes. The problem is that the reality stone was stolen from Thanos and is now wreaking havoc on the very nature of reality itself. While it’s unclear who the villain threatening existence is in “Silver Surfer Rebirth,” it’s creating strange bedfellows as the mad titan and the shining sentinel team up to reclaim the infinity stone.
What makes it so great?
While we’re still pretty early into the new adventures of Norrin Radd in “Silver Surfer Rebirth,” it’s exciting to see a classic creative team get the chance to tell new stories. Ron Marz does an excellent job bringing Radd to life with his stoic quest to make amends for his past. While not necessarily humorless, Marz’s script gives a solemnity to the character as he talks about legacy and pieces together the mystery of what is causing the vast shifts in the fabric of reality. While perhaps not as psychedelic as other series’ where the Silver Surfer is at the helm, Marz does an excellent job of leaning into some of the cosmic weirdness that makes Marvel’s space adventures unique.
Silver Surfer is sent to multiple realities, timelines, conflicts, and settings in the two issues out so far. He’s confronted with dead heroes, finds himself captured by Skrulls, having a quiet conversation at Thanos’ farm, and confronted by the insatiable hunger of Galactus. While “Silver Surfer Rebirth” eventually explains the nature of all this weirdness, Marz does a good job of keeping you engaged while simultaneously keeping you in the dark. We are as confused as Radd as we jump from reality to reality, but you never feel unmoored or overwhelmed due to his curious and stoic nature.
Continued belowSimilarly, the art team remarkably brings the cosmic mystery to life in “Silver Surfer Rebirth.” While Ron Lim’s penciling does an admirable job of creating awesome spaceships and characters, a series like “Silver Surfer Rebirth” really shows you the importance of a good inker like Don Ho. Ho’s ink emphasized just how much of void space is, while helps make Lim’s drawings of cosmic power stand out and feel unique. The art team also clearly is having a good time shifting between periods and settings as the reality stone moves the world around them. Colors will go from vibrant and cosmic to muted and grounded at the turn of a page. But what makes the art stand out is Lim’s ability to create emotion for Silver Surfer. While the script has a degree of stoicism, Lim brings a vast array of emotions to a rather static face. While much of the script reads borderline scientific, Lim makes sure you can feel the surprise, anger, or joy as Radd shifts from reality to reality. It’s a simple touch, but it makes the book feel special.
Overall, “Silver Surfer Rebirth” does a stellar job of creating a team that knows this portion of the universe well and has a good time building a new mystery for Radd to investigate.
How can you read it?
“Silver Surfer Rebirth” is published monthly by Marvel Comics, and the 3rd issue will be hitting the racks this week at your local comic shop or on Marvel Unlimited or Comixology.
