Silver Surfer (comic book)

Last updated
Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer 01 cover.jpg
Cover of the Silver Surfer #1 (August 1968). Art by John Buscema and Joe Sinnott.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
Format
List
Genre
Publication date
List
  • vol. 1 August 1968 – September 1970
    vol. 2 June 1982
    vol. 3 July 1987 – November 1998
    vol. 4 December 1988 – January 1989
    vol. 5 September 2003 – December 2004
    vol. 6 April 2011 – August 2011
    vol. 7 May 2014 – December 2015
    vol. 8 January 2016 – October 2017
No. of issues
List
  • vol. 1 18
    vol. 2 1
    vol. 3 147 (#1–146 and #-1) and 8 Annuals
    vol. 4 2
    vol. 5 14
    vol. 6 5
    vol. 7 15
    vol. 8 14
Main character(s) Silver Surfer
Galactus
Creative team
Written by(vol. 1)
Stan Lee
(vol. 2)
Stan Lee & John Byrne
(vol. 3)
Steve Englehart (1–20, 22–31, Annual #1–2), Marshall Rogers (21 w Michael Higgins), Jim Valentino (32–33), Jim Starlin (34–48, 50, Annual #3), Ron Marz (42–43, 49, 51–102, Annual #3–7), Glenn Greenberg (103, 124–125, 146), Mike Lackey (101–102, 104–110), George Pérez (111–123), J.M. DeMatteis (-1, 123, 125–145, Annual #1997)
(vol. 4)
Stan Lee
(vol. 5)
Dan Chariton
(vol. 6)
Greg Pak
(vol. 7)
Dan Slott
(vol. 8)
Dan Slott
Collected editions
Silver Surfer Omnibus ISBN   0-7851-2753-4

Silver Surfer or The Silver Surfer is the name of several series of comic books published by Marvel Comics featuring the Silver Surfer.

Contents

Publication history

Volume 1

The first series, The Silver Surfer, was published beginning in 1968 [1] and was written by Stan Lee with art by John Buscema (#1–17) [2] [3] and Jack Kirby (#18). Villains introduced in the series include Mephisto in issue #3 (Dec. 1968). [4] Spider-Man guest-starred in issue #14 (March 1970). [5] Encounters with Thor, Loki, and The Human Torch are also some of the notable things that take place within this volume. The series ended after 18 issues, running from August, 1968 to September, 1970.

The Silver Surfer : The Ultimate Cosmic Experience by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Joe Sinnott was published in September 1978 as part of the Marvel Fireside Books series and is considered to be one of the first true "graphic novels." [6]

Volume 2

In 1982 Marvel published a Silver Surfer one-shot by Stan Lee, John Byrne, and Tom Palmer. [7] The one-shot finds the Surfer being temporarily freed from Galactus's punishment, and attempts to rescue his missing love, Shalla Bal. Although it is a one-shot, it serves a second volume within the title.

Volume 3

The third volume series ran from 1987 to 1999 for 146 regular issues, as well as an issue number "−1", and nine annuals, making it the longest-running volume of Silver Surfer. This volume is sometimes referred to as the second Silver Surfer volume, but, according to indicia found inside the comics, the 1982 one-shot was designated "Volume 2" and Marvel therefore designated the second series, beginning in 1987, as "Volume 3." [8]

Volume 4

The fourth series was a 1988 two-issue out-of-continuity mini-series from Stan Lee and Moebius through Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, later collected under the title Silver Surfer: Parable. [9] [10]

Volume 5

The fifth series started in 2004 and was written by Dan Chariton and Stacy Weiss, lasting 14 issues. [11] Consisting of the Communion and Revelation story arcs, the fifth volume ran from September, 2003 to December, 2004.

Volume 6

The sixth series was a five-part miniseries published in 2011, written by Greg Pak with art by Stephen Segovia. [12] Given a brief run, the sixth volume started in April, and concluded in August in the year of 2011.

Volume 7

The seventh series, written by Dan Slott and drawn by Mike Allred began in May 2014, [13] lasting 15 issues. [14]

Volume 8

The eighth series, again written by Dan Slott and drawn by Mike Allred, ran from March 2016 to December 2017, lasting 14 issues.

Writers

Volume 1

Stan Lee wrote all 18 issues of The Silver Surfer, beginning in 1968. He later wrote many of the character's subsequent appearances, including the first Silver Surfer graphic novel in 1978 (published by Simon & Schuster).

Volume 2

The Silver Surfer one-shot released in 1982 was plotted and penciled by John Byrne and scripted by Stan Lee. [15]

Volume 3

Writers for Silver Surfer vol. 3 include:

IssuesWriter
#1–20, 22-31 Steve Englehart
#21 Marshall Rogers
#32–33 Jim Valentino
#34–48, 50 Jim Starlin
#49, 51–102 Ron Marz
#103, 124–125, 146 Glenn Greenberg
#104–110 Mike Lackey
#111–123 George Pérez
#126–145, −1 J. M. DeMatteis

Volume 4

Stan Lee returned to the character for both issues of volume 4 published through Marvel's Epic Comics imprint beginning in 1988.

Volume 5

Dan Chariton and Stacy Weiss wrote all 14 issues of Silver Surfer volume 5, published from 2004–2005.

Volume 6

Greg Pak wrote volume 6, consisting of a five-issue miniseries released in 2011.

Volumes 7 – 8

Dan Slott wrote all 15 issues of volume 7 (May 2014 – December 2015) [13] and all 14 issues of volume 8 (March 2016 – December 2017).

Artists

Volume 1

Volume 1 was pencilled by John Buscema and inked by Joe Sinnott, Sal Buscema, Dan Adkins and Chic Stone. [1] Jack Kirby returned to pencil the final issue, #18, which was inked by Herb Trimpe. [16]

Volume 2

Volume 2 was a one-shot pencilled by John Byrne and inked by Tom Palmer. [7]

Volume 3

Marshall Rogers was the first to pencil Silver Surfer vol. 3 in 1987, followed by Ron Lim. Tom Grindberg took over from Lim and was later replaced by Scot Eaton. Ron Garney produced the artwork for several issues until issue #130, after which various artists illustrated the series. Guest artists before issue #130 include Joe Rubinstein, Joe Phillips, Bart Sears, and John Buscema.

Volume 4

Volume 5

Volume 6

Volume 7

Michael Allred pencilled and inked volume 7 and Laura Allred was the colorist.

Volume 8

Michael Allred pencilled and inked volume 8 and Laura Allred was the colorist.

Bibliography

Original graphic novels

The Silver Surfer has featured in four original graphic novels:

Additional series

The Silver Surfer has also headlined or co-headlined the following series:

Intercompany crossovers

Marvel has featured the Silver Surfer alongside characters from other companies in the following crossovers:

Collected editions

The character's various series have been collected into the following books:

Awards

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References

  1. 1 2 Silver Surfer at the Grand Comics Database
  2. ↑ DeFalco, Tom; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1960s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 131. ISBN   978-0756641238. When Stan Lee was told to expand the Marvel line, he immediately gave the Surfer his own title...Since Jack Kirby had more than enough assignments, Lee assigned John Buscema the task of illustrating the new book.{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Daniels, Les (1991). Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams. p. 139. ISBN   9780810938212. Beautifully drawn by John Buscema, this comic book represented an attempt to upgrade the medium with a serious character of whom Lee had grown very fond.
  4. ↑ DeFalco "1960s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 133: "Created by editor Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, Mephisto hated the Surfer the moment he became aware of him."
  5. ↑ Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1970s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 53. ISBN   978-0756692360. The Silver Surfer paid a visit to New York City in this Stan Lee/John Buscema tale. Like most first encounters in the Marvel Universe, the Surfer's introduction to the web-head didn't go too smoothly.{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Sanderson, Peter "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 187: "[In 1978], Simon & Schuster's Fireside Books published a paperback book titled The Silver Surfer by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...This book was later recognized as Marvel's first true graphic novel."
  7. 1 2 Silver Surfer vol. 2 at the Grand Comics Database
  8. ↑ Silver Surfer vol. 3 at the Grand Comics Database
  9. ↑ Daniels p. 225: "Stan Lee, who continues to write stories featuring the idealistic Silver Surfer, collaborated with the renowned French artist 'Moebius' (Jean Giraud) on this 1988 graphic novel."
  10. ↑ Silver Surfer vol. 4 at the Grand Comics Database
  11. ↑ Silver Surfer vol. 5 at the Grand Comics Database
  12. ↑ Silver Surfer vol. 6 at the Grand Comics Database
  13. 1 2 Rogers, Vaneta (October 13, 2013). "NYCC 2013: Dan Slott Crams 'Kirby Cool' Concepts Into New Silver Surfer Series". Newsarama. Archived from the original on October 27, 2013.
  14. ↑ Silver Surfer vol. 7 at the Grand Comics Database
  15. ↑ Catron, Michael (August 1981). "Silver Surfer Special Set". Amazing Heroes (3). Stamford, Connecticut: Fantagraphics Books: 17.
  16. ↑ "Silver Surfer #18". Grand Comics Database.
  17. ↑ "1989 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014.
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