Silver Surfer (Vol. 4)

(Marvel, 2003-2004)
™ and © Marvel Entertainment Group

This is the fourth ongoing Silver Surfer series, and it’s far different from any before it. Unlike earlier Surfer series, which focused on the character’s obligations and his place in the cosmos, this rendition presents The Surfing Sultan as a distant and mysterious being with questionable motives and objectives. He has yet to utter a word, and his visage evokes the alien depicted on the cover of Whitley Strieber’s Communion. In fact, the story in question is actually called “Communion Part 1.”

Another unusual aspect of this series (at least so far) is that it’s not really about The Silver Surfer. Rather, the story focuses on an autistic girl and her mom, a sympathetic woman who loves her child but is frustrated by the girl’s inability to return affection. Mother and daughter are portrayed authentically and sympathetically, and the art is stunningly realistic, so there’s no doubting the quality of the material. However, the intrinsically downbeat nature of the story in conjunction with the absence of the title character means the issue isn’t as fun or as adventurous as earlier incarnations, especially the vintage, purple prose-laden (in a good way) Stan Lee material.

The former Herald of Galactus does eventually make a three-page appearance near the end of the issue and he commits a pivotal act that will surely play into future issues. However, the typical super-hero fan will be mystified by his overall absenteeism. (Shades of recent issues of Hulk.)

— Brett Weiss

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