Product Description: The Silver Surfer delves alone into the furthest depths of the void - tangling with organ-stealing pirates, demonic beasts, and a race of alien aristocrats. Everyone's favorite Cosmic Wanderer discovers that even in the midst of a galactic utopia, horror is never far away. Featuring electrifying artwork by the dynamic Tan Eng Huat (Doom Patrol, Batman) and an endlessly inventive script by Simon Spurrier - the writer behind the sold-out Gutsville! Collects Silver Surfer: In Thy Name #1-4.
Great Idea, So/So Execution Like my other reviews, I won't summarize this story in case anyone wants to pick it up and enjoy it on their own. I will only reveal what I have too in order to make my point. Silver Surfer: In Thy Name is a serious read that tackles the issue of war and hate, and why life always finds a way to destroy itself. The idea is great, but it was executed much better, in one chapter of Silver Surfer: Requiem than in this entire book.
In Thy Name, from the opening page, was a bit too melodramatic. For instance, the Silver Surfer reveals that he cherishes life, but at the same time, hates it. How can he hate life, when he flies around the Universe protecting life? Yes, it's a serious book, with a deep philosophical look at society, but Spurrier (author) was a bit over-the-top and wordy with his script in my opinion.
Ironically, while the script is too wordy, the story itself is a bit too short and convenient- almost lazy. For example, Silver Surfer encounters a world that finally impresses him with their wisdom and compassion for life. This world, ruled by a queen is basically a Utopia, or at least that's what it seems like at first. Silver Surfer and the Queen quickly become friends and admire each other greatly until, all of a sudden, an assassin attempts to kill the Queen. When the Silver Sufer prevents the assassination, he assumes that that the Queen will thank him, only to be repremanded by her. Only after the Surfer is "burned," does he think perhaps, the Utopia isn't all its cracked up to be.
The book ends abruptly, with really, no purpose of the story. The Silver Surfer doesn't appreciate life, or find hope, or anything, which is perhaps the point of the story. After reading it, I was left with the thought.."that was a nice tale, but what was the point?" There is no resolution. It ends, like it begins. To give an example of the melodrama, here's the ending quote: "And so... a return to the void. A retreat into the silence and cold: too far changed from the animal I once was to weep... not changed enough to resist a backwards glance..."
As for the art, it was good, but too busy and messy. In some panels, it was difficult to tell the difference from the characters and background.
Overall, I thought this book was a disappintment. Especially coming out right after Silver Surfer: Requiem.
Silver Surfer: In Thy Name Out of all the superhuman and mutants from Marvel the Silver Surfer has to be my favourite character, mainly cause he is a profound character and has a very unique look on life aswell as a very unique life itself, and it is always interesting to how he handles the troubles of the universe.
So when i read In Thy Name, i was very impressed, Simon Spurrier is a sensational writer for the Silver Surfer and really gets into he's head and manages to really show us what the Silver Surfer is thinking as well as bringing in a bit of Norman Radd to show the struggle he has trying to balance the life of the Silver Surfer, and the past of Norman Radd.
But not only do you get a creative and indepth story of the Silver Surfers attempt to find a Utopia, but Tan Eng Huat has done a sensational job with the artwork, yet to be honest it is the reason i only gave it a 4 stars (that and it was too short, definatly could of read it for alot longer) but the artwork is amazing but almost too detailed, there is alot of detail in many of the characters that gets lost in the hype of the frame and often is hard to define whats what and whos fighting who. But for the SS himself, he just looks sensational and Huat has really done a fantastic job with showing off SS' powers and combined with Spurrier we really get to see exactly how powerful the Silver Surfer is.
I definatly advise all SS fans to read this and anyone that is looking for something a lil deeper than Marvels standard Avengers or Ultimate series.
As good as Requiem, if not better. I feel compelled to write a review for this, seeing is how it's probably my favourite Silver Surfer story ever. Requiem, which is another amazing book, but seems to get all the attention while In Thy Name is forgotten, perhaps because it came out in the shadow of Requiem.
Regardless, In Thy Name is a touching look into Surfer's outsider nature and how he views life. The abstract and unique artstyle only help to illustrate (pun) the unquantifiable nature of life itself, as this book demonstrates. The ending is quite depressing and just shows how pathetic civilizations can be and how people (or aliens in this case, but they're interchangeable with humans anyways) will always find a way to hate others and go to war with them.
This is a must buy for any Surfer fan or anyone who just enjoys a good story in general.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
