The Galactus Trilogy This story in this reprint comic from 1992 is indeed a high watermark in the history of the Fantastic Four comic series. It represent some of the finest work from the creative team that developed it, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and Joe Sinnott. This story arc is taken from the last half of Fantastic Four Comics #48, all of #49 and the first half of FF #50, all published in 1966, at the peak of the Silver-Age of the Comics.
Some minor corrections and clarifications. Yes the second Silver Surfer arc from issues #55-61 of the Fantastic Four is stunning as well, but to be clear, those issues are NOT reprinted in this volume. Further, there are NOT ten "golden age" stories, but essentially only one, extracted from three comics that come from the "silver age".
It should also be noted that this story arc is available in other Marvel reprint books. In particular Marvel Treasury and Essential volumes. Both are still in print at the time of this posting. Marvel has also reprinted it twice in comic book format prior to this.
-jb the ib -
The Coming of the Silver Surfer As others have said before, this is the best collection of the original appearance of the Silver Surfer. This is Jack Kirby and co-ploter Stan Lee at the top of their game, when Marvel Comics had really hit their stride and were tremondously popular on the college campus.
I bought these books as they came out on the spinner rack in the mid 1960s, and thought the stories were incredibly dramatic and cosmic in scope. Little did we know that the series was at the high water mark, and Kirby's growing dis-satisfaction with being overlooked for creative credit by Lee in interviews despite his continual content input would spell the end of their collaboration in just two short years. (Kirby would start witholding his creative ideas, waiting for the right deal to be struck with DC in 1970... when he jumped ship from Marvel and stunned the comics world!)
If you have only one opportunity to buy representative Fanatastic Four stories, make this the one. Even at inflated re-reprint prices, this would be a bargain!
PS: There were two other editions of this material (FF #48-49-50) pared down into JUST the Galactus storyline that were issued as $5.99 and $6.99 graphic novels in the early 1900s. If you can find them, that represents the cheapest way to pick up the first arc, known throughout comic fandom as "The Galactus Trilogy" even though it may be retitled Silver Surfer: The Coming of Galactus.
'nuff said!
Not just the Silver Surfer but Galactus and Dr. Doom too! If you were going to get just one volume of reprints from the "Fantastic Four" I would argue that "The Coming of Galactus!" would be the best of all possible choices. The focus is on the Silver Surfer, who first appeared in "Fantastic Four" #48 as the herald of Galactus and ended up being exiled to earth, stripped of his space-time powers for daring to betray his master and stop Galactus from eating the Earth. The result is that this one volume has some of the greatest stories from the comic book that proudly proclaimed itself "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine," with some of Stan Lee's best stories and some of the finest artwork of Jack Kirby's distinguished career.
Essentially you have two great F.F. sagas with an intermission. We begin with the Galactus saga: #48 "The Coming of Galactus," starts with the F.F. leaving the hidden land of the Inhumans, thereby separating Johnny and Crystal. However that matters little when the Watcher shows up and tries to help hide the Earth from the Silver Surfer who arrives and summons Galactus, who shows up ready to drain the planet of all elemental life. #49 "If This Be Doomsday" has the F.F. fighting a losing battle against Galactus while the Silver Surfer meets the blind sculptress, Alicia Masters, who teaches him something about humanity. #50 "The Startling Saga of the Silver Surfer" has the sky rider of the spaceways fighting against Galactus, while the Human Torch travels through sub-space to bring back a weapon that might stop Galactus in his tracks. The F.F. wins the battle and the Silver Surfer is now stuck on earth.
In between the sagas there is the story you knew that was coming, #55 "When Strikes the Silver Surfer!" Ben is worried about Alicia, and when he shows up to visit his girlfriend he finds the Surfer is there. Of course the first thing the Thing does is punch the Surfer through the wall ("My former friends is displeased!" notes the Surfer as he flies through the air). The fight is pretty good as basically the Surfer takes it easy on the orange skinned Thing (and even gives him a lovely parting gift). This is probably the best Surfer story of the bunch, mainly because he has more to do in this issue than any other in this collection.
But if you are talking the Fantastic Four then sooner or later that means Doctor Doom has to enter the picture in a story line that is every bit as good as the Galactus epic. #57 "Enter...Dr. Doom" starts with the F.F. have a minor skirmish with the Sandman and the Wizard while in the kingdom of Latveria Dr. Doom invites the Silver Surfer for a visit. Then, the bad doctor steals the Silver Surfer's cosmic power (you know this cannot be good, especially as Doom gloats in the full-page shot on page 15). #58 "The Dismal Dregs of Defeat" has Dr. Doom fighting and defeating the members of the F.F. one by one until even Reed Richards has to admit Doom is unbeatable. #59 "Doomsday" has the F.F. trying to unite the world against the threat of Dr. Doom while the weakened Surfer is in a Latverian dungeon. Meanwhile, Black Bolt frees the Inhumans from being trapped behind their great barrier. #60 "The Peril and the Power!' has a great Kirby cover of Doom and the Thing going toe to toe as the F.F. take on Doom. Of course it is not brute power that is going to bring down Dr. Doom when he has the Silver Surfer's powers.
Granted, the Silver Surfer is reduced to a spectator in this second story arc, but since Dr. Doom has the Surfer's cosmic power these stories rightfully belong here. I really do not think that Kirby's art was ever any better than it is in these issues, inked by Joe Sinnot. Kirby was even experimenting with using reproductions of photographs in a couple of these issues. At this point in the history of the Silver Surfer we know nothing about his back story (his true origin was not revealed until he got his own comic book several years later), but even as a supporting character he remains one of the most captivating creations by Lee and Kirby.
Hail to you herald of Galactus! I have been a fan of the Silver Surfer ever since I was a kid, and this collection of stories did not dissapoint. Collected in this edition are ten "golden-age" stories which truly capture the surfer at his freshest and best. Buy this if you appreciate the true art of comics. Peace.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
