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Silver Surfer Reading Order

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Making his first appearance in Fantastic Four #48, published in 1966, The Silver Surfer didn’t have a name at first. In fact, even Stan Lee who is credited as its co-creator didn’t have an idea of who he was. It was Jack Kirby who imagined him. Following the “Marvel Method, ” Lee pitched to his collaborator “the Galactus trilogy,” a new ambitious story that included the god-like creature Galactus, but no surfer.

Charged with coming up with the details while plotting and drawing the book, Kirby apparently thought that an entity as powerful as Galactus would certainly require “a herald who could serve as an advance guard.” Kirby simply called him “The Surfer,” and draw him as a gleaming bald man on a surfboard. Stan Lee loved the character and bring him back for more FF stories before giving him his own solo book two years later.

With artist John Buscema, Lee worked at giving a backstory to the surfer–without consulting Jack Kirby. We learned that he was Norrin Radd and he offered Galactus to take him as his herald in exchange for the life of the inhabitants of his home planet, Zenn-La. Lee loved the Surfer so much that he prohibited anyone to use him without his approbation. This stands until the 1980s.

In 1982, John Byrne wrote and draw a Silver Surfer one-shot, then the second ongoing series was launched with Steve Englehart as the writer. But it was when Jim Starlin, then Ron Marz, took over (after #31) that the book really found its success–leading to the Infinity Saga. The series ran 146 issues, through 1998.

At the beginning of the 2000s, the Silver Surfer came back for a short series before appearing in the famous Annihilation event, but he only got multiple miniseries after that for some years. It was only in 2014 that he got another ongoing series, this time in a different style than the previous ones, as writer Dan Slott wrote it as a Doctor Who-inspired adventure–drawn by Mike Allred.

As a Marvel character, Silver Surfer is really powerful and moves fast. He wields the Power Cosmic, granting him superhuman strength, endurance, and senses and the ability to absorb and manipulate the universe’s ambient energy. He fought villains like Doctor Doom, Mephisto, Thanos, and more. He teamed up with the Fantastic Four of course, but also with the Hulk, Namor, and Doctor Strange in “The Defenders.” He saved the Universe, found love (more than once), dealt closely with symbiotes, was displaced in time, and more.

Silver Surfer Reading Order:

The Silver Surfer by Stan Lee

Stan Lee loved the Silver Surfer and wrote the character for more than a decade. First in Fantastic Four, then in his own series, beginning in 1968. He later wrote many of the character’s subsequent appearances, including the first Silver Surfer graphic novel in 1978.

  • Silver Surfer Epic Collection: When Calls Galactus
    Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #49, #55, #57-60, #72, and #74-77 and material from Fantastic Four (1961) #48, #50, #56, and #61; Fantastic Four Annual (1964) #5; and Tales To Astonish (1959) #92-93.

The first Silver Surfer series is 18 issues long and has been collected in multiple formats.

In one omnibus:

In the Marvel Masterworks collection:

But also:

Once the Silver Surfer series ended, Norrin Radd started making appearances in other books, these are the most notables:

Published later, but taking place during that period, after the first ongoing series ended:

The Silver Surfer Volume 2 & 3

Stan Lee was writing anymore, but the Silver Surfer still had a lot of adventures to live. But first, a one-shot was released in 1982. It was plotted and penciled by John Byrne and scripted by Stan Lee. This solo issue is the “volume 2” of Silver Surfer. Volume 3 is a lot more consequent. It lasted for 146 issues.

After that, the Silver Surfer series is going to cross over with the famous Infinity Saga. The way the issues are collected is a bit complicated. If you only want Silver Surfer’s issues, you have to pick up the Epic Collection books:

But if you want the full saga, and you can look at our Infinity Saga Reading Order to be sure to not miss anything, I can only recommend the omnibuses:

  • Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus
    Collects Silver Surfer (1987) #34-38, 40, 44-60, Thanos Quest (1990) #1-2, Infinity Gauntlet #1-6, Cloak & Dagger (1988) #18, Spider-Man (1990) #17, Incredible Hulk (1968) #383-385, Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #31-36, Quasar (1989) #26-27, Sleepwalker (1991) #7.

    • what’s missing
  • Infinity War Omnibus
    Collects Infinity War #1-6, Fantastic Four (1961) #366-370, Spider-Man (1990) #24, Deathlok (1991) #16, Daredevil (1964) #310, Warlock And The Infinity Watch 7-10, Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme 42-47, Silver Surfer (1987) #67-69, Wonder Man (1991) #13-15, Alpha Flight (1983) #110-112, Silver Sable & The Wild Pack 4-5, Guardians Of The Galaxy (1990) #27-29, Quasar 37-40, New Warriors (1990) #27, Marc Spector: Moon Knight 41-44, Nomad (1992) #7, Sleepwalker 18, Material From Captain America (1968) #408, Alpha Flight (1983) #109, Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #108-112.
  • Infinity Crusade Omnibus
    Collects Infinity Crusade (1993) #1-6, Warlock Chronicles (1993) #1-5, Warlock And The Infinity Watch (1992) #18-22, Thor (1966) #463-467, Iron Man (1968) #294-295, Avengers West Coast (1989) #96-97, Darkhawk (1991) #30-31, Cage (1992) #17, Alpha Flight (1983) #124-125, 127, Marc Spector: Moon Knight (1989) #57, Silver Surfer (1987) #83-85, Deathlok (1991) #28, Material From Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) #54-56, Alpha Flight (1983) #122-123, 126, Web Of Spider-Man (1985) #104-106, Silver Sable & The Wild Pack (1992) #16-17, Deathlok (1991) #29.

You may have noticed that there are gaps in the Epic Collection. Some of the missing issues are only available with the rest of the Infinity Saga, for now, this will probably change soon though, this article will be updated in time to reflect that. Nevertheless, #70-75 are not collected anywhere yet.

Published through Marvel’s Epic Comics imprint, “Parable” is considered to be volume 4 of Silver Surfer. It was Stan Lee’s return to the character, a two-issue story drawn by the legendary Moebius. It’s not considered today as being part of the continuity.

The Silver Surfer, From Galactus to Defenders

For a short period of time, the Silver Surfer disappeared, but he quickly came back in the Galactus: The Devourer miniseries, then in Captain Marvel, and some parts of the Maximum Security event.

After that, Silver Surfer joined the Defenders following the relaunch of the team in 2001. Created by Kurt Busiek and Erik Larsen, this second volume of The Defenders reunited once more Doctor Strange, Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Hulk, and the Silver Surfer. The series was canceled after 12 issues, but it was followed by the 6-issue miniseries The Order. For now, none of these stories have been collected.

The Silver Surfer Volume 4-6

In 2003, the Silver Surfer finally came back alone for what was volume 5 of his ongoing series, a short run half-not-collected. He then rejoined once more the Defenders .

Big events are looming on the horizon: Annihilation. Before talking about that, there are miniseries that were published later that certainly take place before (not clear when though).

In 2006, Marvel properly relaunched its cosmic universe with the help of the Annihilation event. Silver Surfer played a part in the event, and even get his own miniseries connected to it. Right after that, Norrin Radd joined for a few issues the Fantastic Four, then the Hulk, and Beta Ray Bill, before appearing in The Thanos Imperative story (see Thanos Reading Order for more information).

  • Annihilation Omnibus
    Collects Drax The Destroyer #1-4, Annihilation: Prologue, Annihilation: Nova #1-4, Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1-4, Annihilation: Super-Skrull #1-4, Annihilation: Ronan #1-4, Annihilation #1-6, Annihilation: Heralds Of Galactus #1-2, And Annihilation: Nova Corps Files.
  • Fantastic Four: The New Fantastic Four
    Fantastic Four #544–550.
  • Skaar: Son of Hulk (only in the second half of the series)
    Collects Skaar: Son Of Hulk #1-12, Skaar: Son Of Hulk Presents The Savage World Of Sakaar, Planet Skaar Prologue, War Of Kings: Savage World Of Skaar and material from Hulk Family: Green Genes.
  • Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter
     Collects Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter #1-3 And Secret Invasion Aftermath: Beta Ray Bill – The Green Of Eden.
  • The Thanos Imperative
    Collects The Thanos Imperative 1–6, The Thanos Imperative: Ignition, The Thanos Imperative: Devastation, and the Thanos Sourcebook.

After that, and before going back to space, Silver Surfer walks the Earth once more in volume 6 of his series (only 5 issues).

With the 2011 event Fear Itself (see reading order), Doctor Strange forms a new version of the Defenders. This led to a new ongoing series written by Matt Fraction and drawn by Terry Dodson with Doctor Strange, Red She-Hulk, Namor, the Silver Surfer, and Iron Fist.

The Silver Surfer Volume 7 & 8 by Dan Slott and Mike Allred

After a long while, Silver Surfer is back with his own series, not a miniseries, but a real ongoing series written by Dan Slott and penciled by Michael Allred. Norrin Radd meets Dawn Greenwood, the Earth girl who’s enabling him to see the universe with all-new eyes. This is a different but extremely popular take on the character.

The Omnibus Edition

The Trade Paperbacks Edition

The Silver Surfer Fresh Start

After the Dan Slott/Mike Allred double run, Silver Surfer went back to doing guest appearances,

Immortal Hulk, Namor, Doctor Strange, and Silver Surfer are back in a little series called The Best Defense.

  • Defenders: The Best Defense
    Collects The Immortal Hulk The Best Defense #1, Namor The Best Defense #1, The Silver Surfer The Best Defense #1, Doctor Strange The Best Defense #1, The Defenders The Best Defense #1
  • Infinity Countdown
    Collects Infinity Countdown Prime, Infinity Countdown #1-5, Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock, And Material From Free Comic Book Day 2018 (Amazing Spider-Man).
  • Doctor Strange by Mark Waid Vol. 3: Herald
    Collects Doctor Strange (2018) #12-17.
  • Fantastic Four: The Prodigal Sun
     Collects Fantastic Four: Prodigal Sun #1, Guardians of the Galaxy: Prodigal Sun #1, Silver Surfer: Prodigal Sun #1.
  • Annihilation: Scourge
    Collects Annihilation – Scourge Alpha #1, Annihilation – Scourge: Nova #1, Annihilation – Scourge: Silver Surfer #1, Annihilation – Scourge: Beta Ray Bill #1, Annihilation – Scourge: Fantastic Four #1, Annihilation – Scourge Omega #1. See reading order for more information.

Recently, a new Defenders series written by Al Ewing with art by Javier Rodriguez was launched by Marvel. This time, the team features Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, Masked Raider, Red Harpy, and Cloud. It was short, with only 5 issues. After that, another Defenders series was launched, but with different team members

Silver Surfer: Loftier Than Mortals #1–2 (1999)

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