Silver Surfer

[whippis]

Silver Surfer

So, am I the only person reading this? Probably because it is terrible.

I am a big fan of SS from way back. Reprints of Volume 1 were the first comics I ever read as a kid. SS is the coolest idea for a superhero I have yet encountered. Though I guess he’s not technically a superhero. I followed him around the Marvel Universe whenever he popped up even though I didn’t, and don’t, read (m)any MU titles. I followed Volume 3 faithfully for years. So I was very excited for last years debut of Volume 4.

After a false start, artist Milx went MIA- bad omen, the series resumed monthly. The art is passable, not good though. The writing however is terrible. The first issue was good and it looked like the story would unfold slowly, which I like. I guess this book takes place outside the MU. Huh? What is the point of that? It’s not really the SS then is it? Secondly the story, which had some potential, digressed into a mish-mash of non-sequotor cosmic weirdness. With hack narrations, pathetic attempts at philosophy and something coming to destroy the Earth for reasons that are unclear. I’m surprised Volume 4 lasted 13 issues so far. I’m even more surprised I keep buying it.

I am all for the re-invention of characters. I didn’t expect, nor want, a re-do of Volume 3 with all of the MU’s “cosmic” characters, but what I got is horrible.

I think this title has been cancelled with issue 14 being the last, I haven’t seen any solicitations beyond that. But I haven’t heard anything official.

The worst part is that Volume 4 is so bad it will be many years until a Volume 5 can surface.

I hope the speculation about an Ultimate SS is true, otherwise I fear not seeing SS for a long time.

[Arch Enemy]

Originally posted by whippis
So, am I the only person reading this? Probably because it is terrible.

I guess this book takes place outside the MU. Huh? What is the point of that? It’s not really the SS then is it?

I’m even more surprised I keep buying it.

I'm quite shocked that I keep buying it as well. Though I feel it's gotten a bit of a lift with the last two issues, to me, it still just reeks of a poor attempt at rehashing the SciFi channel's miniseries, "Taken."

Well, I've already seen that show, thought it was somewhat decent, but I don't care to see this kind of thing played out in a Silver Surfer comic, not in the least.

I think this book has truly given new meaning to "pissing continuity and character out the window." Sadly, I have many similar feelings regarding the new Warlock title's nowhere, peripheral approach to another character who has a truly rich background and history within the 616--a history I'd like to see utilized and expanded upon--as I would with the Silver Surfer.

Maybe comics should just try to be great comics, and perhaps let fall the notion that they must follow every trend that comes across in other forms of public media.

Maybe comics should just let movies do the movie thing, and let television do its television thing, without trying so hard to emulate these insular and very different forms of popular culture and entertainment.

Maybe comics should just try to be great comics, no?

[Jimmy_Helter]

Maybe comics should just try to be great comics, and perhaps let fall the notion that they must follow every trend that comes across in other forms of public media.

Man, that's such an awesome quote! So perfect!