IN THE NAME OF THE SURFER I: AUBREY SITTERSON

**MattBrady** · 10-17-2007, 10:11 PM

by Chris Arrant

Marvel's universe is populated with a variety of heroes, villains and individuals of all variety, but one that stands apart more than any is the Silver Surfer. Created in 1966 by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, the Silver Surfer emanates nobility, power but also one of solitude… especially in the openness of space. Kirby's surreal vision of the Silver Surfer combined with the qualities already mentioned make him an awesome figure to behold, and one that could easily be seen as god-like to most races.

In the upcoming miniseries Silver Surfer: In Thy Name, this potential is realized as a utopian empire turns to the Surfer as a god a time of great upheaval.. but when even he isn't able to give them the perfect solution to the problem, the situation goes south really quick. Scheduled to be in comic stores nationwide the first week of November, Newsarama's flying the spaceways to catch up with those involved… first up, editor Aubrey Sitterson.

Newsarama:Before we jump into the book itself, let's find out how it came to be. Aubrey, how did the idea for Silver Surfer: In Thy Name come about?

Aubrey Sitterson: When Marvel has big movies coming out, we try to have material on the stands that fans of those movies might be able to pick up. Also, the Silver Surfer is one of my all-time favorite characters, so I was really excited to get this going. My favorite Surfer stories are the original Lee/Buscema run, and the Lee/Moebius Parable, so I hope that we could craft a more modern take on that type of tale—showcasing the Surfer as wandering philosopher, unbelievably powerful, but still caught up in these impossible situations.

NRAMA: Indeed. The book is being done by two names that might not be familiar to Marvel die-hards, Simon Spurrier and Tan Eng Haut. How did they end up getting this gig?

AS:Simon is a new name to American comics fans, known for his Image series with Frazer Irving: Gutsville, but we began working on Silver Surfer: In Thy Name well before that book was even announced. I had seen several of Simon’s stories in 2000AD, and we’d spoken a few times about his pitching stuff. I really liked his sensibilities and his takes on different characters, though nothing had really worked out yet. Simon engaged in a good old fashioned bake-off with 2 other writers. I told them both what I was looking for, and directed them towards the Lee/Buscema and Lee/Moebius stories as inspiration and just let them rip. It turned out that young Mr. Spurrier handed in the best pitch, and here we are!

NRAMA: And Tan? Right now he's best known for his work on DC's Doom Patrol some years back…

AS: As for Tan, he’d received a fair amount of attention for his Doom Patrol work, and was a guy we had been thinking about getting some work from. When we saw his new ink-wash technique, we knew he was a guy we wanted to get some work from. Simon has crafted a story with some very wild aliens with very recognizable human emotions, and Tan fit the bill perfectly. Everything in the book looks completely alien and foreign, but Simon and Tan manage to draw the reader in from the first page, making you really care about the fates of these peoples.

NRAMA: We'll be talking with each of them individually later this month. Let's move on to the book itself… For the long-time Silver Surfer fan, what can you tell them to look forward to in this?

AS: I feel like I’m beating a dead horse, but this is a very “classic” Surfer tale, that really harkens back to the version of the character that a lot of people remember fondly. If you’re tired of watching the Surfer react to various big space things happen around him, or are confused by all the accumulated continuity, this is a great series because it captures what originally worked about the character, and drops him into a very Surfer-esque morally ambiguous, unwinnable situation.

NRAMA: And for someone who may not be privy to the goings-on of Norrin Radd – why should they pick this up?

AS: For very similar reasons actually. This isn’t picking up on any crossover events, it doesn’t traffic in minutiae from decades ago—it just tells a compelling Surfer tale, that can (and will!) turn any casual reader into a ravenous Norrin Radd fan. Everything you need to know is contained in these four issues.

NRAMA: Does this story play into the other extraterrestrial adventures such as Marvel's Annihilation event?

AS: Yes, actually—the events of this series actually take place between panels 2 and 3 on page 17 of Starlord 2…Just kidding! It’s a standalone, evergreen story.

NRAMA: And before we go, let's talk cover artists. I noticed Michael Turner on #1, Gabrielle Dell'Otto on #2 and I hear Paul Pope is doing #3. What can you tell us about this?

AS:First off, don’t forget Tan Eng Huat himself on the cover to number 4!!! The Surfer is such an iconic character, with such a rabid following, that I really wanted to use this opportunity to have four totally different artists do four totally different takes on the character. Personally, I love all of them—hopefully readers will too!

Silver Surfer: In Thy Name #1 (of 4) is scheduled for release on November 7, 2007. Check back here at Newsarama.com in the coming days for interviews with series writer Simon Spurrier and artist Tan Eng Haut.

The_Adventurer · 10-17-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

AS: Yes, actually—the events of this series actually take place between panels 2 and 3 on page 17 of Starlord 2…Just kidding! It’s a standalone, evergreen story.

Boo. With everything that went on with Surfer in Annihilation it needs some exploring.

However, Simon Spurrier* is a genius, so I'll be checking this out. No question.

*writer of such gems you've never read: Lobster Random, Bec & Kawl, The Simping Detective, and Harry Kipling (Deceased). Among others

Toneloak · 10-17-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Adventurer

Boo. With everything that went on with Surfer in Annihilation it needs some exploring.

Yeah I would have to say there is a difference between continuity and character development. The Surfer as Galactus' herald once more is the latter. One which is a plus in my book.

Yo, Larry! · 10-17-2007, 11:42 PM

Love these covers. I remember Huat's DP, it'll be interesting to see how his work has progressed. Too bad there's no interior pages in the preview, hopefully they'll be in the interview articles. Looking forward to this book.

weaselwelch · 10-18-2007, 12:19 AM

This looks interesting. These are the kind of stories that best suit the Surfer as well as the big cosmic ones.

pimp1911 · 10-18-2007, 01:18 AM

Will be adding this to my to do list.

Dr. Crane · 10-18-2007, 02:20 AM

I'm planning on picking this up.... always been a big Surfer fan. However if that's the interior preview art - that worries me. And since when did Silver Surfer have abs?

(I'm refering to that Turner cover).

Johnny O · 10-18-2007, 02:32 AM

I might wait for the trade (like the Death of the New Gods), but I'll definitely check it out.

JokerGregg · 10-18-2007, 05:45 AM

Say what you want about Mel Gibson...but he knows story structure.
-JG

astronato · 10-18-2007, 08:29 AM

Looks good. Sounds good. Purchased.

Keep the Silver Surfer projects coming.

Quote:

This isn’t picking up on any crossover events, it doesn’t traffic in minutiae from decades ago—

And more of that too, please.

Bird Flu Man · 10-18-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

This isn’t picking up on any crossover events, it doesn’t traffic in minutiae from decades ago

But that's what I look for in the comics I pick up . . .

xdemon · 10-18-2007, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JokerGregg

Say what you want about Mel Gibson...but he knows story structure.
-JG

Has Kyle fulfilled his contract with you?

Snowspinner · 10-18-2007, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Crane

I'm planning on picking this up.... always been a big Surfer fan. However if that's the interior preview art - that worries me. And since when did Silver Surfer have abs?

(I'm refering to that Turner cover).

From the jazz hands he's doing, I can only assume it's from years of Jazzercise.

ejulp · 10-18-2007, 11:21 AM

I love Gutsville...so I'll flip through this at the very least...and man, isn't Paul Pope dreamy? lol

BradyDale · 10-18-2007, 11:22 AM

I will pick this up, as I do all Surfer-Non-Mega-Crossover-Thingees... it looks great. That said,
didn't he just die? I mean, I didn't want him to die, though it was a beautiful story. But... color me confused.

Kelby · 10-18-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradyDale

I will pick this up, as I do all Surfer-Non-Mega-Crossover-Thingees... it looks great. That said,
didn't he just die? I mean, I didn't want him to die, though it was a beautiful story. But... color me confused.

I'm on the same page as you. Does anybody know if Requiem was a standalone? I remember it had a border like Spider-Man: Reign. I don't know if that means it is non-linear. Any insite on the subject would be grand.

SPOILER!!!!!!
Silver Surfer dies at the end of Requiem. They bury him and put a monument on top.

one more....

Luke, I am your father.

irishj81 · 10-18-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradyDale

I will pick this up, as I do all Surfer-Non-Mega-Crossover-Thingees... it looks great. That said,
didn't he just die? I mean, I didn't want him to die, though it was a beautiful story. But... color me confused.

When did that supposedly happen? Last time I saw him, he had just had his power level increased and was once again Galactus' herald.

Oh, Requiem... yes, that was not in continuity.. just like Spider-Man: Reign.

BradyDale · 10-18-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishj81

When did that supposedly happen? Last time I saw him, he had just had his power level increased and was once again Galactus' herald.

Oh, Requiem... yes, that was not in continuity.. just like Spider-Man: Reign.

Ah-ha. Merci. Well, it was a beautiful story. You know he's going to die from the first issue, so hope no one saw this as a spoiler.

How do you know when things are non-continuity?

irishj81 · 10-18-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradyDale

Ah-ha. Merci. Well, it was a beautiful story. You know he's going to die from the first issue, so hope no one saw this as a spoiler.

How do you know when things are non-continuity?

In this particular case, I know because of... Newsarama.

Might have been an installment of New Joe Fridays or something, I'm not sure exactly.