The Silver Surfer (Marvel Masterworks (Numbered))

Rating:
Summary: Classic Surfer!
Review: Marvel Comics beautifly reproduces the classic issues of the Silver Surfer in these books. The Masterworks are just that, Masterworks! For many people cost is an object for the original comics. This is the best way to get those classic stories of yesteryear that made Marvel Comics so great. This is a fantastic addition to your existing collection.

Rating:
Summary: The "Shakespeare" of comics!
Review: Such is how I have always viewed the Silver Surfer since his first introduction, along with his billions-of-years old Master, Galactus, since their first appearance in a "Fantastic Four" comic. And this graphic novel does justice to the cosmic saga of the Silver Surfer. Just as true sci-fi and cyberpunk books do justice to their themes, like "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Childhood's End", "I,Robot", "Ringworld", "Redezvous with Rama", "Neuromancer", "Mona Lisa Overdrive", "Cryptonomicon", "Prey", "Snow Crash", "Cyber Hunter", and so forth. These would've all made great graphic novels by the way.

Rating:
Summary: Issue number 3 should not be missed!
Review: The reason I give this four stars, not five, is because I didn't like the first two issues collected very much. They are OK, but the series really gets going with issue 3, in which he battles Miphisto for the first time and which is one of the greatest Marvel comics ever! I didn't really care much for Silver Surfer before reading this issue, which captures his unique personality, nobility and charm extremely well. I read the issue without any prior knowledge that issue 3 was regarded as a classic so there was no preconceived notions on my part. I liked it based on its merit alone. Later, I found out that the story is highly regarded in many circules and all I can say is that it truly deserves to be called a classic. Issues four and onwards maintain a high quality also, although not as good as the flawless issue 3. And Buscema's art is brilliant. As much as I like Kirby, he draws the Silver Surfer much, much better. This is even better than his early Conan work, in which he kind of drew Conan looking a bit too weak for my tastes. And I never really held Stan Lee in such high regard before reading the Masterworks volumes. I always thought he was just a self-promoter but his work stands well on its own. The fact that he and Kirby created so many classic characters is testament to his talent as a writer/creator.