Customer Reviews

Silver Surfer: Requiem

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The infamous JMS, loved by many because of his Rising Stars, Midnight Nation and Squadrom Supreme comics (as well as his Babylon 5 TV series) and hated by many due to his mostly below par run on Amazing Spider-Man, writes the "last" Silver Surfer story here, its got a lot of emotion and it feels like JMS put all his heart into this, the result is a comic that blows the reader away.

The Silver Surfer is dying, this is his last journey as he intends to pass away peacefully in his home world Zen-La. Each story is almost a stand alone story, showing the Surfer's journey to make his last moments meaningful. The fact that this is an out of continuity tale doesnt hurt the story, because its that good.

In issue one he founds out he is gonna die, the only problem I have with the whole book as well, is that JMS keeps trying to hide that the surfer is dying throughout the first issue, but its obvious since the get go, that that is what is going to happen. In issue two (the best of the series) the Silver Surfer bumps into Spider-Man and they have a talk, the Surfer wants to help his adopted home in someway before he passes away, the solution JMS comes up with is brilliant and its an exciting moment, which criticises humanity for its lack of ambition. Issue three is great, as the Surfer journeys to Zen-La he finds himself in the middle of a war and he tries to stop it, the speech he gives is nothing short of beautiful. Issue 4 is well, the issue in which he dies and well, its extremely sad, I think this was the first time I got really upset while reading a comic book, you have to read it to understand how I felt, I also particularly love how JMS portrays Galactus in this issue.

The characterization of the Silver Surfer is brilliant, he is such a noble man and JMS' take on the character's last moments feels authentic. The pacing is great as well, and the story just grasps you and doesnt let you go, even though there is no action in it.

The painted art by Ribic is great, it looks beautiful and it matches the emotional beauty of such a story, every single panel in this book looks great.

Do yourself a favour buddy and pick this one up.

Quite simply this was one of the most beautiful comic books I've ever read. I had never been a big fan of the Surfer, but the Annihilation event changed all that. Sadly, just when I became a fan Marvel decided to put him to rest. However, they did so with style. Unlike Captain America's demise this touched me.
Some will critique the story for its idealistic notions of peace and love, but I was emotionally invested. Yes, it is a comic book, but I was moved by both the writing and the art work here. The message concerns the legacy you leave behind. If you found out you only had weeks to live what would you do? What regrets would you have? How would you spend your final days? This is a touching story, and if you ever read one Silver Surfer story this is the one to read.
I feel sorry for the snobs who won't touch a comic book, because "Comic books are for kids!" In fact, the writing and art compliment each other so well I can't imagine this story being told in any other medium. I'll admit it...I wept.

You've really got to hand it to Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski (Amazing Spider-Man, Supreme Power) with what he has whipped up here. Silver Surfer: Requiem is by far the best handling that the character has ever gotten, and may very well be the best Silver Surfer story to ever see the light of day. Silver Surfer: Requiem finds Norrin Radd, AKA the Silver Surfer, discovering that his life is coming to an end. He makes a trip to Earth and visits Reed Richards in hopes of help, and finally makes one last trip to his homeworld in hopes of seeing his beloved wife and people before his inevitable fate catches up with him. Startlingly poignant and surprisingly emotional, Silver Surfer: Requiem also features the wonderful paints of Esad Ribic (Loki), who despite some stylistic inconsistencies, portrays the most human depiction of the Silver Surfer yet. What really makes Requiem work the most is Straczynski's interactions between the Surfer and Marvel icons like the Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange, and in particular, Spider-Man; as the Surfer bids farewell to one and all here. If there's any drawbacks to Requiem, its that it ends too quickly, but by the time you reach the final page, you'll discover the best cosmic superhero tales to come out of Marvel in quite some time.

Since the Silver Surfer's inception in 1966, the character has been an outlet for countless authors' overwrought, over-written, middle-aged angst. But is it any wonder why? Unlike most of Marvel's menagerie, the Silver Surfer isn't a fast-talking teenager or a testosterone fueled he-man. He's an intellectual alien prone to alliterate elegies and impassioned pleas for peace. If you're a corporate comics writer with a flash drive full of unpublished poetry, you couldn't ask for a better mouthpiece!

Silver Surfer: Requiem by J.M. Straczynski & Esad Ribic continues this tradition. It's a four-issue funeral parlor farewell, complete with purple prose. The plot is simple: The Silver Surfer is dying, and has only one month to live. Ever the emotional E.T., he decides to spend his last 30 days re-visiting the people and places he loved most. If that sounds to you like a set-up for a series of somber guest-star appearances, you're right!

The first issue features the Fantastic Four, which is fitting, as theirs was the first comic book that the Silver Surfer appeared in. Straczynski does a nice job writing the FF here. Their dialogue and interactions are completely character based, reminding me of the original Kirby & Lee comics. The Thing and Johnny Storm's bickering is spot on (i.e. it's actually funny, and feels natural instead of forced), and Sue Storm is given a small moment of silent tenderness that'll break your heart. It's been a long time since a guest-spot has made me want to read more of the guest-stars' comics, but this book had me placing an order for the Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 2 as soon as I was finished. And in this world of synergistic sales, isn't that what guest spots are really all about?

Issue two is told from Spider-Man's perspective. Beginning with a goofy battle with a giant robot and ending with a solemn rooftop eulogy, this issue sees the Surfer finally connecting with Earth's inhabitants after 40-some-odd years (real time, not Marvel Comics time) of disconnect. Now, I know that this is sacrilege, but I've never been much of a Spider-Man fan. That said, I found his inclusion here to be inspired. Straczynski keeps all of the smart-alecy one-liners that the character is known for, but tweaks them, using them less as punchlines than as the sort of uncomfortable joking one resorts to when confronted with tragedy. It's a nice touch.
Oh, and as an added plus, this is the issue where we finally find out why the Silver Surfer rides a surfboard -- and the reason is pure, pothead poetry.

The third issue begins with a brief visit from the master of the mystical arts, Dr. Strange. ("Dr. Richards called me because...well, because doctors always consult other doctors when they find themselves at the end of a diagnosis they can't beat.") The doctor is there to say goodbye to the Surfer and to give him a magic flame. ("It is divided into two parts. That which existed before you came, and that which was created after [...] you saved our world from extinction. The fire of that knowledge will merge with you, will always be a part of you. [...] This way, you will always know what you preserved...and what was created through your kindness.") After thanking the Doc, the Silver Surfer takes off into outer space, headed home to the planet and the woman he was forced to leave years ago. But as this is only issue three of four, the Surfer is inevitably delayed en route -- this time by a religious war raging between two neighboring planets. Thus begins a brief, sci-fi side-story with obvious allegory a-plenty. In Straczynski's defense, I think that this mini-story's main goal isn't to preach, but to further illustrate Dr. Strange's "That which existed before you came, and that which was created after" line quoted above. Is it a touch heavy handed? You bet it is. But a touch heavy handed is what Silver Surfer fans have come to expect. It's as much a part of the character as the shiny, silver skin and the pupil-less, Orphan Annie eyes. Hell, even Stan Lee refers to his cosmic creation as "the most soliloquizing superhero of them all," and Stan is no stranger to heavy handed soliloquizing!

The fourth and final issue is narrated by The Watcher. It begins with an unconscious Silver Surfer lying sprawled out on his board, soaring through space. When he finally awakens, he finds that he is on his home planet, Zenn-La. Confined to a Kubrickian hospital bed with his beloved Shalla-Bal standing beside him, the Surfer becomes the star attraction of his own living wake. Citizens from all over Zenn-La stream past to thank the man that "saved them, their children, and their children's children." Even Galactus -- the giant, God-like, planet eater responsible for the Silver Surfer's life of solitude -- makes an appearance. I won't spoil the purpose of Galactus' visit, or what it means for the fate of the Silver Surfer and the people of Zenn-La. Suffice it to say, it provides the sort of ending that fits perfectly with what came before, yet was impossible to anticipate.

For better and for worse, SS:R's artist, Esad Ribic, is clearly of the 'Alex Ross school' of painted comic book art. In the book's few action scenes, this is a bit of a hindrance, as the characters tend to look static and slightly dull. Fortunately, there are only two such scenes. The rest of the time, Ribic's painted approach serves to enhance the intended solemnity of the piece. His autumnal palette keeps things sufficiently somber, and he makes outer space look infinite and isolating all at once. Ribic's best 'trick' is his portrayal of the Surfer. He gives the character very little visible emotion, yet by using repeated close-ups, we as the readers are forced to transfer whatever emotion we are feeling onto the character's mirror-like face.

Reading Silver Surfer: Requiem, I was repeatedly reminded of two other comics:
1. Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore's Watchmen #4 (a.k.a. The Dr. Manhattan issue)
In both SS:R and W#4, the lead characters have reached the end of their respective stays on Earth and are ready to move on. But where Dr. Manhattan's seeming omnipotence leaves him feeling largely removed from Earth's inhabitants, the Surfer's seeming omnipotence only expands his empathy. Another thing that struck me as similar was the way that both writers chose to accentuate the 'otherness' of their lead characters by using what could be called 'cold' or 'sterile' dialogue. While I know that this is a genre trope, both Moore and Straczynski managed to elevate it beyond mere cliché, transforming clunky and clinical terminology into something strangely beautiful.
2. Frank Quitely and Grant Morrison's All Star Superman
This one even more so. You have two alien superheroes dealing with their impending deaths. Superman has twelve days(?), the Silver Surfer has a month. Both are physically deteriorating, yet spiritually strong. Their last acts are to say goodbye to a who's who of funnybook friends, while working to ensure these friends' future safety. Both series' basic structures are also the same; each issue is a self-contained story, with all of these stories combining to tell one over-arching tale. And the endings! (WARNING: EXTREME SPOILERS AHEAD!) At the end of both series, both heroes become celestial light sources -- Superman becomes a part of/the heart of Earth's sun, and the Silver Surfer is transformed into a star.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that Silver Surfer: Requiem is equal to either All Star Superman or Watchmen. Those two comics are gold medal classics, the work of insanely talented writers and artists at the top of their game. But I will say this: SS:R is one of the few corporate comics in recent memory which attempted to achieve something similarly artistic. All things considered, a silver medal seems totally apt.

First off I would just like to clarify for those who don't know -- this is a Marvel Knights story which means what takes place in here does not happen in the Marvel Universe. That said, I am giving this an absolute must read. The story and characterization is simply amazing, and the message here is how many people can you reach out and touch before you die?

This has been on my to read list for a very long time, and I finally picked it up and read it. Although the ending was quite sad, at the same time it was happy in a sense that Silver Surfer learns how much he meant to people all over the universe too.

The characterization was absolutely top notch. Straczynski is usually good with that, and is at its best here. If there really was a being from an advanced race out there on another planet that did not destroy themselves with nuclear weapons long ago, then I strongly believe they would come to view Earth much in the same way as Silver Surfer does. Silver Surfer's view of Earth is very much like John Lennon's was -- perhaps a little too advanced for the human race in this day in age to comprehend.

Reading this story made me think of what is important in my life and the things in life that I love, and I strongly believe the world would be a better place if everyone read this.

This is a piece of Literature that breaks down all assumptions of what a "super-hero" is. I am not at all ashamed to say that I cried a little at the end of this book. It is an amazingly powerful story told in amazingly vivid and arresting artwork. When I was a child, i loved the "idea" of Silver Surfer, but now that I am older and can presumably deal with more a more mature telling of a story, I have a newfound admiration for what Stan Lee started with Norrin Radd, and what is continued here in "Requiem." Surfer comics continue to be some of the bravest and most moving pieces of art in main stream comics.

"If a herald you desire, then a herald shall I be!" With those words, the Silver Surfer was born out of the man Norrin Radd, and in this miniseries, he sees his death (don't worry, though, it's out of continuity).

From Earth - where he unearthed his humanity - to Zenn-La, where he became Galactus' herald, every issue is a tribute to Norrin Radd's character, all beautifully painted by Esad Ribic. It warmed my heart to see the Surfer done so well.

The characterization of Norrin is stunning, from his graciousness ("To a monarch butterfly, two weeks is a generation. I have lived countless generations, Richards. I am blessed.") to his utter eloquence ("The beauty, the terrible, majestic beauty all around you. Thus freed even once, would you ever wish to surround yourself with a shell again?") to his unending idealism (he confronts a cosmic war) to his faith in and love for humanity (EVERY SINGLE ISSUE).

I hope I didn't give too much away, but if you're still not convinced. . . (this is kind of embarrassing, but:) I cried in each and every issue. The only issue that faltered was the third one, which did seem a bit trite (a cosmic war? we've seen it before). Ultimately, though, if you love the Silver Surfer, if you love what he stands for, if you love beauty, then you need to get this book. The writing is amazing, character-driven and consistently emotionally heavy.

Amazon's selling it for fourteen bucks, but it's worth so much more.

This was a beautifully done book. The art was amazing, the story was excellent and you might actually cry. From the other reviews and description, you know it's about Norrin Radd dying. What goes on within the Surfer really speaks of his character, his unselfishness. I don't want to go into the whole story, so I'll just say this is possibly the most beautiful story ever done by Marvel involving one of its most enviable heroes. Even if you've NEVER heard of the Surfer outside of the Fantastic Four movie, pick this up!

I haven't read a comic in nearly 20 years. Based on a whim and the reviews on this site, I picked this up. Being somewhat knowledgeable about the characters was helpful, but the overall story is universal.

Stunning book portraying one of the most intriguing and powerful characters in the universe as discovers he is dying. There is something so perfect about the Silver Surfer. Stepping back and seeing him as a pot-fueled attempt at capitalizing on the popularity of surfing, he could seem ridiculous, but somehow it just seems to make sense. Giving him a dark role as herald of destruction and a silver body and a mode of transportation that just seems perfect for soaring across galaxies all help to create an unforgettable character. This book is a magnificent treatment of him.

The scenes with the Fantastic Four are truly well done. There are some frames with Sue that capture emotions so powerfully it's unbelievable. The artwork is spectacular and the writing wonderful, if occasionally a bit poetically indulgent. What could be more appropriate for the Silver Surfer though?

Spiderman is well-handled here, though I'm not really a fan. His humor seems to work, and ultimately he pushes the Silver Surfer into a great realization, but somehow he doesn't seem like the right character for this momentous of events. That's probably just my personal feeling, as his boyish humanity does seem to serve a purpose here.

Galactus makes an obligatory appearance and plays a dramatic role in the Surfer's final days. The Watcher also arrives, this being the kind of event of importance and majesty that is perfect for his appearance.

There are issues to pick at if I wanted to be excessively critical. The overall tone is basically the same throughout. There is a little bit of attempted awkward humor with Spiderman, but in general it is consistently awe and sadness over the Silver Surfer. It has an effect in its extreme of making him a black and white character in his portrayal. In some sense this may be because he was let down in some sense of the years in being given a complicated life. That's perhaps a contentious statement, but as one reviewer pointed out already, he was so powerful that it was hard to challenge him in the constraints of our world.

I feel like this is a character who has a lot more to grapple with in his past that could have added in the complexity of his remembrance. He ruminates on why Earth can't live peacefully with itself, and offers a stunning and beautiful final attempt at that goal, but with all his powers what more might he have done? What about his life as a mass murderer's messenger boy? Dealing with those issues more could have enriched the story rather than just focusing on his greatness. Overall, I don't think this really merits knocking down my opinion of the book, but it feels like there might have been more, even if the length of the series had to be extended.

Similarly, the inclusion of the space war story, though it is one of those sci-fi ideas that is interesting to think about, was really more of the same and something that might be better in a stand alone issue. It was worthy, but sort of repetitious given what we knew of his past. For that to be his last act was a little anomalous.

Nevertheless, this book is outstanding. The art is incredibly gorgeous and perfectly suited for the tone. Combined with the elegiac prose, the book perfectly evokes the mood of a fascinating creature living out his final days. I could see flaws, but in retrospect more than in reading. It's a wonderful book.