Customer Reviews

Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol. 9: Silver Surfer

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I actually found this collection to be heady and fun, a clever revision of the original Surfer saga. Although the name 'Silver SEARCHER' really doesn't make much more sense than 'Silver SURFER', the character's core remains the same, and the artwork enhances the cosmic scope of Norrin Radd. The Ultimate update replaces a planet-eating Galactus with a planet-kidnapping highest-tech despot/god/madman who just might meet his match in the Fantastic Four. SPOILER ALERT: I also found both the story and illustration of Reed and team's awakening from their fake utopia to be quite heroic and downright cinematic, all the while emphasizing the long term draw of the Fantastic Four: cool super powers in a family that may sometimes fight with each other but ultimately fight FOR each other. It's interesting the way the story flutters around classic sci-fi concepts of what's really real and the value of free-will. This volume turns out to be a pretty good Reed, I mean read that stretches(ok now) beyond the normal confines of a comic book plot. Worth the purchase.

"Silver Surfer" takes off with a classic Fantastic Four plot point: Reed tries to construct a device (in this case, the Cosmic Cube), and things go awry. He attracts the attention of the "Silver Searcher," who calls his master, the Psycho Man, to turn Earth into a utopia at the cost of everyone's free will and self-knowledge.

I'm not a hardcore F4 reader, but this arc does capture, albeit briefly, the several "beats" that a fantastic four story SHOULD:

-Reed is a nerd, Johnny's a jerk, Ben is lovable, and Sue is capable

-The four are "imaginauts" - meaning, their science fiction is a little bit more offbeat, a little more fun, than conventional science fiction. Earth as a utopia never fails to be interesting.

-The four are a family, and NOTHING can break their bond, not even the Psycho man.

-The Silver (ugh) Searcher is a noble hero who will always value autonomy over despotism.

This arc took off very slowly. For a collection of five issues, you only really need to read the last three. I find it very disappointing that the title of the arc is "Silver Surfer," but Norrin Radd is referred to only as "The Silver Searcher." His first rebellion against the Psycho Man is also glossed over and a mere footnote, when I think he deserved a bigger spotlight.

If you're a fantastic four fan, you won't be disappointed, but don't think this will wow you. This arc was adequate at best.

Get the book only if you're deeply into the Ultimate Fantastic Four universe.

I love the ultimate series but this was tottally weak....the Silver Searcher...they butchered this character.....What was wrong with Galactus be the way he was before....love the Ultimate line but hate what they have done with Galactus and now the Silver (Searcher).....I bought this book because I have all the Ultimate books....this was by far the weakest in the Fantastic 4 sereies and one of the weakest Ultimate titles to date.