Silver Surfer #83: Review

Aug 1993

Ron Marz, Cully Hamner

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::

Story Name:

Burning

Review & Comments

Rating:

Silver Surfer #83 Review by Rob Johnson (January 7, 2023)

This is a tie-in to Infinity Crusade fitting between #3 and #4.

Silver Surfer was the 1st Herald Of Galactus that we met (Fantastic Four #48-50). However there was at least 1 other before him, known as the Fallen One. After SS rebelled and was left on Earth (FF#50), Galactus replaced him with Air-Walker, and then Firelord. Firelord was released from service (Thor #228) in exchange for the Asgardian Destroyer. He recently (#72-75 of this series) allied with Surfer and other ex-Heralds to oppose the latest incumbent Morg.

SS will meet Thanos at the beginning of IC#4. Firelord won't make it until IC#6.

From Our Blog:

Gwen Stacy, beauty queen of Standard High School, was Peter Parker's (alias Spider-Man) first great love.

Gwen Stacy: Classic Beauty

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Silver Surfer #83 Synopsis by Rob Johnson

In Warlock & Infinity Watch #19 Silver Surfer was beginning to have doubts about the Goddess. In Infinity Crusade #3 Moondragon wanted him to join in an attack on heroes who have been his friends, and he questioned the rightness of that. She mind-blasted him which finally freed him from Goddess' influence. So then she called Firelord to attack the blasphemer.

Now the fight continues. Surfer doesn't want to hurt Firelord but he can't allow him to keep him from warning the heroes of the impending attack. So he needs to end it quickly and thinks he succeeds with a blast of Power Cosmic. But Pyreus Kril is also an ex-Herald Of Galactus like SS so he bounces back from that. Surfer's next move is to separate him from his flaming staff and try to outrun him on his surfboard. But Firelord is soon on his back choking him with the staff. They trade more blasts until Firelord nails him full on and Surfer falls to cause a new crater on the Moon.

As he sinks towards unconsciousness and death his thoughts are on his love Shalla-Bal. She recently died (in the SS: Homecoming graphic novel) and he went to Hell to get her back (SS/Warlock: Resurrection mini-series). He recalls their last time together after that with wine and a blazing fire. Things always seem to keep them apart, including her duty as Empress of their planet Zenn-La. So they always make the most of whatever time they get together.

Now his determination not to leave Shalla makes Norrin Rad rise back up with renewed vigour. He blasts and pounds his opponent trying to break Goddess' hold on him. But Firelord's religious fervour won't let him give in. Even after SS pummels and blasts him into the same state that Surfer himself had been in, Firelord still tries to crawl after him has he flies away.

And we see Thanos watching all this from afar and saying that he needs Surfer's help.

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::