Hello and welcome to another installment of ‘Rewind/Reread/Replay’ where we bring you a look back at some of the best in video games, cartoons, movies and comics. For this installment I’ve decided we’re going to go take a look back at Marvel’s Silver Surfer: Requiem, a four issue limited series from waaaaay back in 2007, published on the Marvel Knights line at Marvel.
J. Michael Straczynski – Writer
Esad Ribic – Illustrator
Marvel Comics – Publisher
The series comes to us from Emmy Award winning writer J. Michael Straczynski who relaunched and revived Thor back into comics, led a fan favorite run on Amazing Spider-Man, as well as his work on Fantastic Four and Supreme Power and a little show called Babylon 5 some of you might know. The other man we have to thank for this book is the (now) legendary Esad Ribic. We now know Ribic’s work from the instant classic that was Thor: God Butcher and his Loki series along with his covers for House of M, Wolverine and Kingpin.
The series follows our boy Norrin Radd a.k.a The Silver Surfer, former herald to the world devouring Galactus, on what many will argue is the definitive tale of life and death for the iconic character. The Surfer’s impenetrable silver skin ihas begun to break down, with each passing day Norrin grows weaker and sick. Now facing his own inescapable mortality, Norrin embarks on a final voyage across space to visit treasured friends and to eventually find his way home, all with a grim acceptence of what lies ahead in a tale that proves even death won’t diminish the faith and nobility of the Silver Surfer. I won’t lie. This book will make you cry, but it’s also beautifully uplifting in a sense too.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Surfer he was first introduced by none other than Stan Lee & Jack Kirby in the infamous Fantastic Four #48 all the way back in 1966. To give you some background, Norrin sacraficed his life to serve as hearld to Galactus so that his home planet Zenn-La could be spared from the devourer. Imbued with the power cosmic, he was reborn as the Silver Surfer, destined to scour the galaxies for new worlds to satiate his masters unending hunger.
Eventually the Surfer became a free man and devout pacifist renowned on multiple worlds as a force for peace. Every self respecting comic book fan more than likely knows the above, but just in case, Norrin’s origin is retold as Requiem unfolds. That’s the beauty of a book on the Marvel Knights line, they’re completely free of continuity and offer rich character based stand-alone stories.
Our story begins with breathtakingly beautiful, hand painted pages from Esad Ribic as we find our hero gazing in awe at the destructive force of a cosmic hurricane ripping its way through space and signaling the death of death of massive stars and the birth of new ones. As Norrin himself says “Here is the cycle of life writ large” – a fantastic metaphor that illustrates the journey of death and rebirth everyone must face. For a man who’s seen and experienced as much as he has, the fact that he can stop and stare with such innocence speaks volumes for the depth and wonder this character holds. That’s page 1.
The first chapter sees Norrin visiting his old friends the Fantastic Four and confirming his grim diagnosis with the help of Reed Richards. Again there’s an almost universal metaphor at play here wherein Norrin’s ailment isn’t considered “real” until he’s spoken about it with his – I was going to say “friends” but I really could say “family” too given how close these characters are. But there’s something terribly close to all of us I think, in seeing Norrin endure painful test after test while Reed seems to battle with an ailment that he’s forced to admit is just… beyond him. The fear, frustration, and the sense of futility is, tragically, something I think everyone encounters at some point. Again, a larger concept seemingly humbled now within a clever metaphor and writ large. The stand out moment for me here was Norrin’s grim acceptance of his condition, still choosing to remain positive in the face of his mortality and even going so far as to say he is blessed for the time he has left.
Choosing to take in the sights of his adopted home (Earth) one last time before he departs, Norrin manages to have a chance encounter with everyone’s favorite superhero Spider-Man, in a tale that reflects upon the weight of a legacy and the many forms it can take. This chapter sees the two heroes later brainstorming how the Surfer can leave his mark, making the world a better place, even for a brief time before he’s gone and feel at peace himself. Again there’s something profoundly human here for me, it’s not ego that drives him, he just wants to contribute and to have made a difference for someone and I think Peter’s narration echoes something we’ve all felt at some point in our lives…
“As he rose into the sky, I thought… How sad that we did not know him better. How sad that his voice was heard so little when he had so much to say. Why do we always realize these things when it’s too late…”
Leaving Earth now and beginning his journey home to Zenn-La the Surfer is once again confronted with another dilemma as he finds himself caught between two sides of a war that’s raged for generations between alien races evenly matched, another tale that unfolds as complex metaphor for the sacrifices and exploitation’s of war. Two sides with pointless differences and worlds in common, waging a war because it’s what they know. Taking time from his journey the Surfer imparts wisdom on each side and sets about bringing a peace to these worlds before at last returning home to Zenn-La now much weak and wearier than we’re used to. I am not giving away the ending though as I’m sure most of you won’t have had the chance to read what is easily a modern classic and incredible take on such an already iconic character.
Yes, this is a bit of a tearjerker I won’t lie, but it’s also remarkably uplifting to see the surfer’s faith and integrity maintained throughout his journey despite whats been thrown at him. It’s a favorite of mine that I find myself coming back to time and time again for the reread.
I can only hope some of you share the same love for this masterfully crafted story and its beautiful visuals, character depth and reflection as I do.
