The Search for the Silver Surfer!

 

OR: "The Incredible Shrinking Sky-Rider!"

In mid-1968, Galactus would make his return to Earth, intent on re-enlisting the services of his former herald, the Silver Surfer, whom he confined to our world as penance for his betrayal--but also apparently done as a measure for the eventuality that the Surfer might be needed, for Galactus's return comes at a time when his hunger for the life-force of a planetary body rages within him due to his failure to locate a suitable world on his own. In a word: Galactus is starving.

For his part, the Surfer is reluctant to return to a life where he is responsible for choosing a world that must pay the ultimate price for sustaining Galactus--and so the Fantastic Four have decided to side with him, even as he searches for and finally locates a place of concealment where even the eyes of Galactus cannot detect him.

The fact that the Surfer can so casually alter his size (and to such an incredible degree) shouldn't really have come as a surprise to me considering the nature of his power (albeit at a reduced state, at this point in time); but this ability still came across as if it were pulled out of a hat. Given time, the Surfer might have even used the Micro-World (aka Sub-Atomica) to traverse the barrier of Galactus, as he attempted in the company of the Defenders (though as then, the attempt might have proven futile).

In the meantime, under duress, the FF have agreed to locate the Surfer for Galactus after fending off the merest sample of the reprisal that he can deliver to Earth and its population should he be defied. And so, after returning to their Baxter Building headquarters, Reed deduces from the last place the Surfer was seen the sky-rider's probable destination, a trail the FF intend to follow.

And yet the clock is ticking, with the mother of all timetables in effect--and every second the FF spend on their hunt within Sub-Atomica weighs against the self-restraint of a being who will not countenance delay, or, worse, failure.

The Surfer, however, is elated at having found himself in another universe where he can soar unfettered--making the FF's job of convincing him to return doubly difficult, assuming they can even catch up to him.

Heh--a "micro-scanner," for a micro-world. There's no one like you, Reed.
Naturally, the folks at Third Eye were quick to craft a black light poster of this scene:

Since this is a comic book we're reading, and artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee know their audience, the "search" for the Surfer translates to the FF making a number of blunders which will ensure hostilities between themselves and the object of their quest, rather than approaching and dealing with him more amicably. The Torch and the Thing take most of the blame in that respect--but Reed's actions aren't exactly the model of restraint, either.

Well, Reed, perhaps the "better idea" that eluded you might have been to approach the Surfer in the posture of having a discussion, rather than in a manner that couldn't help but convince him that you wanted to subdue him.

And in the "haven't you learned your lesson yet?" department, look at these three licking their wounds and gearing up for another crack at the Surfer:

The Surfer, to his credit, has immediately put this encounter behind him and set out to locate signs of life in this universe (and fortunately not as the herald of Galactus). But there's already a life form who's interested in him--Psycho-Man, who's previously crossed paths with two of the FF as well as the Inhumans, but now launches an indestructible android to capture the Surfer. But since it's the FF who are spoiling for a fight, guess who Psycho-Man's bruiser intercepts first?

It's arguably the FF's most desperate hour--facing down a brutal foe that seems impervious to their attacks, even as the clock runs down on their mission to retrieve the Surfer. And speaking of time, there is another on our watch list--unquestionably the most important player in this drama, whose patience has unfortunately come to an end.

While back in Sub-Atomica, even Reed appears to realize the critical state of their situation, as he elects to sacrifice himself so that his partners can carry out their mission, assuming that's still even possible given that the Surfer could be an incalculable distance away by now. Luckily for them, the one they seek has reconsidered his position (though, granted, his reason for returning to the scene doesn't exactly meet the definition of "nobility").

As for the FF, they decide to remain in Sub-Atomica and confront Psycho-Man, which leaves the fate of the Earth solely in the purview of the Surfer. But consider this your last look at his power to alter his size, as it appears future artists weren't eager to revisit Jack Kirby's idea.

BY THE WAY...

If you're curious about this issue's cover, you can find some thoughts related to it in a previous post.