Graphic Novel Review: SILVER SURFER: REQUIEM

The Silver Surfer is one of Marvel Comics's oldest and most iconic characters. Like many of Marvel's characters, he has been re-imagined, updated, and upgraded over the years by a plethora of artists and writers but it is with Silver Surfer: Requiem that we finally see the Silver Surfer's life come to an end.

Written by J. Michael Straczynski with art by Esad Ribic this story depicts the final days of a cosmic hero who spends the last moments of his life contemplating his existence on his adoptive planet Earth while also traveling the confines of space back to his home world on Zenn-La. Straczynski crafts a poignant tale of a hero who searches not only for humanity within himself but also within those around him.

The series is told through vignettes in which the Surfer touches or is touched by the lives of Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, Dr. Strange, and warring alien races before reaching his home world and discovering the true legacy of his existence. The series is in a sense not only a religious experience for the Surfer but those whose lives he touches which eventually is everyone on the planet Earth (among others).

It's been a while since I've picked up a Silver Surfer comic, so, jumping into this series was really easy. The story is self contained and is a joy for newcomers as well as for those familiar with the character. Ribic's artwork is magnificent and gives the story an otherworldly feel and atmosphere which complements the story. Another great asset to the book are the collection of sketches by Ribic as well as some covers from earlier Silver Surfer books. This is a book worth picking up whether you're an old school Surfer fan or whether you're just discovering him for the very first time.