To begin with, this essential work deserves some serious praise. A few questions Bronze Age exceptionally expensive available low cost, able to print the entire run of Silver Surfer vol. 1 in a book, and even goes so far as to include the history alone Silver Surfer is just before the SS # 1, which took place in a Fantastic Four Annual, not the title of Silver Surfer. For these reasons alone, this is an essential volume that is more worthwhile.
For what it's worth, Silver Surfer # 1-14 were reprinted in color (essential volumes are in black and white) in "Fantasy Masterpieces" at the end of 1970, and each of the topics can be found in stores Funnier $ 1 piece, but the last four digits Silver Surfer and the Fantastic Four would be difficult to find annual low cost without this issue.
But my real disappointment with this collection lies in the fact that Volume 1 is considered. Began in Silver Surfer Fantastic Four and, most unknown, spent a lot of time stated in the title before getting their own title, as well as a renewed source. Silver Surfer Fantastic Four appeared in 48-50, 55-61, 72 and 74-77. Many of these stories were the major turning points for the surfer and offered him a prominent place. He refers to them frequently in the series of Silver Surfer. While it is true that these topics are reproduced in the Fantastic Four essential volumes, most of the fans who want to read about the Surfer not know you have to start somewhere.
Honestly, I think those were some of the best stories of the Surfer's. In its first incarnation, the Surfer was the herald of Galactus compatible, which really seemed to live to serve his master. He wandered around the universe for planets for Galactus consumer would not have to do it. Surfer Galactus gave him the freedom to travel the cosmos, and the Surfer Galactus gave the freedom to live without constantly in search of food. Through this exchange, the two became more than master and servant. They depended on each other, across the cosmos alone, but together. In essence, they were soul mates.
Stan Lee never wrote anything with great subtlety, however, this relationship in some way to understand, without following any character states that every five seconds. There was something beautiful about this master-servant relationship. It was functional, liberating and intimate. Of course, only briefly saw this relationship as both characters made their first appearance in Fantastic Four # 48 and # 49. Once the Surfer discovered that the newest planet he had found for Galactus (Earth) was inhabited, everything changed.
Later incarnations of the surfer that this story would be so simple and black and white, but the original story shows a great reluctance on the part of both the Surfer and Galactus to fight each other. I did not want to hurt the other or break the bond of their relationship master / servent. After the challenge Surfer Galactus, and Galactus condemned to live on Earth by building an invisible barrier around the planet through which the surfer can not pass, our hero is going to regret his decision, wondering why sacrificed everything for a primitive hatred, - full career that never seems to trust him or his intentions.
The series Silver Surfer (reproduced in this volume) can really play up the qualities of Christ and the surfer, portraying him as a martyr to his regret. Although he regrets his decision, which is constantly put into situations where he is forced to sacrifice their freedom for the sake of humanity, once again. However, the Silver Surfer series is also a source of renewal surfer, making the ultimate sacrifice on leaving his home planet of ZENN "The one who lose their link to Galactus (a villain). I found the original premise more complex and fascinating, so I prefer the first Fantastic Four appearances. The key issues are printed on Silver Surfer are good stories too, but someone who really wants to understand the Surfer must start from the beginning.
For those of you who are curious, here is the complete list of the real "essential" first appeared in Silver Surfer, as well as where they spawn. Although SS makes appearances in several other titles during this time (some of which have not been reproduced), none of these aspects could be considered "essential" for Silver Surfer.
Fantastic Four 48-50: first appearance of the SS and the separation of Galactus (Fantastic Four essential vol. 3)
Fantastic Four 57-61: Doctor Doom SS betrays and steals their power, SS loses faith in mankind (never recovered), (Essential Fantastic Four vol. 3)
74-77 Fantastic Four: Galactus faces again (Essential Fantastic Four vol. 4)
Fantastic Four Annual 5: The story of First solo (Essential Fantastic Four vol. 4 and Essential Silver Surfer vol. 1)
Silver Surfer 1-18: home is renovated. Mephisto and other struggles for the first time (Essential Silver Surfer vol. 1)
Fantastic Four 120-128: Stan Lee's final work in the Surfer for many years (probably in Essential Fantastic Four vol. 6, which has not yet been released)
Fantastic Four 155-157: Not written by Lee, but the good news! Mephisto SS fights again and it brings Shalla Bal (probably essential Fantastic Four vol. 7 or 8, which has not yet been released
Silver Surfer mini-series 1-2: Stan Lee's final work on the Surfer, SS also intended to be final confrontation with Galactus (in the future). It reads like a graphic novel Elsewhere, never (reprinted, available in comic shops CHEAP).
And that's all. In all the appearance of the SS after that, is a radically different character, no longer controlled by Stan Lee. Crashcourse I hope this was helpful for some of you. Essential Silver Surfer vol. Volume 1 is a necessary, but not the place to start (or finish).
