For many superhero fans, Spider-Man: The Animated Series ranks as the high-water mark for Marvel animation. From 1994 to 1998, the series introduced many young viewers (myself included) to the Marvel Universe. Sharp storytelling and striking animation helped elevate the show, rendering a series that still remains enjoyable and emotionally authentic today— even in the omnipresent shadow of the MCU. Not long after Spider-Man: The Animated Series’s cancellation, a show about a far more obscure Marvel character flew onto TV sets: Silver Surfer (1998), also known as Silver Surfer: The Animated Series.
Most people know the Silver Surfer from his cinematic debut in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). Created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, the character originates from the pages of Marvel Comics, debuting in March 1966. Thirty-two years later, the animated series premiered on February 7, 1998 on the Fox Kids Network (a programming block on Fox and its affiliates). Despite amassing good ratings, the series was abruptly cancelled after just 13 episodes following a dispute between two of the show’s production companies: Marvel and Saban Entertainment (the folks behind Power Rangers).
If you’re unfamiliar with the Silver Surfer’s origins, the first three episodes succinctly cover them. The Surfer was born a man named Norrin Radd on the peace-loving planet Zenn-La. Norrin’s life changes forever the day Galactus, a sort of space giant, arrives at Zenn-La for his next meal. To sustain his colossal form, Galactus feeds on the nutrient rich cores of certain planets, destroying the worlds and their inhabitants. In order to save his home, Norrin Radd makes a deal with Galactus. If Zenn-La is spared, Norrin will act as Galactus’s herald, searching the universe for the big guy’s next planetary meal. Norrin plans to lead Galactus only to uninhabited worlds, thus sparing the lives of trillions throughout the universe.
Galactus agrees and imbues Norrin with the Power Cosmic, granting him superhuman strength, endurance, and a board to travel on. But there’s a catch: he’s transformed into a sleek, metallic-skinned humanoid called the Silver Surfer. His memories of his past life and home world are erased. Now a servant of Galactus, the Silver Surfer rides the celestial firmament, in search of planets for his master to devour. Worst of all, he forgets his plan to deceive Galactus into eating unpopulated planets, and trillions are killed because of him. The Surfer eventually regains his memories, repents for his misdeeds, rebels against Galactus, and sets out to find Zenn-La, which a vengeful Galactus has hurled into the farthest reaches of the universe — and this all happens in just the first three episodes! The serialized storytelling follows the Surfer’s lonely quest to get back home, guilt-ridden and tormented by his complacency in Galactus’s murderous rampage.
The stories for all 13 episodes are jam-packed with some unexpectedly weighty ideas. Much like the Silver Surfer’s solo comic book series, the animated show uses the framework of a science fiction journey to address many social and political issues: slavery, pacifism, personal accountability, empathy, and environmental responsibility.
Despite a visual aesthetic clearly inspired by the estimable Jack Kirby, the series does feature a distinct and slightly off-putting mashup of traditional cel animation and 90s-era computer animation. Though some modern viewers may find this blend dated, particularly Galactus’s CGI rendering, it actually augments the already bizarre look and tone of the series. In addition to the unique visual design, Silver Surfer deserves credit for embracing the weirder cosmic corners of the Marvel Universe.
Many characters popularized by the MCU made appearances on the show during a time when they were still relatively unknown to the general populace. The Surfer encounters Drax, Nebula, Gamora, the Skrulls, the Kree, and Ego the Living Planet (though some differ widely from their comic book origins and their MCU portrayals). Even Thanos made his first appearance outside of the comics on Silver Surfer.
Viewed today through our more sophisticated standards, Silver Surfer may at times feel stiff, heavy-handed, and even a little corny. But if you can divorce yourself from 2023, Silver Surfer holds up as a uniquely animated and thoughtfully written comic book adaptation that more than qualifies for at least a spot on your Disney+ watchlist.
-T.Z.
