A MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL
By Stan Lee & John Buscema, with Tom DeFalco (Marvel)
ISBN: 0- 87135-427-6
Here’s a fine example of an all-too common problem in graphic novel production, in the form of a high class product that I can half-heartedly recommend – and no, I didn’t mistype that.
The Silver Surfer was always a pristine and iconic character when handled well – and sparingly – yet once he gained and sustained a regular comic book presence he became somewhat diminished; less… special. After a strong start his adventures became formulaic and even dull. In reworking the character for the modern market, a huge amount of the mystique that made the critically beloved but commercially disastrous Christ allegory from the Stars a 1960’s cause celebré was lost.
On paper a reuniting of Stan Lee and John Buscema on their most revered character collaboration must have seemed a win-win proposition, and the production values of a hardcover album with the most up to date repro and colouring techniques promised delights to warm even the most jaded fan’s heart. The artistic bravery of making each of the 62 pages one full panel of Buscema artwork was a fan-boy’s dream.
So why am I less than whole-heartedly enthusiastic?
Comics are a synthesis of art and story. When both are at their peak no other creative medium in the world can match them for imagination, delight and wonderment. John Buscema rose to the challenge, producing some of the best superhero drawing of his long and impressive career, ably assisted by the colouring of Max Scheele.
And the story sucked.
Even though plotted by Tom DeFalco and scripted by Stan Lee, the tale of the satanic tempter Mephisto’s seduction of Nova, the comely herald of the world-devouring Galactus, the self-sacrifice of the Surfer and the battle between the mystical Lord of Hell and Galactus, the ultimate Force of Science, should have been a high-point of sequential fiction.
But it isn’t. The dialogue is rushed, overblown, occasionally moronic and often downright embarrassing. But it is so very, very lovely to look at…
There’s the painful paradox. Every fan should have this book, but it might be best to find a copy translated into a language you can’t read…
A softcover edition (ISBN13: 978-0-87135-663-5) is also available.
© 1988 Marvel Entertainment Group/Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.