EPISODE 3: SILVER SURFER AND SUPERMAN #1

Connor-El and Rey-Zod return to discuss a very different tale for our Man of Steel. This time around, we look at a one-shot pitting two titans of two giant universes - Marvel and DC!

The Last Sons look at the similarities between the Silver Surfer and Superman; do an in depth review of the story as written by George Perez, and look at the background of Perez and his involvement both with the cosmic universes of both Marvel and DC...

There's plenty to love here and the Last Sons have a blast with this one! Surprises aplenty; expectations denied....the universe works in mysterious ways!

CREDITS: 

Silver Surfer / Superman

Released November 1996

Writer: George Perez

Artist: Ron Lim

Inker: Terry Austin

Colourist: Tom Smith

Letterer: John Costanza

Executive Editor: Mike Carlin

SYNOPSIS:

Written by Rey-Zod

Superman surveils the city of Metropolis,scouring the streets for any sign of trouble. All seems in order, and even the prying eyes of the Contessa from Lexcorps doesn’t seem to faze the Man of Steel. As she plots to keep eyes on the Kryptonian, he suddenly disappears into thin air with a little ‘Pop’.

In another universe, altogether, the Silver Surfer comes across a planet which he has never seen before in all his cosmic travels. Although it seems uninhabited and a ball of fire and molten lava, the Surfer senses voices pleading for someone to save them. Before he can do anything, he too disappears with a sudden ‘pop’.

Both mighty figures appear to have traded places and now inhabit each others’ universe. Superman at first thinks he’s landed in Krypton, but it soon becomes apparent that all is not what it seems. A quick encounter with the locals culminates in Superman finding himself face to face with another adversary - one familiar within the Marvel Universe - the Super Skrull!

The Silver Surfer appears to have landed on Earth though he senses it is not of the same universe of which he is familiar. The Surfer immediately gets attacked upon by robotic defence units whilst the citizens flee in terror. The Surfer’s powers appear haywire, but he manages to still control his board and with it he soars high into the sky, hoping to reach orbit. To his surprise, outer space is missing, and in it’s stead,  he crashes through what appears to be a barrier enveloping Earth.

Back with Superman, the fight with the Super Skrull rages - and Superman appears to be beat. The Super Skrull let’s slip of a ‘game’ in which he’s involved and this is enough for Superman to gain a sniff of what is really going on. No longer afraid and apparently vulnerable to the Skrull’s attack, Superman delivers a knockout blow. It so happens Superman’s suspicions are incorrect too, as he believes it’s Mxyzptlk… he is indeed wrong and surprised when he finds out it is none other than the Impossible Man!

The Surfer discovers he has actually freed himself from a miniature city encased in glass and finds himself in some sort of unknown dimension. He peers in towards the glass casing, whilst the miniature citizens look in horror at the silver behemoth. It’s not long before he is set upon by droids and dinosaurs and Norrin Radd soon figures out it is not a mechanised program, but a living entity which is playing a deadly game.

The Impossible Man reveals to Superman the motives behind the game - both he and MxyzPtlk have plotted together to form a game to entertain themselves, with Superman and Silver Surfer as their main pieces. Each are to convince their targets they they are the ones behind the mayhem and the Impossible Man claims the prize with his manipulation of Superman.

In the distance, both eye off an armada which seems to be heading their way - an armada of Skrulls!

The miniature citizens of Metrpolis are in a state of panic as their world appears to be crashing down on them. The Impossible Man is maddened by this as one of the rules was that no one would get hurt. Having felt that MXYZPTLK is breaking the rules, the Impossible Man goes head to head against MXYZPTLK and a flurry of Marvel and DC characters collide as the two powerful beings continually change forms as they fight.

When it’s all he can take, the Silver Surfer transforms the Impossible Man to a form of Superman to cease the bickerings between the reality changing beings and calls for reason.

The Surfer and the Impossible Man trick MXYZPTLK to bring Superman to the unknown dimension where they all are, and with all four of them together the Surfer calls the game forfeit.

With the game seemingly over, the Surfer offers to return the city to it’s rightful scale and location, whilst Superman convinces MXYZPTLK to assist with Impossible Man to bring them back to their rightful universes.

Metropolis is restored and once again MXYZPTLK is tricked into allowing both Superman and Silver Surfer to return to the Surfer’s universe to deal with the Skrulls. His fearsome reputation makes short work of the armada and the Surfer vows to protect the planet known as Bridoon from now on.

With one final gesture, Superman is then returned to his rightful universe, with MXYZPTLK under obligation due to a technical loophole.

The Two titans say their goodbyes, knowing full well that their memories of the adventure will fade. Both the Impossible Man and MXYZPTLK depart too, seen bickering and heckling each other to the bitter end. As the Silver Surfer rides into the distance, he smiles at what had just passed and what had been accomplished. It’s not long before the memory fades, as do the two reality warping entities...and with their disappearance, a small pop is heard.

SHOW NOTES:

• Silver Surfer / Superman Vol. 1, issue #1
• Silver Surfer
• Superman Exile
• First issue of Silver Surfer by Perez
• Crisis on Infinite Earths
• The Infinity Gauntlet
• Mister Mxyptllk
• Impossible Man
• MAN OF STEEL Theme – [Styzmask Remix]
• Mr Mxyptlk vs Lex Luthor
• Emperor Joker
• Silver Surfer Theme
• Into the Knight - A Moon Knight Podcast
• Sons of the Dragon - The Immortal Iron Fist Podcast
• Fantastic 4 Rise of the Silver Surfer
• Signal of Doom a Comic Book Podcast