Silver Surfer soars again, at Taschen

By John Freeman on October 26, 2023

Soar across the cosmos with one of Marvel’s most far-out characters Specialist publisher Taschen recently launched its limited edition Marvel Comics Library – Silver Surfer collection, featuring all eighteen Silver Surfer stories from the 1968 series published between 1968 and 1970 by Stan Lee and John Buscema (with a final issue drawn by Jack Kirby).

Available in two editions, neither inexpensive, but both hardcover and deluxe slipcase looking stunning, the collection features the Silver Surfer’s most cosmic stories, collected in a single volume. The hardcover edition is currently available from AmazonUK (Affiliate UK) – for £130, compared with £150 from Taschen.

All 18 Silver Surfer stories from the 1968 series by Stan Lee and John Buscema (with a final issue drawn by Jack Kirby) are collected in this galactic-sized volume from the Eisner Award-winning Marvel Comics Library, each page meticulously photographed from the rarest pedigreed comics.

Introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the fertile pages of The Fantastic Four, the Silver Surfer quickly established himself as one of Marvel’s most far-out characters. Enslaved by Galactus to prowl the cosmos for the demi-god’s next planet-sized meal, the Surfer was as tragic a figure as any in comics – and he looked impossibly cool at the same time! A smash hit with fans and a regular supporting character in Fantastic Four, the character struck a creative nerve with Lee, who couldn’t wait to begin to tell some Surfer solo stories, but the timing had to be right.

In the spring of 1968, things came together for both writer and character, with Lee giving the Surfer Marvel’s very first ongoing double-sized book. Lee also recruited artist John Buscema, who had recently been lending his extraordinary pencils to The Avengers. Together, they spun off a run of legendary tales that helped define the character forevermore.

The feature stories from the entire 18-issue run of the 1968 Silver Surfer series are collected in this cosmic-sized XXL tome from the Eisner Award-winning Marvel Comics Library series. The most pristine pedigreed comics have been cracked open and photographed for reproduction in close collaboration with Marvel and the Certified Guaranty Company.

Each page has been photographed as printed more than half a century ago, then digitally remastered using modern retouching techniques to correct problems with the era’s inexpensive, imperfect printing – as if hot off a world-class 1960s printing press. A custom paper stock was also exclusively developed for this series to simulate the feel of the original comics.

Texts by author and critic Douglas Wolk and Marvel artist Sal Buscema accompany original artwork, photographs, and rare memorabilia.

Douglas is a multiple-Eisner-winning author of All of the Marvels and Reading Comics, and has written about comics and pop music for The New York Times, Time, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, and The Believer, among others. He teaches comics history at Portland State University.

• Buy the Marvel Comics Library – Silver Surfer (Volume 1. 1968–1970) | Hardcover Famous First Edition: First printing of 5000 numbered copies | £150 | Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate UK) – currently available just over £130

• Buy the Marvel Comics Library – Silver Surfer (Volume 1. 1968–1970) | Famous First Deluxe Slipcase Edition: First printing of 1000 numbered copies | Aluminum print cover tipped into a leatherette-bound spine, foil embossing, and housed in a slipcase

**Check out Taschen’s full Marvel Comics Library range**

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.