Comic Review: Silver Surfer: Black #2

Silver Surfer: Black #2

Marvel Comics

Writer: Donny Cates

Artists: Tradd Moore and Dave Stewart

I thoroughly enjoy when a comic writer links one series they’re working on with another. Grant Morrison will make references to his Animal Man run in Fifty-Two. Jonathan Hickman brought back ideas he used in Fantastic Four for his Avengers/New Avengers run. Geoff Johns and Gary Frank ultimately decided that their Superman origin story is canon in Doomsday Clock. This happens all the time and I love it. It fills me with a sense of joy and certainty that that comic I’m holding in my hands was crafted with care and love.
Silver Surfer: Black makes me feel that way. The first issue alone reminded me of the Silver Surfer’s importance – and that was before I got to Cates’ open letter to the fans. I’m immensely glad to say that the second issue is just as good, if not better than the first.

In issue one, Silver Surfer was swallowed by black hole and continued to fall until he landed on a bleak, decomposing planet billions of years into the past. Surfer was attacked by the Sentries that live on the planet and finds himself to be infected by the same “black” that’s killing the planet. It’s revealed that Knull, God of Symbiotes, is the one responsible for this planet’s demise.

First off, it’s absolutely brilliant how Donny Cates finds a way to tie his Surfer mini-series to his Venom ongoing. Like I said earlier, I love it when stuff like this happens. Cates’ could have used another cosmic Marvel character to be the big bad, but he used his own creation and it makes for excellent storytelling.

This issue begins with Silver Surfer recalling some of the horrible things he’s encountered during his ventures throughout space. Most importantly, he remembers his first encounter with the symbiotes. I love these first few pages and like how Tradd Moore depicts this decaying planet. The terrain is distorted and grotesque, yet maintains a beautiful cosmic look that’s the overall style for this book. More on the art later.

The story then cuts to the current battle between Knull and Surfer. Knull is trying to kill the light that is the Silver Surfer. He says that the darkness will consume him, but Surfer does his best to keep on fighting. The writing and art throughout this entire issue is wonderful and go together so well. Cates’ writing in this issue is inspirational, even if it is a tad cliche. “Light overcomes darkness” is kind of played out, but in this instance where light and darkness are literal utensils, it makes sense.

So, you have this beautiful, borderline poetic, story being told and along with it, some insane art. Tradd Moore is killing it, but I think the colors by the legendary Dave Stewart really help bring his pages to life. My only real problem with Moore’s art is that there’s some questionable anatomy. Though, that doesn’t ruin my experience at all. The art is gorgeous, cosmic fun that you would want to see in a Silver Surfer book.

In my opinion, there wasn’t really a dull moment in this issue. A lot happens in just this one issue. My only real problem is that I wish it was a bit longer. I honestly didn’t want it to end. If you never checked this book out, you definitely should. Even if you’re not caught up with Cate’s other comics like Guardians of the Galaxy or Venom, you should be fine. Buy the ticket, take the ride.