The Silver Surfer (Marvel, 1968 series) #1

Volume: 1

Price: 0.25 USD

Pages: 68

On-sale Date: 1968-05-16

Editing: Stan Lee (editor)

Cover Thumbnail for The Silver Surfer (Marvel, 1968 series) #1

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The Origin of the Silver Surfer!

(Table of Contents)

Silver Surfer / cover / 1 page

Script:	?
Pencils:	John Buscema
Inks:	Joe Sinnott Frank Giacoia (see notes)
Colors:	Marie Severin ?
Letters:	Sam Rosen

Genre:science fiction; superhero

Universe:

Marvel : mainstream

Characters:

Silver Surfer [Norrin Radd]
(featured)

Reprints (31)

in Marvel Masterworks: The Silver Surfer (Marvel, 2010 series) #1 (2010) [Reprint in book is from the Newsstand variant.]
in Marvel Firsts: The 1970s (Marvel, 2011 series) #3 (2012)

in Marvel Klassik (Panini Deutschland, 1998 series) #2

in Marvel Masterworks (Marvel, 1987 series) #15 ([September] 1990)

in Le Surfer d'Argent - L'intégrale (Soleil, 2001 series) #1 (juin 2001)

in Marvel Masterworks: Silver Surfer (Marvel, 2003 series) #1 [Third Edition] (2025)

Indexer Notes

Cover inks credit from Sinnott's personal records. After examining the original art Nick Caputo suspects that Frank Giacoia provided additional brushwork on the Surfer and backgrounds.

Issue Data

Publisher's Brand: Marvel Comics Group [under character box]
Indicia / Colophon Publisher: Official Magazine Corp.
Indicia Frequency: bi-monthly
Publisher's Age Guidelines: Approved by the Comics Code Authority
Printer: Printed in the U.S.A. by World Color Press, Inc., Sparta, Illinois 62286

Awards:

Alley Awards - Best Full-Length Story (1968)

Parts of this issue are reprinted:

Indexer Notes

The Silver Surfer #1 is seen briefly in the 1983 movie "Breathless" starring Richard Gere. The main character is clutching it while dancing and makes several complimentary comments about the appeal of the character. On-sale date from 1968 Periodicals, Copyright Office, Library of Congress.

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 1)

Joe Weider Course and Products / advertisement / 1 page

The Origin of the Silver Surfer!

(Table of Contents: 2)

Silver Surfer / comic story / 38 pages

Script:	Stan Lee (credited)
Pencils:	John Buscema (credited)
Inks:	Joe Sinnott (credited)
Colors:	Bill Everett
Letters:	Sam Rosen (credited)

Genre:science fiction; superhero

First Line of Dialogue or Text:High o'er the roof of the world he soars--free and unfettered as the roaring wind itself!
Keywords:Galactus' Star Sphere (flashback); inductors; Latveria; mental transportation element; New York City; the invisible barrier of Galactus; ultimate nullifier; weapon supreme; Zenn-La

Universe:

Marvel : mainstream

Characters:

Fantastic Four

Human Torch [Johnny Storm]
(flashback) (cameo) (reminder of the first meeting between the Silver Surfer and the FF)
Invisible Girl [Susan Storm Richards]
(flashback) (cameo) (reminder of the first meeting between the Silver Surfer and the FF)
Mister Fantastic [Reed Richards]
(flashback) (cameo) (reminder of the first meeting between the Silver Surfer and the FF)
The Thing [Ben Grimm]
(flashback) (cameo) (reminder of the first meeting between the Silver Surfer and the FF)

Doctor Doom [Victor Von Doom]
(flashback) (antagonist)
Galactus [Galan]
(flashback) (antagonist)
Hulk [Bruce Banner]
(flashback) (antagonist)
Lieutenant Colonel John Jameson
(guest)
Shalla-Bal
(supporting) (introduction, also in flashback)
Silver Surfer [Norrin Radd]
(origin) (featured) (introduction, also in flashback)

Zenn-Lavians anonymous citizens (flashback); member of Zenn-Lavian Council of Scientists (flashback); abominable snowmen

Synopsis:: The Surfer remembers his origins and why he is now trapped on Earth.; in Conan (Semic, 1973 series) #1/1974
in Thor (BSV - Williams, 1974 series) #2, #3
in Fantask (Editions Lug, 1969 series) #1 (février 1969) [Moins 6 pages [Minus 6 pages]]
which is reprinted
in Strange (Editions Lug, 1970 series) #93 (5 septembre 1977) [page 27 only]
in Strange (Editions Lug, 1970 series) #1 (5 janvier 1970) [9 pages seulement/9 pages only]
in L'Incredibile Devil (Editoriale Corno, 1970 series) #1 (6 Maggio 1970) [part 1], #2 (21 Maggio 1970) [part 2]
in TV21 (City Magazines, 1970 series) #62 (28th November 1970), #63 (5th December 1970), #64 (12th December 1970), #65 (19th December 1970)
in Thor (BSV - Williams, 1974 series) #1
in The Super-Heroes (Marvel UK, 1975 series) #1 (March 8, 1975) [pages 1-17 printed in black and white], #2 (March 15, 1975) [page 17 panel 1 used as a new title/credits splash page. Pages 18-38 in black and white]
in Son of Origins of Marvel Comics (Simon and Schuster, 1975 series) (1975)
in Nova (Editions Lug, 1978 series) #1 (10 février 1978) [19 premières pages [19 first pages]], #2 (10 mars 1978) [19 dernières pages [Last 19 pages]]
in Fantasy Masterpieces (Marvel, 1979 series) #1 (December 1979) [minus pages 6, 16, 19 and 24 of original story]
in La naissance de Captain Marvel (Arédit-Artima, 1980 series) (2ème trimestre 1980) [pages 18-38]
in Strange Spécial Origines (Editions Lug, 1981 series) #145 (5 janvier 1982) [Moins 1 page/Minus 1 page]
in Grandes Heróis Marvel (Editora Abril, 1983 series) #3 [Do original, falta da história, a página 31 ]
in Marvel Masterworks (Marvel, 1987 series) #15 ([September] 1990)
which is reprinted
in Le Surfer d'Argent - L'intégrale (Soleil, 2001 series) #1 (juin 2001)
in Marvel Limited: Fantastic Firsts (Marvel, 1994 series) (May 1994), (May 1994)
in Son of Origins of Marvel Comics Revised Edition (Marvel, 1997 series) (November 1997)
in Marvel Klassik (Panini Deutschland, 1998 series) #2
in Essential Silver Surfer (Marvel, 1998 series) #1 (February 1998) [black & white]
in Fantastic Firsts (Marvel, 2002 series) (January 2002)
in Marvel Platinum: The Definitive Silver Surfer (Panini UK, 2007 series) (2007)
in Silver Surfer Omnibus (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 (2007)
in Silver Surfer (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 (July 2007)
in Marvel Gold: Estela Plateada de Stan Lee y John Buscema (Panini España, 2010 series) (abril 2010)
in Marvel Masterworks: The Silver Surfer (Marvel, 2010 series) #1 (2010)
in Marvel Firsts: The 1960s (Marvel, 2011 series) (2011)
in A Coleção Oficial de Graphic Novels Marvel: Clássicos (Salvat, 2015 series) #14 (Setembro 2016)
in Marvel. Официальная коллекция комиксов (Ашет Коллекция [Hachette], 2014 series) #77 - Серебряный Серфер: Начало
in Silver Surfer - Classic Collection (Panini Deutschland, 2023 series) ([Juni] 2023)
in Silver Surfer No. 1 Facsimile Edition (Marvel, 2026 series) (May 2026)

Indexer Notes

Colorist credit supplied by Lee de Broff through the GCD Errors list, July 2008, and confirmed by the sale of the original color proofs at Heritage Auctions.

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 3)

Spider-Man / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 4)

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 5)

American Circle Products / advertisement / 0.5 page

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 6)

Grit Newspaper / advertisement / 0.5 page

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 7)

Don Bolander Career Institute Booklet / advertisement / 1 page

[Stamps; Shop by Mail]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 8)

advertisement / 1 page

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 9)

Fantastic Four / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 10)

Bullpen Bulletins; Mighty Marvel Checklist; Stan's Soapbox / in-house column / 1 page

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 11)

Marvel Super-Heroes T-Shirt; Merry Marvel Marching Society Membership Kit / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

The Wonder of the Watcher!

(Table of Contents: 12)

Tales of the Watcher / comic story / 13 pages

Script:	Stan Lee (credited)
Pencils:	Gene Colan (credited)
Inks:	Syd Shores (credited)
Colors:	Bill Everett ?
Letters:	Artie Simek (credited)

Genre:science fiction; superhero

First Line of Dialogue or Text:With but a single gesture, I could save the fading life below!
Keywords:atomic warfare; delta rays; origin; Planet of the Watchers (flashback); Prosilicus (flashback)

Universe:

Marvel : mainstream

Characters:

Emnu
(flashback) (member of Watchers High Tribunal)
Ikor
(flashback) (member of Watchers High Tribunal)
Watcher [Uatu]
(featured) (also in flashback)

Prosilicans

Synopsis:: The Watcher recaps the story of why he and his people no longer interfere in other people's affairs.; in Seriemagasinet (Semic, 1970 series) #22/1973 ([oktober] 1973)
in Planet of the Apes (Marvel UK, 1974 series) #13 (January 18 1975)
in Son of Origins of Marvel Comics (Simon and Schuster, 1975 series) (1975)
in Star Wars Weekly (Marvel UK, 1978 series) #15 (17 May 1978) [pages 1-5], #17 (31 May 1978)
in Strange Spécial Origines (Editions Lug, 1981 series) #175 (5 juillet 1984)
in The Marvel Saga the Official History of the Marvel Universe (Marvel, 1985 series) #9 (August 1986) [excerpts]
which is reprinted
in Marvel Saga (SatellitFörlaget, 1988 series) #9
in Essential Marvel Saga (Marvel, 2008 series) #1 (2008)
in Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Rarities (Marvel, 2014 series) #1 (2014)
in Silver Surfer No. 1 Facsimile Edition (Marvel, 2026 series) (May 2026)

Indexer Notes

Watcher's origin retold from Tales of Suspense (Marvel, 1959 series) #53 (May 1964).

The Origin of the Silver Surfer! (Table of Contents)

Silver Surfer / cover / 1 page

Indexer Notes

Issue Data

Indexer Notes

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 1)

Joe Weider Course and Products / advertisement / 1 page

The Origin of the Silver Surfer! (Table of Contents: 2)

Silver Surfer / comic story / 38 pages

Indexer Notes

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 3)

Spider-Man / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 4)

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 5)

American Circle Products / advertisement / 0.5 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 6)

Grit Newspaper / advertisement / 0.5 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 7)

Don Bolander Career Institute Booklet / advertisement / 1 page

[Stamps; Shop by Mail] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 8)

advertisement / 1 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 9)

Fantastic Four / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 10)

Bullpen Bulletins; Mighty Marvel Checklist; Stan's Soapbox / in-house column / 1 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 11)

Marvel Super-Heroes T-Shirt; Merry Marvel Marching Society Membership Kit / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

The Wonder of the Watcher! (Table of Contents: 12)

Tales of the Watcher / comic story / 13 pages

Indexer Notes

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 13)

Strat-O-Matic Baseball Game / advertisement / 1 page

[Shop by Mail] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 14)

advertisement / 1 page

Missile Firing Tank (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 15)

Mobile Tank / Missile Firing Tank / advertisement / 0.5 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 16)

Centre Coin's Album or Catalog / advertisement / 0.5 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 17)

Spider-Man / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 18)

Niresk Fishing Outfits / advertisement / 1 page

Forbidden Oriental Fighting Arts (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 19)

Precise Publications Defense Training / advertisement / 1 page

[no title indexed] (Expand) / (Table of Contents: 20)

132 Roman War Soldiers / advertisement / 1 page

The Origin of the Silver Surfer!

(Table of Contents)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 1)

The Origin of the Silver Surfer!

(Table of Contents: 2)

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(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 3)

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(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 4)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 5)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 6)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 7)

[Stamps; Shop by Mail]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 8)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 9)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 10)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 11)

The Wonder of the Watcher!

(Table of Contents: 12)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 13)

[Shop by Mail]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 14)

Missile Firing Tank

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 15)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 16)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 17)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 18)

Forbidden Oriental Fighting Arts

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 19)

[no title indexed]

(Expand) / (Table of Contents: 20)