Marvelous Mondays! Surf's Up Edition!

I opened it up, yep, I tore open the package of the Fantastic Four Movie:Rise of the Silver Surfer, Silver Surfer action figure here and emptied it of it's contents and just tossed the rest. I didn't even get an extra to keep in the package. Earlier in my collecting career I would have just passed out if I heard something like that, now, meh, not so much. Granted if I can afford an extra and it's something I really want to have a packaged version of I might grab an extra, but lately I'm of the mind that these things need to breath, be posed and played with and appreciated.



So what does all that have to do with Marvelous Mondays and Silver Surfer? Nothing really I just loves me some Silver Surfer, go out and enjoy some toys today.


What you're still here? Okay, check out that board. I mean look at it, it looks like it came straight from a cover of a Silver Surfer comic. Like it's in perspective permanently. I really like it though, kind of fun to fly around while waiting for those crazy big photoshop files to save. You know digging this guy out of a tote has put me in a Silver Surfer kinda mood, I should do a grouping of Silver Surfers in the office...

Excelsior!

Alien Surfing

Since I am on the road till the end of the week, I thought you might enjoy surfing with another alien this Thursday. I should be back for a quick post Friday afternoon after some rest, I guess I should make an announcement of the winner of the popularity poll, huh?

"I wield the POWER COSMIC!"

Until then here's another great little Mighty Mugg from the House of Hasbro. I haven't been on board for all the different little Muggs Hasbro has produced, mainly picking up characters I like or are interesting looking, that all said I really dig this Silver Surfer.

"Come to me, my board."

He is a lot shinier that I originally thought. He's basically just silver paint, so I'm guessing it the shape that is helping to give him some glares. This little guy would have been way cooler in chrome!

Whooooooshhhhh1

I've been debating on ordering Galactus from the Hasbro online store, but then I have my eye on another Mugg from a galaxy far, far away. I think if I only get one more Mugg this year I might have to put old Galactus off until the next year, still the pink helmet (if removable) could be comedy gold.

"Ah crap, it's Mola Ram, let's get out of here...

Oh Jeez, better get going, tomorrow the winner of the poll announcement (like you can't look to the side bar and figure it out), Mola Ram will have to wait for another post, see ya!

Lil' Silver Surfer

This just in from the Hasbro Superhero Squad line, Silver Surfer. I've actually been holding this one for a couple of weeks, he came packed with a little fiery Human Torch. When did you ever think that a guy on fire would make an appropriate toy for kids? But now that I think about it Mego had a Human Torch as well.

This was given to me with one stipulation, I had to open it. So I did! I'll admit that between the Superhero Squad and the Star Wars Galactic Heroes line, plus the Transformers joining the fray, I have a hard time keeping up. So I resorted to just getting the characters that I like! Oh and I likes me some Silver Surfer!

Papa and Baby Surfer

I really had other plans for a Father's Day post, but seeing how I'm trying to wrap up Silver Surfer Week, I thought this might work.

The Fantastic Four Cartoon, back around 1994, brought not only a host of tie-ins, but also a number of action figures. At the time I was trying to get most of the series, and actually enjoyed hunting them down, I have since downsized my collection, but I did manage to hang onto my Silver Surfers from the cartoon. He came in the standard 5" - 6" range as well as one that stands about 12" tall.

Besides some differences in the board these are really the same figure. As custom with most toy manufactures a larger model is made to have molds cut from. The factories can then size the figure to the desired height and you have "Baby Surfer". Produce the mold at, or close to, the original models height you have "Papa Surfer".

That was simplifying it a bit. This "Papa" and "Baby" surfer both have the standard issue surf board, though it looks like baby's could have included an attachment to simulate flying on the bottom, and the both sport a pretty neat chrome finish. The articulation on these are a little bit strange, check out the swivel on the right arm, they are still a welcome sight to the ever evolving Silver Surfer action figure.

This brings us to the end of Silver Surfer week, I just tried to hit some of the high points (or low points depending on your point of view), there are many more action figures and even his own cartoon series. The future could hold more surfer in it, you never know.

Surfing With The Alien

1997 saw the release of Surfing With The Alien by electric guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani. Above is the CD Jacket for the album, that when taken from the case, unfolds into a scene with the Silver Surfer "emerging" from his creators hand.

Mr. Satriani seems to be a pretty big Sci-Fi fan, not to mention a fan of the Surfer of Silver. Many of his songs and albums deal with the subject which is apparent by this albums cover and title track. You know, my ultimate Silver Surfer movie sound track would include this song, here's hoping that it makes it into the movie somewhere, I'll be listening for it.

It also seems that this album is popular enough that it is getting the re-mastered and re-released treatment according to the Satch's official site. Happy Anniversary Surfing With The Alien! Rock on Satch!

Freebie Friday!

This Freebie Friday is a sort of Double Freebie. A buddy of mine at work knows I'm crazy for Super heroes, Star Wars, Batman, and the like, plus being a retired military man he still has access to on base shopping. He was strolling through the Base Exchange and came across some free comics and thought he would pick one up for me!

I really like comics like this, it's obvious that it is one of those special advertising issues, but this one is done for AFFES, the Air Force base exchanges. It is the New Avengers staring Captain America, The Punisher, Ghost Rider, our pal the Silver Surfer, and the brave men and women serving in Iraq.

The story goes that Hydra has taken control of a satellite station that controls a military satellite that happens to have a particle beam on it. Why not, right? That is the least of the problems Hydra has caused, because this satellite also carries the "low-priority communications channel" that allows the soldiers to e-mail their loved ones. Dammit, Captain America is not going to stand for this crap anymore. Hydra has to be stopped!


Turns out it's the Holidays and the Avengers are all off with their families, so Cap puts together a team that really has no ties to family and friends and can work the Holidays! New Avengers Assemble!!! Answering the call is our four heroes above. Ghost Rider goes to take out the Hydra Agents that are surrounding a U.S. relay station and help the soldiers there to get through to the satellite. When their up link fails, Ghost Rider tosses them a USB drive to download their e-mails too and he'll deliver them to another station himself. Those USB drive sure are handy.

Silver Surfer is to intercept these creatures that threaten to destroy the satellite itself. Seems Hydra set up a back up plan. This poses no problem for the Silvery Hero and he stands guard in orbit just in case. Cap and the Punisher rush to the main station to take out the rest of Hydra and re link the satellite. The task is complete just in time for the Ghost Rider to show up and give Cap the USB drive and upload all the troops e-mail. The day is saved and everyone can have a happy holiday.

Okay it's not the best of stories, but during each of the individual hero's mission they are thinking of their long lost families and what they meant to them and this fuels their desire to complete the mission. It's sort of a nice way for each of the characters to relay a brief origins story to the reader. Also it seems that each have no problems taking out the Hydra Agents that have given the Military and FBI trouble in this story, that they have time to let their mind wander.

Comics sure are fun, especially free ones!

Silver Surfer Trading Cards

In 1990 Impel introduced the Marvel Comics Trading Cards. Along with a majority of the Marvel Universe, the Silver Surfer not only had a regular card, but one of five of the bonus Hologram cards that used the same surfer art.

This set of cards was certainly a departure from the days of bubble gum and baseball rookie cards, and while it wasn't new to have cards for non sport properties, it did help create a boom in Super hero collectables.

I remember that we would hit local drug stores that carried case packs and buy a couple just to try and make a set, and even then you were lucky if you would get two or three of the holograms. I ended up with two until a class mate in my production art 101 struck up a conversation about the cards, another class mate said he was selling a set of the holograms for 20 bucks, so we decided to both chip in and split the set.

The next day came and my "buddy" failed to show for class, the seller said he would hold them for a week. The end of the week came and my partner in this venture still failed to show and being how the Spider-man card in this set was going for 20 bucks by itself I plopped down two tens and took them home. The following week the no show came to class and wanted his half of the set that he knew I would let him take home and he would bring cash the next day. I passed on that deal, so I have a full set now.

Silver Surfer NES Game

I could fill this week with all my Silver Surfer action figures, but where would the fun be in that. After a while they would all look like the same naked dude on a surfboard.

So to mix it up a bit I bring you the 1990 Arcadia Silver Surfer Game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The story of this game is that Galactus has summoned his herald (The Silver Surfer) to help stop an evil plot. The Surfer must stop the assembly of a device that will rip a hole in the fabric of space and let the evil hordes of Magik come through into our realm. Why Galactus would care is beyond me, maybe he has a thing against Mephisto and the others stealing his thunder. Galactus is the devourer of worlds you know.

This is one of the few video games that I still own (the Star Wars ones are all gone, but that's another story). I have actually never finished this game and as the years went on it was stored with my computer stuff. The game manual itself shares a cover with the dust jacket of the Stan Lee and John Buscema graphic novel, The Silver Surfer - Judgement Day (see below). The manual has very little in the way of describing the levels of the game except for a title of each world you must visit as the Surfer. Reptyl, Mephisto, Skrull Emperor, Possessor, and Firelord. I know these are the actual bosses, yet they are described as the worlds. The back of the manual is a little comic book, that if I remember right is the intro to the game.

I would be interested if anyone has played this game or finished it. I might get a little adventurous one day and find the old NES and see if I still have the Power Cosmic.

Silver Surfer Week Continues!

To help kick things off I'm starting with my all time favorite Surfer figure. The 1990 Marvel Super Heroes Silver Surfer with Action Surfboard. Okay I know what you're thinking, that's the lamest Silver Surfer ever! Wrong it was the start of the Toy Biz Marvel juggernaut, and to get a character like the Silver Surfer in the first series was amazing.

Up until now Toy Biz had made DC Comics Characters, starting with the 1989 Batman Movie and continuing with a whole set of heroes and villains from Hawkman to the Riddler. While not as well executed as the Kenner Superpowers line, these were still DC Heroes and in my opinion worthy of some notice. To this day plenty of people hate these figures because of the chunky style, but this is what gives them their charm, and now looking back an almost vintage feel.

Silver Surfer was the first of the series that I saw at retail and I quickly snapped him up. Other characters in the first series would soon share his fate. The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Punisher, Daredevil, Dr. Doom, Captain America, and Dr. Octopus were all part of the first series and at the time you could not ask for a better mix. What really draws me to these figures is the packaging, bright colorful, and well super hero like. Wonderful illustrations dressed the front as well as the collect them all gallery. I nice trick I might add to avoid showing actual product. Some product was featured on the back though. A Training Center as well as rides for Spidey and Cap were being released along with this first batch.

A bonus on the back of the package was a 50% coupon for your choice of a Amazing Spider- Man, Captain America, or Silver Surfer subscription. Needles to say I did take advantage of the Silver Surfer and Captain America subscriptions at the time, for a kid this was a pretty neat ideal, not only did you have the character but you could follow his adventures.

The figure itself is in a pretty stiff pose with a whopping seven points of articulation, coated in a matte silver finish. Almost like Toy Biz went down to the hardware store and bought your standard silver Krylon. The board has what can best be described as a outboard motor "hump" on the back, which hides the pull back and go mechanism, two slots for the Surfer's feet to fit into, and wheels on the bottom.

So while not the most visually pleasing representation of the Silver Surfer, he does have a great "vintage" feel and sort of a fun feature that does make sense. I guess if you really wanted him to fly you could just throw him across the room.

Rise of the Silver Surfer!

In honor of the upcoming Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer movie. I'm going to post a few Silver Surfer goodies! It goes without saying that if Batman is my favorite DC Comics character, then Silver Surfer is my top, if not favorite, Marvel character (I mean everyone loves Spider-man, that's a given).

I have been waiting for the Silver Surfer to make a screen appearance since I first saw Terminator 2, I knew right then that the technology existed to bring my favorite Marvel to life. I will admit that I wanted him to star in his own movie, but he did start out in the pages of Fantastic Four so it's only fitting.

Well since I haven't been able to locate any "new" Silver Surfer merch in my neck of the woods, and the budget is tighter, I thought I would feature some old classics. to start things off is a Kubricks Silver Surfer form the Japanese company Medicom. If you remember I have had Kubricks on the blog before, so it should be no surprise that this guy would be making an appearance sooner or later. Maybe it is a surprise, because I haven't really spoken about the Surfer of the Skies before this post. Anyway in true Kubricks form, Silver Surfer here has been shrunk and "cutiefied" along with his trusty board. Kubricks are known mainly as being a "Blind Assortment" toy. This means that in a series of say Marvel characters, you might know who is in the series, but until you open the box, you do not know who you are getting. This can also be called trading figures, the theory being that if you get two Silver Surfers you can trade one off for another character. Kind of makes it fun in my opinion.

One thing that I like about this figure is the foot peg on the board, it really makes "flying" him around the studio easier, keeps him from falling off. Come on I know all three of my readers at one point or the other has pretended his Batman could swing in from the tops of buildings, Aquaman is out swimming a school of barracuda, or even his Marvel Legends are waging battles all over the place. No? Oh well I guess I'm the only one that plays with his toys.