
The
Silver Surfer is a
fictional superhero appearing in
comic books and other publications produced by
Marvel Comics. The character also appears in a number of movies, television, and video game adaptations. The character was created by
Jack Kirby, and first appeared in the comic book
Fantastic Four #48, published in 1966.
The Silver Surfer is a humanoid with metallic skin who can travel space with the aid of his surfboard-like craft. Originally a young
astronomer named
Norrin Radd on the planet
Zenn-La, he saved his homeworld from the planet devourer,
Galactus, by serving as his
herald. Imbued in return with a tiny portion of Galactus's
Power Cosmic,
Radd acquired vast power, a new body and a
surfboard-like craft on which he could travel
faster than light. Now known as the Silver Surfer, Radd roamed the
cosmossearching for planets for Galactus to consume. When his travels took him to
Earth, he met the
Fantastic Four, a team of powerful superheroes who helped him rediscover his humanity and nobility of spirit. Betraying Galactus, the Surfer saved Earth but was
exiled there as punishment.
In 2011,
IGN ranked Silver Surfer 41st in its "Top 100 Comic Heroes" list. He was portrayed by
Doug Jones and voiced by
Laurence Fishburne in the 2007 film
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.