REVIEW: ‘Silver Surfer: Rebirth,’ Issue #2

Silver Surfer: Rebirth #2 is written by Ron Marz, penciled by Ron Lim, inked by Don Ho, colored by Israel Silva, and lettered by VC’s Joe Sabino. It’s published by Marvel Comics. After reality has been altered, the Silver Surfer finds himself face to face with Thanos! The Mad Titan reveals that someone has stolen the Reality Gem from him and is using it to reshape the very fabric of the universe. Thus, the Surfer enters into an uneasy alliance with Thanos, as the new reality pits them face to face with the ghosts of their respective pasts.

Even before he was the main threat in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Thanos was one of the Marvel Universe’s deadliest villains – especially after the Infinity Gauntlet series, where he wiped out half of the universe in order to win the favor of Death. Marz is clearly having fun writing Thanos, as the Titan briefly battles with the Surfer and delivers a boast that puts other supervillains to shame: “Thanos of Titan has no equal. I ask for your aid… I DEMAND your attention.” The only thing that could make it better is if Josh Brolin was narrating the issue. There are also nods to Infinity Gauntlet and its follow-up Infinity War, which is solid proof that Marz has done his homework when crafting the story.

Lim and Ho’s art brings cosmic chaos to the page, especially in the opening when the Surfer and Thanos briefly face off. The first two pages depict a double spread of the two facing off like gunslingers in a Western, their hands crackling with stellar energy. The next two pages have them leaping at each other, firing energy bolts. And throughout the remaining pages, there is a massive hole that looks like somebody shattered a window, representing the fracturing of the reality. The best panel, however, is a direct reference to Infinity Gauntlet, specifically the infamous “SNAP” moment. Lim and Ho draw the moment almost beat for beat as it appeared in Infinity Gauntlet #1, with Thanos slowly raising his hand and a single panel closing in on his hand. Sabino also depicts the “SNAP” sound effect in bright, bold letters that take up the entirety of the panel.

Finally, Silva delivers a bright and eye-catching color palette that fits the cosmic nature of the book. The Surfer’s shining chrome skin and Thanos’ blue and gold armor, along with his dark purple skin, stand out in the vast black void of space. And a sequence takes place in Thanos’ garden, with the setting sun and lush green foilage resulting in an oddly beautiful setting. And when a sun explodes, the entire page is covered in golden light.

Silver Surfer: Rebirth #2 forges an uneasy alliance between the Sentinel of the Spaceways and Thanos, as reality continues to be reshaped. With both the Surfer and Thanos hurled into different parts of the new reality, it’s unclear who has control of the Reality Gem, or if the Surfer will be victorious.

Silver Surfer: Rebirth #2 is available wherever comics are sold.