 Silver Surfer #3, Vol. 1
Published by Marvel Comics
October, 1968 "The Power and the
Prize"
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciling: John Buscema
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen
Original Price: $0.25
Current Value: $130.00
History Behind Issue: If I had to pick one guy that the Silver
Surfer hates the most, I would have to choose this guy. Heck, he's the spitting
image of the devil himself, who couldn't like him.
Plot: The Silver Surfer brings the unconscious woman (from issue #2) to the hospital. But the police believe he is responsible
for her injuries. They shoot at him. But their shots do not harm the Silver Surfer. The
Surfer does not comprehend why humans keep substituting force for understanding. He
destroys their weapons and then swears vengeance on mankind. He covers the Earth with a
field of energy, preventing it from using electricity and turning the Earth into darkness.
But another is watching him, Mephisto, the Prince of Darkness. He notices a panic on Earth
and the Silver Surfer is responsible. It's been a long time since he has ever seen such
goodness. He must stop him, he must find a way to get to him. He will, through Shalla-Bal.
The Lord of Evil tempts Shalla-Bal into coming with him to Earth to see Norrin Radd once
more.
Meanwhile, the Silver Surfer, realizing he is just as bad as mankind for attacking them,
withdraws his field of energy. Suddenly, he notices a spacecraft from Zenn La which holds
the evil Mephisto and his beloved Shalla-Bal. The humans attack the spacecraft. Silver
Surfer stops them, but Shalla-Bal is injured and becomes unconscious during the attack.
All going by Mephisto's plan. Mephisto leaves the fallen spacecraft as the Silver Surfer
approaches. He heals his beloved, but she warns him that Mephisto is just using her to get
to him. At that, Mephisto appears and threatens to kill the Silver Surfer because his
goodness could destroy his plan to ruin humanity.
But the Surfer must die at a place of Mephisto's choice. Thus, he is forced to follow
Mephisto (who has Shalla-Bal into his domain. Mephisto warns him not to resist him or he
will harm Shalla-Bal.) He tempts the Surfer with greed, lust and power, but the Surfer
does not concede. He is attacked by the Mephisto's creatures, but he will not surrender.
The Silver Surfer resists all of the Mephisto's temptation.
Mephisto cannot withstand the Surfer's goodness any longer. He offers the Surfer one more
chance. He will send Shalla-Bal back to Zenn-La, separating them once more, if he does not
surrender his soul. The Silver Surfer resists and is separated from his love again.
Mephisto admits defeat, but they shall meet again and the Surfer shall fall.
Comments: Honestly, this would have to be my favorite Silver Surfer story ever!
Mephisto makes the perfect villain and no one has best written and drawn this nemisis of
the Surfer's since the premiere of him by Stan Lee and John Buscema.
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Written by James Pedrick |