Silver
Surfer #142, Vol. 3 Published by Marvel Comics August, 1998 "Return from Forever" Writer: John Marc DeMatteis Original Price: $1.99 History Behind Issue: The Mergence Saga Continues from issue #141 Plot: A barren craggy bluff, a ringed orange planet hangs low on the
horizon in a starless sky. The winds howl around Alicia Masters. "I feel a cold
unlike any I've ever known on Earth. But more than that-- I feel a terrible
loneliness." Being blind since she was a little girl, she is used to the impenetrable
darkness, used to isolation in a private universe. But she has never felt as alone as she
does right NOW. Suddenly there is a whistle, the ever increasing whine of an object
burning up in the atmosphere upon entry. WHOOOOM! It falls a mere dozen meters in front of
Alicia. She can feel the heat from the explosion even from where she is. There's a sound,
a subtle hum of a distinctive energy-field and a disturbing metallic grinding. She
realizes it's her captor Cy-phyrr 4! Broken, burnt, seared circuitry and molten metal, she
senses he is dying. "I know he's not a man... I don't even know if he's truly ALIVE
in any conventional sense-- and yet there's something about him... a spark of real
humanity that even that emotionless voice can't hide. Just like Norrin when we first
met." In front of him, a female face formed of earth, pink flowing tendrils, eyes radiating crimson energy. "I am BRAHMANES... Mother of the world. Womb, spirit, heart and mind of her. I am the consciousness of this planet. All living things that grow from me, upon me, are my children: independent- yet always... all ways... connected to me. I am Brahmanes-- and I welcome you, man of silver-- into my arms." The Surfer asks Brahmanes why, when she has birthed this paradise, produced such joy and beauty she still weeps. "Joy cannot exist in isolation" she replies. "Out there... across the great and timeless Creation... there are beings in pain, in need, I hear them. They resonate within me--" The crimson rays flow from her eyes in a wide beam scanning the
Surfer. "--As I now with in you. Let my beloved children know nothing but
innocence and happiness. May the shadow of sadness and suffering never touch them. But I
am connected not just to them-- but to all things. And I must share in the sorrows of
Creation. And, in sharing perhaps ease the suffering of some lonely creature... lost in
despair on another world. I see your soul, silver one. I see your heart. And know that
you, of all beings, can understand what I say. What I do. Why I suffer. And I know--that
you will suffer with me." He snaps the cable making the link between her and the Mergence. She swoons, nearly collapsing, then attacks! Thrashing the Coroner she cautions him, "Were you not the conduit through which we will absorb the consciousness of this world-- We would destroy you NOW." Warning him never to rebel again she rants toward the heavens at her
disgust at being corporeal. She can't wait for this assignment to end. A holographic
representation of the Mergence appears above them. The Corner revels in the thought that
once he has handed over his world to them, he will join them as promised. "Your... compassion seems foolish and ill advised," he replies. "Also: a being of limited intelligence and abilities could be of no assistance to one created by the Mergence." The collection of stroon machinery crackles with energy. The pieces begin to move and reassemble themselves. Whole once again, the machine man rises. Alicia is amazed and asks why he didn't tell her this was in his power. The emotionless construct replies "there was no need." Alicia inquires about their next course of action. Cy-phyrr assesses their situation. Their ship destroyed, escape pods damaged, his own powers diminished until self-repairs are completed, he concludes they are trapped here. Alicia decides to explore but Cy-phyrr stops her. Coldly he states his mission to control, sustain, supervise and protect her. "When you put it so romantically... I--" our optically
impaired heroine begins to reply. A haunting hum fills the air interrupting them. They are
surrounded! Alicia asks her companion to create a weapon for her. Though he can not see
the logic in it, he does so, hoping perhaps she will create a diversion for him. Without
aim she fires into the swarm. The Surfer is puzzled. "I read in your soul a need to know this. No-- not to know... to remember-- that which you already know." She releases him. Sitting on his board, hovering inches above this
alien sea he ponders her words. He thinks of his sacrifice to save Zenn-La. All being must
be driven, first and foremost by compassion, he thinks. Off he soars to share his
revelations. The Surfer returns to Samma-D. He states he must return to save Earth and
find Alicia. He asks if Samma-D will come with him. But Samma-D says he has he has some
things to take care of first. Our hero enters the zone and attempts to cross again. He
feels the fabric of his being spread wider and wider. He fears if he continues he will
exist no more but he pushes on. From in the midst of the shadow a ripple of light begins to shine, becoming so bright the collective consciousness recoils in fear. It is the Silver Surfer! He attacks the holo-body of the Mergence with the unyielding purity of his own soul. Witnessing the cosmic crusader's pristine angelic power, the Coroner begins to doubt. This slim doubt is enough to break the connection. CHAKA-THOOOM! Bristling with cosmic power our hero presses his attack... Comments: Though the story is picking up pace, it is still mediocre
at best. It is good however to see the Surfer off Earth! Fans have been eager for him to
soar the spaceways again! DeMatteis continues to explore the Surfer's suffering soul booth
the exposition and the continuing parallel between Our hero and the cybernetic construct
Cy-phyyr 4. Still I find it disappointing. Muth's art is inconsistent. The splash page is
fabulous! An exciting and dramatic pose for the Surfer. Tenebrae continues to be his most
consistently well drawn character. Though his Alicia Masters can be excellent at times.
This issue is a fairly standard representation of the DeMatteis/Muth collaboration. Story continued in Silver Surfer #143 Written by Lord Thanos
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