Review: Silver Surfer Vol. 1- New Dawn

Quick Summary

Pros: The main narrative is creative and feels different than other comics. The characters are fantastic and their interactions with one another create some solid comedy. The new series feels like something that could get even better as it develops. The artwork is a beautiful complement to the story.

Cons: Nothing significant.

Overall: This is a comic book that is easy to like, easy to enjoy, and a genuine pleasure to read. It takes a fantastic group of characters, sets them off on several neat adventures, and allows for charming and funny moments to take place along the way. While this happens, imaginative storytelling and gorgeous artwork helps set the entire comic even further apart from its competition. Readers looking for wholesome and charming characters, unique storytelling and art, or just a genuinely well-put together comic should read this volume.

Story

Silver Surfer Vol. 1: New Dawn, by Dan Slott and Michael Allred, is a delightfully charming read and a unique entry in this era of Marvel Comics. This comic stars a great cast of characters, who’s wholesome positivity makes them likable from the start and who’s interactions with one another provide some solid laughs. Just spending time with these characters is fun and makes for an enjoyable read. Meanwhile, the adventures they go on make the whole experience better. These adventures are imaginative, atypical, and fill the series with an even deeper sense of wonder. Overall, this is a great comic book and a highly positive start to a new Silver Surfer series. 

(spoilers start here)

From an early point, the narrative in New Dawn defines itself as something unique and different. The first story arc centers around a planet with impossible physics which readers soon learn is powered by the heart of the physical manifestation of the concept of possibility. Then, the second major arc centers around reality unfolding and the nightmares of its characters coming to life. It is a weird and wild ride that stands out as something uniquely positive among the comic book landscape.

This narrative is then filled to the brim with wonderful characters. Dawn Greenwood is introduced to this series as someone who is instantly likable. She is positive, cares about others, and is about to start a journey of discovery. This all pairs well against the Silver Surfer, who’s pure-heart makes him like Dawn but who’s disconnect from others separates him. Even Dawn’s family and the aliens she befriends in space add something to the mix, as they all show real emotion toward one another.

It also helps that these characters are funny. Dawn and the Surfer’s inability to comprehend certain aspects of each other’s lives creates some humorously innocent misunderstandings. Some of the humor even works from a meta standpoint, with jokes that make fun of the Surfer’s infamous call and the unclear nature of the “power cosmic”.

New Dawn also shows a lot of promise as the first volume in a series. It is clear that Dawn’s journey of self-discovery will be explored as this comic continues, allowing the opportunity for more character development in future volumes. This could also work as an opportunity to develop the Surfer, as his connection with humanity is always something that could be deepened. In general, I left this comic excited to see where it will go next.

(spoilers end here)

Art

The artwork in New Dawn looks good and works perfectly with the story being told here. Michael Allred’s visuals allow the art to stand out in the same charming and unique way that the story does. The comic ends up looking wacky, wild, and weird in a way that gives it a ton of appeal. The colors enhance this aspect as well, with colorist Laura Allred helping bring these pages to life.

The stylized visuals also give the comic ton of visual diversity. Allred’s work looks just as good when depicting an impossible location in the depths of space as it does when depicting a mundane seaside cottage. The same can be said with the characters, who can either look bizarre and alien, simply human, or anywhere in between. Overall, there is a lot to love about this volume and the artwork is definitely part of this.

Continuity

Silver Surfer Vol. 1: New Dawn starts a new Silver Surfer series that does not directly continue the storyline from any specific comic.

The story here continues in Silver Surfer Vol. 2: Worlds Apart (Review).

This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:

• The Silver Surfer originally defied Galactus and was trapped on Earth in Fantastic Four #48-50, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 5 (Review).
• The Silver Surfer broke free of Galactus’ barrier in Silver Surfer Vol. 3 #1, collected in Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Freedom (Review).