Review: Silver Surfer Vol. 2- Worlds Apart
Quick Summary
Pros: The opening stories are fun and are packed with charm from the main characters. The main story arc is emotional and has a fantastic conclusion. The artwork looks gorgeous and is a perfect companion to this story.
Cons: One piece of character development feels like it happens too early.
Overall: The second volume in this Silver Surfer series is just as incredible as the first. The stories collected here are deep, meaningful, and emotional at some points but are fun, carefree, and seriously charming at others. This, combined with the gorgeous visuals on every page, make for a wonderful comic and a fantastic reading experience. Anyone who liked the first volume should continue reading here and anyone still on the fence about this series should go back and read the first so they can get here.
Story
After absolutely loving the first volume of the Marvel NOW! Silver Surfer series, I was hopefully optimistic that the second volume would contain equally appealing stories that would confirm the success of the first volume was not just a fluke. Silver Surfer Vol. 2: Worlds Apart, by Dan Slott and Michael Allred, confirms the integrity of this series with ease. This volume tells a range of stories that go from fun and carefree to serious and emotional. The narrative flows well, the writing is always appealing, and the characters are a joy to see on every page. There is one plot point that feels a little out of place but, besides this, the rest of the volume is golden.
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The first two chapters in Worlds Apart are an excellent way to start this volume. These stories are instantly appealing and really showcase the charm these characters bring with them. Dawn is wholesome and endearing while the Surfer is valiant, but both still have their fair share of comedic moments. Plus, these stories provide somewhat of a highlight reel of the duo’s recent adventures, providing a bridge between this volume and the last while also speeding forward the friendship between the main characters.
The rest of Worlds Apart addresses the Surfer’s past as a herald of Galactus. Dawn and the Surfer end up on a planet filled with people who have survived Galactus’ attacks and, therefore, see the full weight of the Surfer’s troubled past. Then, Galactus shows up and threatens to destroy a planet filled with these already tortured people. It is an emotional story that ends with a fantastic moment from Dawn, the Surfer, and the local people, as all of their efforts are able to prevent any further loss of life.
The way this is all approached also leaves the reader with a kaleidoscope of different thoughts and emotions. The reader feels sorry for Dawn, who was essentially lied to by the Surfer, and feels angry at the Surfer, who’s past might qualify him as a villain. Yet, as the narrative progresses, the reader witnesses Dawn and an entire planet about to repeat the Surfer’s past actions, showing that anyone would have done what he did in his situation. The entire situation is approached in an effective way and ends up humanizing the Surfer in a way most stories do not.
My only, very minor, complaint with Worlds Apart is that the turnaround in Dawn and the Surfer’s relationship happens rather suddenly. This is only the second volume in this series and they barely knew each other for the first volume so it doesn’t quite feel like their relationship has progressed to the point where a betrayal like this would have its full impact. Though I enjoyed seeing what this turnaround produced, I wish it had happened a volume later instead of here.
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Art
Like the story, the artwork in Worlds Apart is every bit as good as it was in the previous volume. Michael Allred and Laura Allred put some gorgeous looking and perfectly stylized visuals into every page of this book. The far reaches of space are wonderous, the alien creatures are creative, and the comic’s main characters stand out in a wonderful way. Even pages that just end up focusing on dialogue are drawn to be unique and expressive on their own, with compositions that have appeal completely independent of the storytelling. In general, the artwork in this book looks fantastic and is a huge plus for the volume as a whole.
Continuity
Silver Surfer Vol. 2: Worlds Apart continues the story from Silver Surfer Vol. 1: New Dawn (Review).
The story here continues in Silver Surfer Vol. 3: Last Days (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).