EXCLUSIVE: Perfect timing — today is the late JOHN BUSCEMA’s birthday…
Marvel will be re-publishing the first seven issues of the classic 1968 Silver Surfer series by Stan Lee and John Buscema, starting in March — bringing back its strategy of longer runs after a short break.
The first Silver Surfer issue is due March 25, 2026. It’s one of two Facsimile Editions on tap for the month: The other has interesting ramifications and you can read about it here.
Meanwhile, the Silver Surfer news comes at a cool time — today, coincidentally, was the late Buscema’s birthday. He was born Dec. 10, 1927, so it makes for a fitting 13th Dimension birthday salute.
Check out the EXCLUSIVE solicitation info, which will be released officially by Marvel later this month:
SILVER SURFER #1 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by JOHN BUSCEMA
Cover by JOHN BUSCEMA
Variant Cover by JUSTIN MASON
FOIL VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
The Sentinel of the Spaceways’ classic origin story! The Silver Surfer, former herald of Galactus, had captivated readers of FANTASTIC FOUR and established himself as one of Stan Lee’s favorite Marvel Comics characters – and so, in 1968, Lee united with legendary artist John Buscema to spin new tales of the Surfer in his very own series! Trapped on Earth, the ever-reflective Surfer ponders his fate in life – and his thoughts wander back to his days as scientist Norrin Radd on his home planet of Zenn-La! Discover how and why he sacrificed everything – including his future with his great love, Shalla-Bal – to serve the World-Eater! It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting SILVER SURFER (1968) #1.
Marvel is reprinting the ground-breaking first seven issues of Silver Surfer as they originally appeared!
$6.99
On Sale: 3/25
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Several thoughts:
— At first I thought Silver Surfer #1 was a repeat Facsimile, but then I realized we actually haven’t gotten it until now. That’s remarkable. The only solo Silver Surfer Facsimile Edition we’ve received is Issue #14, when he first met Spider-Man. That came out in early 2019.
— The first seven issues are a collector’s delight. Among the highlights: the first appearance of Shalla-Bal, in Issue #1; the debut of Mephisto in Issue #3; and the Surfer’s battle with Thor in Issue #4.
— As I noted before, this is one of two Facsimiles coming in March from Marvel. Link below!
— There are no plans at this time to collect these seven in the new Archive Edition format. That line appears to be kaput.
— Obligatory Price Comparison: An unslabbed, VF copy of an original Silver Surfer #1 recently sold on eBay for about $970.
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MORE
— Claremont and Byrne’s 1983 PHOENIX: THE UNTOLD STORY to Get Facsimile Release. Click here.
— MARVEL Ditches Yearlong FACSIMILE EDITION Runs in Favor of Month-To-Month — At Least for Now. Click here.
December 11, 2025
Yes! This is one of the facsimiles I have been asking for ! I even wrote to Marvel a few years ago about making this one as it is very difficult to find an affordable original. Now DC comics needs to finally fulfill the Neal Adams Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76 that was solicited right before Covid, then was cancelled.
December 11, 2025
Marvel did a facsimile of Silver Surfer #14 some time ago…so man, I’m going to be annoyed at not having #8-13 when this is done.
December 11, 2025
did we all forget about the Fantasy Masterpiece reprints of all the original issues? i got the full set on ebay a few years back for about $40
December 11, 2025
I remember buying those in the days. Some great Marvel storytelling here for sure.
December 12, 2025
Not all issues, just 1-14.
December 11, 2025
Spot foil would be insanely cool, where only Surfer is in foil, with the rest of the cover non-foil.
December 12, 2025
I always kind of dismissed the foil covers like a “trick cover” of the ‘90s. But I think for the Surfer this definitely works.
December 12, 2025
I do agree that it’s a trick cover, but I still buy them most of time 😀 . I do like having a cardboard cover.
If you haven’t seen the foil of Green Lantern #87 (first John Stewart), check it out. The mixed foil (white background is regular) looks great.
December 12, 2025
I will go search it out. I can certainly be swayed by the right treatment. Thanks!
December 12, 2025
The hot books are issues 1, 3, 4. Anyone interested in all 7 oversized 25 cent issues would likely be interested in all 18.
(And while they’re at it, add the 1982 Byrne one-shot. Just sayin’)
December 12, 2025
I have to admit that the price for this facsimile gave me pause. Both this and the other new Marvel facsimile announced for March are priced at $6.99 U.S., which works out to approx. $10.00 Cdn for me. Per issue. So that’s going to be about $70.00 for me for all 7 issues. Was this just Marvel raising prices? However, the first 7 issues of Silver surfer were actually giant 68 page books! That’s why they are priced higher than, say, the recent Fantastic Four reprints, which were the typical 36 pages at the time. For the additional $2.00 U.S. you get almost twice the book!
December 18, 2025
Bring back the True Believers series! Sadly, I missed them all, but for a handful my local store still had left. For $1USD, I would have bought anything up to the 70s. Even at $2USD, I would be buying them like there’s no tomorrow 😀 .
December 12, 2025
I have the complete run of original issues 1-18 plus the omnibus plus the Fantasy Masterpieces reprints if issues 1-4. So, do I really need these facsimiles? Damn right I do!
December 14, 2025
The facsimile of Silver Surfer #14 is historic in its own right: it came out in January 2019 and was only the second Facsimile Edition of the modern era of facsimiles (preceded only by the first printing facsimile of Fantastic Four #1 in August 2018). It was the first “pure” Facsimile Edition in the sense that it reprinted just the comic book, the way we’re accustomed to seeing facsimiles today; the 2018 facsimile of FF #1 had bonus material.