50 Greatest Super Heroes In Comic Book History

42. Silver Surfer

(Write-up by Nick Tylwalk, Bam Smack Pow Editor)

Is the non-human who displays more humanity than us now something of a cliche? Quite possibly, but the Silver Surfer did it first, or at least near the beginning, and it’s become something of a recurring theme for him even when he’s mucking around in the affairs of cosmic beings in strange and distant parts of the universe.

As much as Norrin Radd has tried to play it off like that part of him died when Galactus first transformed him into a herald, his actions have shown that isn’t the case. He’s always put the needs of others first, from sacrificing himself in exchange for the safety of his true love and his homeworld during his origin, to turning on Galactus to help save Earth in one of the most famous Fantastic Four arcs of all time.

He’s almost like Marvel’s Superman in a way; a supremely powerful being from another world who nevertheless would make the ultimate sacrifice for us. The Surfer is easily his equal in nobility, and depending on your views on how the Power Cosmic would fare against the Last Son of Krypton, it’s possible he could take Superman in a fight.

The thing is, there wouldn’t be one unless there was a very good reason. Though he has been shown to have a temper — again, another very human quality — he doesn’t throw down just for kicks. And we somehow made it all this way without talking about that visual: a shining, silver-skinned man riding a surfboard through space. It could have turned to cheese so easily in the wrong hands, but thanks to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it turned into a classic instead.

Next: No. 41: He defines current events