THE SILVER SURFER COVER GALLERY OMNIBUS...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Yes, I know - I've shown these covers before, but I did it in 

several posts and I thought it would be handy to have them all in one

place for all you pantin' panelologists to slobber over.  The first seven

issues were double-sized, 25 cents publications, and #8 was prepared

that way as well.  However, it was split over two issues when the decis-

ion was taken to make the title a regular-sized, 15 cents monthly.  The

mag only lasted 18 issues, so assuming the change was instituted be-

cause it was thought that the pricier format was scaring off readers,

it wasn't made soon enough to make a difference in sales, alas.

JACK KIRBY drew what became the last issue, but the mag's

cancellation proved that not even the 'King' could save it.  Sure, it

was cancelled before the sales figures came in, but they must've been

pretty underwhelming, as the mag would've been revived PDQ had it

seemed to MARVEL that they suddenly had a surefire runaway hit on

their hands.  In fact, it has to be said that Jack's issue is the weakest of

the run and proves that STAN LEE was right in having big JOHN

BUSCEMA illustrate the previous 17 tales.  I doubt the magazine

would've lasted as long as it did had Jack drawn it from the very

start , as his artwork had taken a decidedly cartoonish turn.

Got a favourite?  What memories are stirred in the cavernous

confines of your mind as you peruse these powerful images from

yesteryear?  Take a moment to savour those recollections, and

then share them with the rest of us in the comments section.

Believe it or not, I bought pristine copies of #s 10-14 from a spinner- rack
in a shop in Blackpool in 1973 0r '74  - for the cover price of 5 pence each

Posted in: Cartoons