Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Fantastic Four: First StepsAdmittedly, I had my doubts about Fantastic Four: First Steps, specifically when it came to the Silver Surfer. Following some trailer images that were arguably not so great visually, I was a little skeptical about the MCU’s new take on the Silver Surfer. However, I’ve absolutely changed my mind after seeing the actual movie.
Fox’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was released when I was 11. Although I’d recently started reading comics, Doug Jones and Lawrence Fishburne’s Norrin Radd was my first epic introduction to Silver Surfer. For that reason, I wasn’t so sure if I’d enjoy Julia Garner’s alt-universe Silver Surfer after seeing her in the trailers for First Steps, though I’m so happy to have been proven wrong.
The MCU’s Silver Surfer Was An Epic Addition To Fantastic Four: First Steps
Amazing Action And Some Solid Depth For Shalla-Bal
Right off the bat, Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer looks genuinely amazing in Fantastic Four: First Steps. Those initial trailers did not do her justice. A major moment that fully blew me away was when Joseph Quinn’s Human Torch catches up to the Silver Surfer, and the two of them are face-to-face in Earth’s orbit. Johnny Storm can see his own face reflected in hers, and it’s an absolutely incredible sH๏τ.
Likewise, Julia Garner provides an excellent performance as Shall-Bal, an alternate Silver Surfer in this reality (Norrin Radd’s wife in the comics). Not only is her MCU debut truly haunting as she warns the Earth of Galactus’ imminent arrival, but the movie also takes the time to uncover the tragedy of her history, sacrificing herself and entering Galactus’ service to spare her homeworld.
The Silver Surfer’s arc has some solid depth despite not being a lead character, and my only complaint is that we didn’t get to see more of her character fleshed out before Shalla-Bal betrays Galactus by the end of Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Lastly, the MCU’s new Silver Surfer can really SURF. In one action sequence alone following The Fantastic Four’s first encounter with Galactus, Shalla-Bal is shown surfing across lava, a wormhole generated by Excelsior-One’s faster-than-light engines, and even a collapsing neutron star as she tries to claim Reed Richards and Sue Storm’s child for her master.
Without question, The Fantastic Four’s escape from Galactus/Franklin’s birth is my favorite action scene in First Steps, and it’s because of the MCU’s new Silver Surfer. With any luck, we’ll hopefully see the Silver Surfer again at some point in the MCU’s future.
Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters from Marvel Studios.
