Death Of The Silver Surfer #1 Review

Written by: Greg Pak
Art by: Sumit Kumar
Colors by: Frank D’Armata
Letters by: VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover art by: Dike Ruan (cover A)
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: June 11, 2025

Death Of The Silver Surfer #1, by Marvel on 6/11/25, finds Major Kelly Koh of B.A.N. given one simple task – Kill the Silver Surfer because it’s good for optics.

Is Death Of The Silver Surfer #1 Good?

Plot Synopsis

In Death Of The Silver Surfer #1, we learn that neutralizing aliens is B.A.N.’s business. We begin with the Silver Surfer intervening in the Santo Marcan Civil War and neutralizing a black hole threatening to destroy an alien war. To the Silver Surfer, all life is valuable, so he uses the Power Cosmic to preserve it whenever and wherever he can.

Next, we meet Major Kelly Koh as she fulfills her duties as an agent aboard the suborbital space station acting as the headquarters of the Bureau of Alien Neutralization or B.A.N. Koh is a decorated former agent of SHIELD and SWORD, so she loves her work capturing (or killing) alien incursions on Earth.

One day, Koh’s boss, Director Davis Harmon, laments the lack of high-profile neutralizations. The known, Earthbound heroes of Marvel are either too connected, too popular, or too weird, so he tasks Koh with going after the Silver Surfer. The Surfer is high profile, which is good for Eaglestar business (Eaglestar is Harmon’s company). The Surfer lacks strong connections to any Earthly government, and his recent interference in the Santo Marcan Civil War is enough to create a narrative about disrespecting national sovereignty and boundaries.

Soon after, Koh flies down to the Silver Surfer’s location and tries to kill him with a cosmically-adapted weapon. The weapon appears to work, but the Power Cosmic heals the Surfer in an explosion that knocks out Koh. She wakes up in her mother’s house after the Surfer took her there to rest. The issue ends with Director Harmon telling Koh, annoyed by her failure, to pause hunting the Surfer and go after a smaller catch to set a trap – Skaar.

First Impressions

Death Of The Silver Surfer #1 is an odd book. Greg Pak concocts a scenario with a morally poor protagonist to kill an all-powerful character for business reasons. The story ends on a note that turns the tale into a serious twist on a Roadrunner & Coyote cartoon. Why?

How’s the Art?

The art is fantastic. Sumit Kumar pulls out all the stops with a cosmically captivating comic where the Silver Surfer character flies through galactic vistas, black holes, and Iowa with grace and simplicity. Plus, Koh’s cybernetic enhancements give her a Battle Angel Alita feel that’s futuristic yet grounded, especially when she interacts with her wholesome mother.

What’s great about Death Of The Silver Surfer #1?

Greg Pak’s notion that the Silver Surfer roams the galaxy, performing god-like good deeds, is perfectly spot-on for the character’s power levels and personality. Given the minimal amount of page space devoted to the character, Pak nails the Surfer’s presence.

What’s not great about Death Of The Silver Surfer #1?

Most readers will struggle with the main character and the central premise, which is not the place for a #1 issue to have shortcomings.

First, let’s talk about Kelly Koh. She is, in the purest form of the word, a racist. I’m not talking about some yahoo who’s a little too comfortable spouting racial slurs. I’m talking about the drive around in a pickup truck and stringing up “others” on the nearest tree type of racist. That’s going to be a tough sell for any story because there’s no reason to care about the character’s journey.

Second, the mission is unethical and nonsensical to the point of absurdity. Director Harmon sends his best agent to hunt down and kill a former Herald of Galactus because his neutralization somehow will help Harmon’s company grow. How does that work? Does Eaglestar receive bounties from world governments? Is Harmon counting on an increase in social media likes if he posts a picture of the Silver Surfer’s head on a wall? It’s never explained, and no scenario you could imagine sounds plausible.

In short, you have a main character you’d have a tough time rooting for, engaging in a plot without a profitable or beneficial motivation. It’s bad people doing bad things just because they can.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

Death Of The Silver Surfer #1 is an odd comic. Greg Pak’s tale chooses a bizarrely racist protagonist to embark on a mission to kill the Silver Surfer for no clear reason. Pick it up for the fantastic art, but expect to be put off by the story.

5.5/10

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