| Title | : | Silver Surfer: Parable |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0871354918 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780871354914 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 72 |
| Publication | : | First published January 19, 1988 |
| Awards | : | Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Best Finite Series (1989) |
Silver Surfer: Parable Reviews
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A future televangelist thinks that he can be the (self appointed) messenger of Galactus and force the frightened population to follow him...but false gods have a way of falling on those who worship them. Stan Lee (story) + Moebius (art) = classic Silver Surfer parable! A haunting examination of false prophets who promise salvation.
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When Galactus returns to Earth, an evangelist declares him a god and builds a religion around Galactus. As humanity heads down the path to destruction, a homeless man emerges to save humanity.... The Silver Surfer!
As a recent convert to Moebius, I was very interested in this but didn't want to pay a hundred bucks for it. Fortunately, it was reprinted and re-released not long ago.
The story isn't all that complicated but it's very believable. A powerful religious leader convinces everyone to follow Galactus and his message of doing whatever the hell you want. Having pledged not to attack earth, Galactus is content to wait for humanity to destroy itself so he can gobble up the Earth like a sack of White Castles. When the Surfer voices his objections, he quickly becomes a target.
Moebius is Moebius, his minimalist yet intricate style working its magic on every page. His Galactus is majestic, his Surfer noble, and his humans pretty average looking. He's equally adept at portraying mass destruction and touching human moments. In the afterword, Moebius admits to freaking out and doubting himself leading up to actually starting the project, which I find crazy since he hit this one out of the park. Moebius also did the coloring and the lettering, giving this a feel more like his European work.
I'll have to admit, I was skeptical as hell about Stan Lee being able to hold up his end of things. I've read a lot of his Silver Age Marvel stuff and find him ham-fisted at best a lot of the time. However, Stan rose to the challenge and help up his end admirably, producing a beautiful, thought provoking work.
With Parable, Stan Lee and Moebius produced a remarkably powerful tale. Five out of five stars. -
"Parable" is a very interesting stand-alone GN. It is a morality tale about humanity and its subconscious need for looking for messianic figures to guide them.
Galactus has returned to Earth. He has decided to place himself as a God for Earth to worship. A new religion arises centered on the worship of Galactus. The Surfer fights against Galactus and it's all really a metaphor for humanity's wired belief systems.
If that sounds overly pretentious, though intriguing, then you are correct. This GN was written as a philosophical look at humanity and belief. It is also, through the vehicles of Galactus and the Surfer, a look at concepts like power and morality. I'll be honest, this was not at all bad. It was a good story and the protagonists make sense. It even stays within canon by having Galactus explain why he still holds to his pledge with the Surfer.
The artwork is interesting. It actually fits with the story and while not amazing holds up quite well even with the passage of time.
An interesting GN with a very thought-provoking story. I actually liked it. Any Surfer fan or anyone who likes a deep story will like this. -
Silver Surfer: Parable, written by Stan Lee and drawn by Moebius is easily one of the best stories to come out of Marvel's eighties era that has gone largely unnoticed and under appreciated by today's Marvel comics fandom. Much like the Silver Surfer himself. Parable is often referred to as one of the first Marvel tales that may take place in an alternate universe. With an alternate Silver Surfer and an alternate Earth. The events in Parable don't seem to fit in with any predominant Marvel storylines.
Parable was released in Marvel's Epic Comics in a two issue set in 1988 and 1989 and even won the Eisner Award for Best Finite/Limited series. But has had little to no lasting impact in the Marvel Universe since then. It is also one of the few comics I have read that showcase Galactus in a more detailed and hands on light than any that the powerful multi dimension being has been a part of in the Fantastic Four and Avengers tales. Here he serves as what he has always been. A petulant and hungry God. A Devourer of worlds and cultures. The end all of all that exists. The ultimate in global terror.
Parable seems to take place somewhere in the near future or even the present time as Galactus comes to Earth. Annoyed that he had given an oath to his once Herald, the Silver Surfer, that he would not harm and devour the Earth; the great being has come up with an alternate plan to destroy the Earth. He has landed his spacecraft upon the Earth and decreed that all war, poverty, and crime shall cease and instead he will bring mankind a new era of peace. All countries end their wars in fear of Galactus and his power. Instantly there is a Utopian era brought to the Earth as long as mankind bows to Galactus.
"...I am come to set you free, free from guilt! Free from worthless man-made laws! If you would be saved, do what you will! Take what you will! There is no wrong! There is no sin! Pleasure is all! So speak Galactus..."
Overnight a new religion springs forth and Galactus is worshiped as a God. If any question this new religion they are set upon by the blind followers of the new God and are beaten and even killed. But there is one on the Earth who knows that Galactus is no benevolent being and he is the once and former Herald; the Silver Surfer. The Surfer tries to convince humanity that Galactus is evil and that by giving them everything they want, he is actually destroying them. But they will not listen and attack the Surfer.
"...The force-field of my power cosmic will protect me. But how to protect them from their own insanity? Will there never be an end to their insane fanaticism? Why do they turn to violence in the name of the one they worship...?"
The Silver Surfer engages Galactus in a fight and in his petulant anger to destroy the Silver Surfer, Galactus destroys the city and the lives of innocent people. In seeing this, the populance turns against him and refuse to worship him any longer. His plan has failed and Galactus leaves Earth. In their joy and victory, humanity decrees that the Silver Surfer is now their God and demand that he guide them. Seeing that they are only replacing him with the void left by Galactus, the Surfer pretends to make demands even harsher than Galactus, causing the people to reject him. It is his belief that by denying them a God he is perhaps enabling mankind to think for themselves. He leaves the Earth, not a God, not a Hero; but what he always has been. Alone. A wanderer, destined to ride his board throughout the cosmos. Alone.
The Silver Surfer is one of those awesome comic book characters that everyone says they love but really don't get. He has not received the celebrity status that an Iron Man has but then that probably has a lot to do with the crappy Fantastic Four movie he was in. I mean really, a powerful metallic being who glides through the cosmos on a surfboard? Forever trying to protect the innocent from the more powerful because of his own guilt ridden soul. Longing for a lost love and the person he once was? Having to sacrifice his soul to Galactus and serve him in order to save his own world. Honestly, Marvel, how could you not turn this guy into a mega cosmic star!
Parable is written by Stan Lee and is a very heavy handed commentary on religious fanaticism. The Surfer as a Herald of Galactus is perhaps one of the few characters who is able to comment on the reality of deities and their impact on civilizations. He has witnessed entire civilizations destroyed by cosmic beings who rule and kill with impunity. The Surfer is also not without his own guilt to bear. For it was he for so many times who led Galactus to these worlds to feed upon. The story itself is very much a stand alone tale and I can see why so many see this as an alternate universe story. Galactus lands in a major US city and there is no super hero presence at all. No Avengers. No Fantastic Four. Not even a Spider-Man to be found. The Silver Surfer, in despair and disillusioned by his existence (but isn't he always, this may be why he never caught on; nobody loves a chrome plated Debbie Downer)lives int he city as a homeless person. When Galactus appears, the Surfer knows he must act. Another point of contention here is that Galactus arrives in his huge spaceship that is nothing more than an intergalactic dildo. Seriously, am I the only one who sees this? The ensuing battle is largely an intellectual one. Ideas and morals are debated and Galactus' plan on destroying mankind by giving them what they want, no sin, no morality, just take what you want...its genius. The Surfer on the other hand knows that happiness and contentment, the two things that have always eluded him, are to earned.
Parable is a social commentary, not only on religion but on humanity as a whole. On the views and ideas that divide us. Religion, race, politics. To know that this was written two decades ago and that the very same issues are with us today is in itself a sad commentary on who we are.
Pick it up and be amazed. That it was actually written and that Stan Lee actually wrote it! Or at least that is what we are suppose to believe. -
A really shallow commentary on religion and spirituality. The notes in the back of the book by Moebius hint at the possibility that he didn't want to do this. Lee says they met each other for coffee and Moebius said he liked Lee's work, especially Silver Surfer. Moebius states that he received a detailed plot - not a script (the Marvel way) - from Lee and struggled to begin the book. Moebius seems to have a high opinion of the work; perhaps because critics praised it in comparison to the other American superhero comics.
The story is bland and Moebius has done it all better in other places. -
This was intriguing, surely not the typical superhero comic by far, as it was expected with Moebius on the wheel. Wanted to read this for years and ofc i enjoyed it, although the Surfer was too messianic for my taste.
The "making-of" interview of Moebius at the end, except of the stage-by-stage analysis of the creative process and an, almost en-vivo, insider's view of his working procedure on the american comic form, proves how great an artist and person Jean Giraud was. He is and will always be a master of the 9th art. -
Komiks tak dobrý, že jsem na něj udělal i
videorecenzi.
Spolupráce dvou legend, na jedné straně scénář Stana Lee, na druhé straně Moebiova kresba. A nemohl jsem se zbavit pocitu, že to byl právě Moebius, který kolem sebe obtočil celé tohle dílo. Protože výsledek za mě působí mnohem víc evropsky než americky. A to je právě to, co mě na zaujalo nejvíc.
Tedy kromě formátu, protože ten je taky vymazlený a jsem moc rád, že to Crew vydala právě takhle ve velkém hardcoveru a nevypadat to takhle, tak už mám na cestě domů anglickou verzi.
Pokud vás baví víc evropské kousky než americké nebo máte rádi superhrdinské příběhy, které jsou víc zaměřeny na přemýšlení než bitky, tak by vás tenhle Silver Surfer neměl minout. -
Great way to start off my 2021 reading journey and a great Christmas gift to have received.
The Silver Surfer is a character that has always intrigued me. The rule of cool definitely applies for me, a mysterious figure in silver riding a surfboard through space, normally accompanied by jaw dropping artwork.
Parable is a fantastic one off and out of continuity story from Marvel legend Stan Lee and artist Moebius. This means it isn’t constrained by comic book stereotypes typical of Marvel, such as having to tie in to previous storylines and set up future ones. This is a fully self contained story.
The story focuses on the Silver Surfer down on his luck, living as a vagrant on Earth. Until the arrival of Galactus, who hasn’t come to devour the planet - his usual modus operandi. Instead he is deified by the humans as a God and saviour.
This leads to an interesting commentary on religion and philosophy, politics and power in a superhero guise. There isn’t your usual bad guy vs good guy moments as such. Which is refreshing.
The artwork is a joy to behold. Due to it being earthbound we don’t get the artwork and space scenes you would usually associate with the character. For me it is the colours that are a highlight throughout. They aren’t the full on, bright pop art for the most part but instead a more subdued and pastel approach. The final panel itself being a highlight.
In this addition we also get an introduction by Stan Lee, and a Making Of with Moebius. This gives us the reader a greater insight into how this story came about and how the artist tackled the challenge.
Overall a fantastic reading and visual experience. No prior knowledge is needed and can be enjoyed by anyone. I myself am looking forward to reading more Silver Surfer in the future. -
While lauded as one of Stan Lee’s (R.I.P.) and Moebius’ (R.I.P. also) greatest works, there is a palpable lack of anything great here. The lettering is crudely simplistic, besmirching any potential greatness and lacking in basic legibility. And the art within embodies a skeletal palette enshrining a quasi-polychromatism that waxes and wanes between like colors within an oddly (and decidedly) uncreative border. Topping off this sundae of not-so-awesomeness, the ensconced themery and characterizations only drag the story further down.
Enter: our titular Silver Surfer who is initially characterized as naught more than a mere bum. Living out something of an ascetic lifestyle befitting of a repentant hermit (the reasoning for which is never explained), his initial squalor contradicts his otherworldy power. Only reacting to the invasion of Galactus, instead of a more complex impetus, he feels more platonic in his backlash than something born of flesh and blood that we can care genuinely about.
Not only is our silver colored protagonist utterly inhuman in his perspective, our story itself feels unfeeling in its cosmic scope. Consumed by a vague “gnaw” our erstwhile antagonist shows up to pull back the civilized veneer of humanity, well… just ‘cause. Pitting our newly powered up surf-board weaponized figure against something so indescribable, how anyone could apply a scintilla of care is baffling. Alongside some puerile criticisms of (organized?) religion and human nature itself, the end product feels a design of an extra-terrestrial rather than a human. -
Not great. The writing feels like a non-native speaker wrote part of it (a helicopter is constantly referred to as a "ship"). The exposition is laughable (how do you let your audience know that two characters are related? Just have one of them randomly say "I'm your sister"). The lettering was bad. Galactus says he is sick of Earthlings destroying each other so he commands them...wait for it...to destroy each other (yeah, I know that's part of his master plan, but that's the best he could come up with?). Silver Surfer has given up on humanity, but instead of roaming the stars he decides to become a filthy bum.
I could go on and on, but this was just not very good. Do yourself a favor and read Silver Surfer: Requiem for your dose of non-continuity surfer preaching at you. -
Nikdy jsem nebyl Moebiovým nekritickým obdivovatelem a zvláště jeho scenáristickou práci jsem většinou shledával spíše jako nedostatek. Proto jsem neměl velké očekávání ani od Silver Surfera a jeho Podobenství. Slyšel jsem na něj ale tolik chvály, a to už před jeho českým vydáním, že jsem si to nemohl nechat ujít. Teď jsem vážně rád, že jsem si ho pořídil a že jsem se mýlil. Podobenství je opravdu skvělé. A to jak po příběhové stránce a po stránce jeho poselství, tak i po výtvarné stránce.
Vidět Moebiovu “evropskou” kresbu v marvelovském superhrdinském komiksu je vážně zážitek. Jeho kresba je sice plná detailů, ale zároveň je takovým zvláštním způsobem strohá. A to k tomuhle příběhu parádně sedlo. To jak nakreslil město plné mrakodrapů, detaily na Galaktusově těle a nebo šílenství davu lidí, to je úžasné.
Co se týká příběhů, tak motiv je jasný, ten je od Stana Leeho. Otázka je, nakolik má zásluhy na jeho podání a vyznění Lee a nakolik Moebius. Podobenství je krásná sonda do psychologie lidstva jako davu - nebo spíše stáda. V mnohém mi to připomnělo Supermana - Mír na Zemi, který u nás z mě neznámých příčin propadl. Připomnělo mi to tohoto Supermana nejen formátem knihy, ale i snahou zachytit chování lidstva z pohledu mimozemšťana. K oběma knihám se budu rád vracet. -
Critique of religion, masses manipulation and humanity search for good shepherd hidden in super hero fight scenery. It doesn't really brings new arguments to the table, but it's surprisingly actual even after 30 years, even though is hasty sometimes - result of packing everything in just two issues. But it's not that annoying... And Moebius' art in huge format is amazing.
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Um clássico dos comics, graças à colaboração extemporânea entre dois grandes representantes de duas vertentes maiores da banda desenhada. Uma colisão entre o argumento e formato comic de Stan Lee e o lirismo da bande dessiné de Moebius. O resultado é um híbrido atípico, comic mainstream com sabor intimista. Stan Lee leva ao exagero a veia moralista que caracterizou o clássico Silver Surfer com Jack Kirby. Este personagem sempre teve uma vertente de cordeiro sacrificial, de meta-herói disposto a sacrificar-se para que o bem triunfe. Parable leva esta vertente mais longe, num futuro distópico onde o vilão indiferente Galactus revisita a Terra e é adorado como deus destrutivo por homens incapazes de tomar nas suas mãos os seus destinos. Resta ao Surfista das ondas cósmicas ensinar a via da libertação à humanidade através do seu exemplo de abnegação.
O comic ganha vida pelo traço de Moebius. Indiferente às convenções da gramática do comic enquanto género, deslumbra-nos com vastas visões a recordar o mundo de Edena ou as partes da Garagem Hermética onde a arquitectura tem primazia sobre o surrealismo. Estes panoramas são entrecortados por vinhetas intimistas, longe da espectacularidade da estética wrestling com capas e poderes do género. Parable é Moebius a mostrar aos americanos na linguagem do seu género de banda desenhada porque é que é mestre do traço de ficção científica. -
"Faith without judgement merely degrades the spirit divine"
Stan Lee's writing has always left me with mixed feelings. Although the characters and stories were so interesting, the writing most often felt wordy and verbose. However, Silver Surfer: Parable was unexpectedly, very good. It is a commentary on mass manipulation, and blind faith. Moebius' artwork is gorgeous and fits so well with the story . -
This is as much a Moebius work as it is a Stan Lee work, and it is fantastic. Anyone who wants to call themselves a fan of Moebius needs to read this. Period.
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One of the very few Moebius art projects for Marvel. I think I had a poster of Iron Man he did as well, maybe a cover or a pin up somewhere, but that's about it as far as I know.
Quite a shame. Can you even imagine a Thanos story or some of the more cosmic characters like The Watcher being drawn by this master?
Oh well, what we have is good and it is appreciated. -
"Çılgın fanatizmleri hiç bitmeyecek mi ? neden taptıkları şey adına şiddete başvuruyorlar ki ? en büyük gücün sevgi olduğunu bu kadar çabuk mu unuttular ?"
Kesinlekle uzun zamandır okuduğum en güzel ve anlamlı çizgi roman -
Stan Lee And Moebius.
Nuff' said. -
Loved Moebius' drawing, lettering also. Story was good, plausable.
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¿Qué cabría esperar de la unión del guionista que encendió la mecha de la popularidad mundial de los superhéroes con el dibujante de la obra más personal del cómic europeo? Sin duda, una novela gráfica especial, distinta. Tal cosa es este Parábola que Stan Lee y Moebius crearon a finales de los 80, una década prodigiosa para el cómic norteamericano. El guión condensa a la perfección el ideario de Lee, su creencia en la búsqueda de los valores sublimes como remedio y salvación de todo lo mezquino que contiene el ser humano. Las palabras de Estela son las de Peter Parker, las de Thor, las de Matt Murdock y todos los héroes que con su discurso, sus acciones y, sobre todo, su actitud de lucha en inferioridad, armada desde los buenos motivos, crearon un universo de ficción construído desde un código moral unívoco que el tiempo ha obligado a ir abandonando.
En la historia hay otros elementos para el elogio. Lee se permite jugar con el ideario cristiano dividiendo lo indivisible y enfrentando al Padre y al Hijo, una interesante alternativa al dogma unitario. Moebius aporta una extrañeza y plasticidad a la historia que encajan como un guante en el carácter cósmico que la esencia. No soy amigo de los complementos, pero el material extra, dedicado a su trabajo en esta obra, explicado por él mismo, me ha parecido muy interesante. -
Stan Lee was only as good as his artists, but with Moebius his writing reaches heaven. Maybe a little heavy-handed, but maybe that’s also what makes this comic so charming. Definitely my favorite thing Lee ever wrote.
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Det är en händelse som ser ut som en tanke att Mœbius har gjort en Silver Surfer-serie, men så är denna också lite mer bande dessinée än vad man brukar läsa från Marvel.
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A riveting story about sins and flaws of human nature. Stan Lee returns to tell a "parable" of a tale that sees the Silver Surfer save mankind from Galactus the world eating planet. What is clever in this story is that Galactus uses the human longing to meet God to have society destroy itself. Many may see the story as anti-religious but I feel that Lee was driving home the point that if God is a truly benevolent being that he would not compel worshipers to commit murder and other atrocities against fellow human beings. The art by Moebius was well done. His art work is what attracted me the most to this series. By today's standards his art is a bit old school but there is something timeless about his art matched with Lee's amazing writing. I've always found the Silver Surfer character interesting so this was a great book to pickup and read without having to read any previous story arcs. The latter half of the book tells a tell from a older Silver Surfer run possibly written in the 90s. It was a fun cosmic story to read as well. I would love to here suggestions for other great Silver Surfer tales.
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Really pretty artwork, insanely bad writing. The entire thing was like it was written in stilted bible verse. This book would be 3X better if you just removed the word bubbles.
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The good story by Stan Lee, and the Superb (!!!) artwork by Jean "Moebius" Giraud makes this small book a must for comic books fans.
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Mœbius!!!
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Совсем короткая, на два выпуска, история, известная главным образом тем, что её проиллюстрировал Мёбиус (единственная подобная работа
знаменитого француза). Галактус прилетает на Землю, но, так как ранее он поклялся, что не причинит планете вреда, на этот раз всемогущий великан избрал тактику утрированного божественного невмешательства: освободить людей от "сковывающих" их моральных устоев и законов, позволить им быть самими собой, а самому лишь стоять и невозмутимо смотреть, как мир валится в тартарары.
На мой взгляд тут мы имеем пусть и карикатурно-упрощённую, но по сути своей верную модель религии, также мне понравилась нейтральность, с которой был изображён Пожиратель миров. Да, он не против, если человечество уничтожит само себя, но по большому счёту ему всё равно. Пути Господни неисповедимы, Darkseid Is, и всё такое. Рисунок Мёбиуса, как всегда, элегантен в своих чистых линиях и потрясающе детализирован: в любой толпе все лица уникальны и не похожи друг на друга. Не сказал бы, что в итоге получился шедевр, но для расширения кругозора и полноты коллекции работ именитого художника вполне можно ознакомиться.
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Una metáfora llena de mística y filosofía urbana. Se me ocurrió leerlo mientras escuchaba un disco de Portishead y el resultado es definitivamente genial.
Realmente se cumple lo.que Stan Lee promete en el prólogo. Te cuestionas la realidad que nos rodea.
Una genuina pieza maestra que conjuga los excedentes trazos de Moebius y el guión del gran Stan Lee.
Digno de recomendación. De lectura obligatoria para quienes nos gusta leer con sentido.
Sólo queda preguntarme:
¿Por qué demonios no había leído ésto antes?
A metaphor full of mystique and urban philosophy. It occurred to me to read it while listening to a disc from Portishead and the result is definitely great.
It really is what Stan Lee promises in the prologue. You question the reality that surrounds us.
A genuine masterpiece that combines the surplus traces of Moebius and the script of the great Stan Lee.
Worthy of recommendation. Required reading for those of us who like to read meaningfully.
It only remains to ask me:
Why the hell had not I read this before? -
I believe this the first Stan Lee's that i really liked.
I mean, obviously, all the things he did on Marvel, we shouldn't throw that away, he's a legend. The thing is, all his work are a little "oldish", i think. But it's just for me. But in Parable, he's brilliant.
Norrin is one of the most "human" characters on Marvel, and yes, i think he's a guy that should say what he said over here.
And the art is great. This was the first Moebius job that i've read (sorry), but all that i heard about him is true.
This a superhero masterpiece. Every comic book fan should read this. -
Okay, now I know the gist of the Silver Surfer. Super cool dude.
I also enjoyed Stan Lee's little explanation of the history of its creation. He credits and praises the men he worked with on the project - a creative, funny, humble guy with an amazing legacy.
