I: Feature Story: "The Startling Saga of the Silver Surfer!"

Pages: 20

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen

First Appearance: Coach Sam Thorne, Whitey Mullins, Wyatt Wingfoot, Dean Asher, Ricardo Jones

Villain: Galactus, Ricardo Jones

Guest Appearance: Silver Surfer, the Watcher, Alicia Masters, Coach Sam Thorne, Whitey Mullins, Wyatt Wingfoot, Dean Asher

Cameo Appearance: Black Bolt, Medusa, Crystal, Gorgon

Marvel Milestones: First appearance of Metro College, first unnamed appearance of antagonist from FF #51

Gadgets & Technology: Absorba Shield, Ultimate Nullifier, Printed Circuit Projecto Analyzer

Synopsis: (continued from FF #49)

To protect the humans he has come to know as noble beings worthy of life, the Silver Surfer has decided to defy Galactus! He uses his cosmic energy bolts to seal his master in a cosmic cocoon. Galactus bursts from it enraged and hurls cosmic bolts at his former herald.

As their battle rages, Johnny returns from infinite space. He can scarcely explain the amazing things he has seen with his own eyes, and faints from the experience. Reed finds a small alien object on Johnny's person. Reed takes it and, stretching, shows it to Galactus. The Watcher explains that it is the Ultimate Nullifier, a device that can destroy the universe. Reed takes the Ultimate Nullifier and brandishes it at Galactus, who pauses at the sight of it. Galactus fumes at the Watcher for putting this grave weapon into the hands of "insect", but is forced to surrender. With the Watcher's support, Reed returns the Nullifier to Galactus and the demi-god prepares to leave the Earth. But first he exacts proper punishment on his former herald, the Silver Surfer. With a powerful blast of his eyes, Galactus exiles the Surfer to the planet that has come between them. The Surfer shall roam the galaxies no more!

Alicia arrives on the rooftop and runs past Thing to the Surfer. She is proud of what he’s done this day, taking her please to save the human race into action. The Thing, dejected, turns away and goes back into the Baxter Building. He takes this event as a signal that Alicia has traded him in for somebody better. The Surfer takes his leave to wander the Earth as Alicia tries to find Ben, her true love.

News of Galactus is on the front page of every newspaper, with the Daily Bugle going so far as to say the whole experience was a big hoax. There is one man who reads the articles of the Fantastic Four's heroism and is is enraged by it all. Fed up with their glory, the big, baldhing man decides he will have to destroy them himself.

At Metro College, Coach Sam Thorne is having trouble motivating his team of losers, as well as getting the respect due him from their star quarterback, Whitey Mullins. He tells his wife that he fears he's washed up. Tensions between Sue and her husband rise when she feels he's too busy in the lab and not giving her the attention she deserves. And the Thing wanders the city streets, scaring a pretty young girl and reaffirming his self-loathing about his image, and how Alicia must only be with him out of pity.

A few days later, Johnny begins classes at Metro College where he meets Wyatt Wingfoot, a freshman football recruit. Both Wyatt and Johnny are given a personal meeting with Dean Asher, head of the school body. As excited as Johnny is to start college, his mind still wanders to Crystal, trapped in the Great Refuge, and he daydreams about her, and if college is the right place for someone who has been out into the infinite of space.

--synopsis by Jonathan Clarke, aka doesitmatter, with Gormuu

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