I: Feature Story: "The Surfer and the Spider!"

Pages: 20

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: John Buscema
Inks: Dan Adkins
Letters: Sam Rosen

First Appearance: Henry

Guest Appearance: Spider-Man, Henry

Flashback Cameo: Captain America, Thing, Dr. Doom, Sub-Mariner

Synopsis: The Surfer averts calamity for the Earth when he comes between two asteroids hurtling towards the planet's surface. The resultant explosion causes him to crash land into the water.

Henry, a young boy who admires the super heroes of TV and comics, happens to see the Surfer floating by his open tenement window, but his disbelieving father dismisses the boy's claim as fantasy. Shortly thereafter, the Surfer accidentally gets his board tangled up in Spider-Man's web. Instead of floating lower to free Spider-Man, where he would become vulnerable to attack from humans, the skittish Surfer floats higher up into the air, much to the chagrin of Spider-Man, who is still stuck to the board.

Both super-powered beings get cranky with each other, but eventually Spider-Man's web melts away and he falls towards the city streets. The Surfer breaks out of his obtuse mood and cracks open a fire hydrant, unleashing a forceful torrent of water that breaks Spidey's fall. The Surfer goes to a nearby rooftop to pine about having no friends and the misery of facing constant hostility.

Henry overhears the Surfer wailing, and sees Spider-Man approach him and confront him about their previous altercation. Unfortunately, the verbal quarrel turns violent. The state troops are called in to respond to the clash between Spidey and the Surfer, to evacuate the city and prepare to take out the Surfer.

Henry remains on the roof playing around and climbs on top of the Surfer's board while his dad frantically searches for him. The troops begin firing on the Surfer, and when he tries to escape, he summons his board to him, with Henry precariously perched on the edge of it. The Surfer realizes the boy's life is at stake and he has to focus all his power and concentration to save the boy, leaving himself open to attack from the others. However, all sides have the Surfer's true intentions dawn upon them, and they draw down their attack.

--synopsis by Gormuu

Issues Reprinted
Silver Surfer #7-18

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.