Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Freedom (Silver Surfer (1987-1998))

This phenomenal book arrived super fast, in great condition... thank you Amazon!I bought this collection originally because it features a character that I find enchanting and underrated... whom has also been featured in the groundbreaking modern Avengers/Guardians/Infinity films of recent times... none other than the beloved MANTIIS!!! I came here for her character development and stayed for the extremely well written run that fans of the title love dearly, yet I believe this run is way too slept on overall!Steve Englehart is most known for his Batman "Strange Apperitions" Detective Comics arcs that inspired a large batch of the Batman Animates series that took the comic book adaptation world by storm! Here Mr. Englehart endeared himself to me as a writer because he created Mantiis, really believed his character, and even when the publishers tried to subdue Mantiis in the most known titles, Steve stood up for his creation by writing her into stories released by other publishers like DC as well as the Indy publishers that he wrote for! He had to change her name here n there but overall miss mantiis began to show up in multiple publications until fully entrenching herself into the Marvel world! Here is one of the better examples of that!Outside of the impact of Mantiis, this story also gives multi faceted layers to Silver Surfer himself. This is the 1st time he begins to individualize himself against being just a herald for Galactus. Here we find the Surfer stuck in earthly settings, basically cast out of galaxies by galactus and stricken here, far away from his home planet and loved ones.This is his first real attempt at throwing caution to the wind and fighting for himself. Trying to break through the transparent walls that trap confine him to one spot.Also contributions from one of my favorite writers ever, mr John Byre. He writes a 50+ page giant-sized issue that kicks off this collection and sets the tone."The Elders" are one of the most unique and mystifying groups of extraordinary prowess in the galactic universe... grab this book to learn more about them, as well as all the above awesomeness.A thick book. Full of fun, adventure, and exploration of inner strength. Steve Englehart entrenches himself as one of the more impactful writers of Silver Surfer, Galactus, Mantiis and the home world of all the characters involved.The Marvel Epic Collection series of books rivals the Omninus style because of the price, and the choice of paper stock that really brings out the thicker inking and line work of these brilliant artists. Both formats are no-brainers. As is this epic collection SILVER SURFER "FREEDOM".

Once more true believers, Mighty Marvel has done it again with the release of the EPIC COLLECTION SERIES, this series collects some of the most important sagas from it's extremely vast history and reissue these in a large affordable paper back format and a few has caught my sights inclusive of THE SILVER SURFER: "FREEDOM". Collecting THE SILVER SURFER VOL 3 # s 1 - 14, VOL 2 # 1 (1982), SUPER VILLAIN CLASSICS # 1, EPIC ILLUSTRATED # 1 & MARVEL FANFARE # 51 respectively.In this impressive volume, we witness the origin of THE DEMI GOD GALACTUS, THE SURFER'S escaping of GALACTUS' barrier with the aid of THE FANTASTIC FOUR to return to his home world ZENN-LA to his beloved SHALLA-BAL. Also, there are conflicts involving THE SKRULLS, MEPHISTO, GALACTUS, THE CELESTIALS, ETERNITY, NOVA, MANTIS, THE KREE & THE ELDERS OF THE UNIVERSE!! The COSMIC SPECTACLE is awesome indeed!!.With fantastic mixed art and stories alike, this collection is indeed a treat for the Eyes and Mind!!The only drawback is it's published in PAPERBACK format, I wish it was in HARDCOVER..and I'm awaiting an OMNIBUS of THE SILVER SURFER VOL 3!!.The EPIC COLLECTION SERIES enables you to obtain Comics you've missed and they gather events from a certain times in the CHARACTER'S lives and this particular set is indeed a stand out here, very highly recommended to all fans of THE SILVER SURFER...a most worthy addition to any collection...once more..Make Mine Mighty Marvel!!!

The past couple of weeks I've been reading the Silver Surfer Epic v3: Freedom TP and really love it! I'd never read any of these stories before and honestly this has been a hard book to put down! I'd say this has been one of my favorite Marvel Epic Collections to read that they'v released so far.The plots revolve around the Surfer's plight to break free from his Galactus-imposed exile on Earth, the build up to the second Kree/Skrull war (with a great plot twist regarding the Kree emperor's true identity), a cosmic mega battle between the Elders of the Universe & Galactus, plus Galactus' origin! All around this book has been a blast to read, complimented nicely by great artwork, mostly by Marshall Rogers. John Byrne also did a nice job on a special 48 page issue reprinted near the beginning of this volume. Rogers' art is not as finely detailed as his late '70s stint on Batman, but his pencils definitely have a highly detailed yet cartoonish "comic book" look to it. In fact, the art reminded me of some of Todd McFarlane's early work: highly energetic, explosive, and almost cinematic in its layout and detail.I highly recommend this volume to anyone looking for a great read. I give it a solid 9/10 stars!

Enjoyed reading this collection as it allowed me to increase familiarity with the Collector and the rest of the Elders as well as Mantis. The writing was excellent as was the artwork.

Marvel has always had strong characters and great story arcs.

Could not find this book anywhere else at the time and it happens to be a really good one! Thank you.

Another Epic collection of a great period in the Silver Surfer's life and times! For me, it was a case of re-reading classic tales I had read in my younger years. They still read well and I love having those Marshall Rogers classics in hand again! Large book, well worth the price of admission!

Amazing! Loved every page. Great deal! Oh wow! But seriously an amazing piece of work by an amazing writer and amazing artists! Hey highly recommend!

The Silver Surfer has always been one of those characters with great potential - immense power, a wistful, philosophical personality - but for much of his early existence, he was somewhat restricted by being confined to Earth. While this allowed for some great fish out of water perspective, those initial stories always seemed as if they weren't utilising the character to his full extent. Finally in the eighties, Norrin Radd was freed from his earthly confines and set free to roam the spaceways again, and it was glorious, bringing a real cosmic grandeur to the classic Marvel style. It is these space-faring stories that the aptly named Freedom, Volume 3 in the eventual complete Surfer chronology, collects.The book is a thicker and more satisfying tome than the already released Volume One, and covers a range of material from 1980 to 1990. The volume opens with a short story from a 1980 Epic Illustrated. Basically an extended philosophical conversation between the Surfer and his master Galactus, the piece is mostly notable for its gorgeously coloured art. After this we get the 1982 one-off extended issue by Stan Lee and John Byrne. Concerning the Surfer's latest attempt to escape from Earth, it sees our hero search for his lost love Shalla-Bal and battle an extremely powerful enemy with his very existence at stake. It's a treat both in script and art, and well worth inclusion here.The bulk of the book contains the first fourteen issues of the Surfer's 1987 ongoing series, and there is where the fun really starts. Writer Steve Englehart and artist Marshall Rogers finally release the hero from our planet and send him soaring across the cosmos. Subsequent stories take in vast, sweeping developments, such as the status of Shalla-Bal and his home planet, the stirrings of a second Kree-Skrull war, a plot by the immortal Elders of the Universe to rid the universe of Galactus, and romance with both Galactus's new herald Nova and Celestial Madonna-turned-plant-woman Mantis.Englehart has plots and energy to spare, and manages to insert some real pathos into the taciturn, usually reserved Surfer and his conflict between wanderlust and a need to belong. His struggles are on a far grander scale than the usual superhero, and with villains like the Elders and the Kree and Skrull empires, he has nemeses worthy of his power. Rogers, while not the greatest figure artist, has a real knack for cosmic vistas, with some quite lovely backdrops cropping up throughout the series.After the main section of the book, we have an issue of Super-Villain Classics, concerning the origin of Galactus expanded from the version Lee and Kirby gave us in a sixties issue of Thor, and a Marvel Fanfare giving us the original Englehart pitch for the series, an intriguing alternate take elevated to treat by the gorgeous John Buscema art.Included as extras are Silver Surfer articles from Marvel Age, the letters pages from the first three issues of the ongoing, and original art pages from Byrne and Rogers. It's a fantastic collection, and a must-have for fans of the more cosmic corners of the Marvel universe.

Fantastic selection of Silver Surfer stories

Back in the day, the Marvel crew must have been doing a lot of acid.Great collection, artwork reflects the era.

I've just skimmed it but it is a reprint of earlier Silver surfer comics from the mid 80s I remember. It falls in line with the quality of other epic collections. The seller was accurate in the description and shipped it with a bag. I've no complaints and just memories to relive!

Impossible to be more beautiful than that! The best character of the silver age is brilliant once again!