Silver Surfer Epic Collection: The Infinity Gau...

Silver Surfer Epic Collection: The Infinity Gauntlet Review

silver surfer epic collection infinity gauntlet review

silver surfer epic collection infinity gauntlet review

Silver Surfer Epic Collection: The Infinity Gauntlet Review by Deffinition

If you’ve been keeping up with my Infinity Gauntlet Readthrough then you’ll know that whilst I had trouble with the initial book: Avengers Vs Thanos, the rest of the series cemented the arc as unforgettable. A huge turning point in this was due to the Silver Surfer. Silver Surfer: Rebirth Of Thanos can definitely be credited with saving what till that point had been a middling run and I can’t wait to see if this next book continues this quality.

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Throughout this review I will be discussing the book with some minor spoilers so if you are looking to read it afresh it may be worth skipping to the score and picking it up for yourself. If you have read it, make sure that you comment below with your thoughts as I would love to hear them.

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With that out the way let’s dive into my Silver Surfer Epic Collection: The Infinity Gauntlet Review!

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No Silver Lining


From the off I had several problems with the graphic novel and this is due to the fact that it is mainly made up of Crossover Issues. Because of this the storyline is heavily reliant on the main plot but it is also stifled by it. One of the biggest issues that I find with crossover graphic novels is that they must adhere to the main book they are based upon. This limits them heavily as they are also not allowed to affect it in any way so that it can remain accessible. Infinity Gauntlet is obviously the main focus and no crossover should be required reading or have such an effect on the plot that the people who only pick that up will not understand it. This means that pretty much all of the issues within Silver Surfer Epic Collection are throwaways that always return things to the status quo by the close of their arc so that the main storyline can continue uninterrupted.

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Retrieving The Gauntlet


That’s not to say the writing, art or every dialogue is bad, it just feels well…rather redundant. Infinity Gauntlet was perfect in it’s length and pacing and reading this alongside it just seems to be a side dish getting in the way of you enjoying the main course for what it truly is.

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The Surfer desperately attempts to try and retrieve the Gauntlet from Thanos’ grasp at several opportunities but as we know from the main run, he fails every time. This makes the work feel shallow and also makes the titular hero, seem like a bit of a zero. Similar to this book itself, Norrin Radd is just a stop gap, a bothersome fly that one must get through and I found myself turning against the character in ways that I never thought that I would.

silver surfer vs thanos

It’s all in your head


There are a lot of thematic twists in terms of inner turmoil but the majority of these take place in the Surfer’s mind so once again they have little impact on the actual storyline. This works great at developing the character but I was already so detached from the book at this point that I simply didn’t care about the Surfer’s doubt and anguish so it had little effect on me.

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The Verdict


Silver Surfer Epic Collection: The Infinity Gauntlet is difficult to discuss. It’s not poorly written nor illustrated but plot wise it feels like a void, a missed opportunity that has very little reason to exist. Fans of the Silver Surfer may enjoy this as it does put the character at the forefront and discuss several aspects of his psyche, however, these don’t really do anything to pull in new readers and most I imagine will find this aesthetic boring.

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The book has a steep price tag attached to it which heavily negates it too as all it really boils down to is a waste of time that leaves no footprint or mark in the main universe. Because of this I cannot really recommend this storyline to anyone other than the most diehard SS or those who are continuity collectors.

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That’s why I’m giving it a….

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5/10

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