Summary
TheSilver Surferis an iconic Marvel Comics hero with an apt alliteration for a name that perfectly describes his shiny visual appearance and his favorite pastime as a cosmic wanderer. And in the Marvel Universe’s not-too-distant future,a new Silver Surfer carries on the original’s legacy, with this version of the character having not one buttwoalternate codenamesthat fit him and his dark mission well.
Created in 1966 by Jack Kirby, Norrin Radd aka the Silver Surfer, was introduced as the“Herald of Galactus”and acted as a harbinger of doom for whatever planets the Devourer of Worlds set his sights on, eventually bucking his master’s influence and becoming a proper hero of his own.
In the future-set story ofAnnihilation 2099 #4,an all-new, all-different Silver Surfer is given a pair of new codenames — “Satan’s Surfer” and “the Sulfer Surfer” — honoring his dark originwhile also paying homage to Silver Surfer 2099’s master, the devil of the Marvel Universe himself, Mephisto.
Silver Surfer’s Ultimate Form Finally Made Him More Powerful Than Galactus
When Silver Surfer finally found a way to kill Galactus, he had to become something even worse to keep the universe from collapsing.
Silver Surfer 2099 Goes by “Satan’s Surfer” and “The Sulfur Surfer” in Marvel’s Future
Annihilation 2099 #4- 2024 (Steve Orlando, Ario Anindito, and Dale Eaglesham)
Called “Satan’s Surfer” in one of the narration captions used throughout the issue, this now official nickname is bestowed upon Jonah Marlo aka Silver Surfer 2099, after he makes a deal with Mephisto to turn him immortal as he lay dying of cancer in the hospital. Tasked with gathering souls for Mephisto by tricking innocent people into a similar unfortunate agreement,the “Satan’s Surfer” name befits Jonah as he’s even more indebted to his master thanNorrin Radd’s version of the character was to Galactus, making the “Satan” part a damning truth as to where his allegiances truly lie.
Meanwhile, the just as descriptive codename of “the Sulfur Surfer” is mentioned in the character info sheet at the back of the issue, where it’s explained that both of these names started as a joke of sorts that alluded to Jonah’s “Faustian bargain with Mephisto.” Eventually approved of to use in-story, “the Sulfur Surfer” is not officially coined on the page, but with the reveal thatJonah’s board can quite literally drag him to hell thanks to its rune-etched portal ability, this second codename becomes one that works just as well as, if not more so, than the first.
Silver Surfer 2099 Has Perfect Codenames Working as Mephisto’s Herald
The name “Silver Surfer” is already a badass moniker to run with as a cosmically powered individual, with Silver Surfer 2099’s “Satan’s Surfer” and “Sulfur Surfer” codenames being accurate representations of who Jonah Marlo’s version of the character is, what his powers entail, and of course, who his boss is. It remains to be seen how muchSilver Surfer 2099will factor into the tapestry of the future of the Marvel Universe as the 2099-verse continues to expand, yet as it stands now, this character is already off to far darker yet similarly compelling start compared to his predecessor.
