brown@rochester.UUCP (06/03/83)
The pivotal scene in the new Breathless is clearly when the skateboarding kid knocks the Silver Surfer, hence Gere's self-image. This paves the way for further developments and presages doom, etc. Unfortunately, the kid's analysis of the situation is wrong, and thus the entire movie is inconsistent and disappointing. The quotes and panels in Breathless are taken from Silver Surfer #1, a big 25-cent series that started in August 1968 (the movie is set in August 1982). #1 recapitulates how Norrin Radd becomes the herald of Galactus and hence the Surfer, to save his planet Zenn-La and his woman Shalla-Bal from the depredations of Galactus. SS finds earth in his travels, likes it, and puts self on line again to save Earth from depredations of G. For this G. places a barrier around earth that SS can't burst thru, CONTRARY to the kid's claims he can "because he has the power cosmic". Proof: p. 8 of Silver Surfer #2, entirely devoted to SS desperately trying to break thru barrier "NO! THE BARRIER STILL STANDS!" ..."I, who have never known FAILURE, have FAILED, at last! And ibid, p. 33, ..."though I am LESS than before, STILL am I the SILVER SURFER! Still is MINE the POWER COSMIC." Thus even before this snotty kid was born the facts were clear. SS can't leave earth, but he still has the power cosmic. Hope this clears everything up, and sorry about Breathless. Scholarly CB