Marvel Reveals the Origin of the Silver Surfer! Shalla-Bal Takes the Spotlight in NEW FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST FOES
Ay yo’ fam… listen carefully, because when a herald speaks in the Marvel Universe, entire galaxies start paying attention.
“I herald his beginning. I herald your end. I herald… Galactus!”
Those chilling words dropped by Shalla-Bal shook the cosmos in Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps this past summer. That moment lit the fuse—and now Marvel is about to blow the cosmic doors wide open.
This June, the story expands in a huge way with FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST FOES – SHALLA-BAL #1, a special one-shot that dives deep into the tragic and powerful origin of the Silver Surfer of Earth-828. The issue is brought to life by acclaimed writer Charles Soule (Daredevil) alongside legendary artist Mark Buckingham (Miracleman), who returns after working on the earlier tie-in one-shots including Fantastic Four: First Steps #1 and the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Foes #1.
And Comic Crusaders… this isn’t just another tie-in.
This is cosmic history in the making.
Marvel’s First Foes one-shots take place in the universe of the blockbuster film and dig deeper into the hidden past of the Fantastic Four and their greatest enemies. These stories pull back the curtain on the earliest days of Marvel’s First Family while revealing the tragic origins of the forces they face.
This time, the spotlight belongs to Shalla-Bal.
Before she became the gleaming cosmic herald of destruction… she was something else entirely.
A scientist.
A dreamer.
A woman forced to make an impossible choice.
Years ago, in a desperate attempt to save her world, astronomer Shalla-Bal surrendered her freedom to the most terrifying force in the universe. She became the Herald of Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, tasked with finding planets to feed his endless cosmic hunger.
Yeah… that kind of job comes with a heavy moral bill.
For the first time ever, readers will witness the secrets behind her transformation, the emotional journey that led her into Galactus’ shadow, and the heart-shattering decisions that forged the Silver Surfer we now see soaring through the Marvel cosmos.
Artist Mark Buckingham couldn’t be more excited to return to the story—and honestly, the enthusiasm jumps right off the page.
He shared that after already collaborating with superstar writers Matt Fraction and Dan Slott on the series, discovering that Charles Soule would be joining the creative lineup felt like blasting past the moon and heading straight into deep space.
And deep space is exactly where this story takes readers.
Buckingham describes the issue as a dramatic and heartbreaking tale from Shalla-Bal’s past, unfolding before the events of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. It explores her life before destiny placed the cosmic burden of Galactus upon her shoulders.
For Buckingham, drawing this world has been a dream project.
He says it continues to be a pure joy to illustrate the book and that this issue gave him the perfect opportunity to dive headfirst into his love for the Silver Surfer mythology, especially after seeing Shalla-Bal brought to life so beautifully on the big screen.
Even better? The comic blends the magic of classic Fantastic Four storytelling with the cinematic universe of the Marvel Studios film, expanding the mythology in ways fans have never seen before.
That means cosmic drama.
Emotional stakes.
And the terrifying shadow of Galactus looming over it all.
If you want to start the journey early, make sure to grab FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST FOES #1 when it hits shelves March 25. Then get your preorder locked in for FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST FOES – SHALLA-BAL #1 at your local comic shop, because this cosmic origin story arrives this June and it’s shaping up to be one of the most powerful chapters in the expanding Fantastic Four: First Steps universe.
Marvel also confirmed that more Fantastic Four: First Foes one-shots are on the way later this year, meaning the cosmic puzzle of heroes and villains around the First Family is only just beginning to unfold.
And if Shalla-Bal’s story tells us anything, it’s this:
Sometimes saving your world means sacrificing everything.
Stay locked in, Comic Crusaders… because the herald has spoken.
And when the herald speaks… Galactus is never far behind. WEPA.
FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST FOES – SHALLA-BAL #1
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art by MARK BUCKINGHAM
Cover by PHIL NOTO
Variant cover by MARC ASPINALL
Variant Cover by MARK BUCKINGHAM
On Sale 6/10
Author Profile
- I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!
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