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All Saints, Holbrook, Suffolk
The Shotley Peninsula is a pastoral scattering of gentle hamlets along high hedged lanes which thread over hills and through woodlands. Other settlements line the Orwell estuary, the full drama of the wide water and forests beyond constantly on show. The road along the northern shore is a busy one, as is the Ipswich to Manningtree road which cuts the Peninsula off from the rest of Suffolk, but otherwise this is an introspective, secretive landscape, especially on the southern side. No wonder people long to live there.
The Peninsula has only two places of any real size; broad functional Shotley itself, at the eastern tip, and Holbrook to the west, a rather more prosperous proposition. Holbrook is home to the famous Royal Hospital School, a vast 1930s neo-classical confection designed for the sons and daughters of the Navy. Its campanile tower is a landmark for miles around; you can see it from tower blocks in the centre of Ipswich. The school inhabits a large campus to the south of the village, and injects lifeblood into the local economy.
So here we still have jobs, and shops, a high school and a couple of pubs. Oh, and a pretty village church, behind a high hedge. The village is rather a suburban one; such an economy generates and thrives on traffic, and all the peninsula comes here to stock up.
At first sight, the arrangement of the church is a bit odd. This is one of the 14th Century south-east towers commonly found in the Ipswich area, and the nave to the north of it was probably contemporary with it. But a small, low south aisle was built a century later, running eastwards of it, and the effect now is of a tiny church with a huge north aisle. In fact, there is a 19th century north aisle beyond the nave, the work of Diocesan architect Richard Phipson; it has a rather awkward juxtaposition with the nave at the west end, with an angled doorway. The nave west window appears to be made of terracotta. The best feature of the exterior is the clerestory, somewhat hidden by the south aisle, but picked out beautifully in red brick.
The interior is almost entirely Victorian, again the work of Richard Phipson. Although it now has a fairly rustic and simple Low Church feel to it, which is very pleasant, a glance at the chancel shows that Phipson fitted it out for the kind of mystical, incense-led 19th Century High Church worship which he loved, and for which his St Mary le Tower in Ipswich is the crowning moment in Suffolk. Most of the fittings are now gone, but the sense of the past remains.
Holbrook church contains one major pre-Victorian survival. This is the monument to one of the arch-villains of the English Reformation. It is a huge memorial at the east end of the south aisle. Sir John Clenche is the figure above his daughter-in-law on the huge memorial in the south aisle. Clenche was High Sheriff of Suffolk, but is more famous, and more notorious, for being the judge who sentenced Saint Margaret Clitherow to death.
In 1586, Margaret Clitherow, the middle-class wife of a York butcher, was accused of treason against the state. This was a catch-all charge designed to root out Catholicism; she was told, as all martyrs of the time were, that the charges would be dropped if she renounced Catholicism, and conformed to the Anglican church. This she refused to do, and also refused to enter a plea, saying that "having made no offence, I need no trial". Failure to make a plea was a capital crime in itself, of course, and Clenche's sentence was that you shall return to the place from whence you came, and in the lower part of the prison be stripped naked, laid down upon the ground, and so much weight laid upon you as you are able to bear, and thus you shall continue for three days; the third day you shall have a sharp stone laid under your back, and your hands and feet shall be tied to posts that, more weight being laid upon you, you may be pressed to death.
Popular Catholic martyrology has it that Clitherow's only problem with her sentence was the bit about being stripped naked; the night before she was crushed, she supposedly made a shift to wear. This was not allowed her, but it was placed over the lower part of her body to preserve her modesty from the paying spectators. The final sentence was carried out on the 25th of March 1586. Brennan's Martyrs of the English Reformation recalls that a stone the size of a man's fist was placed under her back, her arms were stretched out and tied with cords provided; a door was placed upon her, and stones piled upon it by some beggars hired for the purpose. Her last words were 'Jesu have mercy upon me!' and when her chest was crushed her ribs protruded, and she was left in this postion for six hours.
The body was thrown on a dunghill on the outskirts of the city, but was rescued after six weeks by local Catholics, who found it 'free of putrefaction'. In May 1970 she was canonised as one of the martyrs of England and Wales by Pope Paul VI. There are images of her at Holy Family church in Kesgrave, a few miles off, and at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Wells in Norfolk, and the story of her martyrdom can be seen in stained glass just across the border at the church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs in Cambridge.
All Saints, Holbrook, Suffolk
The Shotley Peninsula is a pastoral scattering of gentle hamlets along high hedged lanes which thread over hills and through woodlands. Other settlements line the Orwell estuary, the full drama of the wide water and forests beyond constantly on show. The road along the northern shore is a busy one, as is the Ipswich to Manningtree road which cuts the Peninsula off from the rest of Suffolk, but otherwise this is an introspective, secretive landscape, especially on the southern side. No wonder people long to live there.
The Peninsula has only two places of any real size; broad functional Shotley itself, at the eastern tip, and Holbrook to the west, a rather more prosperous proposition. Holbrook is home to the famous Royal Hospital School, a vast 1930s neo-classical confection designed for the sons and daughters of the Navy. Its campanile tower is a landmark for miles around; you can see it from tower blocks in the centre of Ipswich. The school inhabits a large campus to the south of the village, and injects lifeblood into the local economy.
So here we still have jobs, and shops, a high school and a couple of pubs. Oh, and a pretty village church, behind a high hedge. The village is rather a suburban one; such an economy generates and thrives on traffic, and all the peninsula comes here to stock up.
At first sight, the arrangement of the church is a bit odd. This is one of the 14th Century south-east towers commonly found in the Ipswich area, and the nave to the north of it was probably contemporary with it. But a small, low south aisle was built a century later, running eastwards of it, and the effect now is of a tiny church with a huge north aisle. In fact, there is a 19th century north aisle beyond the nave, the work of Diocesan architect Richard Phipson; it has a rather awkward juxtaposition with the nave at the west end, with an angled doorway. The nave west window appears to be made of terracotta. The best feature of the exterior is the clerestory, somewhat hidden by the south aisle, but picked out beautifully in red brick.
The interior is almost entirely Victorian, again the work of Richard Phipson. Although it now has a fairly rustic and simple Low Church feel to it, which is very pleasant, a glance at the chancel shows that Phipson fitted it out for the kind of mystical, incense-led 19th Century High Church worship which he loved, and for which his St Mary le Tower in Ipswich is the crowning moment in Suffolk. Most of the fittings are now gone, but the sense of the past remains.
Holbrook church contains one major pre-Victorian survival. This is the monument to one of the arch-villains of the English Reformation. It is a huge memorial at the east end of the south aisle. Sir John Clenche is the figure above his daughter-in-law on the huge memorial in the south aisle. Clenche was High Sheriff of Suffolk, but is more famous, and more notorious, for being the judge who sentenced Saint Margaret Clitherow to death.
In 1586, Margaret Clitherow, the middle-class wife of a York butcher, was accused of treason against the state. This was a catch-all charge designed to root out Catholicism; she was told, as all martyrs of the time were, that the charges would be dropped if she renounced Catholicism, and conformed to the Anglican church. This she refused to do, and also refused to enter a plea, saying that "having made no offence, I need no trial". Failure to make a plea was a capital crime in itself, of course, and Clenche's sentence was that you shall return to the place from whence you came, and in the lower part of the prison be stripped naked, laid down upon the ground, and so much weight laid upon you as you are able to bear, and thus you shall continue for three days; the third day you shall have a sharp stone laid under your back, and your hands and feet shall be tied to posts that, more weight being laid upon you, you may be pressed to death.
Popular Catholic martyrology has it that Clitherow's only problem with her sentence was the bit about being stripped naked; the night before she was crushed, she supposedly made a shift to wear. This was not allowed her, but it was placed over the lower part of her body to preserve her modesty from the paying spectators. The final sentence was carried out on the 25th of March 1586. Brennan's Martyrs of the English Reformation recalls that a stone the size of a man's fist was placed under her back, her arms were stretched out and tied with cords provided; a door was placed upon her, and stones piled upon it by some beggars hired for the purpose. Her last words were 'Jesu have mercy upon me!' and when her chest was crushed her ribs protruded, and she was left in this postion for six hours.
The body was thrown on a dunghill on the outskirts of the city, but was rescued after six weeks by local Catholics, who found it 'free of putrefaction'. In May 1970 she was canonised as one of the martyrs of England and Wales by Pope Paul VI. There are images of her at Holy Family church in Kesgrave, a few miles off, and at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Wells in Norfolk, and the story of her martyrdom can be seen in stained glass just across the border at the church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs in Cambridge.
The Beautiful Christina. This was a lot of fun. Shot at night in a friend's pool. The shoot was all about experimenting with lighting water. I tried to light this one in a way that would freeze the water and show it's volume.
More images from this shoot to come.
Large Softbox camera right with home made flash bracket. A little fill from the front with a second flash bounced into umbrella several feet away and a touch of a third flash hitting the water/bottom of the poo l positioned in a way to also give some edge lighting. PW triggers.
Contact me for image availability. Signed model release.
In a dusky alley of Hong Kong,
Where neon lights flickered like distant stars,
Mei Lin wandered, lost in thought,
Her heart a canvas, stretched taut with yearning.
Vivid hues of a mural danced along the brick walls,
Each stroke a memory of splendor and struggle,
A rendition to the human spirit,
In an eternal quest for meaning.
Interior Haunt: evokes a quiet, ghostlike portrait in a studio setting that feels more like an emotional space than a physical one - Key elements: Muted tones, Backlit silhouette, Studio fog, Dissolving presence, Introspective gaze.
Character Creation
The Silver Surfer is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character also appears in a number of movies, television, and video game adaptations. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in the comic book Fantastic Four #48, published in 1966.
The Silver Surfer is a humanoid alien with metallic skin who can travel through space with the aid of his surfboard-like craft. Originally a young astronomer named Norrin Radd on the planet Zenn-La, he saved his homeworld from the planet devourer, Galactus, by serving as his herald. Imbued in return with some portion of Galactus' Power Cosmic, he acquired vast power, a new body and a surfboard-like craft on which he could travel faster than light.
Now known as the Silver Surfer, he roamed the cosmos searching for planets for Galactus to consume. When his travels took him to Earth, he met the Fantastic Four, who helped him rediscover his nobility of spirit. Betraying Galactus, he saved Earth but was exiled there as punishment. In the alternate continuity of Earth X and Universe X, Shalla-Bal, Norrin's lover and the empress of Zenn-La, is depicted as joining him as a second Silver Surfer, both serving as the twin heralds of the second Galactus Franklin Richards.
In 2011, IGN ranked the Silver Surfer 41st in its "Top 100 Comic Heroes" list. The Silver Surfer was portrayed by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne in the 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
Jack Kirby commented on the character's creation during an interview stating "My conception of the Silver Surfer was a human being from space in that particular form. He came in when everybody began surfing — I read about it in the paper. The kids in California were beginning to surf. I couldn't do an ordinary teenager surfing so I drew a surfboard with a man from outer space on it."
The Silver Surfer debuted as an unplanned addition to the superhero-team comic Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966). The comic's writer-editor, Stan Lee, and its penciller and co-plotter, Jack Kirby, had, by the mid-1960s, developed a collaborative technique known as the "Marvel Method": the two would discuss story ideas, Kirby working from a brief synopsis to draw the individual scenes and plot details, with Lee finally adding the dialogue and captions. When Kirby turned in his pencil art for the story, he included a new character he and Lee had not discussed.
As Lee recalled in 1995, "There, in the middle of the story we had so carefully worked out, was a nut on some sort of flying surfboard". He later expanded on this, recalling, "I thought, 'Jack, this time you've gone too far'". Kirby explained that the story's agreed-upon antagonist, a god-like cosmic predator of planets named Galactus, should have some sort of herald, and that he created the surfboard "because I'm tired of drawing spaceships!" Taken by the noble features of the new character, who turned on his master to help defend Earth, Lee overcame his initial skepticism and began adding characterization. The Silver Surfer soon became a key part of the unfolding story.
Following the Surfer's debut, Lee and Kirby brought him back as a recurring guest in Fantastic Four #55–61, 72, and 74–77 (ranging Oct. 1966 – Aug. 1968). The character made his solo debut in the backup story of Fantastic Four Annual #5 (Nov. 1967).
Beginning in August 1968, Lee launched the solo title The Silver Surfer. John Buscema was penciller for the first 17 issues of the series, with Kirby returning for the 18th and final issue. The first seven issues, which included anthological "Tales of the Watcher" backup stories, were 72-page (with advertising), 25-cent "giants", as opposed to the typical 36-page, 12-cent comics of the time. Thematically, the stories dealt with the Surfer's exile on Earth and the inhumanity of man as observed by this noble yet fallen hero. Though short-lived, the series became known as one of Lee's most thoughtful and introspective works.
Following his series' cancellation, the Surfer made sporadic appearances as a guest star or antagonist in such comic books as Thor, The Defenders, and Fantastic Four. Lee remained partial to the Surfer, even asking other writers not to use him as a general rule, and with Kirby collaborated on a seminal 1978 graphic novel starring the character, the only original story featured in the Marvel Fireside Books series.
After a 1982 one-shot by writer-artist John Byrne (with scripting by Stan Lee), the Surfer appeared in his second solo ongoing title in 1987.
Initially written by Steve Englehart, the series was to be set on Earth and one issue was completed under this premise before Marvel agreed to let Englehart remove the long-standing restriction regarding Silver Surfer being imprisoned on Earth. This first issue was shelved and a brand new first issue was written, to set up this plot twist; the original first issue would ultimately be reprinted in Marvel Fanfare #51. The series marked the first Silver Surfer stories not written by Stan Lee, a fact which Lee was openly unhappy about. He explained:
"After I gave up Spider-Man then someone else did Spider-Man, and someone else did the Fantastic Four and Doctor Strange and the X-Men and all of them. I felt that it was kind of nice for me to have been the only writer of the Silver Surfer, so I felt a little bit disappointed when somebody else did it. I would have liked to have been the only person. Had I known they were absolutely going to have the book done, I would have found the time to do it myself. I didn't really have time but I would have made the time, rather than have anybody else do it. ... this is not at all a criticism of Steve [Englehart] or of Marshall [Rogers, artist on the series], it's just that it's one book that I would have liked to have always done myself."
Englehart introduced many villains for Silver Surfer, as well as featured space politics involving Surfer's homeworld Zenn-La, which was caught in the middle of a renewed Kree–Skrull War. However, issues regarding Englehart wanting to use his Avengers character Mantis as Silver Surfer's companion, as well as editorial refusing to let him use Thanos or other concepts conceived by Jim Starlin, led Englehart to leave the book with issue #31. Starlin took over as writer with issue #34 after several fill-in issues, and incorporated Thanos, Adam Warlock, and Drax the Destroyer into the series.
Under Jim Starlin and later Ron Marz, the series would receive acclaim and sales boost due to Silver Surfer's involvement with Starlin's Infinity Trilogy, with George Pérez and J. M. DeMatteis also having brief writing stints on the series as well. Additional artists included Tom Grindberg, Ron Garney, and Jon J. Muth, as well as periodic guest spots by John Buscema. The title experienced great initial success which allowed Marvel to push the character into other media, including a 1990 video game, 1992 trading card set, and 1998 animated series, as well as spinning off a variety of other comics series including Cosmic Powers, Cosmic Powers Unlimited, Captain Marvel vol. 2, and Star Masters. It ran 146 issues, through 1998. The next year it was followed by the two-issue miniseries, Silver Surfer: Loftier Than Mortals.
A two-issue Silver Surfer miniseries (later collected as Silver Surfer: Parable), scripted by Lee and drawn by Moebius, was published through Marvel's Epic Comics imprint in 1988 and 1989. Because of inconsistencies with other stories, it has been argued that these stories actually feature an alternate Silver Surfer from a parallel Earth. This miniseries won the Eisner Award for best finite/limited series in 1989.
A new ongoing Silver Surfer series began in 2003, focusing on the character's alien nature and messianic allegory. It lasted 14 issues. The Surfer later appeared in an issue of Cable & Deadpool and has been reunited three times with the superhero group the Defenders. In 2006–2007, he starred in the four-issue miniseries Annihilation: Silver Surfer and co-starred in the miniseries Heralds of Galactus, both part of the Annihilation fictional crossover.
In 2007, the Silver Surfer starred in a four-issue miniseries Silver Surfer: Requiem by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Esad Ribic. The first issue was released May 30, 2007 to coincide with the character's first movie appearance. Published under the Marvel Knights imprint, Silver Surfer: Requiem portrays the character upon learning that he is dying as the silver shell he is encased in is deteriorating.
This was followed by the four-issue miniseries Silver Surfer: In Thy Name, by writer Simon Spurrier and artist Tan Eng Huat.
After an appearance in the "Planet Hulk" storyline in 2006, the Surfer was featured in its spin-off series starring the Hulk's son Skaar in 2008, both written by Greg Pak.
The Silver Surfer received a sixth volume, an eponymous 5-issue miniseries written by Pak, debuting in February 2011. He was also a core cast member in The Thanos Imperative (2010), Annihilators (2011), and Fear Itself: The Deep (2011). Beginning in 2011, the Silver Surfer began appearing regularly in The Mighty Thor and a new volume of Defenders, both written by Matt Fraction.
In March 2014, Silver Surfer volume 7 began as part of All-New Marvel NOW! by writer Dan Slott, artist Mike Allred, and colorist Laura Allred. In January 2016 Silver Surfer volume 8 began with a special 50th-anniversary edition expected release in March 2016.
In 2019, a 5-part mini-series titled Silver Surfer: Black was released featuring art from Tradd Moore in collaboration with writing from Donny Cates. The series is an extension of a Guardians of the Galaxy storyline in which the Surfer was sucked into a black hole and ejected into unfamiliar space territory. This run follows the Surfer as he traverses the spaceways on a journey back home.
Silver Surfer later plays an important role in King in Black storyline. With the help from Hugin and Munin, Surfer helps Enigma Force to enter Earth and chose Eddie Brock/Venom as a temporary Captain Universe, to aid his fellow heroes against Knull and his army.
Fictional Character History
Norrin Radd lived on the peaceful planet Zenn-La (Deneb System, Milky Way Galaxy). The Zenn-Lavians effectively eliminated the plagues commonly associated with human life on Earth, such as hunger, disease, crime, and war. The result of their quest for advancement and scientific discovery, in effect, created a Utopian society. Norrin's parents were Jartran and Elmar Radd. Jartran was a scientist, and Norrin followed in his footsteps, constantly studying. Unable to cope with what Zenn-La had become (a society that had devolved into hedonism and, in essence, become directionless), Norrin's mother Elmar committed suicide when he was very young. Norrin always blamed himself for this.
After his mother's passing, Norrin was nurtured by his father to become a great man. When Norrin entered manhood, his father was implicated in the theft of ideas belonging to another scientist. When Norrin confronted his father, he admitted negligence. Disgusted by his father's actions, Norrin completely withdrew from him. Depressed by his indiscretion made public and the apparent lack of support from his son, Jartran committed suicide.
Much like his mother and father, Norrin also dreamed of a society that had more substance. He believed that no goals were left to be achieved on Zenn-La. He was filled with discontent and often went to the museum to watch holograms of Zenn-La's past that revolved around their wars and space travel. This often troubled his girlfriend, Shalla-Bal. She believed they had all they could ever want together, but Norrin always dreamed of more.
One day, their peaceful existence was threatened by the presence of Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, who subsists on the energies provided by entire planets. The Council of Scientists let Norrin use a spaceship to approach Galactus and plead on behalf of the planet. Seeing the hopeless situation of his home planet, Norrin Radd volunteered servitude to the Devourer of Worlds in order to spare Zenn-La from obliteration. Galactus accepted. Given a fraction of the Power Cosmic, and shaped by fantasies Norrin Radd entertained as a child, Galactus transformed Norrin Radd into the Silver Surfer. The Silver Surfer's main task was to find planets with the energy to satisfy Galactus's hunger.
Over time it became more difficult to find planets without life on them. Knowing Norrin Radd would resist taking a life, Galactus deliberately altered Norrin's mind to repress his moral compass, allowing Norrin Radd to more efficiently carry out the grim task of finding suitable planets to feed upon.
A decidedly introspective character plagued by the sins of his past, Norrin Radd forever seeks redemption, endeavoring to carry out justice throughout the universe.
The Silver Surfer’s introduction begins with the Surfer bringing Galactus to Earth. In turn, Galactus was confronted by the Fantastic Four. Ben Grimm’s girlfriend, the blind sculptress Alicia Masters, managed to reach Norrin Radd’s more human side, ultimately awakening his conscience that Galactus managed to suppress for many years. The Surfer turned on his master much to Galactus' surprise. The Surfer was easily dispatched by Galactus and Reed Richards ultimately managed to repel Galactus with the Ultimate Nullifier.
In reprisal for the Silver Surfer’s rebellious actions, Galactus created an energy barrier that would prevent the Silver Surfer from leaving Earth. No longer will he venture into space or be a witness to the universe's far-reaching wonders, his heart’s desire since he was a small child.
Trapped on Earth
The Surfer’s earliest contact with humanity was routinely met with fear. Entire countries reacted aggressively when the Surfer simply flew overhead, firing weapons of mass destruction at him. It seemed the Surfer would lead a life fraught with fear and rejection from Earth no matter what the circumstances. Occasionally, when he tried to help certain individuals on Earth, this too resulted in mistrust and fear. One of his worst experiences came from trying to assist Doctor Doom who tricked the Surfer and stole his cosmic powers. After his powers were returned, he had a hard time trusting any humans. He seemed a lost soul. Although they were ungrateful, the Surfer continued to protect humanity from great threats, all the while contemplating their savage and strange behavior.
Eventually, the Silver Surfer became a hero on Earth and began to rediscover his own very human feelings, thanks in large part to blind sculptress Alicia Masters. He fought alongside many of Earth's heroes and joined the superhero group, the Defenders. He even began to trust again and eventually formed friendships with some of earth’s heroes he worked alongside, specifically Doctor Strange. But this was only temporary - the Silver Surfer was not meant to be confined to such a small space.
But the Surfer longed to be free of his prison, to soar infinite space as he was meant to. The Surfer made repeated attempts to escape the impenetrable barrier Galactus placed around the planet. He once traveled through time to try to escape the insanity of Earth and did so successfully, only to find himself in a future where all civilizations had been destroyed. Faced with choices of being free in a dystopic, future Earth society or returning to Earth to live among a group of people who hated him, he chose the latter. He attempted to escape with the help of physicist Al Harper, but this failed as well. He was allowed to leave the barrier by Mephisto, only to find that Mephisto had kidnapped his love Shalla Bal therefore compelling his return to Earth once again to find her, while Mephisto reveled in his frustration.
Years later, with the help of Reed Richards, he successfully escaped. His first action was to go home, to Zenn-La. When he arrived, he found the paradise of Zenn-La destroyed and the residents claiming it to be the Surfer's fault. Galactus had returned and consumed the energies after the Surfer betrayed him. When he tried to find Shalla Bal, he learned she was kidnapped by Mephisto once again. In order to save Shalla Bal he returned to Earth, only to become trapped there once again. This would not be the last time Mephisto attempted to use Shalla Bal against the Surfer and he next tried to get the Surfer to destroy S.H.I.E.L.D., but eventually failed once again.
Free at Last
With the Fantastic Four's help, he was able to escape the barrier. The Silver Surfer made peace with Galactus when he saved his current herald, Frankie Raye, from the Skrulls. Galactus lifted the barrier and the Surfer was free to roam the spaceways once again, something he had long yearned for since his confinement. He wished to never return to Earth, the home of his imprisonment, ever again.
Once the barrier was lifted, the Surfer immediately thought of Zenn-La and his love Shalla Bal. He returned to find that after breaking his promise to Galactus to serve him, Galactus had returned to Zenn-La and consumed its energy. But the residents managed to escape his wrath and rebuild, with the help of Shalla Bal and the Power Cosmic he had granted her when Mephisto brought her to Earth to torment the Surfer. He proposed to Shalla Bal, now the Empress of Zenn-La, but she declined. With no place to truly call home, the Surfer returned to space.
Surfer then was attacked by the Elders of the Universe. With the help of Mantis, he learned of their plot to kill Galactus and destroy reality. Together, the already powerful beings had gathered the Infinity Gems. He managed to stop their plot with the help of Mantis and Frankie Raye. Eternity admitted to Galactus that if not for the Surfer's help, the universe may have been destroyed. But this turned out to not be the end of the Elders' threat to Galactus, as Death would not allow the Elders Galactus consumed to die. This meant that they survived inside Galactus making him very ill. With the help of Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman, they traveled to the Magick Realm to retrieve the Infinity Gems. In-Betweener interfered and traveled back to Galactus to kill him. Instead, he sent Galactus back to Magick Realm. Silver Surfer appealed to Chaos and Master Order of what the In-Betweener had done and they freed the Elders from a very angry Galactus.
Alignment with the Skrulls
The Surfer soon found himself in the middle of the Second Kree/Skrull War. At first, he remained neutral but through a Skrull trick, he ended up joining their side. He had helped the Super Skrull to escape the Eternals and helped to restore the Skrulls shape-shifting powers. The Kree knew of the trickery, but could not simply forgive the Surfer and made him their enemy. He was uneasy with his alliance when Reptyl joined their side and the Super Skrull was killed. Empress S'byll proved to not be as treacherous as most Skrulls after all and she and the Surfer attacked Hala themselves and defeated Nenora, the Supreme Leader. A truce was made between the races and the Surfer again soared the universe alone.
First Meeting with Thanos
The Surfer then met his next threat and one of his worse enemies, Thanos. Thanos was resurrected to kill half of the universe. He proved to be a very powerful and intelligent being. He faked his death so that the Surfer would not meddle in his affairs while he sought out the Infinity Gems. Thanos has the Surfer imprisoned on Dynamo City to further preoccupy him. After his escape, he met up with Thanos who had the Infinity Gauntlet. He stole the Surfer's soul and kept it in the Soul Gem. He meets Adam Warlock in the Soul World and, with his help, is able to free himself.
Infinity Gauntlet
With Thanos now in possession of the Infinity Gauntlet, he thought himself a god. To please Death, he instantly wiped out half of all life in the universe. The Surfer traveled to Earth to gain the help of any hero he could find. He was able to gather the help of Doctor Strange, the Avengers and some of Earth's mightiest heroes. Adam Warlock exited the Soul World and was best suited to lead the heroes against this growing threat.
The Surfer had a special part in Warlock's plans. While Thanos was distracted by Earth's heroes and the gathered cosmic deities, the Surfer was to take the Gauntlet from Thanos. When the time came, he was noticed and failed to capture the gems from Thanos. After the gauntlet is taken by Nebula, the heroes need Thanos' help to get it from her. The Surfer will not accept this and attacks Thanos. Doctor Strange makes a dimension for them to fight in to settle it with each other. They battle medieval style with limited powers and the Surfer emerges victorious but refuses to kill Thanos. When he turns his back, Thanos attacks him and the Surfer yields. The heroes eventually gained control over the gauntlet and it went to Adam Warlock.
During the Infinity Gauntlet, the Surfer faces many trials and tests. In the realm of perception the Surfer was able to destroy the demons of guilt, denial and doubt he harbored throughout his lifetime. He was able to get forgiveness for his past associations with family and love. He was also able to forgive himself. The only ones to not forgive the Surfer are the millions he brought death to as Galactus' herald. The guilt for this was something the Surfer never knew since Galactus had blocked that in his mind. He had Galactus turn the guilt in his brain back on and the Surfer could almost not bear it. He overcame this. In another reality he was able to defeat the Shadow Surfer, the dark side of himself, to finally become whole.
Infinity War
When the Silver Surfer learned Galactus had traveled back to Earth he was instantly concerned. He met Galactus who was seemingly abducting Doctor Strange. He tried to stop him and Galactus pitted Nova against him. Doctor Strange stopped their battle and told the Surfer he was willing to help Galactus and that the Surfer should help as well. They were able to trace the source of energy fluctuations that Galactus was concerned about and traveled toward their origin. This is the beginning of the Infinity War.
The Surfer and Nova succeeded in protecting the ship. After this, the Surfer played a little part in defeating the Magus and fought with Earth's heroes against their evil counterparts, the doppelgangers. Magus was eventually defeated by Adam Warlock with the brilliant planning of Thanos.
The Silver Surfer learned of Galactus' dismissal of Nova in a harsh way - by being attacked by his new herald Morg. Morg soundly defeated the Surfer and left him unconscious. The Surfer knew this new herald to be unworthy of the Power Cosmic but was unable to face him alone. In addition, Galactus blocked his energy from all former heralds, making him nearly impossible to find.
Surfer gained the assistance of Firelord despite their previous differences. Together they found Nova and resurrected Air-Walker. They all gained the cooperation of Terrax also, after battling him. Together all the former heralds of Galactus came upon Morg. Terrax realized instantly that they together were still no match for Morg, who had recently augmented his powers further through a mystical well. He suggested the Surfer speak to Galactus. The Surfer approached Galactus, but he would not listen and became frustrated with the Surfer's constant meddling. Galactus and the Surfer fought and naturally Galactus emerged the victor. The Surfer was able to finally reach Galactus by telling him that although he could kill him and all his former heralds, someone will replace them to fight the evil that is Morg. This would go on forever. Galactus agreed to remove Morg's cosmic powers.
The Surfer arrived back on the battlefield to find nearly all the heralds downed by Morg's might. Nova managed to seemingly kill Morg, but it was all a sham and Morg attacked her when she turned her back. Nova died in the Surfer's arms. The Surfer was furious but before he could get to Morg they were stopped by Galactus. He removed Morg's Power Cosmic, but he still remained a powerful enemy. The heralds fought him and the Surfer still refused to help kill him, not wanting to sink to Morg's level. The Surfer tried to stop him, but Terrax kills Morg. At a loss, the Surfer said a few words and sent Nova's body into a nearby sun. He regretted that he would never see her again.
While the Surfer searches for Terrax, he comes across Ganymede, who believes him to be one of Tyrant's servants. After a brief battle, the Surfer convinces her that he knows nothing of this one called Tyrant. She tells the Surfer of Tyrant's threat to the universe. Fortunately, the trail the Surfer was following to Terrax also seems to be leading to Tyrant.
Upon arrival at Tyrant's Fortress, they are attacked by Tyrant's robotic guards, which the Surfer easily dispatches. But Tyrant has plans for them and appears and easily defeats them both. When the Surfer awakens he is attached to an energy-draining device along with Ganymede, Gladiator, Beta Ray Bill, Terrax, and to his surprise, Morg. Tyrant is siphoning their energy for himself and to power his colossal ship.
The next victim of Tyrant is brought in to be attached to the machine, the Surfer's friend the Jack of Hearts. Rather than be captured, Jack releases the energy in his armor and is able to free Tyrant's prisoners. They engage Tyrant, with the exception of Morg and Terrax, who fight each other. Even their combined might is not enough to stop Tyrant, who only stops the battle upon the arrival of Galactus. Galactus allows Tyrant to keep Morg in exchange for the release of the others. The Surfer asks why he would deal so lightly with Tyrant, but Galactus replies he will deal with him at a time of his choosing. The Surfer then takes the others to safety.
Infinity Crusade
When the Goddess uses the power of 30 cosmic cubes, she gains control of some heroes susceptible to her message. This begins the Infinity Crusade. She manages to brainwash the Surfer into becoming one of her Holy Guard to help create a universe without evil. At first. he is a faithful follower until she asks him to begin an attack on the remaining heroes of Earth. He refuses to fight his friends and breaks her control over him. This causes his companion and fellow member of the guard Firelord to turn on him. The Surfer does not wish to harm Firelord but he does what he must to stop the Goddess and her plot.
On his way to warn the heroes, he is brought by Thanos to his ship. He agrees to aide Thanos, as the Surfer is instrumental to Warlock and Thanos' plan. He is to be a diversion for the attack on Goddess' planet Paradise Omega. He attempts a dangerous mission to absorb more energy than he ever has from the Sun, becoming a living bomb. Absorbing all this power made him lose his mind and Drax helped to guide him to the moon. He is able to destroy the moon of Paradise Omega and cause the distraction.
The Surfer survived the blast and fell to the planets surface unconscious. He awoke being attacked by Holy Guard members Storm and Wonder Man. Once his power returned he defeated them and tried to get them to realize they followed a madwoman. They remained faithful to the Goddess, but left the Surfer without any further confrontation after he healed Wonder Man's injuries. After the defeat of the Goddess, the Surfer is relieved by her plans being foiled, but at the same time remorseful of the return of evil and violence into the universe.
Blood and Thunder
After having met Beta Ray Bill while they were both held captive by Tyrant, the Surfer flew to find him and help aid him against a crazed Thor. He found Bill beaten by Thor and stopped him from killing him. The Surfer then took on the Thunder God and fought a hard battle, but was defeated. Adam Warlock then intervened and saved the Surfer. Together they assaulted Thor, but to no avail. The Surfer and Warlock were nearly killed. Luckily, Warlock showed the ability to control the Surfer's board since they had shared each others souls during the Infinity Gauntlet.
They sought the aid of Dr. Strange and together they all tried to stop Thor from destroying Asgard. They eventually sought the assistance of Thanos, who helped fight Thor while the Surfer fought the Dark Valkyrie. The Surfer defeated her and Thanos was able to trap Thor in an energy field. With the help of Doctor Strange and the Infinity Watch, they were able to stop Thor's madness.
Down to Earth
The Silver Surfer once again returned to Earth to go to Rick Jones' wedding. He went to inform the Fantastic Four of Nova's death. After a scuffle with the Human Torch, he agreed to help the Four find a seismic anomaly deep in the Earth. Through the caverns under Monster Island they discovered the source, that seemed to lead them right where it wanted them. Deep in the Earth, they find Nova, alive and well. Back at Four Freedoms Plaza, tests confirm that it is indeed his former love. They leave to soar the stars together.
Nova leads the Surfer to many places. They discover a hidden treasure of myth together and Nova tries to convince him to accept their riches. He turns the treasure into sand when Terrax tries to take it from them. Nova then tries to convince the Surfer to take the Champion's mystical wristlets to increase his power, but instead he destroys them. When Nova is kidnapped by some slave traders, the Surfer acts to save her and finally realize his love for her. When he pledges to her to be with her, Nova changes into her true form- Mephisto. Again he uses love to try to defeat the Surfer and is now in possession of the Surfer's soul.
He brings the Surfer to Hell and tells him to make himself comfortable. The Surfer still has hope and tries to fight for his freedom. He is shown that his parents souls are in the possession of Mephisto, which pushes him over the top. He does something he pledged never to do and kills Mephisto. He releases his parents souls, but again finds himself alone. Mephisto, living and well, is greatly satisfied over the outcome of his manipulations.
The Curse of the Power Cosmic
After the events with Mephisto, the Surfer returned to Zenn-la for the only comfort in his life, Shalla Bal. But to his surprise she had found a new lover, the Surfer's half-brother Fennan Radd. He soon realized that his great cosmic power has only brought him sorrow and met with Galactus. He asked Galactus to remove his power, but Galactus refused, telling him he is important to the universe. The Surfer sought out other means to have his power removed.
In space he comes across a planet that he once helped to destroy. He becomes suicidal, planning to use every last ounce of his Power Cosmic to destroy the world and it's memory. He soon decides it would be better to go out using his powers for good and travels to the planet Lathkolas, which has advanced technologically and in the process destroyed it's own ecology. He uses his Power Cosmic to grow life on the planet as he did on Zenn-La. But he loses control of his power and advances the planet billions of years in a matter of moments. In the end, the planet and all life on it is dead. This is more than the Surfer can handle and he losses control of his emotions.
He begins to fight violence with violence, in the process severely beating the Super Skrull. He finally comes to his senses and travels to a planet called Tanus, that is in total anarchy, and tries to help them. Soon, a ship from Earth arrives and inside of it Doctor Doom. He makes a deal with the Surfer to take the suffering away from these people in exchange for his Power Cosmic. The Surfer agrees and Doom's machines are able to siphon all his energies, leaving him still silver, but mortal. Doom then destroys the planet, claiming the people no longer suffer. The Surfer is now powerless and is taken captive.
It is revealed that this is not Doctor Doom himself, but one of his Doombots that set out to get the Surfer's power right after Doom had lost the Power Cosmic the first time. The robot now plans to kill his master and the Fantastic Four, but first he plans to kill the Surfer, ejecting him into space. Legacy arrives on the scene and uses every ounce of his power to revive the Surfer. Upon his revival his powers are restored and he chases after the Doombot, siphoning his power back from it and destroying it.
Immediately after this, the Surfer senses his former master is in danger. He leaves Legacy behind to go to Galactus' aide. He arrives to Galactus' ship to find that Galactus and Tyrant are having their long-awaited battle. Morg has found the Ultimate Nullifier, which he is using to torture Tyrant. But the Nullifier is about to have it's energy unleashed. Galactus tells the Surfer to leave the ship before he is destroyed. The Surfer does not wish for his former master to be destroyed, but Galactus insists. The Surfer barely escapes before Galactus' ship is destroyed along with Galactus and all aboard.
The Star Masters
Upon hearing the intergalactic transmission that Quasar is responsible for the deaths of hundreds in a peaceful organization known as the Charter, he goes to investigate. He finds Beta Ray Bill and together they seek out Quasar. Once found, the Surfer can instantly tell that Quasar speaks the truth and did not commit this heinous crime. Together they become the Star Masters to find the true culprit.
They soon find they have two problems: the Charter's Cosmic Commandos are after Quasar and a massive asteroid is about to collide with Earth. With the Commandos being no match for the Surfer, he is able to concentrate on the asteroid. With his knowledge of the barrier Galactus erected to imprison him there, he is able to use it to destroy the asteroid. But inside lies a tiny black hole that would also destroy Earth. It is stopped by Beta Ray when he transports it out of Earth's path.
Two of the Commandos, Morfex and Xenith, soon ally themselves with the Surfer and the Star Masters and they continue their search for the one responsible for the deaths and the attack on Earth. When they enter the Charter's ship, known as the Hub, they are ambushed and captured. They are thrown in the Cauldron of Conversion to die, but Quasar is able to protect them.
After their escape, the Surfer goes to find Beta Ray Bill, who disappeared after being thrown in the Cauldron. He goes to Asgard to find Bill dead. With Odin's help, the Surfer is able to resurrect Bill, but with part of his Power Cosmic. They return to the others where Bill is able to communicate with the contents of the Cauldron. It is a sentient virus that will destroy any race that has become a part of it.
Through this they learn the truth and the one behind the plot is the Axi-Tun leader Lord Votan. After Quasar is cleared of his charges, they travel to Tun to detain Votan. But he is not going down without a fight, and uses his power to sap their wills and capture them. Tana Nile uses her powers to transfer the remaining will power of the Surfer and the others to Quasar, who is able to escape. Together they are able to defeat Votan.
Planet Hulk
The Surfer was next controlled for fighting in the Red King's arena on Sakaar against the Hulk (who was sent out in space by the Illuminati). The Hulk, recognizing that the Surfer was his friend, destroyed the obedience disc that controlled him. The Silver Surfer was free and used his power cosmic to destroy the other alien gladiator's obedience disc to escape the arena.
When Norrin offered The Hulk to take him back to earth, he declined because he wanted to liberate Sakaar from the Red King's tyranny. The Surfer sensing the destruction of Xandar assisted in relief efforts of nearby planets until summoned by his former master, Galactus.
Annihilation
During the events of Annihilation, the Silver Surfer became aware of the invasion of his universe after the destruction of Xandar. He was able to save Air-Walker from the Seekers, who were trying to capture all of Galactus' Heralds for their leader Annihilus. He met up with Firelord and Red Shift but they were soon met by Stardust. Galactus had summoned the Surfer. He left to speak with his former master.
Galactus told his former Herald of the recent freeing of Aegis and Tenebrous from Kyln, two of his adversaries from early in universal history. Galactus asked Surfer to stand with him as his Herald once more. The Surfer accepted and his power increased and augmented, he was quickly tested by Ravenous, agent of Annihilus. The Surfer dispatched him easily.
Shortly thereafter Tenebrous and Aegis ambushed Galactus and his herald, striking them both down. The Annihilation Wave arrived and picked up the pieces, taking both Galactus and the Silver Surfer prisoner. Silver Surfer was held in a stasis sphere while the Power Cosmic was drained from both him and his master through technology given to Annihilus by Thanos.
After killing Thanos, Drax realized that he had no one to unlock the machine that kept Galactus captive because Thanos had set the power levels on the machine to his own level so that no one could unlock it. He than discovered the Silver Surfer was also being held in stasis. He freed the Silver Surfer while hoping that the Surfer still had enough power left to outmatch Thanos' power level that was set on the machine. The Silver Surfer was severely weak at the time but he still succeeded in overpowering the machine (this may be due to his latest power increase Given to him by Galactus), this was a great accomplishment for the Silver Surfer. Galactus than decimated the Annihilation Wave.
After this the Surfer went to Aegis and Tenebrous in an attempt to hold them at the Crunch until Galactus arrived. He was no match for them and they quickly brought him to near death. In a risky maneuver, he surfed the energies of the Crunch and was able to kill Aegis and Tenebrous with it. Nearly dead, Galactus healed the Surfer, amazed that the Surfer could accomplish such as task. The Silver Surfer continues to serve as Galactus' Herald alongside Stardust.
The New Fantastic Four
When Stardust found an energy source to fulfill their masters hunger, the Silver Surfer used his great tracking abilities to locate the source, who was hiding it from them. The source turned out to be Epoch, the protector of cosmic awareness. But there was a problem, the Fantastic Four needed Epoch, who they believed had stolen the body of their friend, Gravity.
At first, the Surfer was not interested in what they had to say, but after a brief battle with the Black Panther, who had temporarily taken Mr. Fantastic's spot on the roster, he decided to listen. He offered them time to retrieve their friend, but Epoch was to be fed to his master. After speaking with the Thing, the Surfer explained that he had come to the realization that Galactus is beyond good and evil and the Surfer planned to do anything necessary to feed his master.
It turned out that Epoch had taken Gravity in order to resurrect him as Protector of the Universe. But Gravity would not allow Epoch to be consumed and neither would the Fantastic Four. When Black Panther arrived back to the battle, he was equipped with a device similar to Doctor Doom's that siphoned the Surfer's Power Cosmic. His hand to hand abilities were no contest for the Black Panther and he was defeated.
With the heralds of Galactus beaten, they still had no hope of defeating Galactus. Instead, Gravity used all the power Epoch gave him to feed Galactus, who restored the Surfer's power and agreed to spare Epoch.
His tracking abilities were needed once again, this time by the Fantastic Four that just battled with him. They needed him to follow the trail of the contrasepsis, the creatures that fix repairs in reality. The trail lead to Eternity's plane of existence where they found the problem and what was causing Eternity's death and the abundance of contrasepsis. The Surfer helped fight the endless hordes while Doctor Strange preformed surgery on Eternity to save him.
Fall of Orbucen
After two stars suddenly went out without notice, the people of Orbucen realized the sign of fate: Galactus was drawing near their planet. Their worst fears materialized as the Silver Surfer arrived at the planet, scouting it for his master’s needs, not long afterward. Five days after the extinguishing of the two starts, Galactus arrived in Orbucen and begun setting up his equipment.
Once Richard Rider, a.k.a. Nova answering to Orbucen’s distress call arrived there, Galactus’ siphons had already penetrated the planet’s crust, a fore sign that the planet’s end drew nearer with each passing moment. In an attempt to help the people of Orbucen in every way possible, Nova assisted in the evacuation of the planet and the embarking of the population in arks, all the while stumbling upon Harrow, the shadow that life casts, a mysterious parasitic organism that filled its hosts with homicidal tendencies.
After containing Harrow, Nova was informed that the moment Galactus’ feeding process begun, an electromagnetic disruption reached critical level, simultaneously causing a malfunction in all the arks that would drive Orbucen’s people to safety. Knowing there was no time to repair it, Nova set course to persuade Galactus to refrain from consuming the planet, for a few hours, at least.
Galactus did not even notice Nova’s pleading, but the same could not be said for the Silver Surfer, who almost immediately grabbed Nova by the neck, and their battle commenced. At first, due to the Surfer’s swift attack, Nova was unaware of what hit him, but he soon regained composure and tried to reason with him; the Surfer however, showed no intention of stopping. After a relatively short fight in which Nova found himself outclassed, the duo finally landed on Orbucen again, at which point, the Surfer gave his reasoning: he did not wish his master to see him fraternizing with “lower” life forms, and took the fight away in order to speak to Nova, freely.
Expressing his respect for him, the Surfer advised Richard to leave the planet. Nova explained the situation with the malfunctioning arks to the Surfer, who simply locked the drive tech and made the ships operational again by merely blinking, much to Nova’s astonishment. The Surfer then once again advised Nova to drive the arks to safety and then abandon the planet, for his own good.
Later on, after realising Harrow had escaped and went on yet another killing spree, Nova wasted precious time attempting to stop him, and as a result the electromagnetic disruption from Galactus’ instruments became too intense for him to open a stargate, and escape. In an act of despair, Nova rushed into Galactus’ vessel from within the energy siphons. Inside the vessel, he detected once again , and located his physical body for the first time in a floorboard. After a short fight, the Surfer appeared, freed Nova from Harrow’s clutches, and revealed Harrow’s presence to Galactus’ who in return disintegrated Harrow, as a punishment. Galactus spared Nova, by teleporting him and the Surfer five light-years away from Orbucen. The Surfer bid Nova goodbye, but also advised him to refrain from crossing paths with him, or Galactus in the future, before returning to his master once again.
Godhunter
After the consummation of his home planet by Galactus, and the death of his people, Beta Ray Bill decided to pursue the Great Devourer, and put up a complex scheme in order to defeat him: seeing that his power was lilliputian in comparison to Galactus’ might, the cunning Bill decided to attempt and destroy the planets Galactus chose for consumption, in order to eventually starve him. That lead to an inevitable conflict, at first with Stardust, and, eventually with the Silver Surfer himself, whom Galactus dispatched to take care of Bill’s nuisance, after Bill destroyed a planet named I’Than IX.
The Surfer pursued Bill’s ship, Skuttlebutt, all the while trying to reason with Bill. Bill, finally emerging from his ship, refused to hear to the Surfer’s pleadings, and attacked him, hammering him away. The Surfer swiftly recuperated, using his trusted board in order to stun Bill, and then quickly managed to overwhelm Bill in hand to hand combat, while expressing his sadness for having to fight his old friend and comrade.
After persuading Bill to submit, the Surfer tried, once again, to reason with him, and explain that while he could understand Bill’s loss concerning Corbin, Galactus was a force of nature. Skuttlebutt subtly following their exchange from afar, took advantage of the Surfer’s hesitation during his conversation with Bill in order to strike and enable Bill to run away.
Later on, Bill crossed paths with the Surfer again, in an unexplored planet, while Bill was trying to locate Galactus once again. Bill’s initial strike was repelled by the Surfer, who, this time, refused to do more than simply speak. Hesitantly, Bill accepted to listen to him. Expanding on their earlier conversation, the Surfer outlined the events that occurred during Annihilation, and how Galactus’ power was so diminished, that it would not be long before his life would end, taking the sheer number of his pursuers into account. The Surfer also revealed that if Galactus’ existence where to end, all the life within forty-two light-years would cease to exist. Bill reluctantly accepted to permit Galactus to feed in order to sustain himself. It was at that time that the people of I’Than and their assembled fleet attacked the weakened Galactus, Surfer and Stardust, and were near-victory until Bill himself intervened and helped the Devourer complete his sustaining process revitalize himself and destroy the opposing fleet. After the event, Galactus and Bill came to a mutual understanding, and Galactus dispatched both his heralds to find him new planets to feed upon, once again.
Return of the Silver Savage
Upon learning of the Old Power of Sakaar, the Surfer travels to the planet in order to warn the residents of Galactus' coming. If Galactus were to consume the planet, he may not need to feed for millennia and billions of lives will be spared. On the planet he finds Skaar, the son of Hulk, about to destroy the world. Skaar had obtained the Old Power for himself and saw that to save Sakaar, all life must be wiped out.
The Surfer stops him before he can do this, and with his Power Cosmic, returns the Old Power to the planet. But to do this, the Surfer used much of his power and Skaar is able to put an obedience disc on him. The Silver Savage is now a slave of Skaar, who rides with the Red King to destroy the forces of Axeman Bone. In the battle, the Surfer still worries for innocent lives and tries to persuade Skaar to help save them, but Skaar is only interested in killing Axeman. Only then does Caiera come from the Old Power and try to stop Skaar's destructive path. She gains control over the Surfer's obedience disc and has him show Skaar what it is to be a god.
The Surfer fuses himself with Skaar and brings him to Galactus. Skaar, acting as herald, tries to stop Galactus from consuming Sakaar, only to watch in horror as Galactus does so anyway. The Surfer then sends Skaar back to Sakaar, explaining that this is only a vision of things to come. But Skaar still refuses to evacuate. He planned to use the Old Power and force more than Galactus can handle into him, making Galactus hungrier than ever. Realizing that showing Skaar what will happen did not change Skaar, Caiera opens a portal and sends Skaar away from the planet. There will be no evacuation, and Galactus had arrived.
In her last moments, Caiera is able to get some of the ancient stone ships into the sky and save as many as she can. Galactus consumes Sakaar, his hunger absent and he falls into a deep sleep. But before Skaar goes through the portal, he shoots out a beam of the Old Power into Galactus as promised, waking him and making him crave the Old Power. The Surfer tries to calm Galactus, but with a gesture he sends the Surfer across the universe, having enough power to no longer need a herald. The Surfer begins to warn other worlds with the Old Power to prepare for the coming of Galactus.
The "Death" of Galactus
Galactus eventually released the Old Power from his being and the Silver Surfer once again returned to his side as herald. On Earth, the Surfer discovered something disturbing - the corpse of Galactus buried beneath the surface. He was immediately able to trace some possible suspects - Mr. Fantastic and the other members of the Fantastic Four. The Surfer informed his master and went to the Baxter Building to speak with Richards.
Mr. Fantastic revealed that the Galactus he buried was from the future and was killed by the New Defenders and brought back through time to create the Galactus Engine. Using Galactus' power to save the remaining inhabitants of their world, it caused Galactus' death. In order to prevent this future death, Galactus sent the Surfer to summon more involved as they planned to go to Nu-World and question those involved.
The Thanos Imperative
Sensing the coming danger to the universe, the Surfer preceded Galactus to an area known as the Fault, a massive fissure in space caused by the War of Kings. On the other side of the Fault was a twisted, undead universe known as the Cancerverse. With help from the Magus, the inhabitants began their invasion into the universe with their goal being to remove death from the universe and rewrite reality.
While Galactus, the Celestials and many other abstract cosmic beings lined the edge of the Fault, the Surfer teamed up with his old friend Quasar and Nova to help assist in the defense of the universe. But things were about to get much worse, as the Cancerverse had it's own version of the extremely powerful Galactus Engine.
While the abstracts continued their fight at the Fault, Nova recruited a party of the universe's heaviest hitters, including the Silver Surfer, to face the evil leader of the invasion - a corrupted version of Captain Mar-Vell, known as Lord Mar-Vell. Nova Prime and the Surfer, along with Ronan, Gladiator, Beta Ray Bill and Quasar rushed Mar-Vell's location. The Surfer showed his impressive powers by easily defeating two of the most powerful members of the Revengers at the same time - Iron Man and Thor. He faced Mar-Vell himself along with Nova, but Mar-Vell blasted a hole through Surfer's board and easily defeated Nova. Their battle was eventually cut short when Mar-Vell became aware of the Avatar of Death's location. As he departed, he created a massive explosion to destroy his enemies.
Quasar was able to protect the other heroes from their deaths and the Surfer returned with the others to continue the battle at the Fault. When Death returned to the Cancerverse, she destroyed it's inhabitants, causing the universe to collapse on itself, thus closing the Fault. The Surfer then attended a memorial service on Hala for those who were lost in the battle.
Chaos War
Again, the universe was in danger of complete obliteration. The evil god Mikaboshi planned to destroy all of reality by defeating and taking the power of all the gods and skyfathers of the universe. Hercules, recently resurrected, formed a new God Squad. Needing more power for their team, he used his new powers to summon Galactus and the Silver Surfer. The Surfer was enraged, as Galactus was just about to feed and now he was on Earth, a planet the Surfer has saved many times. Luckily, it seemed Galactus agreed to help with this great threat and remain with the team, which included Thor, Daimon Hellstrom, Sersi and others.
When they faced Mikaboshi, he's power proved to be far greater than anticipated. Even the gods he controlled shared in his great power, giving Zeus the ability to topple even the mighty Galactus. The God Squad was forced to retreat.
The Silver Surfer was among other members of the squad that were halted in their escape and trapped between realities. All that remained - including Hellstorm, Sersi, and Venus - were all in between mortal and god, which the Surfer deemed no coincidence. They ended up in Takamagahara, the land of the Japanese gods, where Mikaboshi had originally been trapped. They began to form a plan to trap him once again, but he sent his minions and opened the gate to his former prison, releasing the evil inside.
The team was nearly trapped in nothingness, but the Surfer resisted and helped the other members to resist as well. Again, their power was not enough and they were forced to retreat, the Panther God of Wakanda seemingly sacrificing himself to help them escape.
Back on Earth
After the events of Chaos war, Silver Surfer takes Galactus to Sol (our sun) to feed and rejuvenate, thus removing one billion years out of the sun's life span. He visits Earth and observes the usual chaos while contemplating his role in events passed and his inability to feel human emotions. Flying over Mexico, he witnesses a couple about to get shot down by military men for stealing money. He intervenes, subduing the men and healing the woman from the brink of death but is unable to save the man. The O.A.S first contact squad of the Mexican military are alerted of his presence and send Suzi Endo to initiate a diplomatic greeting. However, the High Evolutionary arrives and attacks the Surfer, leeching him of his precious Power Cosmic. Left powerless and fragile in his human state, the Surfer is taken into custody by the Mexican government and is put under the care of Suzi Endo. He awakens strapped to machines, nearly driving him mad as he is used to flying free amongst the stars, but Suzi creates a diversion and the Surfer escapes from his bonds.
They escape the facility on a land-skimmer and briefly share a kiss as Norrin remembers his usual emotions towards Shalla Bal given Endo's remarkable resemblance to her. They find the High Evolutionary who has taken one of Galactus' Star Spheres and has begun terraforming the desert into a lush jungle before they can enter it. They find themselves threatened by the ever-expanding jungle which threatens to kill those inside it. Norrin is reminded of his early days as the Silver Surfer and the way pre-sentient life on a planet seemed to bond to each other and gain sentience when faced with danger. He shares another kiss with Endo and tells her it is his job to stop the madness the High Evolutionary has started and his to do alone. She convinces him that she can help and arranges a diversion to get them on the ship. Once inside Endo tries to find a way to the High Evolutionary but is somehow imbued with the remaining portion of his power cosmic.
The High Evolutionary appears and tells Norrin how all his life he has brought death and destruction under a supposedly right cause. He then shows- with the appearance of the old man who has been saved and renewed after receiving a portion of his power- how his Power Cosmic can be used to create and restore life instead of tear it down. He requests the aid of a herald to aid him in his cause - bring life to dead worlds. Norrin declines but to his surprise he sees the invitation was not directed to him but to Suzi. She accepts.
Norrin did not trust her judgement. He felt the Power Cosmic was his burden to bare. With this he rams Suzi out of the star ship to the jungle below in a fall that is sure to kill them both. Luckily, she makes use of her new powers and develops wings and lands them in the jungle where the other survivors are. She tells him the Suzi he knew is no more and joins the High Evolutionary as they move to the moon. Frustrated, Norrin takes his anger out on a pack of mutant wolves that recently appeared and convinces the rest of the survivors to flee. He is rescued by the Future Foundation and the Mexican military who destroy the jungle with help from Sue Storm. They use a Future Foundation craft to go to the moon where High Evolutionary has begun wide-scale terraforming on the moon.
In space, Reed devises a plan to separate the newly bonded Power Cosmic from Suzi back to Norrin. The plan works and most of the Power Cosmic is given to Norrin. He is once again transformed to the Silver Surfer and confronts Suzi ... with a kiss. Somehow, his powers have been restored but his emotions remain intact. Unused to these emotions, he nearly turns on his friends who are trying to stop Suzi and the Evolutionary from their task, which will surely do great damage to the Earth.
When Galactus awakens from his rejuvenation, he plans to feed on the Moon. Realizing that his duty will always be that of Galactus' herald, he is forced to chose between those emotions and continuing to serve cosmic consonance. He chooses the latter, taking the remaining Power Cosmic from Suzi and departing with his master. He leaves behind a single flower for her and Reed tells her that as long as he has known him, the Silver Surfer has never been as happy as he was when he was with her.
The Annihilators
The Surfer joins a group of "cosmic police," the Annihilators. Their plan is to fight cosmic-level threats to the galaxy. It is surprising that Galactus would let his Herald go gallivanting off on his own adventures when he is supposed to be looking for planets for the Devourer to eat, but in any case, he fights with them in their first adventure against Klobok, a Skrull seeking to bring the Dire Wraiths back from Limbo. During this mission, Silver Surfer combined his energy manipulation powers with those of Quasar and Ronan to fuse 2 stars.
It is unclear whether this story arc occurs before or after the High Evolutionary storyline. In any case, it must be before the Galactus Seed, since he is not shown to be weakened even when he is fighting at such a great distance from Asgard. It must also be before the Annihilators: Earthfall series, since he is apparently no longer part of the group at that time, presumably because during Earthfall, he is tethered to the World Tree.
Powers and Abilities
In order for Norrin Radd to perform his duty as his herald, Galactus gives Norrin Radd a fraction of his cosmic powers. Possessing him with the Power Cosmic, which is the core from which his other abilities manifest from, Silver Surfer can manipulate the 4 fundamental forces of the universe (electromagnetism, gravity, strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force), by varying degrees. He is one of the most powerful Heralds of Galactus, and the most powerful member of the Annihilators. Tyrant once said that Silver Surfer was the most powerful member of a group that included Gladiator, Beta Ray Bill, Terrax and Morg, and Ikonn considered him an Alpha plus-level threat, just like Beta Ray Bill, Gladiator and Quasar.
Invulnerability
The Silver Surfer's skin is nearly impossible to penetrate, capable of withstanding extreme pressures and temperatures. He can travel through the core of a star and even through black holes without injury or disorientation. He has also been able to withstand punches from She-Hulk without any damage or pain, as well as attacks from the likes of Thor, Hulk, Beta Ray Bill, Namor, Wonder Man, Vision, the Thing, Drax, Korg, Abomination, Champion, Durok, Blastaar, Ravenous, Nova Prime, Quasar, Firelord, Terrax, Morg, Ronan, Super-Skrull, Cable with his powers fully unleashed, Iron Man and Human Torch well enough.
Regeneration
The Silver Surfer can regenerate parts of himself with the Power Cosmic, including his board, at will.
Super Strength
The Power Cosmic gives the Silver Surfer incredible strength. At a baseline, the Silver Surfer can lift/press more than 40 tons. He has frequently exhibited the ability to significantly boost his physical prowess, and enhance his strength to levels enabling him to fight the most powerful beings in the universe including Thor, the Hulk, Thanos and Beta Ray Bill.
Phasing
The Surfer has the ability to phase through solid objects though not turn outright intangible. This is done through his use of matter manipulation on solid objects/barriers or using his ability to travel through self-made spatial portals.
Stamina
The Silver Surfer does not need to breathe and can survive in any environmental condition (miles underwater, the heart of a star, the rigors of outer space, etc.). He does not need to eat or drink to sustain himself but he sometimes does to chose to do so. The Surfer rarely needs rest and can go for years without tiring.
Energy Absorption
The Surfer's skin is designed to absorb various energies from beta particles to any energy wavelength on the electro-magnetic spectrum (from infrared energy to visibile light, to quantum radiation). He is constantly being charged from hundreds of nearby stars and energies from distant galaxies. He can change this absorption into reflection if he chooses. The Surfer has also absorbed so much energy from a sun before, that he turned into a living bomb.
Blast Power
The Surfer can absorb and tap into ambient cosmic energy into his body at will and allowing him to use these energies at different forces. The Surfer could also channel energy through his hands also known as energy beams that can destroy a planet. He can use various energies for offensive purposes as well. He can create large blasts or beams down to the subatomic level.
Energy Manipulation
The Surfer can use energy to create force fields and shields. He can solidify energy to imprison enemies. He can manipulate the energies around him to make space travel possible for beings around him that can not survive in space. He can also control gravity.
Matter Control
The Silver Surfer can rearrange matter to create other objects of importance by rearranging molecules. He can also change the state of matter, such as changing solids into gas. Matter Transmutation helps the Surfer escape traps and prisons and can also be used to make an enemies weapons inactive.
Super Speed
The Silver Surfer's board allows him to move at rates of velocity far beyond that of lightspeed. He has even demonstrated the ability to enter the time stream at his own volition and ability.
Flight
The Silver Surfer flies through the atmosphere of any planet, as well as through the rigors of outer space. He is capable of complex aerobatic manueverability, while also being able to turn, stop and accelerate without any loss of control. He typically uses his surfboard, but has been occassionally observed to fly without the use of it.
⚡ Happy 🎯 Heroclix 💫 Friday! 👽
_____________________________
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Secret Identity: Norrin Radd
Publisher: Marvel
First Appearance: The Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966)
Created by: Stan Lee (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist)
The Silver Surfer has been seen:
Gladiating with The Hulk in BP 218 Day 100!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/27495953978/
Hitting the beach in BP 2020 Day 230!
DAY THE EARTH ENDED 1956
Welcome friend, to the monstrous World of black and white sci-fi, a time when things were plain and simple, an achromatous era, one could gaze upon a T.V. set or silver screen and see a whole spectrum of colours, an age were the chromatics were inside the minds of the producers and directors. In the hearts of the actors a rainbow of actions, communications, and acoustics, colour washed the world.
How red did we see the spilt blood of the wounded monster
How orange was the glow beneath the U.F.O.
How yellow the lava that flowed towards us
Green the shrub where the beast did hide
How blue the sky when the world was saved
Indigo was the colour of tyrannosaurus and triceratops the snake the flower and the finch.
Violet the colour of our imagination and excitement, the colour of our own introspectiveness, for we never watched a black and white movie, we took part in it.
The Noah’s Ark of sci-fi man’s tampering with weapons grade plutonium, producing all manner of weird creatures. A lingering painful death by radiation poisoning awaits a small group of characters brought together under one roof to beat all the odds. A beautiful young psychotic woman suffering from neurosis, choose to repopulate the world. You’ll discover, Amour plated monkeys you’ll see a body fall of a cliff and bounce like a real dummy, and you’ll be introduced to cabaret. Whether psychologist or psychiatrist there is much to observe and learn as schizophrenia, stigma, nervosa, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder run amok, so it’s throttle up away we go….
“Our story begins with THE END!” A hydrogen bomb explosion greets us with a title THE DAY THE WORLD ENDED and everything scrolls as if on a large invisible cylinder.
Scripture, “The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up…”
Cities are in ruins, nothing but skeletal remains and desolation. “Total destruction by nuclear weapons the world as we know it no longer exists, over all the land and sea the earth hangs in the atomic haze of death.” Through a poisonous gas cloud a man stumbles, “Man has done his best to destroy his self.” The man (Radick) collapses, his face reveals a horrible luminous radiation scar, “But there is a force more powerful than man and in his infinite wisdom he has spared a few.”
Tony and Ruby arrive in a convertible they see a house in the valley Tony points, “Down there, let’s go.” Another man appears through the gas (Rick) he kneels down to comfort Radick who mutters, “Kill me, kill me.” Rick slings him over his shoulder and carries him. A gold digger Pete and his donkey Diablo make it through the gas. Tony and Ruby arrive at the house. The homeowner Jim a stern faced man, with a Missoula complex, sits by the radio, he twiddles with the controls, and turns to his daughter saying, “Its no use Louise, no sign of life New York, London, Rome, Moscow, honey check the Geiger counter.” She lifts the counter it clicks a few times, “47 Richen.” Jim says, “Its down another 1, we might live, I told them this day would come, I begged them to get ready for it.” Louise looks through the curtains, “Dad, someone is coming.” Jim explains, “I can’t let them in.” Louise implies, “You’ve got to.” Jim reasons, “I only planned for you and me, I’ve only got provisions for us.” Tony knocks the door he has a gun. Jim reminds Louise, “It’s our lives or theirs girl.” She replies, “I’m letting them in.” and unlocks the door Tony bursts in, his gun pointing at Jim’s chest. “That wasn’t much of a welcome mister.” Jim protests, “No, you’re not welcome, put that gun down.” Ruby interrupts, “Come on Tony put it away.” Jim adds, “You better give it to me.” Tony replies. “Where I go this goes.” Jim orders, “Louise give Ruby a change of clothes, have her wash with the water in the CO Jars.” He looks at Tony, “Go to my room change your clothes and wash if you want to stay alive.” Tony mocks, “You sound like you’re used to giving orders.” They stare menacingly at each other.
Rick arrives and slumps Radick onto the sofa. Jim scans him with the Geiger counter, “We won’t have to feed this poor devil he’s done for.” Rick says, “I couldn’t just leave him there.” Jim reads the counter, “740 Richens, don’t touch him Louise.” He tells Rick, “Go to my room change you’re clothes and wash.” As he passes Louise he says, “My brother is dead he was only 30 feet from me, 22 years old he was studying for the ministry he was going to be a man of God.” Gold digger Pete and donkey Diablo arrive, Louise invites them in, Pete asks, “Mam could you make a place for me and Diablo.” Louise says, “Tie him outside, and come into the house.” Jim grunts, “Another one, huh, that makes 7 of us, none of us will make it you should have let me stop them.” Louise replies, “I couldn’t have lived with that on my conscience, and neither could you.” Ruby appears, She looks at Radick, Jim warns her, “Stand clear of him Miss, he’s lit up like an atomic phial.” Tony inquires, “Can he pass it on.” Jim replies, “I don’t know, there’s no point in taking chances.” Tony says, “Why take a chance.” He points his gun at Ridicks’ head, “I’ll just put him out of his misery.” Jim draws his gun, “No you don’t give me that gun.” Tony offers his weapon but grabs Louise around her body, and points the gun at Jim, “Once and for all Mr, no one takes my gun.” Ruby cries, “Tony look out.” Rick swings Tony round, laying a right hook on his chin sending him sprawling to he floor, he looks up, “I ain’t gonna like you Mr.” Rick says, “I can stand it, get up.” They square up to each other but move away. Jim points his gun at Tony, “If I were to use my best judgement I’d kill you right now.” Ruby interrupts, “He’ll be alright captain, he steps out of line once in a while.” Tony snarls, “Ruby shut up.” Pete enters carrying his sleeping bag, “You know Mam, Diablo could sleep in the kitchen with me, why he was watching me when I uncovered that gold vane.” Louise settles him, “Well no I’m afraid not.” Jim orders, “Come over here all of you, this is a Geiger counter, its recording 46 Richens of radioactivity in this house, and 50 are considered dangerous, 500 fatal.” Rick adds, “It depends on the individual, different people have different absorption capacity.” Jim retorts, “When I want an opinion I’ll ask for it, we may live we may not, some of us may be dieing now.” Ruby (busy with her make up) asks, “How long before we leave this rural paradise.” Jim says, “I wish you’d never found it lady.” Tony buts in, “I got big things working for me in Frisko.” Jim looks at Louise, “Tell him love.” She says, “There is no San Francisco, no radio signals from any city in the world.” Tony remarks, “Ahh your kiddin no Frisko.” Jim speaks, “The 7 of us are the beginning of a new era, a new civilisation I spent 10 years getting ready for it.” He gets a map, “I’ll show you why we’re still alive, this is my house, it’s own generating equipment and food supply, the hills surrounding are full of lead bearing ore act as a barrier against radioactivity, through these gorges and canyons blows a strong steady wind with enough velocity to keep the radioactivity contamination out of it, each of you were in this sheltered area except the man on the couch, you can see the results, I don’t think he’ll live, as long as the wind blows and the rains don’t come to soon we may live that’s if we’re not destroyed by other forces.” Tony asks, “What other forces.” Jim answers, “Never mind that now, make no mistake about it you’re not welcome here, food enough for 2, divide that among 7 of us we’ll find ourselves walking around with aching bellies, I and only I will decide when and how much we eat any argument, I settle it with this (pats his gun).” Tony says, “You’re a tough man alright, packin that gun, just don’t let go of it.” Jim reminds him, “I don’t intend to.” Rick lifts Radick, Ruby says, “Do you think he’s got it.” Jim answers, “Maybe may-be not.” Ruby moans, “Cute guy like that such a pity.” Next door Radick speaks to Rick, “I’m not gonna die I thought I was but I’m not, I’m hungry I need food, red meat, really raw I don’t know why but it’ll do me good.” Rick jokes, “I’ll leave your order with the chef.” He leaves.
Jim scans the area, Rick approaches he looks at the dial, “If that Geiger counter is accurate, I wouldn’t spend too much time out here.” Jim inquires, “You’re no stranger to this are you.” He replies, “I’m a geologist, my meat was uranium exploration.” Jim says, “The real force of the atom has never been truly calculated.” Rick implies, “I think it reached its fulfilment today.” Jim wonders, “It only affects our form of life.” Rick adds, “Do you think any other form of life could have survived that.” Jim reasons, “Do you remember the H-bomb test at Matsuo, I captained one of the ships 5 days after the blast I towed the animal ship out of target zero, the world never had a true account of that test.” Rick thinks, “What are you trying to tell me (a creature howls in the background).” Jim says, “Coyote, lots of game in here now.” Rick points out, “Contaminated game fighting for life just like us.” Jim informs him, “They started coming in a week ago it’s like the valley is Noah’s ark.”
Rick holds a pot plant Louise waters it, “It’s doing nicely your plant of the future.” Louise says, “Celebrates a birthday tomorrow, 3 weeks.” Rick replies, “3 weeks I thought we’d all be dead by now.” She tells him, “Even Radick got out of bed today and he gives me the creeps.” Rick adds, “Logically he should be dead.” Jim approaches, “There’s no such thing as logic any more, he hasn’t touched food or water for 3 weeks what does he live on, last night he left the house, didn’t get back until dawn.” Rick thinks, “He’s lives in a world all of his own.” Jim adds, “He’s a mutation Rick, a freak of this new atomic world of ours.” Radick appears, “I’m going out for a walk.” Jim warns him, “Stay in sight of the house.” He asks, “Why.” Jim says, “Because I tell you to.” Radick answers, “I’m not afraid I like it out there, (he looks at Louise) would you go with me.” Louise is nervous, “NO!” Radick walks away, Jim warns, “He’s dangerous he should be destroyed.” Rick says, “No Jim, It’s important to watch how he lives.” Jim inquires, “But why!” Rick says, “I’m not sure yet, when I am I’ll tell you.”
Sexy trumpet music plays, Ruby is shaking her stuff beside the record player, “At this part I’d do a few little dance steps, boy the contrast would kill them did you hear what I said.” Tony says, “No, turn off that crummy record.” Ruby says, “You only got eyes and ears for Louise, huh.” Tony snaps, “Shut up.” Ruby moves close, “You don’t like it when she goes out walking with Rick do ya.” He repeats, “I said shut up.” Outside Rick and Louise are talking, “I think I’m beginning to want to live again, its taken 7 weeks and you, oh! Louise.” They kiss. A high pitched sound is heard, Rick asks, “What’s the matter.” Louise says, “Didn’t you hear that.” “Hear what.” She continues, “Lets go into the house quick.”
Radick is in the woods, he has set a trap and caught a rabbit, he kills it with his knife, but another much larger creature is approaching he sees it, drops the rabbit and flees, a close up of the rabbit and the monsters claw picking it up sends shivers down our spine.
Jim and Rick stumble on some bones, and footprints, Rick thinks they are Radicks. Jim asks, “Do you think he ate that rabbit.” He checks the area, “49 Richen, do you think a man could eat that poison and live.” Rick says, “He spends his nights out here in the woods.” Jim answers, “No human could eat it and live, it defies all the laws of man and God.” Rick offers an explanation, “There maybe an entirely new set of laws, even small amounts of radiation produce change, if a man could live through complete saturation, a thousand generation of change could take place its only a theory.” Jim (with his 1000 yard stare) says, “Matsuo test.” Rick says, “There maybe more Radicks worse than him, all of us have survived more cumulative exposure than we ever dreamed possible.” Jim asks, “Are you saying we might all become like Radick, stalking the woods at night eating raw meat.” Rick says, “It’s possible.” The scream of a wild animal echoes through the wood, they look up, Jim inquires, “What can we do Rick.” Rick says, “My brother believed the Bible gave strength, and revealed a plan for everything.” Jim replies, “Well I hope I find it before I lose my mind.”
Jim reads the Bible, Louise is listening, “For I am with thee, to save thee and deliver thee saith the Lord, I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.” Tony speaks, “I had enough of the Bible when I was a kid.” Jim tells him, “It’s easy to see it had no effect on you Tony.” Rick looks out of the window a large storm cloud is passing over, “I think you outta tell them about the rain.” The reply is, “Yes! It’s going to rain, it will fall through the clouds saturated with nuclear death, there’s no escaping it but in case the weather clears and we do escape starting tomorrow we go on half rations.” Tony shrugs, “Ha, what’s half of nothing.” Jim says, “If we’re still here when the weather clears we’ll start planting, we’ll sow seed and grain, we’re just about out of water there’s a waterfall near the house, I’ve tested it and its safe starting tomorrow we bathe there.”
The girls go to the waterfall to bathe, Ruby notes, “This place looks spooky even in the sunlight, boy what I would give to be standing back on Broadway.” They enter the water, Ruby says, “You’re good looking country style, that’s why Tony goes for you its something new to him. Louise replies, “Tony,” “Aye he can’t take his eyes of you, can’t see me anymore, don’t encourage him otherwise I’ll make a play for that guy of yours.” Louise takes heed, “I’ll remember that.” Louise seems startled, Ruby asks, “What’s the matter.” She replies, “We’re being watched.” Something stirs in the shrubs, Ruby looks. “I don’t see anything.” Louise is frightened, “There’s something moving in the bushes.” Ruby says, “It’s probably one of the men, boys will be boys.” Louise cries, “Let’s get out of here, I felt eyes staring at me I heard it too.” Ruby is uneasy now, “Hey, cut that out.” They look at the ground and see 2 large footprints, Louise calls. “Come on.” And they flee. Jim and Rick go to examine the prints. Rick lifts something and says, “Radick is not the only one eating this game.” Jim replies, “When they finish the game we’ll be next, this place is cursed Rick we’ve got to kill Radick.” Rick thinks, “He’s our only chance to find out what we’re up against we can’t kill him.” Jim hints, “The animals at Matsuo.” Rick asks, “Tell me about Matsuo.” Jim replies, “Yes tonight, you’ll think I’m crazy just like the rest of them”
Pete tends his donkey; Ruby appears “I sneaked some more sugar for Diablo.” Pete says, “Thank you Ruby (strokes the donkey) he’s scared, one of these days we’re gonna high tail it out of here.” Ruby asks, “Where will you go.” Pete answers, “We’ve got a gold strike on the other side of the hills.” Ruby suggests, “Not much use for that now Pete.” Who replies, “No use eh, all my life I’ve been hunting for gold and now that I’ve found it, it’s up there and I’m down here.” Ruby laughs, “Your crazy but don’t feel bad, I think we all are.” “Thanks, Ruby you know Diablo is just crazy about sugar.” Ruby reveals, “Cut that out you old conniver I know what you do with the sugar, when the next batch of moonshine is ready I want some.” Pete hugs Diablo.
Jim asks, “How are you feeling honey.” Louise says, “Fine where’s Rick.” Jim replies, “He’ll be back soon.” She says, “I’ll go outside and wait for him.” Tony follows her and Ruby follows Tony. Tony catches up with Louise, “I just want to talk, I haven’t said a dozen words to you since we got here, what’s so bad about me, I’m not bad looking, I don’t smoke, I don’t drink.” He pulls her body close to him and tries to kiss her. “Let me go you belong to Ruby.” Tony replies, “I belong to myself.” he kisses her, she struggles free and runs away. Ruby arrives, “I found some perfume in my bag does it smell nice.” Tony says, “It stinks.” He lifts her hand, “what are you smoking.” Ruby says, “It’s some concoction of Pete’s, he makes a brew too (laughs) don’t that kill ya.” Tony tells her to throw it away. Ruby says, “You really go for her, nothing like a country girl that plays hard to get.” She embraces Tony, “Are we ready to come home to Ruby.” She kisses and squeezes him. “Still got her on your mind haven’t you.” Tony says, “Oh, forget her there are bigger things to worry about, there’s only enough food for a month.” Ruby implies, “I wouldn’t worry about that, I’ve got an idea we’re not gonna live that long.” Tony does the maths, “4 weeks for 6 people, how long can 2 people live on that 12 weeks, get it.” Ruby agrees. Tony adds, “Ah, you and me Ruby, 3 months and it should be alright.” Ruby asks, “But how are you gonna get rid of 4 people, 5 counting Radick.” Tony conceives, “I gotta get my hands on a gun, are you with me honey.” They have a long lingering kiss.
A figure disappears over the gas covered mountain. Rick is watching, he goes back to the house, “Radick walked into that murderous vapour like it was just plain fog.” Jim says, “How much do you know about the Matsuo bomb test.” Rick says, “Rumours.” Jim adds, “It’s time I showed you something, my job was to tow the animal ship out of target zero, I got the first look at them a 1000 different species.” Rick says, “The newspapers said they had been completely destroyed.” Jim reveals, “It was lies Rick, 3 of them lived.” Rick inquires, “Lived through the H-bomb.” Jim informs him, “There was a law against taking photographs.” But he has some sketches, “They were placed in cages male and female of each species.” He shows Rick the first sketch, (wow must see) “It was a chip monk” Rick cannot believe what he sees. “That was alive.” Jim adds, “It lived for 3 days, the 3rd survivor was a monkey, its skin looked like rubber but it had the feel of metal.” (These are not Picasso’s) Rick concludes, “Amour plated natures answer to complete nuclear radiation, a million years of evolution with 1 bomb.” Rick wonders, “If we could find out why they died it might help us.” Jim is stuck, “I couldn’t figure it out except they wouldn’t touch food or water.” Jim is droll, “Sometimes I have the feeling of doom.” Rick says, “There are 2 forms of life fighting for survival in this valley, one of them can win it’s gotta be us.” Jim takes heart, “You’re right Rick, it’s surprising how much strength I’ve drawn from you, and you’ve given me a feeling of responsibility towards the future of our kind.” Rick says, “Thanks, I think I’ll turn in now.” Jim replies, “I’ve thought a lot about it, I’ll talk to the girls in the morning.” Rick ponders, “The girls.” Jim finishes, “Yes, they should bear children as soon as possible.”
Jim is sleeping his gun is beside him, Tony appears stealth-like making for the revolver, Jim stirs Tony hesitates but continues, hand stretched out to take the gun. Rick has spotted him and dives at him from behind, they crash over the couch and fall to the floor, they get back on their feet Rick’s left hook sends Tony into the cabinets, Tony strikes a right, but is met with a left and right hook from Rick, objects fly across the room, throats are squeezed Louise enters, “Stop them Dad.” But Jim says, “No, let them go Rick will teach him a lesson.” Tony throws a wondrous right hook, Rick wipes his nose he sees blood and becomes enraged, chairs pictures cabinets drawers and tables are scattered everywhere, more throat clenching, a right a left a right from Rick sends Tony to the floor. He looks up, “I’m gonna kill you.” Ruby tries to comfort him, “Are you alright honey.” Tony growls “Get out of my life.”
Jim and Louise are outside, Jim says, “Winds good, no sign of rain, I’ll speak my peace, I’m a blunt man but you do like Rick.” Jim kneels, “Honey could you love him.” She nods, “A sea captain can perform marriages, I want you to marry Rick and have children.” Louise replies, “There’ll be no wedding and no children.” Jim says, “Honey you’ve got to think of the future.” Louise informs him, “There is no future.” Jim implies, “There’s a future for you, are you listening to me.” Louise replies, “Yes dad I’ll marry Rick in a week if he’s still here, if I am.” Jim becomes emotional, “What’s the matter baby.” Louise softly says, “I’m alright.” Jim ends, “You tell Ruby, I’ll speak to Tony and Rick.”
Tony and Ruby sit at the mountain, Tony is whittling a stick, “This is gonna open that store room door for me.” Ruby is not concerned “Can you imagine us with a kid we won’t tell him his old lady was a striptease artist.” Tony inquires, “I wonder what’s wrong with Louise she’s been in her room all day.” Ruby says, “I think she’s going off her rocker, you still go for her don’t ya, she wants no part of you.” Tony says, “All I want is this key to open the storeroom door.” Ruby gets angry, “You and me you said, but it’s her you’re thinking of you rotten liar.” Tony repeats, “So I’m a liar.” Ruby informs him, “The only friend in the world you have is me, anyone who loved you was me you cheap……” Tony gets up and slaps her across the face with the back of his hand, she screams Tony says, “That’s for you lover, now leave me alone.” She runs away crying.
Rick and Jim are inspecting the gas cloud, Rick notices. “It’s lost some of its density.” Jim informs, “Not enough Rick, we won’t be able to go up there for 2 months, and supplies are low.” A scream is heard and Radick appears at the top of the mountain he falls down at the men’s feet, Jim says, “Don’t touch him.” His face is horribly deformed Rick shouts “Look at his feet.” Jim adds, “The footprints by the water.” Radick lifts his head, “Food, they won’t give me any.” Jim asks, “Are there more of you up there.” Radick growls, “Stronger than me, much stronger.” Rick inquires, “How many more.” He replies, “Not many but strong, food…” Jim notices, “Look at his head the bone structure.” Rick remembers, “Like the sketches you made at Matsuo.” Jim adds, “Look, the same mutated skin the animals had, he said there were stronger ones up there.” Rick nods, “Stage 2 this one, stage 3 stronger, stage 4 maybe invulnerable.” Jim asks, “What about stage 1.” Rick says, “Radick is stage 1.”
Rick is in Louise’s bedroom, “Your father told me you’re not feeling to well, I’m sorry.” Louise says, “I’m feeling much better now…….Rick there’s something out there, you know that don’t you.” Rick thinks, “We’re just guessing, we don’t know.” Louise says, “I do, and it tries to talk to me remember I told you at the lake, I had a tingling sensation like I was being charged with electricity, my pulse was pounding and skipping beats then pounding again.” Rick comforts her, “You were just frightened.” She adds, “It’s been coming back stronger and stronger, you don’t believe me do you.” Rick ends, “I’m beginning to believe a lot of things I never believed before.” Louise is comforted, “I’m glad you’re here with me, they smile at each other.
Pete is tending Diablo; Ruby draws near, “I’m getting outta here soon.” Ruby says, “Pete I need a drink.” Pete produces a hip flask, “You’ve come to the right place.” She takes a swig, “Ruby you’re my friend, half of that gold is yours.” Ruby says, “Thanks for the poison Pete.” She returns to the house and sits beside Tony. “You’ve been drinking Pete’s Shellac again, I can’t stand a boozer.” She hugs Tony, “We’ve had fights before but we’ve straightened them out, oh, Tony you and me belong together, poured out of the same mould.” Tony says, “I wouldn’t make a bet on that baby, I’m turning in.”
Rick is sleeping, Radick appears, Rick wakes Radick speaks, “You followed me last night.” Rick says, “You went over the ridge.” Radick adds, “If you went up there you’d die.” Rick tells him, “I know what you do up there.” Radick says, “Wonderful things happen.” Rick asks, “What kind of things.” “Maybe I’ll tell you sometime.” “Tell me now.” Radick says, “I don’t like this house.” Rick inquires, “Why do you come back here to sleep.” Radick says, “My enemy he wants to kill me, I come here when I’m tired, soon all of you will be dead, you think I’m crazy don’t you.” Rick says, “I don’t know.”
Rick goes outside he notices large footprints, “It’s starting to come closer to the house.” Jim says, “We’ll stand night guard, I’d use Tony but I wouldn’t put a gun in his hand, I know his kind spawned in booze water.” Rick works the radio, Louise says, “You keep hoping don’t you.” He says, “We have to keep trying, somewhere somehow we might get something.” Ruby takes a swig of liqueur, sexy trumpet music is playing she goes over to Pete. “Hey Pete the boats rocking, put an anchor on it.” Pete pours Ruby another drink she knocks it back, (Folks this is cabaret time) she starts to gyrate with the music, lets her hair down. “When I’d come on they start shouting and whistling and after a while all you could hear was their breathing…..mmmmmmmmm…they used to scare me the way they breathed. She sways back and fourth across the floor, “What’s my Richen count, read me daddy.” She swings her body and scarf around the floor, goes over to Tony, “I was working at Follies when I met Tony, remember.” She shakes her shoulders, “About here I’d start peeling, as I get to the other wing they’d give me a blue spot, then I’d start to give them the clincher.” She runs her hand sexily up and down the wall, trumpet music gets louder. Pete claps but Ruby starts to cry, she remembers the good times she’s distraught and drops her head.
Rick takes over guard duty from Jim, he straps on his revolver. He patrols around the house its dark something is missing he calls Jim, “What’s the matter.” Rick shouts, “Diablo is gone he was untied from the tree.” Jim asks, “Was Radick in his bed when you came out.” Rick says, “No, come on lets go after him before it’s to late.” Radick is taking the donkey up the mountain, Jim and Rick follow but can’t make it, they move back down, Rick calls, “Over here quick.” The men kneel down and stare at a human skull placed on a rock. Jim says, “Radick ate him, the scavenging ghoul.” Rick says, “Maybe not.” But Jim insists, “It was him alright when we find him I’m gonna kill him.” Back at the house Pete is sleeping, the howl of a coyote wakes him he looks out the window. “Diablo is gone.” He wakes Tony, “My burro he’s gone.” Tony says, “I’ll help you find him.” Radick crouches in the bushes with Diablo a claw reaches across his neck, Radick Squeals in agony he flops down dead. All the men hear the scream they race towards Radick. Rick arrives first, “Look at his arm Jim.” Who asks, “What killed him Rick.” He says, “Three punctures like steel daggers, I’m going after it.” Jim stops him, “No we’re fighting on his ground.” Rick replies, “It has to be settled one way or another.” Jim adds, “3 steel claws, defies understanding. “ Rick says, “Steel claws Jim, the surviving monkey boat.” Tony and Pete arrive Pete says, “I knew he was gone.” He kneels down “We should have stayed on top of the mountain where we belong.” Jim reassures him, “Come on Pete come on home.” Tony asks, “Who killed Radick you.” looking at Rick. “Well he had it coming he was crazy look at his skin, what happened to it.” Rick replies, “Let’s call it atomic skin.” Tony says, “Could that happen to us.” Rick answers, “It might.”
Louise is in bed reading, she hears a high pitched ringing sound and becomes unsettled, Ruby asks, “What’s the matter kid.” Louise says, “Didn’t you hear it.” “Hear what.” Louise speculates, “I must have been dreaming.” Ruby advises her, “Go back to sleep kid.” Outside a hideous alien shadow moves across a wall.
Pete decides to go up the mountain, Jim sees him and follows Pete enters the gas cloud. Jim calls, “I’m coming after you.” Pete Replies, “Go ahead captain if that’s what you gotta do.” Jim calls, “Come back you’ll die you old fool.” Jim grabs him by the legs, but Pete beats him off with his stick knocking him unconscious, Pete continues into the gas cloud. Jim Recovers, Pete starts to chip at the gold but is overcome by the fumes and falls. Jim returns home he’s suffering from the effects of the gas. “Help me to the couch.” Rick asks, “How long were you up there.” Jim says, “Long enough, Louise is not to know, tell the others I hurt myself.” Rick comforts him, “Don’t worry maybe you’ve developed an immunity to it.” Jim says, “Save your bed side manner.”
Storm clouds are building, dark and thunderous. Tony and Ruby are together, Ruby asks, “I wanna know the truth.” Tony says, “About what.” She holds her arm out, “Look at my skin what’s the matter with it, it’s getting like Radicks.” Tony pats her arm, “Oh no it isn’t.” but she’s worried and begins to cry.
Jim is on the couch Louise comforts him, “Feeling better dad.” Jim says, “Much better honey, are you ok.” She replies, “I’m fine, I’m just going outside to see Rick” Ruby approaches Tony, “Someone took one of the knives out of the kitchen.” Tony mutters, “You don’t say I think I’ll go outside for some air.” Ruby asks, “Let me go with you.” But Tony insists, “You stay here I’ll see you later.” Ruby complains, “Oh I hate this place, I wish we’d never found it, look what’s happening to my skin. Tony is angry, “I’ve looked at it 10 times already, there’s nothing wrong with it.” Tony leaves and spots Louise, he pulls a knife from the inside of his shirt and creeps up on her, swings her around and points the knife at her face. “Scream and I’ll cut, I mean it move.” Ruby follows them up the mountain. Tony orders Louise to sit down, he sits beside her. “Nothing ever comes easy to me all my life I had to claw for things.” Louise asks, “What do you want.” Tony says, “You mean you don’t know.” Ruby gets closer. “There’s something new in my life, I haven’t had time for your kinda woman….” Louise shouts, “Don’t touch me, I can’t stand you.” Tony says, “You won’t hate me when there’s just 2 of us, get what I mean.” He tries to kiss her she struggles, “Leave me alone.” He laughs, Ruby stands behind him. “Tony let the little girl go.” Tony replies “Get out of here.” Ruby tells Louise, “Run along honey, I’ve got a few private words with Mr heal.” Louise leaves. Ruby is filled with rage, “The 2 of us you said but you meant her.” “Yeah that’s right, you’re dime store stuff you’re cheap.” Ruby fumes, “She hates your guts Tony, you’re dirt to her she’d wish herself dead first.” But Ruby’s heart melts, “Oh Tony what are we fighting about we’re like a couple of kids.” Tony is full of hate, “I want no part of you.” Ruby goes for the knife, Tony twists her arm around and the blade enters her body she falls to the ground. Tony lifts her, “Happy landings sweet heart.” He throws her of the edge of the ravine. (Note how she tumbles over the rocks like a real dummy)
Jim is on the couch, Tony enters, “Ruby wouldn’t come back with me we had a little beef.” Rick replies, “I’ve a little something to settle with you myself.” Tony says, “Tomorrow maybe, I’m tired.” Rick grabs him by the neck, Tony submits, “Ok, so you can beat me up what does that solve.” Rick says, “If you go near Louise again I’ll……..” Tony finishes, “Kill me, you huh I haven’t had a good laugh all day, I think I’ll turn in now.” He leaves Jim says, “He’ll kill you Rick, get him first take my gun.” Rick answers, “Just sneak up on him and empty your gun into him, you know me better than that.” Jim adds, “There’s a lot at stake at least carry a gun get one out of the store room.”
Louise is swimming at the waterfall. Rick sits nearby he checks his gun. Tony is with Jim at the house, Jim fiddles with the radio. Tony inquires, “Nothing Huh, reminds me of a song 10 little Indians, then they got knocked of 1 by 1, that’s the way it is with us, 4 left then 3, 2 little, no little Indians. Tony moves towards the gun he snatches for it, but Jim is too quick for him. He points the gun at him, “Try that again and I’ll kill ya.” Tony replies, “Sure captain I know when I’ve had it.” He sits down.
At the waterfall Louise hears a low pitched humming noise, something dark and sinister moves in the shrubs she calls, “Rick, Rick,” and swims for the bank. Rick asks, “What’s the matter.” She says, “It called to me don’t leave me alone take me home.” Rick says, “Any idea what it looked like.” She says, “I didn’t see it but I heard it.” Rick says, “I was only 20 feet from you I didn’t hear anything.” She screams, “Take me home just take me home.”
Jim asks, “How is she.” Rick replies, “She’s still badly shaken I gave her a sedative.” Jim inquires, “Did you find out anything.” Rick says, “She insists that it called to her.” Jim adds, “What about its appearance.” Rick informs him, “Its skin was like Radicks and it had more than 2 eyes.” Jim reminds him of the sketches of the monkeys at Matsuo. Rick asks, “Louise said that this thing is man sized, how can we fight it.” He thinks, “It lives on contaminated flesh it thrives on contaminated air, the things that kill men nourish it, to kill it we’ve got to understand it we know it has fears it was close enough to Louise to attack her but it didn’t it wouldn’t follow her into the lake, why.”
Louise is in her bedroom she hears a low humming noise and goes into the next room to investigate but soon settles back into bed, and falls asleep. Suddenly a monstrous shadow appears on the wall above her it moves eerily back and fourth, we see tentacles and antenna it moves away Louise wakes and goes outside into the woods as if been guided by some mysterious force, the hideous creature appears and pounces on her it lifts her with its claws.
Jim wakes, “Louise Louise, Rick, Rick.” Rick enters, “What’s the matter.” Jim orders “See if Louise is alright.” she’s gone. Jim says, “It’s got her, get an M-1 rifle out of the store room.” Tony comes in, “What’s all the noise.” Jim repeats, “It’s got her go with Rick maybe between the 2 of you….” Tony interrupts, “Oh No she’s Ricks remember you gave her to him here’s your chance to be the all American hero.” Jim calls Rick, “Rick if there’s no other way out use the gun on Louise.” Rick rushes outside into the woods calling for Louise. The Monster is carrying Louise through the forest she lies in its claws unconscious.
Tony looks through the curtains, “Dawn already, well Captain look’s like your ship’s falling apart.” Jim says, “You wouldn’t look for Ruby nor Rick find Louise you’re a low scum.” Tony says, “I’m a coward I only fight when I have to and on my conditions and one is that I know what I’m fighting.” Jim’s gun rests on the couch Tony snatches it and points it, “That’s better Captain when 2 men have 1 gun I like to have it.”
The monster carries Louise through the woods (its head is like a game of ker-Plunk) it lays her on the ground she regains consciousness, “Rick!” but the clawed creature covers her mouth. Rick is nearby with his rifle the creature picks Louise up and continues.
Jim is tuning the radio a voice is heard, Tony hears it, Jim says, “Its nothing.” Tony calls him, “A liar.” Jim says, “That’s why you’re so brave that’s why you’re moving in.” Tony informs him, “Moving in…..I’m taking over, the works the house Louise if she gets back, I’d make a better father for her kids they’d be tough.” He looks outside, “Looks like rain, think it’ll kill us.” Jim replies, “You’ll know soon enough.”
The monster sets Louise down beside the lake she goes into the water, “Rick! Rick!” the monster stares at her transfixed, Louise seems hypnotised by the creature. Rick lifts his rifle and shoots 3 rounds, the monster swipes the bullets away, it approaches Rick who fires a couple more rounds, the hideous beast grabs the rifle knocks Rick to the ground Louise calls, “The water, he’s afraid of the water.” The monster rolls Rick into the lake. A roaring thunderous booming is heard, dark clouds sweep across the sky, the mutant looks up it begins to rain the creature tries to cover its head with its claws it runs away. Rick shouts, “I’m going after it.”
Tony looks out of the window, “There’s your rain how long do you think we’ve got to live captain.” Jim says, “Get me a sample I’ll test it.” Tony collects some rain water Jim tests it, “It’s clear it’s just rain water.” Tony smiles, “Well what do you know.”
The mutant continues through the forest Rick follows, the creature seems to be weakening lightening strikes, the monster raises its claws but continues unsteadily, Rick watches but doesn’t shoot, the creature tries to hold unto a tree but collapses to the ground, torrential rain and lightening fill the sky the creature contorts and writhes on the ground smoke begins to emerge from it’s body, Rick grimaces, the creature dies, Louise runs up to Rick they hold each other, “ I can’t hear it anymore the noise I’m free of it, he tried to speak to me he called me by my name.” Rick says, “Come on let’s go you’re soaking wet.” Louise asks, “Rick what killed him.” Rick replies, “We’ll talk about it later.” She adds, “I feel so sorry for him strange I feel that way.” (The beast lies on the ground like an old smouldering tyre) Rick says, “I’ll let your father know we’re ok.” He points the gun into the air and fires 3 shots.
At the house Tony says, “Hear that, they’re ok.” Jim tells him, “Go outside and see.” Tony replies, “I can see them coming they’re getting closer.” He opens the window and draws his revolver. Jim calls, “What are you doing with that gun.” Tony informs him, “I’m gonna kill Rick.” Jim cries, “In God’s name why.” He says, “Don’t you know why, I want Louise, I see them now yeah, it’s gonna be a tough shot she’s hanging all over him.” Jim takes another revolver from under the cushion, “Get away from that window.” Tony says, “Shut up.” (He doesn’t see Jim has a gun) Tony points the gun out of the window, “Pretty soon now.” BANG! Jim shoots Tony, BANG! BANG! Tony twists round in total bewilderment and falls dead onto the floor. Rick and Louise enter and see the body, Jim tells Louise, “He was gonna kill Rick I had to stop him.” Louise embraces her father, Rick says, “The thing out there is dead the rain killed it.” Jim adds, “I tested the rain and found it free from contamination, I remember the animals on my ship how they wouldn’t touch food or water and I knew why, that thing was created to live on a poisoned world, the rain came and it was pure.” Louise adds, “Man created it but God destroyed it he brought the rain and fresh air.” Rick says, “If he couldn’t live, neither could the others of its kind.” Jim informs them, “There was a voice on the radio, there are others out there there’s a future for you 2 you’ve got to go and find it.” Jim collapses into Louise’s arms and dies, she cries. Rick takes Louise into his arms embracing her warmly.
A fresh young Louise with her back pack on gathers all her belongings, Rick calls, “Are you about ready Louise.” She smiles, “Coming.” and takes one last look at her fathers photograph. So as we end the show, we are treated to see the young couple with their back packs on, Rick has his arm around her, they’re heading up the mountain to repopulate the world. Big white lettering appears THE BEGINNING, wonderful refreshing thoughtful music plays, a new era a new lease of life, mankind has survived yet again, good luck Rick and Louise….(sniff)….thank you.
It's time for a themed introspective.
Last week, up and out at Hornsea with nothing much to do, I decided I would tick one thing off the bucket list and head on down to the old Hornsea EYMS depot to catch a bus. Closed in May 2018 just before the take-over by the Go-Ahead Group, with drivers and buses repatriated off to Bridlington or Withernsea depots, Hornsea bus depot now sits derelict, the booking office boarded over and the tarmac becoming more overgrown, likely awaiting its inevitable repurposing or demolition. My bets are on the latter.
What's interesting to note is that the old drill holes from the metal BET-era 'East Yorkshire Motor Services Ltd.' sign that was removed upon takeover by the National Bus Company are still very much visible by the modern-ish signage. What's also interesting is that like at Pocklington, Hornsea is still in full-time use as a bus stop, here acting as the main terminus for anything Hornsea-bound. But for how long, I wonder? Here, it is very quiet. Stand by the grassy knoll between the entrance and exit, you can even hear the crickets chirping away.
In front of a building that surely is not long for this world, East Yorkshire's 776, a 2009 Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini 2, is seen casting a lonely figure as it passes through the closed Hornsea depot complex as it heads out on a 129 to Withernsea.
All Saints, Holbrook, Suffolk
The Shotley Peninsula is a pastoral scattering of gentle hamlets along high hedged lanes which thread over hills and through woodlands. Other settlements line the Orwell estuary, the full drama of the wide water and forests beyond constantly on show. The road along the northern shore is a busy one, as is the Ipswich to Manningtree road which cuts the Peninsula off from the rest of Suffolk, but otherwise this is an introspective, secretive landscape, especially on the southern side. No wonder people long to live there.
The Peninsula has only two places of any real size; broad functional Shotley itself, at the eastern tip, and Holbrook to the west, a rather more prosperous proposition. Holbrook is home to the famous Royal Hospital School, a vast 1930s neo-classical confection designed for the sons and daughters of the Navy. Its campanile tower is a landmark for miles around; you can see it from tower blocks in the centre of Ipswich. The school inhabits a large campus to the south of the village, and injects lifeblood into the local economy.
So here we still have jobs, and shops, a high school and a couple of pubs. Oh, and a pretty village church, behind a high hedge. The village is rather a suburban one; such an economy generates and thrives on traffic, and all the peninsula comes here to stock up.
At first sight, the arrangement of the church is a bit odd. This is one of the 14th Century south-east towers commonly found in the Ipswich area, and the nave to the north of it was probably contemporary with it. But a small, low south aisle was built a century later, running eastwards of it, and the effect now is of a tiny church with a huge north aisle. In fact, there is a 19th century north aisle beyond the nave, the work of Diocesan architect Richard Phipson; it has a rather awkward juxtaposition with the nave at the west end, with an angled doorway. The nave west window appears to be made of terracotta. The best feature of the exterior is the clerestory, somewhat hidden by the south aisle, but picked out beautifully in red brick.
The interior is almost entirely Victorian, again the work of Richard Phipson. Although it now has a fairly rustic and simple Low Church feel to it, which is very pleasant, a glance at the chancel shows that Phipson fitted it out for the kind of mystical, incense-led 19th Century High Church worship which he loved, and for which his St Mary le Tower in Ipswich is the crowning moment in Suffolk. Most of the fittings are now gone, but the sense of the past remains.
Holbrook church contains one major pre-Victorian survival. This is the monument to one of the arch-villains of the English Reformation. It is a huge memorial at the east end of the south aisle. Sir John Clenche is the figure above his daughter-in-law on the huge memorial in the south aisle. Clenche was High Sheriff of Suffolk, but is more famous, and more notorious, for being the judge who sentenced Saint Margaret Clitherow to death.
In 1586, Margaret Clitherow, the middle-class wife of a York butcher, was accused of treason against the state. This was a catch-all charge designed to root out Catholicism; she was told, as all martyrs of the time were, that the charges would be dropped if she renounced Catholicism, and conformed to the Anglican church. This she refused to do, and also refused to enter a plea, saying that "having made no offence, I need no trial". Failure to make a plea was a capital crime in itself, of course, and Clenche's sentence was that you shall return to the place from whence you came, and in the lower part of the prison be stripped naked, laid down upon the ground, and so much weight laid upon you as you are able to bear, and thus you shall continue for three days; the third day you shall have a sharp stone laid under your back, and your hands and feet shall be tied to posts that, more weight being laid upon you, you may be pressed to death.
Popular Catholic martyrology has it that Clitherow's only problem with her sentence was the bit about being stripped naked; the night before she was crushed, she supposedly made a shift to wear. This was not allowed her, but it was placed over the lower part of her body to preserve her modesty from the paying spectators. The final sentence was carried out on the 25th of March 1586. Brennan's Martyrs of the English Reformation recalls that a stone the size of a man's fist was placed under her back, her arms were stretched out and tied with cords provided; a door was placed upon her, and stones piled upon it by some beggars hired for the purpose. Her last words were 'Jesu have mercy upon me!' and when her chest was crushed her ribs protruded, and she was left in this postion for six hours.
The body was thrown on a dunghill on the outskirts of the city, but was rescued after six weeks by local Catholics, who found it 'free of putrefaction'. In May 1970 she was canonised as one of the martyrs of England and Wales by Pope Paul VI. There are images of her at Holy Family church in Kesgrave, a few miles off, and at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Wells in Norfolk, and the story of her martyrdom can be seen in stained glass just across the border at the church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs in Cambridge.
Hoy arde la escasa luz en mi piel. No sabremos lo que buscamos hasta que nos demos de bruces con ello. Ponte el abrigo. No dejemos de caminar. Creo que a donde vamos hace mucho frío.
Demasiado, quizá.
Sun gazing at the reflection at Meiji Jingu Shrine Garden www.lucidcommunication.com/2013/02/05/reflecting-in-meiji...
The different moods she can create - just with a pose and an expression never ceases to amaze me. Here, she has a look that registers with me. What is yuor take? Again this is from my archives from my first shoot with her in the summer of 2012. You can see more of her many moods and expressions in my set "Alexis". Best in lightbox. Canon 5D Mark ii taken in Hopeland Gardens Aiken South Carolina.
West German postcard by WS-Druck, Wanne-Eickel, no. 118. Photo: Arthur Grimm / CCC / Constantin.
Erik Schumann (1925-2007) was an intense, dark-haired leading actor of post-war German cinema, who often specialised in playing introspective or psychologically damaged characters. He appeared regularly on stage in Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich from 1943. He was at the peak of his popularity, both in films and on television, during the 1950s and 1960s. A prolific voice-over artist, Schumann also provided the German voice for stars like Peter O'Toole, Marcello Mastroianni, Christopher Lee and Roger Moore.
Erich Heinz Schumann was born in 1925 in Grechwitz (now Grimma-Grechwitz), Germany. In addition to his musical training in piano and trombone, he took acting lessons at the Dresden Conservatory. Afterwards, he got his first engagements at the Staatstheater Dresden, at the Berlin Schloßparktheater as well as in Frankfurt am Main, in Stuttgart and in Munich from 1943. As a youth, he appeared in the Nazi Propaganda film Himmelhunde/Sky dogs (Roger von Norman, 1942) about young Germans at a Hitler Youth camp who engage in a program to learn how to build and fly gliders. His first film role as an adult was as a corps student in the DEFA film Semmelweis - Retter der Mütter/Dr. Semmelweis (Georg C. Klaren, 1950) starring Karl Paryla. In 1954 he played his first role in a Federal Republic film, in Konsul Strotthoff/Melody Beyond Love (Erich Engel, 1954). opposite Willy Birgel and Inge Egger. His breakthrough came with the East-West love drama Himmel ohne Sterne/Sky Without Stars (Helmut Käutner, 1955). From then on he appeared in various roles alongside Heinz Erhardt, Bernhard Wicki, Hansjörg Felmy, Ulla Jacobsson, Sonja Ziemann and Gunnar Möller among others. In 1960 he appeared in Fabrik der Offiziere/Operation Terror (Frank Wisbar, 1960) alongside Helmut Griem and Horst Frank.
Erik Schumann began dubbing in 1949 and till 2004 he lent his voice to 600 films and TV productions. He dubbed actors such as Tony Curtis in Manche mögen's heiß/Some Like it Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959), Cary Grant in Leopards Don't Kiss/Bringing Up Baby (Howard Hawks, 1938), and Jack Nicholson in Die Ehre der Prizzis/Prizzi's Honor (John Huston, 1985). His distinctive voice was also in great demand for radio drama productions, and in 1968 he voiced Dr. Watson in six Sherlock Holmes stories for Bayerischer Rundfunk. Erik Schumann was also heard in roles in numerous television series, such as for Martin Landau in the first dubbing phase of Kobra, übernehmen Sie/Mission: Impossible (1967-1973), for Pernell Roberts in Hawkins (1973-1974). or for Jack Klugman in Du schon wieder/You again? (1986). On the series Eine schrecklich nette Familie/Married... with Children (1987-1997), he dubbed and was heard as the voice of Buck the dog. In the Brazilian telenovela Sinhá Moça - Die Tochter des Sklavenhalters/Sinha Moça (1986-1987), he lent his voice to the Latin-American star Rubens de Falco as Colonel Ferreira. In 1987, he was the first Jedermann (Everyman) at the Berlin Jedermann Festival. In 2000, Schumann dubbed the role of the gold digger Stinky Pete, originally voiced by Kelsey Grammer, in the computer-animated film Toy Story 2 (John Lasseter, 1999) produced by Pixar. He also appeared in numerous television productions and made guest appearances in the popular Krimi series Der Kommissar/The Commissioner (1969-1975) and Derrick (1983). His work as an investigator in the television series Tatort/Crime Scene was limited to one episode in 1981. In the 1980s he appeared in the cinema in two Fassbinder classics, Lili Marleen (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1981) with Hanna Schygulla and Die Sehnsucht der Veronika Voss/Veronika Voss (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1982) with Rosel Zech. He also appeared in the Italian film L'inchiesta /The Inquiry (Damiano Damiani, 1987) starring Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel. His last role was in the crime film Mörderischer Plan/Murderous Plan (Raoul W. Heimrich, 2003). Erik Schumann was married twice (in his first marriage to the actress Erika Dannhoff) and had two children. He last lived in Straßlach near Munich, where he succumbed to cancer in 2007 at the age of 82 and was buried there.
Sources: Deutsche Synchron-kartei (German), Wikipedia (German and English) and IMDb.
And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.
AKA What the intelligentsia call ART!
From the exhibition Introspective Retrospective by Tomoko Takahashi at the De La Warr Pavilion.
I've been in a very introspective, contemplative mood today. Not sure why, but I'm thinking deep thoughts today. Nothing much to share, but perhaps I'll come to some personal epiphanies along the way :)
Thanks to all the recent visitors, ongoing and new ones alike. I appreciate our interactions.
Anterograde amnesia is a loss of the ability to create new memories after the event that caused the amnesia, leading to a partial or complete inability to recall the recent past, while long-term memories from before the event remain intact. To a large degree, anterograde amnesia remains a mysterious ailment because the precise mechanism of storing memories is not yet well understood, although it is known that the regions involved are certain sites in the temporal cortex, especially in the hippocampus and nearby subcortical regions.
Introspective of an empty park, the children no longer play .. screams and voices do not feel .. it's winter?
There’s a moment when the noise fades, when the world falls quiet, and all that remains is the rhythm of your own breath. This image captures that space — the private sanctuary we retreat to when emotions swell too high or the world grows too loud. The child’s hands frame their face like a shield, but it’s not fear we see — it’s calm. A stillness, deep and unspoken.
This portrait is less about seeing and more about feeling. The lowered lashes, the softness of expression, the gentle shadows — they invite us into a space that is intimate, vulnerable, and utterly human.
1- My favourite color is white
2- I am weird, sentimental, positive, introspective, thoughtful, old-fashioned, progressive, passionate, and a dreamer
3- I hate to wear shoes. I hate television
4- I always fall asleep at night while reading a good book.
5- I'm afraid of clowns
6- I would love to spend some time in France and Japan
7-I talk to myself and so I have a conversation in my head
8- I have a big collection of books and movies. I can't get enough of them.
9- I was raised Catholic but in the end I grew up not trusting any religion much. I strongly believe in a presence above, a God if you will, but don't know who or what it is. 90% of the wars in the world have religion conflicts behind.
10- I consider myself a dreamer, even a daydreamer sometimes. But I take pride in the fact that my eyes tend to be wide open to the tiny little details that make life around us special
11-My first kiss was when i was 15 years old on a bike
12- I'm allergic to caffeine
13- I'm 33 years old. ( Don't laugh )
14- I have not tatoo or piercings but a lot of little moles
15- I'm a HR assistant
16- My first camera was a Polaroid . I love to take photo , you know ?
Rudolf Stingel conceived this exhibition especially for Palazzo Grassi. Given the utmost freedom of execution, Stingel has completely transformed the museum, filling the entire space with an oriental carpet. Moving beyond the idea of two-dimensionality that is conventionally associated with painting, the exhibition aims to subvert the usual spatial relationship between a painting and viewer.
The carpet evokes the thousand-year history of Venice, the ‘Most Serene Republic’, but also recalls the Middle-European culture so loved by the artist; for example, we are reminded of Sigmund Freud’s early twentieth-century Viennese study. This reference undoubtedly provides a key to interpreting this installation: on entering the ‘labyrinth’, an all-encompassing feeling and sensorial experience transport us towards the transcendence of the Ego, by means of its removal and its ghosts. The nearly thirty paintings exhibited suggest presences that are ‘buried’ in memory, and removed experiences that thrive again. The architectural space becomes an introspective and projective space, silent and welcoming, suitable for meditation: but Stingel’s work alters our visual and spatial perception of it, suggesting a new, rarified and suspenseful atmosphere in which the silver, white and black of the paintings stands out like so many other ‘openings’ on Venice, in an another dimension.
From the Palazzo Grassi website
Why do I like to dress like this?
1. I am not gay (not that there is anything wrong with that). Anyway, a gay man would probably not be attracted to a guy in a dress
2. I am not transexual (Again, nothing wrong with that). I have absolutely no desire to take hormones, or undergo SR surgery.
4. I am not a drag queen. I simply do not possess the creativity.
3. I am certainly not a professional female impersonator, though the possibility does interest me, if only I had started at an earlier age.
So, where does that leave me? Only that I desire to present as attractive a female appearance as I can.
She has this stunning quality about her. No matter what she does it appears. Again this is from my archives from my first shoot with her in the summer of 2012. You can see more of her many moods and expressions in my set "Alexis". Best in lightbox. Canon 5D Mark ii taken in Hopeland Gardens Aiken South Carolina.
Thanks to the various wall artists some very famous celebrity in their own rights some faceless and some nameless have etched their inner angst emotions on the eponymous soul of Bandra .
And you need not be an artist to understand the introspective metaphor of their work..be it Anarkali Dada Phalke Rajesh Khanna Dev Anand all bought to life by a great connoisseur of Wall Art Ranjit Dahiya and I am not tagging him as this wall is not done by him ...but inspired by him ..he has inspired college kids to paint the walls at Bandra Hill Road ..
The walls that were once silent mute now talk voraciously and colloquially too ..Art is like Beauty in the eyes of the Beholder .
I am not an artist I paint with light I paint the silhouette of sordid silence but I have walked from Dadar till Mahim Mori road shooting the walls ..that are now a backdrop for the new migrants ..and what a contrast ..a painting incongruously holding the poor in its magical grasp .
I made my grandchildren both work with water colors ..to shoot Maya the graffiti artist from Switzerland who did the huge wall at Friends Society building.
A lot of people I spoke to don't like her work ..we Indians need vibrant bold colors bold themes I think but Marziya and Nerjis shot Maya at work holding to dear life on a power crane .
Bandra has been aptly poetized by Art on the wall that soothes the monotony of the human soul.
One day people will come to see Wall art ..and Bandra will be the first port of call ..and all this thanks to those great masters and pioneers of Bollywood Art Project .
So if you let your mind force it on a image on a wall you let open a dam of words ..surging across adding hope to a denuded script of Life .