Rune/Silver Surfer #1

Because COVID-19 has caused a major disruption in new comic books, for the next few weeks Scoop will reexamine issues, runs, trades, and titles that are already available. We’ll take a look at perennial classics, current titles we are enjoying, significant runs, and our overall favorite books to suggest some new reading material or inspire fellow comic fans to dust off the old favorites. And if you live near a comic shop that’s still open during this time, we hope our suggestions will prompt you to check out their back issue and collected edition inventory. 

Rune/Silver Surfer #1
Malibu Comics; $2.95

Following the conclusion of the Godwheel mini-series that first brought elements and characters the Marvel Universe and the then-recently acquired Malibu Ultraverse together for the first time, Rune/Silver Surfer #1 was the second step in a progression that would later lead to the “Black September” Ultraforce/Avengers crossover.

A flip-book with both Ultraverse and Marvel Universe sides, the Ultraverse portion came under a beautiful cover by Rune co-creator Barry Windsor-Smith. Written by co-creator (and Ultraverse Editor-in-Chief) Chris Ulm and Dan Danko, the story started and stayed cosmic, bringing in concepts like the Infinity Stones and characters such as Gamora and Adam Warlock before getting to the main event of Rune battling the Silver Surfer.

The story is more than intriguing enough to power through some inconsistent art. It uses the cosmic powers of both universes and mixes them well.

The Marvel portion of the flip-book isn’t John Buscema’s best Silver Surfer, and it might be his worst. That said, John Buscema’s worst Silver Surfer is still worth looking at.

–J.C. Vaughn

P.S. If you’re looking for more of an Ultraverse fix, I co-hosted the PopXP Panel with Nile Scala and our focus was on Malibu’s late, lamented comics line with publisher Dave Olbrich, Creative Director Tom Mason, and Editor-in-Chief Chris Ulm. It’s two hours of Ultraverse goodness!