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Which Comic Has The First Appearance Of Shalla-Bal As Silver Surfer?

Shalla-Bal first appeared in Silver Surfer #1, as the immortal Empress of Zenn-La and lover of Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer.



Article Summary

  • Shalla-Bal debuts in Silver Surfer #1 as Norrin Radd's lover and Zenn-La's Empress.
  • Julia Garner to portray a new version of Silver Surfer in 2025's Fantastic Four.
  • Earth X's unique take on Silver Surfer causes a spike in the comic's market value.
  • What If #37 speculates Shalla-Bal as Starglow, stirring intrigue among collectors.

Shalla-Bal first appeared in Silver Surfer #1, as the immortal Empress of Zenn-La and lover of Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer, who becomes the Herald of Galactus in exchange for his planet being spared, separating the lovers for eternity. And who will be played by Julia Garner in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie scheduled for 2025, as a Silver Surfer of her very own.

First Shalla-Bal As Silver Surfer Booms On eBay

And has seen a copy of Silver Surfer #1 from 1968 sell for $5600 in a CGC 9.0 slab on eBay earlier this month as a result.

First Shalla-Bal As Silver Surfer In Earth X Booms On eBay

There is, of course, comic book precedent for this, which has set the comics marketplace a flutter.

First Shalla-Bal As Silver Surfer In Earth X Booms On eBay

The parallel universe comic book by Jim Krueger, John Paul Leon and Alex Ross already had a marketplace flutter for inspiring the aspect of the Elementals movie that saw a Celestial child buried within each sentient planet. In Earth X, it is that which Galactus feeds from, and draws the attentuion of the Silver Surfer – both of them. Earth X #12 from 2000 has seen copies sell for $80 on eBay, after selling for around $3, a few days before the movie announcement.

First Shalla-Bal As Silver Surfer Booms On eBay

The subsequent issue which has more than just a one panel came, and features the character's death is a lot harder to find, as Earth X #13 was actually titled Earth X #X, and rarer Dynamite variants have sold for only $30 with the standard issue going for around $3.

First Shalla-Bal As Silver Surfer In Earth X Booms On eBay

If you can find it, that might be the bargain to grab now. But there is also another comic of note from 1982 which might have an earlier claim to the speculator's coin.

First Shalla-Bal As Silver Surfer In Earth X Booms On eBay

What If #37 with a story by David Kraft, Mike Vosburg and Steve Mitchell which features Shalla Bal as Starglow, a herald of Galactus, has been selling for between $5 and $10 on eBay.

First Shalla-Bal As Silver Surfer In Earth X Booms On eBay

With Shalla-Bal tajing Norrin Radd's role as the herald. She has a different name… but it may be noted that in Earth X, Shalla-Bal is never actually named as a Silver Surfer.

First Shalla-Bal As Silver Surfer In Earth X Booms On eBay

And then even ghosting Norrin Radd over it all. So which counts speculators? What If #37? Earth X #12 or #X? Or could even another comic of old be getting a bump…

Which Comic Is The First Appearance Of Shalla-Bal As Silver Surfer?


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from The Union Club on Greek Street, shops at Gosh, Piranha and FP. Father of two daughters. Political cartoonist.
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