| “ | Your planet is now marked for death. Your world will be consumed by the Devourer. There is nothing you can do to stop him. For he is a universal force, as essential as the stars. Hold your loved ones close and speak the words you’ve been afraid to speak. Use this time to rejoice and celebrate, for your time is short. I herald his beginning. I herald your end. I herald... Galactus. | „ |
| ~ Silver Surfer to the people of Earth-828 and her most famous quote. |
Shalla-Bal, better known as Silver Surfer, is the secondary antagonist of the 2025 Marvel Cinematic Universe film The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
In her characterisation, she is the cosmic herald of Galactus who aids him in feeding him planets; it was then she aided him in getting rid of the Fantastic Four and delivering him Franklin Richards, the son of Reed Richards and Susan Richards, in order to eliminate any threat posed to him. She is also the love interest and former arch-nemesis of Johnny Storm.
She is portrayed by Julia Garner, who also played Ruth Langmore in Ozark.
Personality[]
Due to her job as Herald to Galactus himself, Shalla Bal primarily expresses a blank persona - showing very little emotion towards those soon to fall victim to the Devourer. Although she feels immense remorse over her assisted mundicide, she does well to hide her true emotions, knowing full well her servitude is necessary for the safety of her planet. Her feelings however would finally reveal themselves when Johnny Storm played her several recordings from all the planets which she led Galactus to destroy, causing her to scream in agony out of guilt.
Prior to becoming the Surfer, Shalla-Bal was shown to be a kind loving mother who cared deeply for her daughter.
Biography[]
Background[]
Shalla-Bal was born on a planet named Zenn-La where she became a scientist and had a family including a daughter of her own where she would spend time with in around the ocean.
However Galactus would travel to the planet Zenn-La. In order to protect her family and her species, Shalla-Bal agreed to be his herald. Galactus augmented her with his cosmic powers, turning her into the Silver Surfer. As his herald, Silver Sufer led Galactus to countless planets, all of which he consumed.
The Fantastic Four First Steps[]
Silver Surfer first appears alone when Reed Richards detects strange energy signatures with various words from various people/beings within an alien language. Sue, Reed, Ben, and Johnny are having dinner until they see strange meteors fall from the sky in a flash of light. Immediately, they rush over to Times Square via the Fantasticar with Johnny flying ahead of them. She flies down to Times Square, and her face is broadcasted over television. As the Fantastic Four ask the crowd to step aside, she stares at them and ask if they are the "protectors" of this world, to which they answer "yes". She explains that their planet is marked for death and that there is nothing they can do about it.
She suggests to the people of earth that they say the words that they've always wanted to say and to make peace with their loved ones before departing for the unknown skies.
Johnny attempts to follow her into the sky as he sees the earth behind him before Silver Surfer smiles at him and wishes him a greeting in an alien language before knocking him off of her surfboard, sending him down to earth. The Fantastic Four hold an emergency meeting to discuss how to combat the threat. To figure out who Galactus is, the Fantastic Four prepare their rocket, Excelsior and set a course for Galactus' Ship, which is hundreds of light years away consuming another planet. They are successful, with the people cheering them on as they engage within lightspeed travel.
The Fantastic Four find the unnamed planet desecrated but are too late to save it as it has already been destroyed. With Susan's help, they briefly manage to turn invisible before the ship's intrusion system spots them and scans them for possible lifeforms. The ship's intrusion system brings a focus on Susan, who is pregnant with her son, Franklin. Silver Surfer passes through and escorts them to Galactus, saying that they never should have come here.
While en-route to Galactus' throne room, Johnny sacrifices some of his oxygen to "Flame On" and fly with Silver Surfer, asking her on what she meant earlier with the greeting. She explains to Johnny that the greeting means "die With Yours" and that it was a blessing. Johnny attempts to flirt with her asking if her surfboard is a part of her, but she refuses to answer the question and departs to Galactus. She also explains that her job is to "Herald" planets, meaning that she was responsible for Earth being Galactus' next planet to consume.
Hovering beside Galactus, she presents the Fantastic Four to him. He awakens and asks why they are here. The Fantastic Four explain that they are there to negotiate and attempt to help dissuade Galactus from consuming Earth. Galactus makes a conditional offer with them - he will spare Earth, but only if they give up Franklin to him. Susan is confused and asks why. Galactus explains to them that Franklin has intentionally hiding his cosmic nature to his parents as he wields the Power Cosmic. Reed refuses, but Galactus uses his powers to accelerate Franklins birth, leaving Susan severely weak. The Fantastic Four escape from Galactus and pilot a course back to Earth, but Galactus orders Silver Surfer to chase after them and to capture their son.
Ben pilots Excelsior and attempts to engage with Silver Surfer by maneuvering the ship, while Johnny attempts to shoot her down with lasers. However, none of these work as she effortlessly manages to dodge them and comes very close to taking Franklin before Ben speeds away. As the Fantastic Four think they are safe, the Silver Surfer appears behind them. With Susan's health getting worse, Ben, Reed and Johnny continue to defend the ship from her as they change the course into a black hole. Reed explains that the black hole has a gravitational force so strong that she will not be able to escape for a month minimum. The four successfully trap the Silver Surfer within the black hole shortly before they are forced to make a "slingshot" maneuver to escape and go home. Following this, Susan gives birth to Franklin and the four share a happy moment before returning to Earth.
Returning out of the black hole, she kneels before Galactus and profusely apologizes for failing to bring Franklin back and for failing to destroy the Fantastic Four. Galactus grows furious with the Silver Surfer warning her of the consequences if she fails. Together, they set a course for Earth, passing Mars and Jupiter. Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four return from their time in Space and realize that a month has passed, meaning that Galactus' return is imminent.
Just as the team begin activating the bridges, they are destroyed by the Silver Surfer who travels around the world destroying to to prevent them from transporting away. Johnny stops her from reaching the last bridge in Times Square and, having learned her language from their first encounter, identifies her as Shalla-Bal, who willingly became Galactus's herald to spare her own world from the same fate. Forced to hear the dying words of the planets she had led Galactus to, Shalla-Bal flees in anguish. Johnny explains that he’s doing it to save his family and town while convincing her to do the same while in exchange of sacrificing himself for his nephew. Shalla-Bal informs him that he and his family should leave somewhere safe before she leaves.
When Sue begins to falter from overexertion, Johnny prepares to sacrifice himself to give Galactus a final push into the portal. Having a change of heart, Shalla-Bal stops him and sacrifices herself instead, as both her and Galactus get consumed by the portal and thrown into the void. Reed, Ben, and Johnny recover Sue, who has died after exhausting her powers. However, when Reed places Franklin on her chest, his newly awakened powers resuscitate her. In the aftermath, the team is celebrated for their victory.
What became of Silver Surfer after she pushed Galactus into the void, remains unknown. It's possible she survived now finally free from her former master.
Quotes[]
| “ | Shalla-Bal: Galactus will see you. Mr. Fantastic: I’ll go. Shalla-Bal: All of you. You should not have come. |
„ |
| ~ Shalla-Bal to The Fantastic Four |
| “ | Johnny Storm: So what did you say to me? When you threw me off your board, what did you say? Shalla-Bal: It’s a blessing. It means die with yours. |
„ |
| ~ Shalla-Bal to Johnny |
| “ | You stand before Galactus. The Devourer of Worlds honors you. | „ |
| ~ Shalla-Bal to the Fantastic Four |
| “ | Shalla-Bal: I'm sorry, I’ve failed you. Galactus: I need the child, I must get the child. Shalla-Bal: But he’s just a baby. |
„ |
| ~ Shalla-Bal having thoughts of sparing Franklin |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This incarnation of Silver Surfer is an alternate incarnation of Shalla Bal, who is depicted in the comic as the lover of Norrin Radd, the original incarnation of Silver Surfer.
- Much like her Storyverse counterpart, she would end up sacrificing herself to defeat Galactus, in an act of redemption.
- Unlike her Storyverse version, she never had the ability to disrupt anyone's powers and abilities.
- Silver Surfer serves as a dark parallel to Susan Storm/the Invisible Woman.
- Both women had an extreme devotion to their family; Silver Surfer turned to Galactus to save her daughter while Invisible Woman refused to give Franklin to Galactus. The difference is that Silver Surfer was willing to murder innocent people for her family, while Susan wasn't. Thus, Silver Surfer represents what Invisible Woman would have become had her familial loyalty devolved into a toxic obsession.
