I'm just going to say this up front and get it out of the way: for the most part, I enjoy Stan Lee very much like I enjoy H.P. Lovecraft. Neither is a very good author, but both are fantastic idea men. But for Stan Lee in particular, he tends to write in a very overblown, bombastic, beat you over the head style that I simply do not enjoy that much.

Having said that, after finishing Donny Cates' and Tradd Moore's insane [b:Silver Surfer: Black|44903951|Silver Surfer Black|Donny Cates|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576860471l/44903951._SY75_.jpg|69561044], that both referenced and even included a panel from Stan Lee and Moebius' Parable series, I decided to look through my long boxes and see if I still had those two issues. Shockingly, I did.

Even more shocking is how much I got from these two slim issues (and I have to take them as a single whole, so I'll have this same review for both issues).

The first thing of note is that this seems to take place outside of the normal Marvel universe, because Galactus shows up and hangs around for a while, but there's no Fantastic Four, no Avengers, literally no other Marvel superheroes to be found here. Just the Silver Surfer. Which, to be honest, I quite enjoyed. It's mostly about the dynamic between the two of them, Galactus and the Surfer, creator and creation. The other two dynamics at play here are those that fall under the spell of the preacher who takes on the role of the one who Galactus speaks through, and delivers the holy word (real or not), and then there's the ones who choose to either follow him, or not.

And this is where the story becomes absolutely fascinating for me. Near as I can tell, these two issues were published in late 1988 and early 1989, so just about exactly three decades prior to Donald Trump becoming president.

Now, if you read this series with Galactus as Trump, the Surfer as the voice of reason, the false priest as Trump's presidential persona (or perhaps his Mitch McConnell/Lindsay Graham/assorted press secretary mouthpieces), and those that follow or dissent as the general American population (honestly, this sounds more complicated than it is), this "parable" truly becomes a parable for our times.

Honestly, read some of Stan's lines from this story, and tell me they don't resonate in some way...

Galactus as Trump: Too long have you wallowed in war, endured poverty, been beset by crime. In return for your homage, I bring you a new era. or...MAGA.

Galactus as Trump: I merely allow the unsuspecting humans to destroy themselves...in my name. or...No, I won't wear your stupid mask. I woke up in a free country!

Followers of Galactus/Trump: Go back where you came from!

Galactus as Trump: My former herald has challenged me for the final time. If you must die that I may live—then die you shall. or...You're fired!

Galactus as Trump: I am POWER. And power is all. Consequences are for lesser beings. I am Galactus. That is sanction enough. or...I'm above the law.

Galactus as Trump: Though there are countless deaths each day, [you] mindlessly treat each as if it matters... Surfer's response: If life is the most precious gift of all, then is not its loss a matter of monumental consequence? or...school shootings/135000 dead from COVID-19/#BlackLivesMatter.

Surfer: Why was such awesome power granted to one as merciless as you?

Honestly, I could go on, this story is full of these, but you get the point.

So, yeah, I think I have to look at this as Stan Lee's most prescient and powerful story.

And Moebius' art? There's literally nothing to say beyond the fact that I truly don't think anyone ever made Galactus look more menacing, or the Silver Surfer look more noble. Absolutely stellar work.

( )

I'm just going to say this up front and get it out of the way: for the most part, I enjoy Stan Lee very much like I enjoy H.P. Lovecraft. Neither is a very good author, but both are fantastic idea men. But for Stan Lee in particular, he tends to write in a very overblown, bombastic, beat you over the head style that I simply do not enjoy that much.

Having said that, after finishing Donny Cates' and Tradd Moore's insane [b:Silver Surfer: Black|44903951|Silver Surfer Black|Donny Cates|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576860471l/44903951._SY75_.jpg|69561044], that both referenced and even included a panel from Stan Lee and Moebius' Parable series, I decided to look through my long boxes and see if I still had those two issues. Shockingly, I did.

Even more shocking is how much I got from these two slim issues (and I have to take them as a single whole, so I'll have this same review for both issues).

The first thing of note is that this seems to take place outside of the normal Marvel universe, because Galactus shows up and hangs around for a while, but there's no Fantastic Four, no Avengers, literally no other Marvel superheroes to be found here. Just the Silver Surfer. Which, to be honest, I quite enjoyed. It's mostly about the dynamic between the two of them, Galactus and the Surfer, creator and creation. The other two dynamics at play here are those that fall under the spell of the preacher who takes on the role of the one who Galactus speaks through, and delivers the holy word (real or not), and then there's the ones who choose to either follow him, or not.

And this is where the story becomes absolutely fascinating for me. Near as I can tell, these two issues were published in late 1988 and early 1989, so just about exactly three decades prior to Donald Trump becoming president.

Now, if you read this series with Galactus as Trump, the Surfer as the voice of reason, the false priest as Trump's presidential persona (or perhaps his Mitch McConnell/Lindsay Graham/assorted press secretary mouthpieces), and those that follow or dissent as the general American population (honestly, this sounds more complicated than it is), this "parable" truly becomes a parable for our times.

Honestly, read some of Stan's lines from this story, and tell me they don't resonate in some way...

Galactus as Trump: Too long have you wallowed in war, endured poverty, been beset by crime. In return for your homage, I bring you a new era. or...MAGA.

Galactus as Trump: I merely allow the unsuspecting humans to destroy themselves...in my name. or...No, I won't wear your stupid mask. I woke up in a free country!

Followers of Galactus/Trump: Go back where you came from!

Galactus as Trump: My former herald has challenged me for the final time. If you must die that I may live—then die you shall. or...You're fired!

Galactus as Trump: I am POWER. And power is all. Consequences are for lesser beings. I am Galactus. That is sanction enough. or...I'm above the law.

Galactus as Trump: Though there are countless deaths each day, [you] mindlessly treat each as if it matters... Surfer's response: If life is the most precious gift of all, then is not its loss a matter of monumental consequence? or...school shootings/135000 dead from COVID-19/#BlackLivesMatter.

Surfer: Why was such awesome power granted to one as merciless as you?

Honestly, I could go on, this story is full of these, but you get the point.

So, yeah, I think I have to look at this as Stan Lee's most prescient and powerful story.

And Moebius' art? There's literally nothing to say beyond the fact that I truly don't think anyone ever made Galactus look more menacing, or the Silver Surfer look more noble. Absolutely stellar work. ( )

Kind of an odd book for Stan Lee; much more philosophical and rambling than most Silver Age Marvel books. I liked it, but I can see why the series didn't last long:: even for a run that short, it was hard for them to come up with enemies powerful enough to make a halfway decent challenge for the Surfer. Especially since the whole premise is that he's trapped on Earth, and therefore trouble basically has to come to him. After he defeats Satan at the end of #3, it's pretty much all downhill from there. Still, I did enjoy reading it a lot, and John Buscema's artwork was excellent. ( )