Get to Know the Silver Surfer’s New Ally in This Ghost Light Preview

Norrin Radd has a protracted, lengthy historical past within the realm of the Marvel Cosmic—however a brand new chapter in his story isn’t simply going to convey the Silver Surfer right down to earth, however introduce a serious new hero to the Marvel Comics universe.

Silver Surfer: Ghost Light, by author John Jennings and with artwork from Valentine de Landro, is a model new five-issue miniseries set to kick off early subsequent yr. Although he’s spearheading the title, the Silver Surfer isn’t the largest thriller of Ghost Light—the titular new hero themselves is, as Norrin is drawn to the quiet city of Sweetwater when a younger woman named Toni Brooks discovers one thing so unusual that even the Sentinel of the Spaceways is intrigued by it.

But what does Ghost Light should do with it, and what’s his connection to Norrin going to be? To discover out extra, io9 spoke with Jennings over electronic mail about what to anticipate from Marvel’s newest cosmic hero, and why Norrin is concerned with their mysterious origins. Check the interview out under, after which click on via to see some unique preview art work from Valentine de Landro, together with some new character designs from the guide!

James Whitbrook, io9: Why was now the suitable time to present Norrin his personal miniseries?

John Jennings: The Silver Surfer is considered one of Marvel’s most necessary, beloved, and iconic characters. I really feel he’s extremely timeless and, subsequently, perpetually related.

io9: What appeals to you about taking this grand cosmic character just like the Silver Surfer and produce him right down to Earth?

Jennings: I’ve at all times felt that the Surfer is without doubt one of the most empathetic and human protagonists within the Marvel Universe. Even the symbolism of his design is all about reflection and connection. He’s like a strolling mirror and everybody can see themselves in him. He’s virtually like a model. He is extremely highly effective however you possibly can undertaking your self onto him like a display screen. Even within the authentic story that impressed this mini-series, [Stan] Lee and [John] Buscema exit of their approach to inscribe the struggles of the frequent man upon him. He actually places on garments and tries to suit into society to no avail. He is the opposite that’s us. So, to me, his cosmic energy is cool and wonderful however his sympathy for humanity is his true energy and I feel that’s why so many individuals relate to him.

io9: Tell me a little bit bit about growing Toni as a personality. How is she our window into the world of the Marvel Cosmic?

Jennings: Toni, who is called for Toni Morrison, is our “fish-out-of-water” character. She’s a teenage woman who’s from the large metropolis and impulsively, resulting from household points, is dropped in the midst of the woods in upstate New York. Much to her chagrin, that is her new life. The strangeness of the story resonates together with her coming to grips together with her new surroundings. This, after all, is adjoining to the mysteries of the city of Sweetwater, NY itself and the connections to an eerie entity that appears to be haunting her new dwelling. Marvel at all times desires to point out the “world outside your window.” This is a brand new window and a brand new occupant via which audiences can see themselves via. In some methods, she the avatar of what anybody feels when embarking on a brand new journey. Little does she know the way far this journey goes to take her and her household!

io9: Of course, one of many huge issues Marvel is teasing with this sequence is the debut of the mysterious Ghost Light. Can you inform us a little bit bit concerning the ideation course of on the character? Why has it taken half a century for Ghost Light to return to, nicely, mild?

Jennings: I bear in mind studying a re-print of Silver Surfer #5 as a child. I do bear in mind having fun with it however not having the context to see what the story was attempting to do. I used to be engaged on analysis for a brand new guide that I’m writing with my collaborator Angélique Roché, of Marvel’s Voices, and I got here throughout the story of Al. B. Harper. The guide, My Super Hero is Black, is a chronological tough information to the Black characters created by Marvel from about 1950 to the current day. Dr. Harper was launched just a few months earlier than the looks of the Falcon. He was virtuous, good-looking, and good. He additionally willingly selected to sacrifice himself to save lots of the world! The Surfer then marks his grave with a cosmic flame to represent his heroism for all eternity. Now, I used to be studying this proper after my oldest sister had handed away instantly and within the midst of the worldwide George Floyd protests. It simply occurred to me that Dr. Al B. Harper might stay once more! I simply noticed a lot potential in him and, fortunately, Marvel agreed!

It’s laborious to say why Dr. Harper hasn’t been introduced again sooner. I’ll say that he’s at all times represented a symbolic resonance for Norrin as a proof of the goodness of humanity. So, on this symbolic illustration he has remained. Even the title of the unique story, “And Who Shall Mourn for Him,” reveals that Stan Lee was making an attempt to have a dialog about Civil Rights in what I might virtually time period as a “Black Death Matters” story. It was my aim to reply that query: Who shall mourn for him? Our mini-series seeks to answer that question posed so way back by one of the iconic comics creators in historical past.

The “ghost light” is a time period taken from the theater. It’s usually mentioned that every one theaters have a ghost and this mild is for them. It additionally symbolizes that the present will go on after a theater closes. So many theaters needed to shut down as a result of pandemic. When I examine this, I knew that it could be a positive deal with for a personality who, like Lazarus, has come again for extra adventures along with his cosmic powered ally.

io9: We obtained to see a tease of Ghost Light’s design at NYCC. What was it like working with Valentine on the method for designing Ghost Light’s look?

Jennings: So, after I pitched this story, I had numerous designs within the file. It was nice working with Valentine. He completely understood what I used to be going for and made it extra streamlined and practical. If you ever noticed the unique drawings I did, you’d see the echoes of it in his designs. It was a delight to see a grasp artist at work and I completely beloved the method. He’s an excellent collaborator. Totally with out ego and completely devoted to the story.

io9: What has it been like working with Valentine on Ghost Light? What has he delivered to the desk that you simply’ve favored most about that course of?

Jennings: Valentine is a tremendous author in his personal proper. So, generally, he’d have strategies for modifications that might make my script “pop” in another way. Or, he’d render a scene in a approach that hadn’t occurred to me. I feel that as a result of we’re each author/artists now we have a approach of talking visually that’s innate? It’s been a real pleasure to see these characters come to life and I hope that followers of Marvel embrace these new inhabitants of this sleepy nook of the Marvel Universe.

io9: What do you hope Marvel Cosmic followers take from a sequence like Ghost Light, and what are you able to inform us about what it units up for Norrin and Ghost Light going ahead?

Jennings: I hope that followers perceive that historical past is necessary; that the place you come from may help information you into new and great pathways. “And Who Shall Mourn for Him” was written over half a century in the past and it nonetheless resonates with immediately’s social circumstances. It reveals how Marvel has persistently been forward of the curve. I feel the story will join the Surfer to his roots much more and, possibly, remind him of his personal humanity. I’ll say that we’ve put down some seeds for some doubtlessly fascinating new tales if the followers help Ghost Light and wish to see extra. I actually hope they do!

Silver Surfer: Ghost Light begins in February 2023.