- "I am the heir of Frankenstein! This castle is mine! This land is mine! I was born to be master of life and death! And master I shall be!"
- ―Ludwig von Frankenstein
"The Heir of Frankenstein!" | |
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The Silver Surfer | |
Title: | "The Heir of Frankenstein!" |
Volume: | 1 |
Number: | 7 |
Cover price: | .25 |
Cover date: | August, 1969 |
Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
Credits | |
Chief: | Stan Lee |
Writers: | Stan Lee |
Pencilers: | John Buscema |
Inkers: | Sal Buscema |
Cover artists: | John Buscema |
Cover inker: | Sal Buscema |
Cover letterer: | Sam Rosen |
Letterers: | Sam Rosen |
Editors: | Stan Lee |
Navigation | |
Previous: | Silver Surfer #6 |
Next: | Silver Surfer #8 |
"The Heir of Frankenstein!" is the title to the seventh issue of the first Silver Surfer ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The story was written by Stan Lee with artwork by John Buscema and inks by Sal Buscema. It was lettered by Sam Rosen and edited by Stan Lee. This issue shipped with an August, 1969 cover date and carries a cover price of .25 cents per copy.
"The Heir of Frankenstein!"[]
Ludwig von Frankenstein, the modern descendant of Victor Frankenstein and his hunchbacked assistant Borgo attempt to create life using modern scientific technology. But the local villagers have had their fill of the Frankenstein legacy and storm the castle. Frankenstein decides to activate his latest project, Experiment X. But in order to do so, he needs a powerful living host – one that is strong enough to survive the process.
The Silver Surfer, flying through the Alps, sees the villagers storming the castle and believing them to be aggressors, repels them with his cosmic blasts. Count Frankenstein invites him into his castle and pretends to befriend him. The Silver Surfer is reluctant to trust him at first, but agrees to help him. Frankenstein tricks him into becoming the host for Experiment X. Trapping the Surfer and strapping him to a table, he begins to siphon the power cosmic from him and redirect it into a lifeless clay model. Imbued with half the power of the Silver Surfer, the creation comes to life and assumes the Surfer's form. Frankenstein sends the false Surfer into the village to avenge himself against them.
The Silver Surfer frees himself and flies outside to stop his evil doppelganger. Their fight rages throughout the village and eventually carries out into Earth’s atmosphere. Both combatants are evenly matched. Eventually however, the false Surfer's energy begins to drain away until he loses all power and cohesion. Before long, there is nothing left of him.
Back in the Alps, the diminutive Borgo decides that he has taken Count Frankenstein's abuse long enough. He tackles Frankenstein and both of them topple out of the castle window where they fall to their deaths.
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
Minor characters
- Doctor Doom, Victor von Doom (In flashback only)
- Frankenstein Monster (In flashback only)
- Shalla-Bal (As an afterthought)
- Victor Frankenstein (In flashback only)
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
"Tales of the Watcher"[]
"I, the Gargoyle" | |
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Title: | "I, the Gargoyle" |
Credits | |
Writers: | Stan Lee |
Pencilers: | Howard Purcell |
Inkers: | Dan Adkins |
Letterers: | Jean Izzo |
Editors: | Stan Lee |
Featured characters
- Alan Swan
Supporting characters
- Unnamed Subterraneans
Villains
Minor characters
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
Vehicles
- Atomic Mole Machine
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Silver Surfer was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. He first appeared in Fantastic Four, Volume 1 #48 in March, 1966 in a story titled "The Coming of Galactus!" The Silver Surfer received his first ongoing comic book series in 1968, which ran for eighteen issues.
- Frankenstein, and all related characters, are based on concepts developed by English author Mary Shelley's as presented in her 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus. The Frankenstein story has since been adapted and expanded upon in numerous films, novels, comic books and television projects.
- This is the final 40-page story from this series.
- "I, the Gargoyle!" is a re-telling of a story that was originally published in Amazing Adult Fantasy #12. The story was written by Stan Lee and drawn by Steve Ditko.
- The "Who Speaks for the Surfer?" letters column has letters published from: John Stewart II, Charles Oldham, Paul Snyder, Rick Brown, Roy Wortman, Tim Sullivan, and Dan Recchia.
- The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Volume 2 #4 credits this issue as the first appearance of the Frankenstein Monster. This is incorrect as The Frankenstein Monster's actual first appearance is in a flashback scene in the X-Men story, "The Mark of the Monster!" from The X-Men #40. It could also be argued that the actual first appearance of the creature goes even farther back to Menace #7 from September, 1953 in the story "Your Name is Frankenstein!", which was published during the pre-Marvel Universe era.
- The Frankenstein Monster that appears in this issue is a creation of Ludwig von Frankenstein, and is an altogether different creature from the one that appeared in Menace #7 and The X-Men #40.
- Although Borgo appears to perish in this issue, along with Ludwig von Frankenstein, he makes a return appearance in Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #37.
- Ludwig von Frankenstein has movie reels of the original Frankenstein experiments, which is impossible since recording technology did not exist in the 18th century.
- The last time that the Norrin Radd trusted a mad scientist with the middle name "Von" in a castle who ultimately betrayed him, it was Victor von Doom. This happened back in Fantastic Four #57.
Reprints[]
The story from this issue has been reprinted in the following volumes:
"The Heir of Frankenstein!"
- Essential Silver Surfer 1
- Fantasy Masterpieces 7
- Marvel Masterworks 19
- Marvel Masterworks: Silver Surfer 2
- Silver Surfer Omnibus 1
"I, the Gargoyle"