Issue(s): Silver Surfer #68, Silver Surfer #69
Cover Date: Jul-Aug 92
Title: "Lost" / "The explorer"
Credits:
Ron Marz - Writer
Kevin West - Penciler
Tom Christopher - Inker
John Lewandowski - Assistant Editor
Craig Anderson - Editor

Review/plot:
Galactus and Dr. Strange are investigating the fact that Eternity has gone catatonic, and Galactus doesn't have time for Nova, which makes her weepy.

So half of issue #68 is about Nova crying about how she was so naive when she agreed to be Galactus' herald. I kind of liked the amoral personality that Frankie Raye had during John Byrne's Fantastic Four run. Seeing her suddenly realize that the "bug eyed monsters" on other planets are real lives every bit as previous as humans is a character development we'd definitely like a real person to have, but when it comes with all this simpering it feels more like we're regressing her into a weak character than doing any positive development, and it's worse because the immediate trigger for Nova's crying is Galactus acting like she's not important right now, as opposed to any kind of moral dilemma.

Anyway, that's the emotional side. In terms of physical challenges, when you have a quest team that includes Galactus, two of his heralds, and the Sorcerer Supreme, you'd think that there isn't much that could really bother them. So how about some robot dogs?

Or this guy?

No, they're not doing much for me, either. So let's jump to the subplot, which shows Geatar freeing Nebula from her prison on Titan.

There's also something at the end which almost feels more like an ad than another subplot, but either way it introduces the guy that will become the next herald of Galactus.

And no, his name isn't Chunk. That's the sound of him chopping off someone's head, because he's an executioner.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - first Morg

Chronological Placement Considerations: This begins after Infinity War #2, after the Galactus expedition has left Earth. Doctor Strange #44 follows this story.

References:

• Nova became a herald of Galactus in Fantastic Four #244.

Crossover: Infinity War

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

It's funny how Dr. Strange, who'd recently gone up against Galactus and Agamotto in his own book, acts like a hardass with this Khoon villain and gets beat in a second.

And I do like the rare subtlety from the big G in humoring Khoon (who's never heard of Galactus) into telling his origin story, then as soon as Khoon confirms he has data that would be useful, assimilating Khoon into the ship he was trying to steal. But I know you don't like Galactus dishing out ironic punishments like with the Sphinx.