*Marvel: From the Good Doctor Collection this week: As the premier series of the Marvel Universe, the Fantastic Four did seem to spend a lot of time incubating the stars of tomorrow, as their guests frequently spun off into their own titles. One of the most popular ‘break-out’ stars was the Silver Surfer, and in issue #50 the former Norrin Radd, having been introduced two issues previously as the minion of the planet-devouring Galactus, breaks away from his master and defends the threatened planet Earth. Cosmic menace, epic grandeur and college hi-jinks, as the Human Torch commences his blink-and-you’ll-miss-it struggle with higher education. The latter subplot introduces Johnny’s fellow student, Wyatt Wingfoot, soon a staunch ally of the FF. (As well as She-Hulk’s favourite squeeze-toy, but that was a couple of decades later…). This defining issue for the Surfer is a reasonable lower grade cents copy, with a reading crease that breaks colour towards the spine and several spidery creases at the spine itself. There is some edge wear, with a couple of small nicks along the right side. Staples are secure and page quality is a nice off-white. In the lower half of the right cover, between the Surfer’s knee and the Johnny Storm inset panel, there are a number of faint impressions that look like someone was drawing pencil lines on paper and using the comic to rest on, but these are quite difficult to spot. 
PICTURED: FANTASTIC FOUR #50 GD/VG £175