Exploring The Fantastic Four: First Steps, we now have our first glimpse of Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer, and although I personally wasn’t a fan of her portrayal, I appreciate her comments about the movie’s storyline, which makes me eager for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film, despite the underwhelming visuals of the character. It’s thrilling to finally catch a glimpse of what Marvel’s First Family will look like in the MCU, with the debut of the first Fantastic Four movie from Marvel Studios approaching in just a few months. The film promises to feature some compelling characters.
This production features the main characters from “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” along with figures such as Julia Garner portraying the Silver Surfer and Ralph Ineson embodying Galactus. Marvel Studios has only given brief glimpses of Galactus so far, with a full unveiling likely to occur in the 2025 MCU film when audiences are settled in theaters. However, the recent trailer for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has revealed Silver Surfer, and I must say, the CGI character’s appearance and design, as compared to other Marvel movies, fell short of my expectations.
I Think Silver Surfer’s CGI In The Fantastic Four: First Steps Looks Off
Galactus’ Herald Is A Hard Character To Get To Look Right
It’s well-established that poor visual effects (VFX) can be disastrous for superhero movies, and the 2023’s The Flash from DC serves as a prime example. This film’s backgrounds often appeared artificial, and crucial scenes like The Flash’s multiverse moment were marred by graphics resembling those found in a PlayStation 2 game. In comparison, I haven’t seen VFX in the Fantastic Four movie trailers that are as poor as they were in The Flash.
Although the DC film’s visual effects were criticized, I find myself in a similar position when I’m let down. This is my reaction to Julia Garner’s portrayal of Silver Surfer. To clarify, I have no issues with the MCU’s female Silver Surfer. In fact, it aligns well with how The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in a different universe. However, the choice to give Shalla-Bal hair to the Silver Surfer seems to contribute to an unsettling appearance, which I believe exacerbates the uncanny valley effect on the character.
In my opinion, The Fantastic Four’s Silver Surfer doesn’t seem visually appealing in close-up shots or when static. However, I find that her design works better in motion or from a distance. The issue lies primarily with the character’s face appearing too lifelike and uncanny in close-ups, which can be quite distracting given Silver Surfer’s significant role in the movie. Achieving a realistic chrome look for this character is challenging, and I believe the Marvel Cinematic Universe could work on making it feel more organic.
I’m Convinced Silver Surfer Looked Better In Live-Action 18 Years Ago
The Previous Fantastic Four Movies Got Some Characters Right
One major factor that left me feeling let down by Julia Garner’s portrayal of Silver Surfer is because Fox successfully made the character look more appealing around twenty years ago, and this was achieved in a film that falls far short of being one of Marvel’s top live-action adaptations. The movie I’m referring to is “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” released in 2007. In this film, Doug Jones played the physical role of Norrin Radd’s version of Silver Surfer, while Lawrence Fishburne provided the voice for the character. The way Silver Surfer was depicted in that movie was spot on.
I find myself preferring the original design of Silver Surfer from the movie over the one in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for two key reasons: the facial features and hairstyle. In my opinion, Norrin Radd appeared more authentic and had a less unsettling “uncanny valley” effect on his face compared to Shalla-Bal’s appearance. To elaborate further, I believe that the hair in the MCU’s Silver Surfer looks out of place and adds an additional glossy surface to the character, making it more challenging to get right in both moving and still shots. Conversely, I felt that the bald design of Fox’s Silver Surfer better aligned with the character’s original aesthetic and was easier to execute effectively in various visual scenarios.
Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer Story Tease Makes Up For The Character’s Divisive Design
Shalla-Bal Will Not Be A One-Note MCU Character
Although I may not share the same enthusiasm for Julia Garner’s portrayal of Silver Surfer in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, I’m eager to watch her performance and unravel Shalla-Bal’s tale. In fact, my anticipation for the film increased after hearing Garner’s recent comments about Silver Surfer (via Entertainment Weekly). Although she didn’t divulge her character’s specific role in the movie, Garner hinted that Silver Surfer exhibits an “uncertain energy” suggesting whether she is good or not. This ambiguity will leave viewers puzzled as to whether he is truly aligned with Galactus or merely following orders.
| MCU Fantastic Four Member | Actor |
|---|---|
| Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic | Pedro Pascal |
| Sue Storm/Invisible Woman | Vanessa Kirby |
| Johnny Storm/Human Torch | Joseph Quinn |
| Ben Grimm/The Thing | Ebon Moss-Bachrach |
The actress who plays a character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) hinted that the enigmatic nature of Silver Surfer will be gradually explained in the upcoming movie titled “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Although I’m not fully satisfied with the CGI version of Silver Surfer, I appreciate the history of his love interest, Shalla-Bal, from the comics. Given the comments made by the actress about her character and the many secrets surrounding Silver Surfer, it seems likely that we might witness the origin story unfold through flashbacks in this movie. In the original comic books, Shalla-Bal became Galactus’ herald to protect her planet, Zenn-La, and find her lover, Norrin Radd, but later had her memories erased.
I’m Hopeful Silver Surfer Will Look Good In The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Marvel Studios Has Done Right By Another CGI Character In The Movie
Though I’m not overly fond of how Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer appears in the film at this stage, it’s possible that her final appearance could be improved by the time the movie is released. This optimism stems from Marvel Studios’ practice of refining CGI effects all the way up to the release date of their projects. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps set to hit theaters on July 25, there are still around three months until its premiere, providing ample time for the intricate CGI of Silver Surfer to become more refined.
In the unveiling of the initial trailer for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s revamped Fantastic Four, I shared similar reservations about how they portrayed the Thing. I thought his CGI needed refinement to make him convincing in action sequences. However, the more recent trailer for the film has alleviated my worries, as Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm now looks flawless. Given this experience, it seems that Marvel simply needs a bit more time to perfect Silver Surfer’s appearance before The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters, which fuels my optimism that the CGI will shine when we finally see it on the big screen.
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2025-04-29 19:21