SILVERBACK SURFER
Earth-8101
Real Name: Norrin Radd
Identity/Class: Alternate Earth (Earth-8101) Zenn-Lavian mutate
Occupation: Superhero
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Ape-Vengers (Gro-Rilla/Henry Pym, Iron Mandrill/Tony Stark, Thorangutan/Thorangutan Odinson, Wasp/Janet van Dyne), Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Fantastic Four (Invisible Simian/Susan Storm, Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards, Simian Torch/Johnny Storm, Thing/Ben Grimm), Forbush Mandrill (Irving Forbush), Spider-Monkey (Peter Parker), X-Simians (Angel/Warren Worthington III, Beast/Henry McCoy, Cyclops/Scott Summers, Icemonk/Robert Drake, Marvel Girl/Jean Grey);
formerly Captain America (John Falsworth);
presumably Galactus (see comments)
Enemies: None
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile throughout outer space
First Appearance: Marvel Apes I#1/3 (November, 2008)
Powers/Abilities: The Silverback Surfer possesses vast cosmic abilities granted by the Power Cosmic, allowing him to manipulate energy, matter, and physical forces on a cosmic scale. He can fly at faster-than-light speeds on his banana board, survive in space, and demonstrates superhuman strength, durability, and awareness of the universe around him.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'7")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 150 lbs.)
Eyes: White, no visible irises
Hair: None
History:
(Marvel Apes I#1/3 - BTS) - Norrin Radd sacrificed his freedom to save his home world, becoming the Silverback Surfer and herald of Galactus. Though bound to serve a cosmic master, he retained his compassion and conscience.
(Marvel Apes I#1/3) - During what would become known as the Silver Age of heroes, Silverback Surfer would fight alongside other costumed superapes such as the X-Simians, the Ape-Vengers and the Fantastic Four.
Comments: Created by Tom Peyer.
Although this version of the Silver Surfer only appeared briefly, his counterpart from Earth-95019 played a far more prominent role. It's in Marvel Apes: Prime Eight that we see the Silverback Surfer doesn't ride a silver surfboard but a silver banana board. It's been unrevealed if this Silverback Surfer is still Galactus' herald.
The Marvel Apes limited series (2008) was conceived as a playful companion to the earlier Marvel Zombies phenomenon. Following the unexpected commercial success of Zombies, Marvel looked to replicate the formula by reimagining its superheroes in another offbeat, high-concept alternate reality. Writer Karl Kesel, inspired by Silver Age whimsy and the classic "What If?" tradition, pitched a world where Marvel's heroes and villains were evolved primates rather than humans. The project was greenlit as a four-issue miniseries, launching with a tongue-in-cheek promotional campaign that leaned into its absurdity while still delivering a surprisingly dark, satirical storyline. The series spawned several tie-ins and one-shots, positioning the Ape-Verse as both a parody of and homage to Marvel's multiverse storytelling.
Earth-8101 is the main Marvel Apes reality, but there are three others as well:
- Earth-81218, possible future of Earth-8101 set in the year 2099.
- Earth-90543, monkey Speedball was send back to his world and branded a traitor by the Ape-Vengers. This was a bad dream of the Gibbon.
- Earth-95019, diverged from Earth-8101 when zombies invaded their world. The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Update #5 indicates that the timelines designated Earth-95019 and Earth-21050 were seemingly erased when Earth-616's Gorilla Girl went back to the moment the portal was opened and destroyed it.
Profile by MarvellousLuke
CLARIFICATIONS:
Silver Surfer has no known connections to
Images: (without ads)
Marvel Apes I#1, p31, pan1 (main image)
Appearances:
Marvel Apes I#1/3 (November, 2008) - Tom Peyer (writer), Barry Kitson (pencils, inks), Stephen Wacker, Tom Brennan, Tom Brevoort (editors)
First Posted: 12/22/2025
Last Updated: 12/22/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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