Marvel Unveils 'Fantastic Four' Prequel Comic 'Shalla-Bal: Silver Surfer'

Marvel is expanding the world of The Fantastic Four: First Steps with a prequel one-shot that centers on Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer introduced in the film. The new issue will tie directly into the movie’s continuity and shift focus away from the First Family to explore this character’s backstory.

In First Steps, Julia Garner portrays Shalla-Bal, a version of the Silver Surfer who serves as Galactus’s primary herald on Earth-828 before turning against him when she discovers the power within Franklin Richards. The forthcoming comic is expected to trace her journey from Zenn-La to the Silver Surfer mantle and examine her early partnership with Galactus prior to their betrayal and departure through a portal.

Marvel announced Fantastic Four: First Foes as a series of quarterly one-shot specials designed to expand on different characters and moments from First Steps, all set on Earth-828. The debut issue, about the Mad Thinker, reached newsstands on Mar. 4; Bleeding Cool News places the Shalla-Bal: Silver Surfer one-shot in June.

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