Aaron Kleinman
Does power determine divinity? Does unfeeling strength make a god? Is the divine so righteous if it breeds only wickedness? Can a single man defy the might and the unyielding worship of a deity?
Back in 1988, Stan Lee teamed with up Moebius to create a story that dared to say, “No one person is truly powerless so long as they are alive.”
Stan Lee was always one to tell stories about the strength of a person. The strength of their character along with the physical. Silver Surfer: Parable is no exception. Lee himself stated that Parable is his favorite Surfer story that he ever wrote. And while I myself have not read a lot of Silver Surfer stories, I can say that it is one of my favorite comics in general.
Revisiting it after a good few years, with a new lens due to the sociopolitical changes that have happened, has led me to see the book as truly timeless.
It’s a story that will forever be relevant. That the lust for power in those who seek it can lead to dire consequences. That someone with a little charisma and a hell of a gift for talking can sway the masses. It’s not Galactus himself who turns the people of Earth to worship him so intensely. It’s a human. One of our own. In his own vye for power over those he sees as lesser, he helps create an environment in which Galactus can easier manipulate humans into destroying themselves.
It’s a story we’ve seen play out in real life time and time again. We see it now. The foolish following the wicked. But real life is reflected within Parable in other ways. It’s reflected through the spirit of man.
As Silver Surfer says within the story, “Let it ever be the goal that stirs us. Not the odds.” Words that ring true when anyone could look outside their window and see different groups fighting everyday to retain their rights, lest they be workers rights or human rights. The odds are far from on their side, but it’s a fight worth fighting. A flame fueled by passion and a want for a better world.
Moebius was the perfect artist for Lee to team up with for such a story. It wasn’t a story anyone in the Marvel Bullpen could have done justice like Moebius did. His simple, yet detailed linework is enhanced by his decision to use the 4 color system that comics used at the time. It was a step away from the array of colors that European comics used at the time. It was a self-placed restriction that arguably works for the better.
Moebius’ linework is solid, yet feels almost uneven. You can see where there’s change in pressure from the pen or when he leans a certain way. This flowy and loose linework transfers over to his lettering as well. It’s different from any other lettering in the business. It makes the voice of the book feel even more unique than it already is. It adds almost a grittiness in some weird type of way. It makes the words being spoken feel foreign, yet familiar. It makes the art feel that much fuller.
At the end of the day, Lee and Moebius together crafted a timeless story that every comic book fan should read. If you want a quick read that will stick with you, this is the book for you.
You can have your local comic shop order the Epic Collection containing it for you (this writer’s preferred option) or you can order it online.
