Warning: contains spoilers forThe Death of the Silver Surfer#2!
Move overX-Men: the humans of the Marvel Universe have found a new target for their hatred. The conflict between humans and mutants has played out for over 60 years, with no signs of ever abiding.Yet hate knows no bounds, and inThe Death of the Silver Surfer#2, another group finds themselves ostracized: extraterrestrials.
The Death of the Silver Surfer#2 was written by Greg Pak and drawn by Sumit Kumar. The Silver Surfer, visiting Earth, finds the planet gripped in an intense bout of xenophobia, directed at aliens from off-world. A “Bureau of Alien Neutralization” swiftly handles aliens with extreme prejudice.
It is a situation not unlike that faced by the X-Men.
The X-Men Are Stand-Ins for the Struggle for Equality
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Chris Claremont and Others Created a Great Metaphor for Humanity
There is a natural human impulse to create, and hate, an “other.” In the Marvel Universe, these “others” are the mutants. Up untilthe arrival of the X-Men, heroes gained their powers through lab accidents or through magical means. The X-Men broke that mold by showcasing people who were born with their abilities.
According to legend, Stan Lee came up with the concept of “mutants” because he was running out of ways to give people powers, but he and artist Jack Kirby hit on a potent metaphor for the human condition.
According to legend, Stan Lee came up with the concept of “mutants” because he was running out of ways to give people powers, but he and artist Jack Kirby hit on a potent metaphor for the human condition. Later X-Men creators, particularly Chris Claremont, mined this vein for some of Marvel’s greatest stories.
In the hands of Claremont and others, the X-Men became an exploration of prejudice and civil rights. The franchise’s focus on “outcasts” and “freaks” has made it a safe haven for those who do not fit in with society. The X-Men have, at times, been metaphors for the struggle for racial and LGBTIQA+ equality.
Soon Aliens Will Join the X-Men as Targets of Humanity’s Wrath
Even the Silver Surfer is Giving Earth a Second Thought
While the X-Men franchise concerns itself primarily with the human versus mutant dynamic, the overall message can be applied to any type of “other,” and as seen inThe Death of the Silver Surfer#2, human nature is coming for aliens. The issue makes it clear that the Earth is not safe for off-worlders.
While the X-Men franchise concerns itself primarily with the human versus mutant dynamic, the overall message can be applied to any type of “other,” and as seen inThe Death of the Silver Surfer#2, human nature is coming for aliens.
The issue does not shy away from the horrors this xenophobia is bringing about. The humans the Surfer meets spout dangerous, anti-alien rhetoric. The government has a special bureau devoted to “neutralizing” aliens. Given all the anti-alien technology the government has, such a group existing should come as no surprise.
TheSilver Surfer experiences humanity’s surging prejudicefirst-hand. After saving the lives of a group of children, the Surfer briefly enjoys the thanks of the crowd. However, the crowd almost immediately turns on the Surfer once the police arrive, forcing him to flee, his good deed from just moments ago seemingly forgotten.
Earth is Now Not Safe for the X-Men or Aliens
Humanity’s Hatred for Those Who Are Different Knows No Bounds
Many aliens call Earth home in the Marvel Universe, and this rising prejudice comes at the worst possible time. Marvel’s cosmic corner is being rocked by theImperialevent, meaning even more aliens may be on their way to Earth. If they make it, they will find themselves the target of violence, just like that experienced by theX-Men.
The Death of the Silver Surfer#2 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!
