Unsurprisingly, the news that Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four will feature a female Silver Surfer has not gone down well. Unfortunately, what those who haven't looked beyond the headlines and X posts might not realise is that Shalla-Bal is a totally separate character.
Yes, old Norinn Radd's genitals remain intact, and this movie is instead taking a deep dive into the comic books to do something new.
In this feature, we're going to bring you up to speed with Shalla-Bal's comic book history and the alternate reality series which set the stage for her to become the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Silver Surfer literally decades ago.
So, to find everything you need to know, simply click on the "Next"/"View List" buttons below.
4. Who Is Shalla-Bal?
It's important to start by explaining that The Fantastic Four isn't taking Norinn Radd and making him a woman. Shalla-Bal is a character in her own right and one who first appeared in the pages of 1968's Silver Surfer #1.
Like Norrin, she hails from Zenn-La, a planet targeted by the planet-eating Galactus. To spare his home, Norrin offered himself as the villain's herald and, imbued with the Power Cosmic, found worlds for his new master to consume. However, that meant leaving behind his lover, Shalla-Bal.
In the regular Marvel Universe, she is just a regular woman but has an extended lifespan due to her alien nature and gained the ability to restore her planet from its cataclysmic state after a fragment of the Surfer's power was placed within her.
3. Reunion With The Silver Surfer
Years later, Silver Surfer turned his back on Galactus and was forced to remain on Earth as punishment. There, he clashed with Mephisto and Shalla-Bal was brought to Earth by the demon so he could toy with the cosmic superhero.
Made to believe she was a normal citizen of Latveria, "Helena" was used as a pawn by Doctor Doom to pit the Fantastic Four against the Surfer. Galactus, meanwhile, devoured Zenn-La and left it a husk (explaining why Shalla-Bal later needed to restore it). It was that which saw her named Empress of their planet.
The two eventually grew apart, with Norinn devoted to protecting the spaceways and Shalla-Bal keen to make sure her home remained a haven for their people. It's a compelling backstory, but not necessarily the one we expect The Fantastic Four to focus on...
2. The Importance Of Earth X
In the Earth X series, much of the history between Norin Radd and Shalla-Bal remained, though there was one crucial change: the death of Galactus. With the villain gone, the Surfer sought to restore cosmic balance and convinced immensely powerful mutant Franklin Richards to take over.
Forgetting his past, Franklin was born anew as Galactus and, slightly more merciful than his predecessor, he allowed the Surfer and Shalla-Bal to be reunited as his twin Heralds. She too was imbued with the Power Cosmic and subsequently became the Silver Surfer as well.
She'd eventually die in battle against the Celestials, but the Surfer lived on. Ultimately, he'd give up his life to imbue Mar-Vell with the Power Cosmic, reuniting with his lost love in the Realm of the Dead. So, yes, there's precedent in the comics for there to be a separate male and female Silver Surfer.
1. Relax, It's An Alternate Reality
Unsurprisingly, the reaction to Marvel Studios introducing a female Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four has been exactly what you'd expect. Cries of "Woke," "Not my Surfer," and "Boycott this movie" have rung out in many a basement this past week, but it's all an overreaction.
As we've established, Shalla-Bal is a completely separate character. Not only might this movie feature Norrin Radd still, but on Earth-616, he may well be the Silver Surfer. Yes, in case it wasn't already obvious, The Fantastic Four doesn't just take place in the 1960s, it's set in a parallel reality.
That's apparent from the new Human Torch poster which features a New York City skyline unlike anything else we've seen in the MCU before. The team is bound to make their way to Earth-616 eventually and, when it happens, we're sure they'll eventually cross paths with the other Surfer.