Issue -106
Title - Crowd Control
Writer - Mike Lackey
Art - Tom Grindberg
Summary:
On the planet Tanus, the Surfer attempts to soothe the hatred that is consuming the planet and is leading it to self destruction. Although imbued with enough cosmic power to resuscitate the planet, the Surfer fears that this act will fail like it did the last time where he destroyed the planet he tried to save. He is suddenly visited upon by a familiar being from his past who offers to save and the planet in exchange for giving up his cosmic power. The Surfer agrees. After a short but painful process he exits the machine and thanks his mysterious benefactor, Doctor Doom.
Notes:
The Surfer is aware of Doom's 'death' in Fantastic Four #381
Doom first took the Silver Surfer's cosmic power in Fantastic Four #57-60, and then again in Fantastic Four #155-57. In the MC2 universe, Doom imbued Doombots with the power cosmic in Fantastic Five: The Final Doom.
Issue -107
Title - Weapon 'S'
Writer - Mike Lackey
Art - Tom Grindberg
Summary:
Upon stripping the Surfer of his power, Doom proceeds to destroy the planet Tanus, much to the Surfer's horror. Doom reveals himself to be a Doombot. He was programmed by the real Doom some months after their first encounter to find the Surfer and retake the power cosmic. With it he is to return to Earth so that the real Doom can use it against the Fantastic Four. The Surfer is tortured and then tossed into a cell. There, he contacts Legacy, the son of Captain Marvel, via cosmic ESP and asks for help. The Doombot visits the Surfer and demands to know the secret of his board. The Surfer explains that since he is a robot, he lacks the spark of life needed to command it. As the Doombot beats the Surfer, it madly claims to be divine. The Surfer points out that he cannot be divine and be the product of an imperfect being such as Doom. The Doombot realizes this and concludes that all life, including his creator, must perish. Discarding his ship, he proceeds to Earth leaving the Surfer to die floating in airless space.
Issue -108
Title - Galactic Grapplerama
Writer - Mike Lackey
Art - Tom Grindberg
Summary:
Doom has been revealed to be nothing more than a Doombot programmed by Doom years ago to seek out the Surfer in space and once again steal his power cosmic. Having once gained the power he continues to the next stage of his programming to seek out the Fantastic Four and destroy them. A powerless Surfer is left floating in space for dead. The cosmic hero Legacy finds the Surfer and restores to him cosmic power using his nega-bands. A revitalized Surfer races after the Doombot as he approaches Earth and rips him to pieces and reclaiming the cosmic power that he gave to it.
Comments:
Surfer gives up power. Surfer regains power two issues later. The ultimate point of the story is that because of his experience, the Surfer learns for himself "with great power, come great responsibility." The character would have, I think, better served had he spent more time without the power and the point been a little more profound. This also features one of the silliest cover blurbs, "Doom Boom" indeed. Bottom Line: * out of 5