Silver Surfer #1 (1982)

Brief Summary: The Fantastic Four build a device that allows the Silver Surfer to break free of Galactus' barrier. The Surfer quickly returns to Zenn-La, but is horrified to find the planet destroyed and devoid of life. The remaining survivors blame the Surfer for this destruction, because it was Galactus that returned to consume Zenn-La after the Surfer had betrayed him. The Silver Surfer also discovers that Shalla Bal was captured by Mephisto and is still trapped on Earth. He quickly returns to Earth and finds Shalla Bal under the control of Mephisto. The Surfer battles Mephisto and is close to overpowering him, when Shalla Bal is suddenly sent back to Zenn-La. The Silver Surfer rushes to catch her, but realizes that Galactus' barrier will stop him. Instead, he gives her some of his Power Cosmic so that she can bring life back to Zenn-La. Detailed Summary: Still trapped on Earth, the Silver Surfer laments over his plight and recalls the events that led to him becoming the Silver Surfer. He also reflects on his first encounter with the Fantastic Four and how, through meeting Alicia Masters, he renounced his role as Galactus' herald. It was this event that trapped the Surfer on Earth. While trying once again to pierce the barrier and failing, the Surfer notices a beam of energy also striking the barrier. He searches for the source of the beam, which leads him to the Fantastic Four. Reed has come up with an alpha beam device which temporarily weakens the barrier allowing the Surfer to fly out. He cautions the Surfer though that they can only do this once. If he comes back to Earth again he'll be trapped again. The Silver Surfer and Fantastic Four try it out and it works. Happy to finally be free of the Earth, the Surfer speeds off to Zenn-La to be reunited with Shalla Bal. Arriving on the planet, the Surfer finds the place decimated. He's attacked by his own people and, after stopping them, learns what has come of his home planet. After betraying Galactus, the world-devourer considered their agreement nullified. He returned to Zenn-La to consume it, as he had originally intended. When he inquires about Shalla Bal he learns that she had been kidnapped by Mephisto. The Surfer then recalls his last encounter with Dr. Doom in which he used what was apparently an exact duplicate of Shalla Bal, but now realizes that she was the real Shalla Bal all along. The Surfer then speeds back to Earth to find his true love, unaware that Mephisto has been watching the whole time and that this will suit his ends of trying to obtain the Surfer's soul. When the Surfer returns to Earth, he tracks down Shalla Bal who has spent the past months working in the kitchen of Dr. Doom's castle. When he confronts the girl she is kidnapped by Mephisto again. Following the lord of lies into his own domain, the Surfer confronts Mephisto who unsuccessfully tries to use his powers to force the Surfer into submission. The Surfer and Mephisto then lock in physical combat, until Mephisto strikes out at Shalla Bal. The Surfer breaks off his attack and Mephisto uses the moment to commit one final act. He transforms Shalla Bal into energy and sends the energy orb out into space, back to Zenn-La. The Surfer chases after it and gives Shalla Bal a portion of his Power Cosmic before she passes through Galactus' barrier. Although he's trapped on Earth again and Mephisto's revenge is complete, the Surfer still has a minor victory. When Shalla Bal returns to Zenn-La, she finds that the Power Cosmic endowed to her has given her the ability to revitalize the decimated planet.