With the Silver Surfer sporting a new look and about to make some serious waves in Marvel's upcoming King in Black event, it does bring up a question concerning the classic look of one of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's most enduring characters. What is the Silver Surfers metallic-like skin made of? Where did he get it, and how does it make him such a cosmic powerhouse?
Before the Surfer sported his new cosmic chrome look, he was once Norrin Radd of the distant world of Zenn-La. In a desperate attempt to save his home planet from always-hungry, planet-consuming, cosmic super-god Galactus, Radd would offer himself to forever serve as his herald so that the cosmic entity might spare his world. Radd's plan was to search out and guide Galactus to worlds rich with energy, yet devoid of sentient life. Galactus, a being who has existed since the beginning of the universe itself, agreed to to make Radd his herald, and spare Zenn-Laa.
The look of the Silver Surfer, along with his cosmic board, was actually created in part by Norrin Radd's own subconscious. Galactus delved into the mind of Radd and found a man yearning for the adventures he read as a child. Galactus then imbued Radd with barely a fraction of his power cosmic, causing Radd to resemble the heroes he read about as a child. Hence, his skin took on a silver sheen and he was given a silver surfboard that was connected to him psychically and obeyed his every thought.
While shiny and chrome, the Surfer's new look does more then let him live out a childhood dream. With just a hint of the power cosmic flowing through him, Radd now had the ability to survive in the harsh emptiness of space as well as travel beyond the speed of light, as well as giving him superhuman speed, strength, and invulnerability. The Surfer even surpasses the Hulk and Thor in terms of sheer power. In keeping to his new body, the Silver Surfer also requires no food, nor water, nor even sleep to sustain himself. He also has limitless endurance, able to fight, fly, or remain active for as long as he wishes without the threat of fatigue, sickness, or any kind of poison or toxin. And even as an added bonus, Radd was also rendered virtually immortal.
Ever since Silver Surfer freed himself from Galactus, he's spent much of his time traveling the universe, pondering whatever fathomless thoughts a cosmic being could contemplate. Often considered the most powerful of the Marvel superheroes, he frequently uses his fantastic cosmic powers to lend an assist, whether on Earth or among the stars. Even then, he still has time to go on fun Dr. Who style adventures across the universe and beyond. But no matter how he flies, or how he changes, or how continues to travel and contemplate, the Silver Surfer will almost always be porting his classic chrome look.