I thought it beneficial to consider this subject as there seem to be a number of misconceptions about the use of the concept hyperspace, as it relates to the character, the Silver Surfer.Before tackling this subject, I thought it important to address the idea of travelling faster than light.It's ludicrous. But, in comics, any number of insane power sets are assigned to a large number of characters. When the the Surfer first crossed the light speed barrier, a writer expressed his disbelief. Note Stan Lee's response below:Hyperspace is a fictional term coined by science fiction writers to make FTL travel more believable. And of course, faster than light travel would be necessary in many science fictions books in order to make space travel, often to faraway places in the universe, more believable. According to Einstein’s theory, no object could cross the light speed barrier because the closer it comes to light speed, the closer it comes to reaching infinite mass. Writers therefore concocted the notion of hyperspace (or “slip space”, “sub-space”, “warp space”, etc…). However, it should be noted that how hyperspace travel is attained is entirely dependent on the writer. There is no black and white rule about the application of the fictional concept hyperspace, across the board to all writers utilizing this tool. Without getting into all the details, some writers indicated hyperspace as attainable only as an object approaches the speed of light; others, hyperspace is attained only after the light speed barrier is crossed. In order to reach these speeds, often, immensely powerful engines (sometimes nuclear in terms of propulsion, i.e, the U.S.S. Enterprise's original propulsion system was nuclear in nature) are required to “shunt” the craft into hyperspace.With regard to the use of hyperspace to the character the Silver Surfer, it should be noted that the term was first used in conjunction with the character in his first appearance in Fantastic Four 48, from 1966.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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This is noteworthy because the first time the Silver Surfer crosses the light speed barrier is in his own magazine, in 1968, Silver Surfer 6, volume 1. It is clear that the writer of Fantastic Four 48, Stan Lee, also the writer of Silver Surfer 6, volume 1, was well acquainted with the term hyperspace when the character first crossed the light speed barrier to travel time.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From Silver Surfer 6, volume 1, the Surfer first crosses the light speed barrier without utilizing hyperspace

Scans from Fantastic Four indicate that concepts like "warp--space" and "sub-space" were all clearly on Stan's mind when he concocted these things. Below are scans from issue 37 of the Fantastic Four._____________________________________________________________________

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Much later, the term hyperspace is again re-introduced in the 1982 one-shot by John Byrne._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In 1987, volume three, issue 2 (John Byrne's one-shot is considered "volume 2") of the Silver Surfer was introduced, written by Steve Englehart. This issue was released not long after the Mark Gruenwald inspired The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Mark Gruenwald was a major proponent of the notion faster than light travel could only be achieved by the Surfer after he entered hyperspace. The second scan, issue 16 of volume 3, written by Englehart as well, appears to indicate the same thought: that the Silver Surfer was incapable of achieving faster than light speeds without the use of hyperspace. The term hyperspace was used liberally by this writer during his time on the book._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

However, a year after issue 16 was released, Silver Surfer Annual 2, volume 3, also written by Steve Englehart, Mr. Englehart appears to correct himself, giving the only explanation in continuity of how the Surfer enters hyperspace. The explanation?Only after the Surfer crosses the light speed barrier can he then choose hyperspace as an option for interstellar travel.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Why the change? I can only guess that Mr. Englehart somehow became aware of the Silver Surfer's feat in Silver Surfer issue 1, volume 1 by word of mouth, research maybe?...who knows, maybe he talked to Stan Lee himself! At any rate, the correction is noted.As mentioned above, The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe indicates the Surfer must attain “99.5% of the speed of light” in order to slip into hyperspace.However, Marvel.com says this:(http://marvel.com/universe/Silver_Surfer)

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From Marvel.com, the Surfer crosses light speed first, then can choose to enter hyperspace_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Most of the references to hyperspace with regard to the Surfer occur in the late eighties and used mostly by Englehart. The last known reference to the use of hyperspace by the Silver Surfer appears to be from Annihilation: Silver Surfer (2005). Below are the instances of the use of hyperspace as it relates to the Silver Surfer. Some references are only implied (one scan mentions a reference to time as it relates to travel in hyperspace...cycles) or may not directly involve the Surfer at all but are included for reference. Others are references to other characters utilizing hyperspace travel that shared the same book with the Surfer (Phoenix in X-Men Unlimited 13 for example).The first mention of hyperspace and the second are referenced above. The next ones I found are from, respectively: Fantastic Four 324, Silver Surfer Annual 1, vol. 3, Silver Surfer Annual 3, vol. 3, Silver Surfer 9, vol. 3, Silver Surfer 15, vol. 3, Silver Surfer 19, vol. 3, Silver Surfer 22, vol. 3, Silver Surfer 25, vol. 3, Silver Surfer 26, vol. 3, Silver Surfer 31, vol. 3, Silver Surfer 107 (twice), vol. 3, Silver Surfer 109, Star Masters, issue 3 and X-Men Unlimited 13 (written by George Perez) and finally Annihilation: Silver Surfer, issue 3._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As mentioned above, The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe indicates the Surfer must enter hyperspace before achieving faster than light speeds. This is noteworthy because a major contributor to the handbooks, the late, great Mark Gruenwald, also wrote Star Masters (1996), featuring the Silver Surfer (along with Quasar and Beta Ray Bill). Hyperspace is mentioned in issue 3 of the series, but not in connection with the Silver Surfer (which scan is noted above, third from the right). However, as the scan below would appear to indicate, Mr. Gruenwald felt that the Surfer achieving faster than light travel required entering hyperspace first, although not necessarily stated. Nevertheless, with all due respect to Mr. Gruenwald, his insistence that the Surfer must enter hyperspace before exceeding the speed of light is incorrect. Marvel.com indicates the opposite is true, as does the only explanation in the Silver Surfer's entire continuity, from Silver Surfer Annual 2, vol. 3: he must exceed the speed of light first...then hyperspace becomes an option for him. This explanation also squares with Silver Surfer as he was originally presented in 1966 in Fantastic Four 48 and a few years later in Silver Surfer 6, vol. 1, 1968._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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To be clear, in a discussion concerning hyperspace as it relates to the Surfer’s speed, light speed has already been exceeded before entering hyperspace, not after. Generally, this has no bearing on a battle forum discussion anyway and is usually irrelevant.A word about wormholes and black holes and such: context applies. Issue 122 of the Silver Surfer shows Norrin Radd pass through a worm hole at well over light speed._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Some erroneously point to this as proof that hyperspace was utilized. However, no such reference is given; rather it is simply an indication that the Surfer passed through an already existing wormhole and not hyperspace. Some scientists theorize wormholes are simply black holes and therefore portals to another universe and are naturally existing “warps” in space time, but this is not elaborated upon in the feat. While the effect may be the same as utilizing hyperspace, the difference is simply that hyperspace is one entity, while wormholes, black holes and such, are something different altogether.

However, aside from the obvious similarity of shortening what would otherwise be great, great distances, it could also be argued that whether the Surfer enters hyperspace or utilizes a wormhole, in each instance, as has already been clearly indicated, for the Surfer to enter hyperspace, faster than light speeds must be attained first. To enter a black hole (or a wormhole) faster than light speeds must also be attained as even light itself is bent under the immense gravitational pull of a black hole. If anything, the Silver Surfer passing through a worm hole is simply evidence of his great speed and durability. Below, from Enslavers, another reference to a black hole (and a white hole!) is mentioned and that space time is warped as a result of his speed.

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Some confuse, from Enslavers, this as another reference to hyperspace. However, the context indicates the Surfer simply passed through a black hole that connects to another universe and the result is the warping of space and time because of his incredible speed, not because he was utilizing hyperspace.

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