The Power of Entertainment
After 15 issues of (mostly) cosmic adventures, the Silver Surfer and Dawn Greenwood return to her home planet of Earth. Surfer has misgivings about returning, having once been trapped on Earth with no hope of escape, but the bond of love formed between himself and Dawn has them both willing to make sacrifices for the other's happiness.
Following the huge events of Silver Surfer #13-15, which saw the two companions becoming unto gods and creating their own universe, this issue seeks to have a smaller, more personal story that is welcoming to new readers, almost like a new season of a television show. Dawn's return home shows all that she has missed while being away, exemplified by her father's creation of a new holiday incorporating every celebration she has missed. For his part Surfer learns that sometimes you haven't truly experienced something until you've done it with people you love, and his joy at re-experiencing The Wizard of Oz for the 5 billionth time in this way is a great moment.
While the first half is a tale of family, the second is about the effect the stories we read, watch, and listen to can have in our lives. Dawn says of the Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz that he has, "been there for me, every year of my life." Particular power is given to characters from all kinds of media, though it is clear that in some cases the power is lost without someone to share it with.
As for the art, it is fantastic, as it has been throughout the series. Michael and Laura Allred are fantastic at drawing, and then colouring, the incredible sights in each issue. Readers will have a particularly fun time identifying the various famous characters that appear, slightly modified, within this issue. Read it!