The Silver Surfer tagging along with them in the character’s triumphant return to the live-action space. Now, thanks to one of DC Comics’ best artists, Silver Surfer takes a trip into the unknown in a viral animation that teases what could be in store for this cosmic hero in the MCU.

Helping speed along the hype train that is The Fantastic Four: First Steps, artist Doug Mahnke (@thedougmahnke) is a creator who, when not working on his professional DC Comics obligations, finds the time to post self-animated clips on Instagram featuring a slew of iconic heroes and villains from across the comic industry and beyond.

Animating clips that bring Terminator’s T-800 into conflict with Aliens’ Alien Queen, a short where Flash runs at warp speed and bends space and time, and even one titled “Bane’s Big Bench Day” where the character reps an ungodly amount of weight with ease, Doug’s iconic art style works well in motion, making these posts a treat whenever he shares them.

New Marvel Comics Animation Shows What Could Be in Store For the MCU’s Silver Surfer

Animation by DC Comics Artist Doug Mahnke

Returning to the big screen after 2007’s middling Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer didn’t do the character any favors (Laurence Fishburne’s portrayal of Norrin Radd was one of the better aspects of a bad film), the MCU’s Silver Surfer will be played by Julia Garner adapting Shalla-Bal’s iteration of the character, giving fans a fresh take on a hero who’s always been integral to the Fantastic Four’s story. Although Doug uses the original Silver Surfer for this animation, the clip is a perfect example of what Shalla-Bal should be capable of when she makes her live-action debut.

Hurtling through the void of space on his signature board, Doug animates a hyper-focused Norrin Radd as he es by a swirling black hole, enormous set of planets, and a dense asteroid field, boosting himself further and faster as he chases the shadow of Galactus across the cosmos. Unaffected by space debris and the primordial elements floating in the darkness, the clip soon reaches a crescendo where Silver Surfer hits warp speed, and as Norrin shoots energy from his hands, he pushes himself even harder, with smears of color and spacetime flowing around him in a vibrant display of power.

Doug Mahnke Expertly Shows the Potential for Silver Surfer’s Next Live-Action Iteration

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Releases on July 25, 2025

To make this post even better, while Silver Surfer journeys across the cosmos, Doug chooses Lenny Kravitz’ “Fly Away” as a backing track, avoiding the expected trippy electronic beat and giving his animation a fun and adventurous feel — the perfectly balanced tone this Herald of Galactus deserves. Though fans haven’t seen The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ version of Silver Surfer in action just yet, its July release date is swiftly approaching, leaving plenty of time for a new trailer or character poster to be released, teasing what will hopefully be a much better take on this iconic Fantastic Four character.

Source: @thedougmahnke