I: Feature Story: "The Heir of Frankenstein!"

Pages: 40

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: John Buscema
Inks: Sal Buscema
Letters: Sam Rosen

First Appearance: Dr. Frankenstein, Borgo, Dr. Hartford

Villain: Dr. Frankenstein

Guest Appearance: Borgo, Dr. Hartford

Flashback Cameo: Dr. Doom, Shalla Bal

Synopsis: A descendant of the infamous Dr. Frankenstein tries to animate a monster of his own, while below the castle keep in which he toils, the local citizenry rallies to stop the madman. Frankenstein's arrogance demands that he animate the monster, and he is compelled to enact "Experiment X" to do so, but he needs a victim who can survive the process. The Surfer is flying by and sees the castle under attack and flies in to aid the castle's tenant. Frankenstein cajoles the Surfer into trusting him, but inevitably the Surfer loses trust in him and leaves.

Afterwards, Frankenstein watches old films of his ancestor breathing life into his monster, and realizes he must not find a way to avoid the mistakes of the past. He sets up his own experiment and transfers the soul of a rabbit into a wolf. He sends a beam of light into outer space to beckon the Surfer, and succeeds! He tells the newly arrived Surfer that if he helps him with his experiment, he can end crime and war on Earth. The Surfer agrees, but Frankenstein instead duplicates his powers into the form of an evil, and obedient, Surfer doppleganger. The evil Surfer immediately sets out to menace the local village.

The real Surfer rises and goes to face his evil opposite. The town is stunned and very frightened to see two Surfers fighting overhead. Norrin Radd leads his foe into outer space, where the clash between the two creates a lightshow visible on Earth.

Frankenstein lifts up a gun to fire down at the oncoming villages who seek to destroy his castle, causing his long suffering toady, Borgo, to finally act: he pushes Frankenstein out the window, and they both fall out the windows to their deaths.

The evil Surfer descends to Earth to cause mayhem, and the Air Force scrambles jets to deal with the threat, but by the time the Surfer has destroyed his doppleganger, he is the only one left standing, and winds up being blamed for all the destruction.

--synopsis by Gormuu

Issues Reprinted
Silver Surfer #7-18

Click on cover image to learn more about each issue.