The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always taken pride in its visual storytelling, often pushing the boundaries of CGI to create worlds and characters that are larger than life. So when the first trailer for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ dropped, fans were expecting a lot.
The trailer introduced audiences to the MCU’s version of Silver Surfer, this time reimagined as Shalla-Bal, and it immediately sparked conversation. However, not all of it was positive.
Shalla-Bal’s Alien Look Is Meant To Be Disturbing
While the reimagining of Silver Surfer as a female character played by Julia Garner is a bold creative step, it’s the CGI execution of the character that has left fans divided. There’s no denying that the MCU is capable of dazzling effects work. From the portals of Doctor Strange to the intricate details of everything, Marvel has delivered time and again. However, something about this new Silver Surfer feels… off.
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And it’s not just because the character is different, it’s because she looks different in a way that unsettles more than it excites. Let’s start with what we know. Shalla-Bal is not the traditional Silver Surfer we’re used to. In the comics, she was Norrin Radd’s love interest, not the cosmic herald herself, at least not until much later multiversal tales gave her the board. Her MCU appearance takes full inspiration from these later stories.
It gives her the spotlight as a female Silver Surfer in a chilling and cosmic fashion. But this reinterpretation is more than just a gender swap. It’s an artistic decision to present the character as something truly otherworldly. And that’s exactly what her CGI reflects. Shalla-Bal’s entire body, including her hair and surfboard, has a gleaming, metallic look. It’s unnervingly smooth, with light bouncing off it in strange ways.
Her entrance in the trailer, descending from a void-like sky, issuing a dire warning about Earth’s fate, is haunting. However, it’s also weird-looking. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this kind of design. Fans have already drawn comparisons to the T-1000 from Terminator 2. Like the T-1000, Shalla-Bal’s design leans hard into the “alien” aesthetic. It’s not meant to be warm, familiar, or even particularly “cool” in the traditional superhero sense.
How Shalla-Bal Is Different From 2007’s Norrin Radd
It’s impossible to talk about the new Silver Surfer without revisiting the old one. 2007’s ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’ introduced Norrin Radd. While the film had its fair share of narrative issues, its depiction of the Silver Surfer was surprisingly solid for its time. Norrin Radd was sleek and reflective, but still very human. His face showed emotion. His movements felt organic.
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In comparison, Shalla-Bal feels less like a character and more like a presence. She doesn’t speak with soft wisdom or emotional conflict. She issues a warning, spins through the void like a blade, and knocks Johnny Storm back with a wave of power. Where Norrin Radd was a tragic figure, Shalla-Bal seems to be living for it. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad; it’s just different.
Her CGI may look “weird,” but it might also be a deliberate move to shift away from Marvel’s tendency to humanize every cosmic character. That said, it’s also worth noting that CGI often looks very different in a trailer than it does on the big screen. These effects are tailored for IMAX and high-resolution theatrical viewings. So what seems awkward or plastic on your phone screen might feel better in a theater.
