While the Silver Surfer is the most famous of Galactus’ heralds, the Marvel multiverse has also introduced several Golden Surfers. Few cosmic figures are as iconic or as powerful as Norrin Radd. The Silver Surfer’s adventures have taken him across galaxies, battling gods, devourers, and reality‑warping threats, all while wrestling with his moral compass.
While Norrin Radd remains the definitive Silver Surfer, other notable figures have taken on similar roles. Shalla‑Bal briefly took up his role in the comics, which inspired the MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Other characters like Thor, Terrax, and even Dazzler have also served as Galactus’ heralds at some point.
Across alternate universes and unique timelines, multiple characters have resembled the Silver Surfer, only in gold, bronze, and even platinum hues.
Norrin Radd Briefly Turned Gold As A Defender
Defenders #2; Written By Al Ewing, Art By Javier Rodriguez & Joe Caramanga
In 2021’s Defenders #2, Norrin Radd faces the cosmic herald Zota. Recognizing a link between them, Norrin Radd offers his own Power Cosmic as bait. Norrin then seizes the connection to absorb Zota’s entire power. The transfer transforms the Silver Surfer’s body and board into a radiant gold form, while Zota is violently hurled into deep space.
This golden incarnation of the Surfer wields not only his own Power Cosmic but also the vast energy stolen from Zota. In this state, Norrin’s cosmic senses and energy manipulation may double his usual limits. While the enhancement is temporary, Norrin Radd’s brief stint as the Golden Surfer confirms he’s the most powerful herald in the history of the title.
Regent
Ultimate Fantastic Four #45; Written By Mike Carey; Art By Pasqual Ferry & Justin Ponsor
In Marvel’s original Ultimate universe, Silver Surfer is Psycho-Man’s herald. In 2003’s Ultimate Fantastic Four #45, Psycho-Man reshapes reality, where he has a host of Surfers, with the Golden Surfer “Regent” acting as one of his prime emissaries. Regent and the other heralds fight Norrin Radd and the Fantastic Four after the latter rebel against Psycho-Man’s utopian fantasy, but the Surfers are defeated.
Unlike Norrin Radd’s brief golden transformation from Defenders, Regent is born a golden Surfer, crafted in this timeline to fulfill Psycho-Man’s will. His abilities rival the Silver Surfer’s classic Power Cosmic suite: super strength, energy projection, and probably light-speed travel. Regent’s golden sheen marks him as Psycho-Man’s elite bodyguard, but he’s written out of existence in record time.
The Runner
New Defenders #143; Written By Peter B. Gillis; Art By Don Perlin, Kim DeMulder, and Michele Wrightson
One of the Elders of the Universe, Gilpetperdon a.k.a. The Runner is an ageless being obsessed with freedom. The Runner’s golden-skinned appearance and super speed makes him visually reminiscent of a Golden Surfer, though he isn’t a herald of Galactus. Instead, he roams the universe purely for the joy of travel, competing in interstellar races, and often challenging heroes and other cosmic entities to test his speed.
As an Elder of the Universe, the Runner’s power is very different from the Silver Surfer’s. Instead of the Power Cosmic, the Runner possesses the Power Primordial, which grants him the ability to move at faster-than-light speeds indefinitely. In fact, The Runner’s Power Primordial technically makes him the fastest being in the Marvel universe, though he rarely participates in any battle.
The Runner has famously challenged and tested speedsters like Makkari, Quicksilver, the Whizzer, and Speed Demon. Due to his playful nature, the Runner likes to host races among Marvel’s fastest characters. One of the Runner’s challenges led to a victory by the speedster Fastforward, who’s suggested to be an amnesiac Barry Allen, who ended up in another universe after Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Galactus Has Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum Surfers
Fantastic Four #571; Written By Jonathan Hickman, Dale Eaglesham, Dale Eaglesham, and Paul Mounts
In Jonathan Hickman’s 2009 Fantastic Four #571, Reed Richards and the Council of Reeds fight Earth‑2012’s Galactus, who employs not one, but four heralds: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum surfers. Each herald represents a different metallic incarnation of the Power Cosmic. The Golden Surfer stands out visually as the most radiant and noble‑looking of the quartet.
Like his peers, Earth-2012’s Golden Surfer wields the full scope of the Power Cosmic. While Fantastic Four #571 offers only a glimpse, it’s clear that Earth-2012’s Surfers are each as powerful as Earth-616’s Norrin Radd. Yet, the Council of Reeds manage to defeat Galactus, and the Surfers’ fate is left unknown.
Frankie Raye’s Nova Form Is A Fire-Engulfed Golden Surfer
Fantastic Four #244; Written By John Byrne; Art By John Byrne & Glynis Wein
Frankie Raye, a human with pyrokinetic abilities, becomes the herald of Galactus in 1982’s Fantastic Four #244. Accepting the Power Cosmic, Frankie transforms into Nova, her skin glowing gold and her hair burning with cosmic fire. As Galactus’ herald, Nova also travels the universe in search of suitable worlds for him to consume, and she crosses paths with the Silver Surfer, who falls in love with her.
Before becoming Galactus’ golden‑skinned Nova, Frankie Raye was a step‑daughter of the original Human Torch’s creator, Professor Phineas Horton. She accidentally gained powers similar to Johnny Storm’s after a chemical accident, leading her to engulf her body in flames, fly, and project heat blasts. Frankie ultimately met Galactus and offered to serve him willingly.
Empowered by Galactus, Nova possesses a herald’s full range of abilities, including faster‑than‑light travel, energy manipulation, near‑invulnerability, and the ability to detect energy signatures across the cosmos. Nova’s golden form radiates both heat and cosmic energy. Though not as experienced as the Silver Surfer, Nova’s herald form makes her more versatile than Norrin Radd.
