If you were to ask Stan "The Man" Lee about the power cosmic, he would no doubt tell you it's the ultimate collection of powers ever. That's right, it's not a singular power but a conglomeration of powers and no one does it like Marvel. Others have "cosmic powers" but not "the power cosmic", get it? With release looming for Galactic Guardians, it makes sense to me, to hash out this amazing Marvel masterpiece.

If you think about it, most of the time, Silver Surfer really doesn’t live up to his full potential. If he did, he would be a god. I know, I know, Norrinn Radd is far too noble and kind a spirit to use his power that way, but the point stands. Think about it as we go over what he and the power cosmic can do.

Manipulate Energy: Manipulate, as in control everything it freaking does. Turn energy beams back at attackers, disperse energy to nothing or magnify it, create forcefields and your own energy blasts of cosmic power. With this power, you can take down Superman in two seconds flat. How? What is Superman if not the most awesome solar battery ever? And what is solar power? It’s energy, folks. With this power, you drain Supes of all his power (or jack it up to help him out) on the spot.

Rearrange Matter: Think of people like Molecule Man or DC’s Firestorm. This power can make objects out of thin air or alter anything you want. It’s not what “can” you do with a power like this, it’s what “can’t” you do. How about, find a nice spot in the country and build your dream home just by thinking about it? Hey, that guy has a gun! Nope, now his hand is full of peanut butter. By rearranging your own matter you could mimic powers like those of Colossus. You could increase your molecular density and be a powerhouse, or decrease it and walk through walls. This is a power that could take over countries and planets. Oh look, an army is moving in on your vacation home. If you’re evil this could be a source of great entertainment. “Okay, guys, the ground your marching on is molten lava, enjoy.”

For that matter, if you look over the other powers of the power cosmic, you will find that Rearrange Matter lends a big ol helping hand:

Healing Wounds: Silver Surfer can’t bring people back from the dead (though he could animate them), but he can heal people’s wounds. What better way than to return a persons living molecules to their healthiest form?
Create Life: Yes, the Silver Surfer through his powers, can create living cells. Those cells could grow and evolve, starting life cycles even on barren planets.

But let’s take a quote from the Marvel Comics Database regarding the ultimate user of the power, Galactus:

“The Power Cosmic allows Galactus to employ the available absorbed cosmic energies within him to produce nearly any effect he desires, including size-alteration, the molecular restructuring and transmutation of matter, the teleportation of objects—even entire galaxies—across space and time, the creation of force fields, the creation of interdimensional portals, telepathy, telekinesis, and cosmic awareness on a universal scale. Galactus has even been shown as capable of creating sentient life, resurrecting the dead, manipulating mortal souls and remaking dead worlds—including their populations—in every detail.”

Not everyone who has the Power Cosmic gets all the abilities of it. It’s been revealed that it depends on the person with the power. The Silver Surfer has been one of the luckiest in this fashion for all he has been able to do. That may be because of his noble soul.

Now think about the figures you are going to see in the upcoming Galactic Guardians set and ask yourself a question. How much would the full force of the power cosmic cost in a figure? Wow.

First of all, these are pieces that could be impossible to stop. Imagine the colossal being able to act every turn, (which it can) but without the clicks of damage that they would take for doing so after the second token. That’s the true power cosmic. Range? Phooey! Think Cosmic Spidey and why he’s too powerful for a 300 point game.

Teleportation? Ha! Give me a power action and put me anywhere on the map you desire. You can see how the truest sense of the power would break the game entirely. But it sure would be fun!

Every universe has cosmic powers, but only the Marvel universe has the Power Cosmic the Marvel way. The power that embodies itself in your very soul (or replaces your soul) and makes you part of the living universe. I am a major fan of the power cosmic and that’s why I can’t wait for the Galactic Guardians to hit shelves. To quote Stan “The Man” Lee, “EXCELSIOR!”

Excelsior!
Great read!
I love Marvel cosmic characters!

I'm a huge fan of the Marvel Power Cosmic characters. The stories involving these guys were the ones I remember the most fondly when thinking back on my comic book youth.
I agree, if you had an accurately-clicked version of most any Power Cosmic weilding character, it would be an auto-win. But on the other hand, you would never be able to fit it on a team or even a OMA, because your opponent wouldn't have enough space on the map to fill a team to match points with you. There would be little point in it, the lamenting and public outcry would destroy the game! lol..
I think for gamesake, WK has given us some interesting interpretations of such characters, but I know that I, for one, would really like to see a more powerful Surfer, mainly for collectability, I don't care how broken he would be game-wise. I know, I know, the public lamentation would be epic and threaten to destroy the game, so I guess that's why we won't see one. But an All-Star-Supes-pwning Surfer would be poetic justice in my book. Don't get me wrong, early silver-age Superman is right up there with my fondest childhood comic book loves, right along with the emergence of the Power Cosmic charaters in Marvel. And All-Star Supes is Morrison's homage to those silver age stories. I love the new superman/men for that very reason, but I'd love to see a Surfer get the same clix-lovin', especially after the major clix-snubbin' taken by the Hulk, lol!
Thanks for the article, great job.

Take that superman! Nice article.

Power Cosmic is always my answer when the "if you could have any super power, which power would you choose?" question comes up. You get your super strength, flight, super speed replies. Then I say Power Cosmic and either hear groans from people who know what it is, or a puzzled look from those who don't. Then I explain what it is and get groans anyway.

One should note that even with these super abilities of the Power Cosmic, the wielders cannot just make them happen in a blink of an eye.

To teleport a short distance could be done in a blink of an eye/on your turn. But to teleport anywhere in the universe/map would take some time.

I remember Silver Surfer helping/lending some power to the Molecule Man to repair the earth. First off, it took the two of them to do it, and it took them quite some time and concentration. Had their concentration been interrupted, they might not have been able to heal the earth.

So do I. But I just tell them, "THAT's the Power Cosmic, baby. Want a little more?"

Take it, Kal-El was given The Power Cosmic and after Kal broke free of Galactus's brainwashing Galactus took the powers back

I am the SLVRSR4, and I approve this article.

That is one of the sticking points about the Silver Surfer as a character: he doesn't lack power, he lacks vision. Norrin Radd may have been a scientist and a noble soul but he's also a simple gent with dull tendencies and little humour. He has neither the creativity nor the desire to use the Power Cosmic to its full potential. And while it can be said in this case that absolute power doesn't necessarily corrupt absolutely it also leaves him vulnerable.

Thank you very much! :D

BADASSSSSSSS!!!!!
Can't WAIT!!!!

Great Article! Silver Surfer is definitely my favorite hero, love all the cosmic story lines.
For those interested in a near perfect dial, behold...

U Silver Surfer
Team: Power Cosmic
Range: 12
Points: 350
Keywords: Annihilators, Herald, Cosmic, Defenders

11 10 18 3

11 10 18 3

9 12 17 3

9 11 17 3

9 11 17 3

8 10 17 4

8 10 17 4

8 10 16 4

7 10 16 4

7 9 15 5

7 9 15 5

KO KO KO KO

Cosmic Surf Board: Cosmic Surf Board can't be destroyed, only Silver Surfer can interact with Cosmic Surf Board. This object does not count toward your force. While Silver Surfer is holding Cosmic Surf Board, he has the speed symbol; he modifies his speed +3 and his defense +1. Do not modify Silver Surfer's Speed value by -2 when he uses the Carry ability.

Knocked from his board: When Silver Surfer is dealt 4 or more damage, roll a d6. On the result of 1-3, place the Cosmic Surf Board in an unoccupied square, 3 to 6 squares away, that Silver Surfer has clear line of fire to.

Controlling the board: Silver Surfer can use Telekinesis targeting the Cosmic Surf Board regardless of range or line of fire. Cosmic Surf Board deals 4 damage when used as an object in this way. After using Telekinesis, return the Cosmic Surf Board to Silver Surfer as a free action.

Silver Skin: Silver Surfer has Invulnerable. Each time penetrating damage would be dealt to Silver Surfer, he may ignore 1 of that damage.

Universal Awareness: Silver Surfer ignores hindering terrain when determining line of fire.

Speed
Sentinel of the Spaceways: When Silver Surfer is holding Cosmic Surf Board he has Hypersonic Speed and Super Senses. When Silver Surfer uses Hypersonic Speed he may choose one of the following options instead of a combat attack.
1) Cosmic Beam - Silver Surfer may use Penetrating/Psychic Blast with .
2) Surfer's Rage - Silver Surfer may use Energy Explosion with .
3) Silver Dash - Give Silver Surfer a close combat attack. If successful, roll a d6. Deal damage and knockback equal to the result.

Attack
Molecular Manipulation: Silver Surfer has Phasing/Teleport, Perplex, Support and Incapacitate.

Damage
Galactic Might: Give Silver Surfer a double power action. Make an attack roll targeting all figures within 3 squares. Opposing figures hit by this attack are dealt 2 penetrating damage and 2 knockback. Friendly figures hit by this attack are healed 1 click of damage. After resolving the action place debris markers in the square Silver Surfer occupies and every adjacent square.

Fun!!!!