| Synopsis |
The Silver Surfer wanders upon an asteroid where he sees what appears to be a battle. In an attempt to stop the fighting, he learns that it is really an arena sport to "entertain" a large alien audience. Algol Demonstar is the unbeaten arena star, and the female Promoter sees an opportunity for a huge audience draw by pitting the Surfer against Algol. The Promoter offers to pay the Surfer handsomely to fight, but the Surfer is disgusted with the idea and leaves the asteroid. Algol's "Demonstar" weapon (an orb on the end of a handheld rod) has absorbed the Surfer's memories, and the Promoter uses those memories to transform Bruindilda, a telepathic shape-shifter, into the image of Shalla-Bal to lure the Surfer back. The ploy works, and the Surfer ends up defeating Algol. The true identity of Bruindilda is revealed during the battle, and the Surfer learns that these battles actually provide sustenance for the audience, similar to the way devouring planets provided sustenance for Galactus. The aliens use a transporter to seek other venues to gain sustenance and quickly leave the asteroid. The Surfer attempts to destroy the transporter but is too late. The Promoter throws him a pouch just before the transporter disappears. In the pouch are jewels as "payment" for his services. Enraged and disgusted, the Surfer grinds the jewels into dust with his bare hand and then leaps onto his board to seek solace and peace surfing the cosmos. |