Reactions to the Female Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps The recent trailer for Marvel's Fantastic Four: First Steps has ignited a significant backlash among fans, particularly regarding the introduction of a female Silver Surfer, played by Julia Garner. This character is a version of Shalla-Bal, who has appeared in Marvel Comics since 1968 but is less well-known compared to the traditional male Silver Surfer, Norrin Radd. The reactions can be categorized into several key themes: 1. Backlash Against Gender Swap Many fans expressed strong disapproval of the decision to gender-swap the iconic character. Critics argue that this change undermines the established lore of the Silver Surfer, who has traditionally been portrayed as male. Comments on social media reflect sentiments like "Silver Surfer is a dude" and concerns that such changes are indicative of "wokeness" in Hollywood. Some fans have gone so far as to call for boycotts of the film, stating that they feel alienated by what they perceive as politically motivated casting choices12. 2. Visual Criticism The CGI design of Garner's Silver Surfer has also come under fire. Many viewers likened her appearance to outdated video game graphics, with some humorously dubbing her "the Aluminum Paddleboarder." The visual effects were described as having a "stiff, mannequin-like quality," leading to comparisons with characters like the T-1000 from Terminator 2. Fans noted that while the design aimed for an otherworldly look, it did not resonate well with audiences13. 3. Mixed Reactions Despite the backlash, there were some positive comments about aspects of the trailer, particularly regarding Galactus's portrayal, which was praised for being more faithful to comic book depictions than previous adaptations. However, these positives seemed overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Shalla-Bal's character24. 4. Contextual Understanding Supporters of the female Silver Surfer point out that Shalla-Bal has been part of Marvel Comics history and argue that this adaptation could bring fresh perspectives to familiar characters. They emphasize that incorporating diverse representations can enrich storytelling within established franchises34. In summary, the reaction to Julia Garner's portrayal of a female Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: First Steps has been largely negative, focusing on backlash against gender-swapping iconic characters and criticism of CGI quality, despite some praise for other elements in the trailer. SOCIALS: YouTube - / @thebetternasaproject Rumble - https://rumble.com/user/WhatsNextVids Odysee - https://odysee.com/@WhatsNext:5?view=... Dailymotion - https://www.dailymotion.com/The_Bette... TikTok - / the.better.nasa.project X - https://x.com/WhatsNe75388303 SUPPORT: Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=37594401 Buy Me A Coffee - https://buymeacoffee.com/whatsnext Cash App - https://cash.app/$YTpayments