The series adapts several Silver Surfer comic book stories but alters the mythos, notably removing the Fantastic Four from its adaptation of The Galactus Trilogy, which forms the basis of the first three episodes.

The show blends cel-shaded and computer animation, deliberately rendered in the visual style of Silver Surfer co-creator Jack Kirby.

Several classic Marvel cosmic characters were reimagined for the show, such as Adam Warlock being turned into an alien supersoldier created to fight the Kree, quite different from his comic book origins.

Due to Fox broadcast standards for children's programming, the villain Thanos was changed to serve Lady Chaos instead of Death, his usual comic book love interest.

The series frequently references the Golden Age of Science Fiction, with two episode titles borrowed from Isaac Asimov novels (Second Foundation and The End of Eternity) and one from Joe Haldeman's The Forever War, while character names like First Speaker and Mentor nod to Asimov and Doc Smith respectively.

One episode's story was written by acclaimed science fiction author Harlan Ellison.

The series was cancelled after only one season; eight scripts had already been written for a planned second season before production was shut down. Series creator Larry Brody attributed the cancellation to a legal dispute between Marvel and Saban Entertainment.

A planned 2008 UK DVD release by Liberation Entertainment was cancelled after the company's UK division closed, and the complete series was eventually released on DVD in 2009 by Clear Vision LTD instead.