Galactus

Galactus
Galactus on the variant cover of Son of Hulk #14 (Oct. 2009). Art by Mitch Breitweiser.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966)
Created by	Stan Lee Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter ego	Galan
Place of origin	Galan: Taa Galactus: Cosmic Egg
Team affiliations	Heralds of Galactus God Squad
Notable aliases	Ashta,[1] Ravager of Worlds, Devourer of Worlds, The Creator
Abilities	Possessor[2] of the Power Cosmic

Galactus is a fictional character appearing in comic books and other publications published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character debuted in Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966), the first of a three-issue story later known as "The Galactus Trilogy".^[3][4]

Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, Galactus has appeared in over four decades of Marvel continuity, also starring in a one-shot publication Super-Villain Classics: Galactus the Origin #1 (May 1983),^[5] and the limited series Galactus the Devourer (Sept. 1999 - March 2000). The character has been featured in other Marvel-endorsed products and merchandise such as arcade and video games, animated television series, action figures, trading cards, and a film, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

In 2009, Galactus was ranked as number five on the pop culture site IGN.com's list of "Top 100 Comic Book Villains."^[6]

Publication history

Origin

Main article: The Galactus Trilogy

In 1966, nearly five years after having launched Marvel Comics' flagship superhero title, Fantastic Four, creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby collaborated on an antagonist designed to break from the archetypal mold of supervillains of the time, and be instead a being of god-like stature and power.^[4] As Lee recalled in 1993,

Galactus was simply another in a long line of super-villains whom we loved creating. Having dreamed up [many] powerful baddies ... we felt the only way to top ourselves was to come up with an evil-doer who had almost godlike powers. Therefore, the natural choice was sort of demi-god, but now what would we do with him. We didn't want to use the tired old cliche about him wanting to conquer the world. ... That was when inspiration struck. Why not have him not be a really evil person? After all, a demi-god would be beyond mere good and evil. ... [What] he'd require is the life force and energy from living planets!^[7]

Kirby described his Biblical inspirations for Galactus and an accompanying character, an angelic herald Lee dubbed the Silver Surfer:

My inspirations were the fact that I had to make sales. And I had to come up with characters that were no longer stereotypes. ...I had to get something new. And ... for some reason, I went to the Bible. And I came up with Galactus. And there I was in front of this tremendous figure, who I knew very well, because I always felt him, and I certainly couldn't treat him the same way that I would any ordinary mortal ... and of course the Silver Surfer is the fallen angel. ...[T]hey were figures that have never been used before in comics. They were above mythic figures, and of course, they were the first gods.^[8]

Kirby further explained, "Galactus in actuality is a sort of god. He is beyond reproach, beyond anyone's opinion. In a way he is kind of a Zeus, who fathered Hercules. He is his own legend, and of course, he and the Silver Surfer are sort of modern legends, and they are designed that way."^[9]

Writer Mike Conroy expanded on Lee and Kirby's explanation, stating, "In five short years from the launch of the Fantastic Four, the Lee/Kirby duo...had introduced a whole host of alien races or their representatives...there were the Skrulls, the Watcher and the Stranger, all of whom Lee and Kirby used in the foundations of the universe they were constructing, one where all things were possible but only if they did not flout the 'natural laws' of this cosmology. In the nascent Marvel Universe, characters acted consistently, whatever comic they were appearing in. Their actions reverberated through every title. It was pure soap opera but on a cosmic scale, and Galactus epitomized its epic sweep."^[10]

All this led to the introduction of Galactus in Fantastic Four #48-50 (March–May 1966), which fans began calling "The Galactus Trilogy".^{[11][12][13][14][4]} Kirby did not intend for Galactus to reappear in order to preserve the character's tremendous presence.^[15] Popularity among fans, however, prompted Lee to petition Kirby for Galactus' reappearance,^[15] and the character eventually became a mainstay in the Marvel Universe.

Fantastic Four #49 (April 1966), featuring Galactus. Cover art by Jack Kirby & Joe Sinnott.

1960s

Galactus returned for a cameo in Thor #134 (Nov. 1966), although the plot-line was left unresolved as Kirby put the character on hiatus.^[15] Galactus reappeared in a flashback cameo in Daredevil #37 (Feb. 1968) and then featured heavily in Fantastic Four #72-77 (March - Aug. 1968) at the request of Lee.^[15] After a flashback appearance in Silver Surfer #1 (Aug. 1968), the character returned to Earth in Thor #160-162 (Jan.- March 1969), which resolved the plot-line from issue #134. Galactus' origin was revealed in Thor #168-169 (Sept.-Oct. 1969).

1970s & 1980s

The character made appearances in Fantastic Four #120-123 (March–June 1972) and Thor #225-228 (July-Oct. 1974). These two storylines introduced two new Heralds of Galactus. Galactus also featured in Fantastic Four #172-175 (July-Oct. 1976) and #206-213 (May-Dec. 1979).

The full in-depth Stan Lee and Jack Kirby origin story was reprinted in one volume in Super-Villain Classics: Galactus the Origin #1 (May 1983), inked by Vince Colletta and George Klein, lettered by John Morelli, and colored by Andy Yanchus. While mostly identical to the previous origin, the story featured supplemental material, edits, and deletions by writer Mark Gruenwald, pencillers John Byrne and Ron Wilson, and inker Jack Abel. Most specifically, rather than journeying into a dying star, the character enters the core of the collapsing universe prior to the "Big Bang". The story was later reprinted as Origin of Galactus #1 (Feb. 1996).

The character guest-starred in Rom #26-27 (Jan.-Feb. 1982). Galactus featured heavily in two related storylines in Fantastic Four #242-244 (May–July 1982) and #257 (Aug. 1983). Another appearance in Fantastic Four #262 (Jan. 1984) attracted controversy. During the conclusion of the story, the character Eternity, the living sentience of the Marvel Universe, appears to validate the existence of Galactus, which Howard University Professor of Literature Marc Singer criticized, stating writer-artist John Byrne used the character as a means to "justify planetary-scale genocide."^[16]

Writer-penciler John Byrne and inker Terry Austin produced "The Last Galactus Story" as a serial in the anthology comics-magazine Epic Illustrated #26-34 (Oct. 1984 - Feb. 1986). Nine of a scheduled 10 installments appeared. Each ran six pages, except part eight, which ran 12. The magazine was canceled with issue #34, leaving the last chapter unpublished and the story unfinished. Byrne later revealed the conclusion on his website.^[17]

Galan of Taa, transformed into Galactus by the Sentience of the previous universe, in the Cosmic egg (art by Kirby)

Galactus played a pivotal role in the limited series Secret Wars #1-12 (May 1984 - April 1985), and became a recurring character in the third volume of the Silver Surfer, commencing with issue #1 (July 1987).

1990s

Galactus featured prominently in the limited series Infinity Gauntlet #1-6 (July-Dec. 1991), Infinity War #1-6 (June-Nov. 1992) and Cosmic Powers #1 - 6 (March - Aug. 1994).

The character starred in the six-issue Galactus the Devourer (Sept. 1999 - March 2000), written by Louise Simonson and illustrated by John Buscema, which climaxed with Galactus' death. Simonson had originally conceived of the story arc to take place in third volume of the Silver Surfer, but the title was canceled due to dwindling sales. Simonson instead proposed a separate limited series, and at the time was initially doubtful that Marvel would approve what she believed to be a "radical" idea concerning "why the very existence of the universe depends on the health and well-being of Galactus."^[18]

2000s

The consequences of Galactus' death are explored in Fantastic Four Annual 2001 and Fantastic Four #46-49 (Oct. 2001 - Jan. 2002), resulting in Galactus' revival.

Galactus features prominently in the first six issues of the series Thanos (Dec. 2003 - May 2004), written by Jim Starlin. The story is noteworthy due to a running theme of highly critical evaluation of the standard justifications (Social Darwinism and Divine right of kings) for the character, by defending the need for a "social contract" with the rest of the universe, and to actively seek alternate means to feed his hunger. Issues #7-12, written by Keith Giffen also introduce the first herald, the Fallen One.

Galactus' origin is re-examined in Fantastic Four #520-523 (Oct 2004-April 2005), wherein the character is temporarily reverted to his mortal form.

After appearing in the limited series Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill #1-6 (March-Aug. 2005), Galactus was featured as a central character in the "Annihilation" storyline, appearing in the limited series Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1-4 (June-Sept. 2006), Annihilation #1-6 (Oct. 2006 - March 2007), and the epilogue, Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #1-2 (Feb.–April 2007).

Galactus was an antagonist in Fantastic Four #545-546 (June–July 2007), when he sought to devour the fellow cosmic function Epoch.

In Nova vol. 4, #13-15 (May–July 2008), the character had no dialogue during the entire story. The author Andy Lanning stated that he and co-writer Dan Abnett were "treating Galactus like a force of nature; an inevitable, planetary catastrophe that there is no reasoning with, no bargaining with and no escaping."^[19]

The character also appeared in the limited series Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter #1-3 (June 2009 - Aug. 2009), a sequel to Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill.

2010s

Galactus and the Silver Surfer appeared as antagonists in Skaar: Son of Hulk,^[20] and as protagonists in the limited series The Thanos Imperative (June-Nov. 2010). Galactus was a member of the "God Squad" in the Chaos War event miniseries.^[21]

After an appearance in Fantastic Four #583-587 (Nov. 20110 - March 2011), Galactus returned to Earth in Silver Surfer vol 6 #1-5 (Jan - May 2011) and was the main antagonist in The Mighty Thor #1-6 (Apr - Sept 2011).

Fictional character biography

Galactus was originally the explorer Galan from the planet Taa, which existed in the universe before the Big Bang. When an impending cataclysm gradually kills all other life in his universe, he and other survivors leave Taa via a space vessel, eventually becoming engulfed in the Big Crunch. However, Galan does not die, but is transformed through a bonding with the Sentience of the Universe. He gestates for billions of years in the next universe that formed, emerging as Galactus. A Watcher ("Ecce") observes the birth of Galactus, but choses to not take the opportunity to kill him.^[22][23][24] Once fully aware, Galactus experiences hunger so strongly that he consumes the nearby planet of Archeopia. The planet ultimately becomes the first^[22] of many, as Galactus must consume their life energies for sustenance.^[25] In memory of both his dead home-world of Taa and for the first planet to fall prey to his hunger, Galactus constructs his new "home-world", Taa II.

Later on, Galactus becomes involved in a civil war amongst the "Proemial Gods", who came into being during the universe's infancy as caretakers of cosmic balance. After a faction of the gods led by Diableri of Chaos attempts to remake the universe in their image, Galactus slays Diableri and imprisons two other rebel gods, Tenebrous and Aegis, in the Kyln.^[26]

Galactus is later compelled to create a being in his own image, named Tyrant.^[27] Tyrant rebels, and after a terrible battle they part ways. Eventually, Galactus decides to empower others as a Herald to locate worlds for him.^[28] Galactus makes his first herald, the Fallen One, but is unhappy with him, and dismisses him.^[29] He later recruits Norrin Radd as the Silver Surfer.

An undetermined amount of time afterwards, Galactus makes his way to Earth, but is defeated by the efforts of the Fantastic Four, Uatu the Watcher, and a rebellious Silver Surfer. Galactus leaves Earth, vowing that he will never try to consume it again. As he leaves, he relegates the Silver Surfer to Earth for betraying him.^[30][31]

Galactus later returns seeking his former Herald, but the Surfer is unrepentant and chooses to remain on Earth.^[32] Thor encounters Galactus when the entity comes into conflict with Ego the Living Planet,^[33] and eventually discovers Galactus' origin.

Once more returning to Earth, Galactus again seeks to re-enlist the Silver Surfer. However, the Fantastic Four and the Surfer defeat Galactus' herald, Air-Walker, and Mr. Fantastic reprograms Galactus's ship to journey to the Negative Zone, stated to contain an abundance of uninhabited worlds to consume.^[34] Thor and Olympian ally Hercules encounter Galactus when his next herald, Firelord, travels to Earth seeking to be free of his master. Galactus frees Firelord when Thor presents Galactus with the Asgardian Destroyer to animate and use as a Herald.^[35]

Conflict with the High Evolutionary occurs when Galactus attempts to devour Counter-Earth. The encounter ends with Galactus being transformed into harmless energy after attempting to devour the planet Poppup.^[36] Galactus eventually reintegrates into his normal form, and is sought out by the Fantastic Four, who seek a way to stop a new cosmic threat, the Sphinx. Mister Fantastic offers to release Galactus from the latter's vow of avoiding Earth if he helps defeat the Sphinx. Galactus agrees, but under the condition the Fantastic Four recruit Terrax as a new Herald. The heroes are successful, and the newly empowered Terrax leads his new master to Earth. Galactus locates the Sphinx in Egypt and defeats the villain, then decides to retreat when Mister Fantastic threatens to use a fake Ultimate Nullifier.^[37]

Galactus is tricked by the Galadorian spaceknight Rom into attempting to devour the "Black Nebula", the home of the Dire Wraiths. The devourer is repelled by the magic "Wraith Sun";^[38] and although weakened, pursues a rebellious Terrax to Earth and strips his herald of all power. Drained of energy, Galactus is saved by the combined efforts of the Fantastic Four and Avengers, and acquires another herald, Nova.^[39]

Later, Galactus destroys the Skrull homeworld and discusses his role in the universe with fellow cosmic entity Death.^[40] When Mister Fantastic is captured due to his role in saving Galactus' life, he is placed on trial by a united group of aliens who are remnants of races which have been annihilated by Galactus' hunger. During the trial, the cosmic entity Eternity—the sentience of the Marvel Universe—intervenes, allowing all present to momentarily become one with the universe. This permits them to understand that Galactus is a vital part of cosmic order, despite the continued loss of entire races. Following the encounter, none present can remember exactly why Galactus is necessary, but the feeling of revelation remains.^[41]

During the Secret Wars, Galactus battles with Earth's superheroes and supervillains against the Beyonder.^[42] Afterwards, Galactus grants the Surfer clemency, who aids his former master against the Elders of the Universe^[43] and the schemes of the In-Betweener.^[44] Galactus aids the cosmic hierarchy in a war against the mutant Eternal Thanos, who possessed the Infinity Gauntlet.^[45]

When Nova is plagued by conscience at causing the deaths of billions of alien beings, Galactus takes on a new Herald, the bloodthirsty Morg.^[46] Tyrant returns, and despite capturing the Surfer, Morg and several other cosmic-powered aliens, is thwarted by Thanos,^[47] and finally destroyed when Morg uses the Ultimate Nullifier.^[48]

Galactus eventually decides, with the aid of new Herald Red Shift, to only devour the energies of living beings. This brings him into conflict with Earth's heroes and other united alien races. During a final confrontation near the homeworld of the Shi'ar, the Silver Surfer turns Galactus' own siphoning-machines on him. A starving Galactus dies, with his remains taking the form of a star.^[49]

The death of Galactus allows the entity Abraxas - a metaphysical embodiment of destruction and antithesis of cosmic entity Eternity - to emerge from his imprisonment.^[50] Abraxas wreaks havoc across thousands of alternate universes, killing every incarnation of Galactus that he encounters. Abraxas is thwarted when the children of Reed Richards, Franklin Richards and Valeria Von Doom, exhaust their powers to restore Galactus, and Mister Fantastic uses the Ultimate Nullifier to reset reality, preventing Abraxas' initial escape and mass destruction.^[51]

Plagued by his conscience, Galactus attempts to rid himself of his hunger by feeding on the power from the Infinity Gems, but is tricked into releasing a greater predator called the "Hunger", that feeds on entire universes. The creature's access is sealed with the aid of Thanos.^[52]

When an alien race develops a technology that renders planets invisible to Galactus, he empowers the Human Torch (who has temporarily traded powers with the Invisible Woman) as an unwilling herald to locate these planets. The Fantastic Four and Quasar are able to free the Torch by temporarily transforming Galactus back into Galan.^[53]

Galactus consumes the Korbinite home world of the hero Beta Ray Bill and reveals a new herald: Stardust.^[54]

When the Negative Zone villain Annihilus launches a war on the universe, one of his first attacks destoys the Kyln and frees Tenebrous and Aegis.^[55] Sensing their release, Galactus temporarily releases Stardust from service, and reemploys the Silver Surfer as his herald. ^[56] Intent on vengeance, Aegis and Tenebrous find and defeat the Silver Surfer and Galactus, delivering them to Annihilus.^[57]

Annihilus binds Galactus, and plans to use the latter's energies to destroy all life in the universe. Galactus is ultimately freed by Drax the Destroyer, and after teleporting Drax to safety, unleashes a blast that destroys the majority of Annihilus' forces.^[58] Galactus accepts Stardust as his herald once again, now alongside Silver Surfer.^[59] Seeking a final confrontation with Aegis and Tenebrous, Galactus sends out the Silver Surfer to locate them. The Surfer finds them and engages them in battle, drawing Aegis and Tenebrous into the barrier between the universe and the Negative Zone, which destroys them.^[60]

After an encounter with Epoch,^[61], Galactus consumes the planet Orbucen.^[62] Afterwards, Galactus and Stardust once again come into conflict with Beta Ray Bill when a distraught Bill seeks vengeance against Galactus for the destruction of the Korbinite home-world. Feeling empathy for being the only survivor of a destroyed planet, Galactus creates a female Korbinite for Bill.^[63]

Galactus is eventually drawn to the planet Sakaar and devours it, earning the enmity of Skaar and Hiro-Kala. Hiro-Kala manages to temporarily poison Galactus with the Old Power, a synthesized form of the Power Cosmic.^[64]

The Silver Surfer finds the dead body of a future Galactus underneath New York City, and summons the present Galactus to Earth, who confronts Mister Fantastic.^[65] Mister Fantastic explains that in the future, the heroes living on a dying Earth had killed Galactus in order to perform time-travel and escape to the present.^[66] Discovering that those same heroes live on a planet called "Nu-Earth" in the present timeline, Galactus destroys the planet and its inhabitants as retribution.^[67]

As a result of the Annihilation Wave and other inter-stellar conflicts, a tear in the fabric of space allows the extra-universal forces of the Cancerverse—a universe where Death does not exist—to invade. Galactus, along with the Celestials and the resurrected Tenebrous and Aegis, combats the powerful Cancerverse weapon, the Galactus Engine.^[68]

Galactus is teleported to Earth by Hercules during the Chaos War, and is instrumental in sealing away the Chaos King, a metaphysical embodiment of oblivion and another antithesis of Eternity. ^[69]

After an encounter with the High Evolutionary,^[70] Galactus attacks Asgard. The Silver Surfer states Galactus seeks an Asgardian artifact that would sate his hunger and spare future civilizations, while Odin contends that Galactus wishes to ensure that a new Galactus does not replace him in the next universe. Galactus defeats Odin in battle, but the Silver Surfer ends the conflict by remaining on Earth to guard the artifact, with the agreement that Galactus can have it after Asgard passes away. To replace the Surfer, Galactus takes a preacher as his new herald, dubbed "Praetor".^[71]

Powers and abilities

Galactus, as perceived by alien races. Panel from Fantastic Four #262 (Jan. 1984). Art by John Byrne.

Galactus was created during the union between the "Sentience of the [previous] Universe" and Galan of Taa,^[72] and a herald with heightened perception of reality described him as "the physical, metamorphosed embodiment of a cosmos."^[73] Galactus considers himself a higher being than all non-abstracts, maintaining his existence by devouring planets that have the potential for supporting life. This has resulted in the elimination of entire extraterrestrial civilizations on numerous worlds.^[74]

Galactus wields the Power Cosmic and can employ it to produce nearly any effect he desires, including the molecular restructuring and transmutation of matter,^[75][76][77] the teleportation of objects — even an entire galaxy^[78] — across space^[79] or time,^[80] size-alteration,^[78] the projection of energy with indeterminable destructive force,^[81] the erection of nearly impenetrable force fields,^[75] the creation of interdimensional^[82] and intra-dimensional portals,^[83] telepathy,^[84] telekinesis,^[85] pyrokinesis,^[86] and a form of cosmic awareness.^[87] Galactus is also capable of creating sentient life,^[88] resurrecting the dead,^[89][90] manipulating mortal souls,^[91] memories, and emotions,^[92] and restoring dead planets and populations in every detail.^[92]

Although not an abstract, non-corporeal being,^[93] Galactus is a living force of nature set to correct the imbalances between the conceptual entities Eternity and Death,^[94] and as such his true form cannot be perceived by most beings;^[95] each species perceives Galactus in a form they can associate with or comprehend, either in a form similar to that of their own race or as a deity of their own religion.^[1][41] Galactus has also appeared as a humanoid star when addressing fellow members of the cosmic hierarchy.^[96]

As Galactus must continuously feed to sustain himself, his power levels are inconsistent throughout any given period; the character must wear armor to help regulate his internal energies. Due to this inherent hunger, Earth's heroes have been able to achieve various degrees of success in repelling or defeating a weakened Galactus. In this state Galactus has shown susceptibility to the Images of Ikonn spell, which forces him to recall all of the beings he has destroyed as a result of his feeding.^[97]

The first and oldest living entity in the universe,^[90] Galactus employs advanced science capable of creating the Ultimate Nullifier, an object of tremendous power capable of destroying and remaking the multiverse,^[98] and the immense ship Taa II.^[99] Reed Richards speculated that Taa II — the Möbius strip-shaped, solar system-sized home of Galactus — could be the greatest source of energy in the universe.^[87][100]

Galactus retains the Punisher cyborgs in his service, and has appointed a number of beings to act as his Herald, with each bestowed a small fraction of the Power Cosmic.

Other versions

Several versions of Galactus exists across alternate universes.

Bullet Points

In the final issue of the five-issue alternate reality miniseries Bullet Points (Jan.-May 2007), Galactus arrives on Earth alongside his herald the Silver Surfer, intending to consume the planet as in mainstream continuity. After Earth's superhumans are killed or injured en masse trying to stop Galactus, the Hulk, who in this reality is Peter Parker, attacks Galactus and is killed. Parker's noble death inspires the Surfer to turn on Galactus, who eventually leaves Earth.

Cancerverse

In the limited series The Thanos Imperative, an alternate version of Galactus, called the Galactus Engine, dwarfed the mainstream universe Galactus.^[101]

Earth X

In the limited series Earth X, Galactus is one of the three essential entities in the universe keeping the cosmic entities the Celestials in check. By destroying planets - actually "eggs" of the Celestials - Galactus prevents the Celestials from overpopulating the universe. Franklin Richards eventually adopts the identity of Galactus.^[102]

Exiles

An alternate universe version of Galactus appears in the title Exiles, and restores rather than destroys worlds.^[103]

Heroes Reborn

Galactus is featured in the second volume of the Fantastic Four, appearing in the pocket universe created by Franklin Richards (after the events of the Onslaught saga). This version of the character has several heralds simultaneously and all are worshiped by the Inhumans.^[104]

Manga Universe

The title New Mangaverse depicts Galactus appears as a gigantic, planet-sized life-form, complete with a single massive eye and tentacles to drain the life from planets. It is covered in various life-forms (referred to as "Galactus Spores") which aid its digestive process.^[105]

Marvel Zombies

The limited series Marvel Zombies focuses on the Earth-2149 universe, which is infected by a virus that turns sentient beings into flesh-eating zombies. The Silver Surfer is caught and devoured by "zombified" versions of Earth's heroes, who eat the Silver Surfer, and use advanced technology, to wound and eventually defeat Galactus. The zombies gain a portion of the power cosmic as they devour Galactus.^[106]

MC2

The MC2 imprint title Last Planet Standing features a future version of Galactus with a new herald called Dominas. He attempts to recreate the universe by triggering a new Big Bang, but this plan is defeated when Earth's heroes are able to disrupt his equipment, allowing the Silver Surfer to take Dominas's power and merge with Galactus, creating a new being who vows to repair worlds rather than destroy them.^[107]

Ultimate Galactus

Main article: Ultimate Galactus Trilogy

Under the Ultimate Marvel imprint three limited series, Ultimate Nightmare; Ultimate Secret and Ultimate Extinction were published, dealing with the introduction and eventual threat of the entity Gah Lak Tus. First mentioned by the robot Ultimate Vision, Gah Lak Tus is revealed to be a group mind of city-sized robotic drones that attack worlds via envoys similar to the Silver Surfer, followed by a flesh eating virus.^[108]

Galacta, Daughter of Galactus

Main article: Galacta

Galacta, a female character, spawned as an anomalous energy field within Galactus' structure, was created by writer Adam Warren and penciller Hector Sevilla Lujan in the story "Galacta (or: The World-Eater's daughter)" in Marvel Assistant-Sized Spectacular #2 (June 2009)^[109][110] and subsequently appeared in the four-issue, digital comics miniseries on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, Galacta: Daughter of Galactus #0-3 (Jan.-April 2010).^[111][112] Manifested as a normal-sized, young adult human female on Earth, her chosen home, she suffers from similar hunger pangs as her parent, but is plagued by her conscience and solely devours alien invaders.

DC Crossovers

Galactus has appeared in three DC Comics crossover stories; Darkseid/Galactus: The Hunger, Superman/Fantastic Four: The Infinite Destruction, and JLA/Avengers. In The Hunger, Galactus attempts to consume Apokolips, home of the evil New Gods, but ceases his efforts when he realizes that the planet is lifeless.^[113] In The Infinite Destruction, the Cyborg Superman - having learned about Galactus during a previous fight with the Silver Surfer^[114] - creates false evidence that Galactus was involved in the destruction of Krypton, tricking Superman into traveling to the Marvel Universe so that he can become Galactus's Herald. The plan fails when Galactus chooses Superman instead, only for Superman's will to allow his true personality to take control, subsequently working with Reed Richards to reprogram Galactus's equipment to take energy from him so that they can force Galactus to vow to only feed on lifeless worlds in future, Galactus subsequently turning the Cyborg into a simple metal block in response to his pleas for 'perfection'.^[115] Galactus plays a key role in JLA/Avengers when the powerful Krona comes to the Marvel Universe seeking answers about the creation of the cosmos. The Grandmaster attempts to prevent Krona from destroying the Marvel Universe by revealing the existence of Galactus - a being who has lived through the Big Bang and can thus tell Krona what came before - and offering to play Krona in a game for the being's identity,^[116] but Krona instead kills Galactus and the Grandmaster to get the answers he seeks,^[117] nearly destroying both universes,^[118] before the two teams can destroy Krona's equipment and allow the universes to be restored to their rightful conditions.^[119]

Amalgam Comics

In the Amalgam Comics universe, in which Marvel and DC characters were combined, Galactus was combined with DC's Brainiac to create Galactiac. He would consume the lifeforce of planets to recharge his energy cells but leave a small part of the planet to study.^[120] He encountered the Challengers of the Fantastic when he came to Earth.^[121]

Wha... Huh?

Galactus appears and is referenced several times in Wha... Huh? an in-house Marvel spoof one-shot. One segment was titled "What If Galactus Got Food Poisoning?".

In other media

Television

• Galactus appears in the 1967 The Fantastic Four episode "Galactus", voiced by Ted Cassidy.
• Galactus appears in the 1994 version of The Fantastic Four, voiced by Tony Jay, in the two-part episode "Silver Surfer and the Coming of Galactus"; "To Battle the Living Planet"; and "When Calls Galactus".
• Galactus appeared regularly in the Silver Surfer cartoon series, voiced by James Blendick.
• Galactus first appears in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Last Exit Before Doomsday", voiced by George Takei. He also appears in the episode "Alienating with the Surfer".

Film

Galactus as the character appears in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).

• Galactus appears in the 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the story of which was based upon the character's debut and his Ultimate incarnation.^[122] The official novelization of the film names the character as "the Gah Lak Tus". 20th Century Fox's rationale for having the character as a cloud was to keep him discreet.^[123] Visual effects studio Weta Digital convinced Fox to add physical hints of the comic book incarnation, such as a shadow and the fiery mass within the cloud resembling Galactus' signature helmet.^[123] Director Tim Story has said he made Galactus a cloud so that the future Silver Surfer spin-off film would have a chance to be unique and introduce the character as he normally appears.^[124] J. Michael Straczynski, the spinoff's writer, confirmed Galactus is in his script, saying, "You don't want to sort of blow out something that big and massive for one quick shot in the first movie."^[125]

Video games

• Galactus appears in the 1990 Silver Surfer NES game.
• Galactus appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance voiced by Gregg Berger. He appears as the boss of the Tarnax IV level, and the heroes must confront him while he tries to devour the Skrulls' world in order to power the M'Kraan Crystal that will help them defeat the now godlike Doctor Doom. The Silver Surfer appears in order to help the player during the battle, using his fraction of the Power Cosmic to stun his master so that the heroes can damage him.
• Galactus appears in the PSP and PS2 versions of Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. He appears as an assist character who will step on the enemies.
• Galactus appears in the 2009 game Marvel Super Hero Squad as an unvoiced minor character in a Silver Surfer cutscene.
• Galactus appears in the Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet video game, voiced by George Takei.
• He makes a minor appearance in LittleBigPlanet's Marvel level pack, in the first level.
• He serves as the main antagonist and final boss of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, voiced by Jonathan Adams.^[126] He creates Silver Surfer-based copies of the villains Dormammu, Doctor Doom, Albert Wesker and Akuma, which the player must fight while a timer counts down before Galactus destroys the Earth.^[127] In the Ultimate version, Seth Killian confirms that he will be a playable character in his own mode known as Galactus Mode.^{[citation needed]}

Toys

• Toy Biz released a figure of Galactus in 1995 as part of their Fantastic Four line.
• Toy Biz also released a figure as part of their Silver Surfer line, larger than the average figures in the line, but not to scale like the Fantastic Four figure.
• In 2005, Toy Biz also produced Galactus as the first "build-a-figure" in the Marvel Legends line-up.
• Galactus has appeared twice in the HeroClix CMG.
• Galactus appears in the Vs System TCG.
• Hasbro released a Galactus action figure as part of their Marvel Universe: Masterworks line. The figure stands 19" tall, almost five times the height of the conventional figures.

Parodies

• In The Fairly OddParents episode "Mighty Mom and Dyno Dad", Timmy becomes the ultimate villain, Galactimus, (a parody of Galactus) to get his parents to give up their powers since Timmy's wish made them so powerful that they're immune to magic, and must willingly give up their powers. Cosmo and Wanda also became Timmy's Silver Surfer like heralds, but instead of surfers they come riding skateboards.
• In the two-part series finale of Minoriteam, Balactus (voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan) is a parody of Galactus and the main antagonist of the episode.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill #1 (March 2005)
2. ^ Hulk vol 2 #12 (June 2009)
3. ^ Thomas, Roy, Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Universe (Sterling Publishing, New York, 2006), "Moment 29: The Galactus Trilogy", pp. 112-115. ISBN 1-4027-4225-8; ISBN 978-1-4027-4225-5
4. ^ ^{a b c} Hatfield, Charles (February 2004). "The Galactus Trilogy: An Appreciation". The Collected Jack Kirby Collector 1: 211 
5. ^ Reprinted as Origin of Galactus #1 (Feb. 1996)
6. ^ "Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time: 5. Galactus", IGN.com, 2009, n.d. WebCitation archive.
7. ^ Lee, Stan. "Introduction" (second page, unnumbered) 1993, Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 5 (Marvel Publishing : second edition, second printing, 2007) ISBN 978-0-7851-1184-9
8. ^ Viola, Ken (1987). The Masters of Comic Book Art] (VHS). USA: Viola, Ken. 
9. ^ Christensen, William A., and Mark Seifert. "The King", Wizard #36, August 1994, via Brenni_Au/JackKirby (fan site). Archive.org archive.
10. ^ Conroy, Mike. 500 Comicbook Villains, Collins & Brown, 2004.
11. ^ {{Cite document |last=Fein |first=Eric |title=The Creation of the Fantastic Four |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |year=2006 |pages=48
12. ^ Thomas, Roy. Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Universe (Sterling Publishing: New York City, 2006), p. 113. ISBN 1-4027-4225-8; ISBN 978-1-4027-4225-5
13. ^ Lee, Stan, in Thomas, Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Universe, audio commentary #37
14. ^ Thomas, Roy, Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Universe (Sterling Publishing, New York, 2006), "Moment 29: The Galactus Trilogy", pp. 112-115. ISBN 1-4027-4225-8; ISBN 978-1-4027-4225-5
15. ^ ^{a b c d} Alexander, Mark (April 12, 2006). "Galactus, Pillager of the Planets! Kirby's First Demi-god". The Collected Jack Kirby Collector 5: 196 
16. ^ Singer, Marc. "Byrne's Fantastic Four, or Optimism" Howling Curmudgeons (fan site), May 18, 2004. WebCitation archive.
17. ^ Byrne, John, "Exception to the rule #1: 'The Last Galactus Story'", "Frequently Asked Questions - Questions about Aborted Storylines", Byrne Robotics, February 15, 2005. WebCitation archive.
18. ^ "Questions & Answers With Writer Louise Simonson: Part 1: In The Beginning...", Galactus: The Devourer (fan site), n.d. Retrieved 2008-04-14. WebCitation archive.
19. ^ Rogers,Vaneta. "Galactus, and Surfer and Skrulls - Oh My! Abnett & Lanning on Nova", Newsarama, April 10, 2008 WebCitation archive.
20. ^ Skaar: Son of Hulk #9-11
21. ^ Chaos War #2-5 (Dec.-March 2010)
22. ^ ^{a b} Super-Villain Classics: Galactus the Origin #1 (May 1983)
23. ^ Thor vol 1 #168-169
24. ^ Fantastic Four #522
25. ^ Fantastic Four vol 1 #48
26. ^ Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #2 (2007)
27. ^ Cosmic Powers #6 (Aug. 1994)
28. ^ Silver Surfer vol 1 #1
29. ^ Thanos #11-12
30. ^ Fantastic Four #48-50 (March–May 1966)
31. ^ Cronin, Brian (February 19, 2010). "A Year of Cool Comics – Day 50". Comic Book Resources. http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/02/19/a-year-of-cool-comics-day-50/. Retrieved September 29, 2010. . WebCitation archive.
32. ^ Fantastic Four #72-77 (March-Aug. 1968)
33. ^ Thor #160-162 (Jan.-March 1969)
34. ^ Fantastic Four #120-123 (March–June 1972)
35. ^ Thor #225-226 (July-Aug. 1974)
36. ^ Fantastic Four #172-175 (July-Oct. 1976)
37. ^ Fantastic Four #206-213 (May-Dec. 1979)
38. ^ Rom #26-27 (Jan.-Feb. 1984)
39. ^ Fantastic Four #242-244 (May–July 1982)
40. ^ Fantastic Four #257 (Aug. 1983)
41. ^ ^{a b} Fantastic Four #262 (Jan. 1984)
42. ^ Secret Wars #1-12 (May 1984 - April 1985)
43. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #1-10 (July 1987 - April 1988)
44. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #16-17 (Oct.-Nov. 1988)
45. ^ Infinity Gauntlet #1 - 6 (July - Dec. 1991)
46. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #70 (Sept. 1992)
47. ^ Cosmic Powers #1-6 (March-Aug. 1994)
48. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #109 (Oct. 1995)
49. ^ Galactus the Devourer #1 - 6 (Sept. 1999 - March 2000)
50. ^ Fantastic Four Annual 2001
51. ^ Fantastic Four #46-49 (Oct. 2001 - Jan. 2002)
52. ^ Thanos #1-6 (Dec. 2003 - May 2004)
53. ^ Fantastic Four #520 - 523 (Jan. - April 2005)
54. ^ Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill #1 - 6 (March - Aug. 2005)
55. ^ Annihlation: Prologue (2006)
56. ^ Annihilation: Silver Surfer #3 (Aug. 2006)
57. ^ Annihilation #1 (2006)
58. ^ Annihilation #4-6 (Jan-Mar 2007)
59. ^ Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #1 (April 2007)
60. ^ Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #2 (May 2007)
61. ^ Fantastic Four #545-546 (June-Jul. 2007)
62. ^ Nova vol 4 #13-15 (Jul.-Sept. 2008)
63. ^ Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter #1 - 3 (June 2009 - Aug. 2009)
64. ^ Son of Hulk #9-17 (May 2009-Jan. 2010)
65. ^ Fantastic Four #583 (Nov. 2010)
66. ^ Fantastic Four #560 (Nov. 2008)
67. ^ "Fantastic Four" #587 (March 2011)
68. ^ The Thanos Imperative #2-6 (Sept. 2010-Jan. 2011)
69. ^ Chaos War #1-5 (Sep 2010 - Jan 2011)
70. ^ Silver Surfer vol 6 #1-5 (Jan-May 2011)
71. ^ The Mighty Thor #1-6 (Apr - Sept 2011)
72. ^ Super-Villain Classics #1 (May 1983)
73. ^ Fantastic Four #522 (March 2005)
74. ^ Thanos #6 (May 2004)
75. ^ ^{a b} Silver Surfer #1 (Aug. 1968)
76. ^ Fantastic Four #211 (Oct. 1979)
77. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3 #70 (Aug. 1992)
78. ^ ^{a b} Rom #27 (Feb. 1982)
79. ^ Fantastic Four #257 (Aug. 1981)
80. ^ Fantastic Four #213 (December 1979)
81. ^ Annihilation #6 (March 2007)
82. ^ Thanos #3 (Feb. 2004)
83. ^ Thanos #12 (Sept. 2004)
84. ^ Fantastic Four #242 (May 1982)
85. ^ Fantastic Four #49 (April 1966)
86. ^ Nova vol. 4 #13 (July 2008)
87. ^ ^{a b} Secret Wars #9 (Jan. 1985)
88. ^ Cosmic Powers Unlimited #2 (Sept. 1995)
89. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #76 (Jan. 1993)
90. ^ ^{a b} Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter #3 (Aug. 2009)
91. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #49 (May 1991)
92. ^ ^{a b} Silver Surfer vol. 3 #130 (Aug. 1997)
93. ^ Quasar #38 (Sept, 1992)
94. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #18 (Dec. 1988)
95. ^ Fantastic Four #521 (Feb. 2005)
96. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #10 (April 1988), Infinity Gauntlet #5 (Nov. 1991), and Super-Villain Classics #1 (May 1983)
97. ^ Fantastic Four #243 (June 1982)
98. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 3 #49 (January 2002),
99. ^ Fantastic Four #210 (Sept. 1979)
100. ^ Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars v.1, #10
101. ^ The Thanos Imperative #5 (Sept. 2010)
102. ^ Earth X #0 (March 1999); #0.5 (Jan. 2000); #1-10 (April 1999 - Jan. 2000); #11 - 12 (March - April 2000); #13 (June 2000)
103. ^ Exiles #86 - 87 (Oct. - Nov. 2006)
104. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 2, #9-13 (July - Nov. 1997)
105. ^ New Mangaverse vol. 2, #1-5 (March–July 2006)
106. ^ Marvel Zombies #1-5 (Feb. - June 2006)
107. ^ Last Planet Standing #1-2 (June–July 2006); #3-4 (Aug. 2006); #5 (Sept. 2006)
108. ^ Ultimate Nightmare #1-5 (Oct. 2004 - Feb. 2005); Ultimate Secret #1-2 (May–June 2005); #3 (Aug. 2005); #4 (Dec. 2005); Ultimate Extinction #1-5 (March–July 2006)
109. ^ Marvel Assistant-Sized Spectacular (2009) at The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
110. ^ Manning, Shaun (April 13, 2009). "Marvel Assistants Assemble!". Comic Book Resources. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20783. Retrieved May 19, 2010. 
111. ^ Galacta: Daughter of Galactus (2010) at The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
112. ^ Siegel, Lucas (July 20, 2009). "Exclusive: Marvel Feeds GALACTA Digital Comics". Newsarama. http://www.newsarama.com/comics/070920-GalactaToDigital.html. Retrieved May 19, 2010. 
113. ^ Darkseid/Galactus: The Hunger #1
114. ^ Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1
115. ^ Superman/Fantastic Four: The Infinite Destruction #1
116. ^ JLA/Avengers #1
117. ^ JLA/Avengers #2
118. ^ JLA/Avengers #3
119. ^ JLA/Avengers #4
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121. ^ Challengers of the Fantastic #1 (June 1997)
122. ^ Ben Morse and Brian Warmoth (2007-01-15). "2007 Preview: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer". Wizard. Archived from the original on June 7, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070607142925/http%3A//www.wizarduniverse.com/movies/fantasticfour2/003014399.cfm. Retrieved 2007-06-27. 
123. ^ ^{a b} Thomas J. McLean (2007-06-21). "Fantastic 4: Weta Gives Rise to the Silver Surfer". VFXWorld. http://www.vfxworld.com/?atype=articles&id=3325&page=3. Retrieved 2007-06-27. 
124. ^ Tim Story (2007) (DVD). Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer audio commentary. 20th Century Fox. 
125. ^ Chris Carle (2007-07-27). "SDCC 07: JMS Sheds Light on Silver Surfer Movie". IGN. http://movies.ign.com/articles/808/808908p1.html. Retrieved 2007-10-07. 
126. ^ "Comics Continuum: Marvel Entertainment News Update". http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/1102/08/index.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-08. 
127. ^ George, Richard "IGN: Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Enter Galactus", "IGN", February 7, 2011, accessed February 7, 2011.

External links

• Galactus at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
• Galactus at the Marvel Directory
• Galactus at the Internet Movie Database
• The Origin of Galactus, by Pat Jankiewicz (cached page by The Wayback Machine)
• Galactus: The Web Page, by James Pedrick