Galactus, sometimes called the Devourer of Worlds or Eater of Planets, is a fictional comic book character, a cosmic entity within Marvel Comics' universe. Created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #48, the beginning of a story arc sometimes regarded as the finest Lee/Kirby collaboration.
When Galactus threatened to destroy the Earth, the Fantastic Four (aided by the Watcher Uatu and by Galactus' rebellious herald, the Silver Surfer) defeated him by threatening him with the Ultimate Nullifier . Galactus vowed to never again try and harm the Earth.
Character history
Originally named Galan (or Galen, the spelling differs on occasion), he is the sole survivor of the Big Crunch of the previous universe. A space explorer investigating the impending end of his universe, he approached the focal point of the Big Crunch and was transformed into a cosmic entity even as the universe collapsed. After the Big Bang of the current universe, to complete his transformation, Galactus was encased in a cosmic egg brimming with enormous energies. After billions of years, he emerged as an entity of vast cosmic power who was also necessary for the existence of the newly formed universe. Galactus is considered one of the three essential entities within the Marvel Universe alongside Eternity, the anthropomorphic personification of the universe, and Death.
Though he wields the immeasurable Power Cosmic, Galactus must feed off the energy of planets, without which he cannot survive. Towards this end, Galactus scours the universe seeking planets to sustain himself. Over millions of years he has become one of the most feared beings in the universe, his vast power allowing him to lay waste to innumerable extra-terrestrial civilizations in his quest for sustenance. Nevertheless, he is not evil, but rather a force of nature.
He has appointed a number of entities as his heralds, imbuing them with a portion of the Power Cosmic and sending them to search for edible worlds. Most of his heralds have rebelled or betrayed him. Among his heralds are the Silver Surfer, Terrax , Firelord, Air-Walker, Nova, Morg , and Red Shift .
In the Galactus: The Devourer limited series (1999-2000), Galactus died and was changed into a star by the forces of the Earth heroes and the Shi'ar Empire. He died with an ominous warning that his death would allow a great evil to surface.
That great evil emerged in Fantastic Four Annual 2001 in the form of Abraxas , an entity that was the antithesis of Eternity. Abraxas was only defeated after it was revealed in Fantastic Four v2 #49 (v1 #478; January 2002) that Galactus was still alive. Roma , Franklin Richards, and Valeria Von Doom had been incubating Galactus within Eternity.
Galactus has since continued to make various appearances in the pages of Fantastic Four, Thanos, and Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill.
Galactus is the focus of Marvels #3.
Galactus also made an appearance in the Earth X series, which lies outside the normal Marvel Earth 616 continuity. According to the Earth X series, Galactus was one of the three essential entities in the Marvel Universe not because he kept Abraxas at bay but because he kept the Celestials at bay. By destroying planets, which were really "eggs" of the Celestials, he prevented the Celestials from overpopulating the universe. However, other revelations in the Earth X series have proven to be false in regards to normal Marvel continuity, so this aspect of Galactus's nature may only be true in Earth X.
Quotations
- "Of all the creatures in the vastness of the universe, there is none like me. I was present at the birth of the universe, and I shall be there at its end. Though I ravage worlds to live, I bear no malice to any living thing. I simply do what I must to survive. And why must Galactus survive? For, no matter how many worlds I devour... How many civilizations I destroy... It is my destiny to one day give back to the universe — infinitely more than I have ever taken from it. So speaks Galactus."
- --Galactus, The Origin of Galactus (Marvel Comic, 1996)
Influence
A faceless Galactus was featured on the cover of 1969's "Monster Movie," Can's debut album.
External links
