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===Movies===
===Movies===
*Galactus will be an element in the upcoming movie ''[[Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer]]'' which is due to be released in June, 2007. The official novelization of the film refers to Galactus as the ''Gah Lak Tus'' - the name of the Ultimate version. Galactus does not appear in humanoid form and is described in the novel as a large cosmic vortex.<ref>''Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer'': The Official Novelization of the Motion Picture</ref>
*Galactus will be an element in the upcoming movie ''[[Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer]]'' which is due to be released in June, 2007. The official novelization of the film refers to Galactus as the ''Gah Lak Tus'' - the name of the Ultimate version. Galactus does not appear in humanoid form and is described in the novel as a large cosmic vortex.<ref>''Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer'': The Official Novelization of the Motion Picture. In the movie, he is potrayed as a cosmic storm cloud. </ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 15:56, 13 June 2007

Galactus
File:Galac553.png
Art by Andrea Di Vito
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceFantastic Four vol. 1, #48
(March 1966)
Created byStan Lee
Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter egoGalan
Place of originGalan: Taa
Galactus: Cosmic Egg
Team affiliationsHeralds of Galactus
Notable aliasesAshta
AbilitiesPossessor of the Power Cosmic
Control over the four fundamental forces of the universe
Cosmic awareness

Galactus is a fictional character, a cosmic entity, in the Marvel Universe. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and penciler and co-plotter Jack Kirby — prompted by Lee's suggestion to Kirby to "have the Fantastic Four fight God"[citation needed] — he first appeared as an antagonist in Fantastic Four vol. 1, #48 (March 1966), the first of three consecutive issues comprising what fans and historians would later call "The Galactus Trilogy".

Publication history

Following his introduction in the superhero-team title Fantastic Four vol. 1, #48-50 (March-May 1966), Galactus next appeared in a flashback cameo in Daredevil vol. 1, #37 (Feb. 1968) before physically returning to Earth to retrieve his herald, the Silver Surfer, in actual and behind-the-scenes appearances throughout Fantastic Four #72-77 (March-Aug. 1968). He appears extensively in flashback, in the heretofore unrevealed origin of the Silver Surfer, in The Silver Surfer vol. 1, #1 (Aug. 1968).

Galactus' origin story climaxed a series of appearances in Thor vol. 1, #160-162 (Jan.-March 1969) and #168-169 (Sept.-Oct. 1969), the latter of which, by writer Stan Lee, penciler and co-plotter Jack Kirby and inker George Klein, revealed the character's beginnings. Super-Villain Classics #1 (May 1983) reprinted that 20-page tale with additions, edits and deletions by writer Mark Gruenwald, pencilers John Byrne and Ron Wilson, and inkers Jack Abel and Vince Colletta to create an updated, 23-page origin story titled "Galactus". This in turn was reprinted as Origin of Galactus #1 (Feb. 1996).

Galactus has made numerous guest appearances throughout the decades, and starred in the six-issue miniseries Galactus the Devourer (Sept. 1999 - March 2000).

Fictional character biography

Rebirth

The Sentience of the Universe merges with Galan of Taa in the Cosmic Egg.

Originally named Galan of the planet Taa, Galactus is the sole survivor of the Big Crunch of the universe that existed prior to the present-day Marvel Universe continuity.

Galan was a space explorer investigating the impending end of his universe. Eventually, Taa was engulfed by a radiation plague that killed almost all its inhabitants. At the last second, Galan escapes the doomed planet in a star-ship with a few other survivors. Rather than perish from the lethal radiation that had extinguished all life across the universe, Galan proposes to his crewmates that they pilot their craft directly into the center of the Big Crunch. As he approaches the Cosmic Egg — the focal point of the Big Crunch and the source of the exterminating radiation — his ship and crew are promptly destroyed. At the moment Galan's universe meets its end, the incarnation of that reality's Phoenix Force amasses the positive emotions of all living beings in the cosmos to preserve them from eternal damnation, enabling the Sentience of the Universe —that universe's incarnation of Eternity— to meet with Galan.[1][2] Within the Cosmic Egg the Sentience of the Universe reveals itself to Galan and informs him that though they both will die in the impending cataclysm, they will survive through a joint heir born into the next universe. The Sentience of the Universe then merges itself with the mortal Galan, establishing Galan as the sole survivor of the ensuing Big Crunch. This union ultimately leads to his rebirth in the current universe as Galactus.[3] After the birth of the current reality, Galactus gestates in a cocoon of cosmic energy to complete his metamorphosis, and after millions of years emerges as an entity of vast cosmic power who is essential and intrinsic to the newly formed universe.[3]

Galactus is considered one of the five essential entities within the Marvel Universe alongside Eternity, Death, Infinity, and Oblivion. Galactus has been referred to as the "third force of the universe"[4] alongside Eternity and Death. Eternity and Death consider Galactus a peer and a sibling, with Death actually referring to Galactus on one occasion as "husband, father, brother, and son."[5]

Silver Surfer vol. 3, #18 (Dec. 1988) suggests that Galactus' metaphysical counterpart is the entity the In-Betweener.

The Devourer of Worlds

File:Devourworlds.png
Galactus roams the universe in search of planets to sustain himself.

Existing since the beginning of the current Marvel-616 universe, Galactus maintains his existence by devouring planets that have the potential for supporting life. He has consumed countless planets, resulting in the elimination of entire extra-terrestrial civilizations. For this purpose, Galactus usually employs a Herald (see below) to scour the universe in search for suitable planets.

Upon pinpointing the requisite planetary body, the herald will signal Galactus, resulting in the Devourer's arrival on the world's surface and the deployment of the Elemental Converter—a colossal machine capable of draining all life energy from the planet within minutes. While the Converter makes consumption of the planet's energy more efficient, Galactus is fully capable of devouring the planets without its aid.[6]

Due to his vast power and intrinsic, natural role in the universal order, Galactus considers himself a higher being than all non-abstracts, and as such has become more morally complex in recent decades, coming to embody a force of cosmic nature and proving to be a necessary being for the universe to exist. The entity Eternity once manifested itself before millions of aliens and allowed each to momentarily be part of the universe, and in that moment each being realizes that Galactus plays a vital and essential role in the universe.[7]

File:Gf 49 cover.png
Fantastic Four vol. 1, #49 (April 1966), part two of "The Galactus Trilogy". Cover art by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott.

Galactus has threatened to consume the Earth on several occasions. During the first encounter, the cosmic entity the Watcher, and, later, Galactus' rebellious herald, the Silver Surfer, aid the Fantastic Four. Galactus is defeated when Mr. Fantastic threatens him with the Ultimate Nullifier, the one weapon capable of destroying him (the weapon is obtained by the Human Torch when the Watcher transports him to Galactus' vessel). Galactus leaves and vows to never attack the Earth again.[8] Galactus does however, return to Earth space to seek the Silver Surfer[9] and is eventually released from his vow by Mr. Fantastic so that he can stop the threat of the cosmic entity the Sphinx.[10]

In one significant encounter, Galactus returns to Earth in pursuit of his rebellious Herald Terrax. Galactus expends a considerable amount of energy in the pursuit, and finally arrives with the intention of consuming Earth to replenish himself. A hungry and weakened Galactus resolves the issue with Terrax, but is so diminished in strength that he is defeated by the combined efforts of the Fantastic Four, the Avengers and Doctor Strange. However, rather than watch Galactus die of hunger, Mr. Fantastic uses a device powered by the thunder god Thor to reinvigorate him. A grateful Galactus vows that Earth is safe from his feedings before departing.[11] Mr Fantastic's decision has consequences, however, as he is later placed on trial by a consortium of alien worlds for his actions. The Shi'Ar preside over the trial, and look to execute Mr. Fantastic until the cosmic entity Eternity is summoned by the combined effort of Galactus and the Watcher. Eternity then enables millions of alien onlookers to momentarily become one with the universe, temporarily granting them the clarity that Galactus is part of the natural order of the cosmos.[7]

Temporary death

Galactus recently discovered he was "starving" to death due to an addiction to the life forces of living beings which offer no sustenance, and was apparently killed when the Silver Surfer turned Galactus' own Elemental Converter against him. As Galactus dies he warns that his death will allow a great evil to surface. After his death, Galactus' remains took the form of a star.[12]

That great evil that Galactus spoke of emerged a year later in the form of the Biblical demon Abraxas, the universal embodiment of destruction and the antithesis of Eternity. The Fantastic Four discover that most of the energy that Galactus took from planets was devoted to keeping Abraxas imprisoned as, if released, the entity will eventually destroy the entire multiverse.[13] Franklin Richards pools his Celestial-level power with that of his sister Valeria Von Doom and reconstitutes Galactus, but the siblings permanently burn out their powers in doing so. The newly reformed Galactus reclaims the Ultimate Nullifier from Abraxas, and Reed Richards uses it to remake the multiverse into a version in which Abraxas never escapes. The Ultimate Nullifier is revealed to be an aspect of Galactus himself.[14]

Soon after however, Reed Richards designs a weapon with the express purpose of stripping Galactus of the Power Cosmic. The creation of the device is made possible with help from Quasar and Johnny Storm, who is cosmically aware at this time. The weapon succeeds in separating Galactus into his two core components - Galan and the Power Cosmic. Galan then exiles himself in another dimension, hoping that this act will prevent the Power Cosmic from finding him.[15] The ruse fails, however, as a fully reformed Galactus encounters the alien warrior Beta Ray Bill soon after.[16] The manner in which the Power Cosmic finds Galan has not been revealed.

Annihilation

Galactus is a member of a group of entities called the "Cosmic Balance". After a brutal civil war that only three beings survived — Galactus the Devourer of Worlds, Tenebrous of the Darkness Between, and Aegis the Lady of All Sorrows — Galactus imprisons his brethren in the Kyln, until the Annihilation Wave frees them. Knowing of their escape, Galactus augments his herald the Silver Surfer and engages them.[17] The battle brings Galactus into contact with the powerful beings Thanos, Drax the Destroyer and Annihilus, the mastermind behind the Annihilation Wave. The Annihilation Wave is destroyed by an blast from Galactus, resulting in armistice between all parties.[18]

Powers and abilities

Galactus wields the immeasurable Power Cosmic and has been described as "the most powerful creature in the universe."[19]

As such, Galactus is able to employ the limitless cosmic energies within him to produce nearly any effect he desires, including size-alteration,[20] the molecular restructuring and transmutation of matter,[21] the teleportation of objects—even entire galaxies—across space and time,[22] the erection of impenetrable force fields,[21] the creation of interdimensional portals,[23] telepathy,[24] telekinesis,[25] and cosmic awareness on a universal scale.[26]

Galactus has even shown the ability to create sentient life in the form of Tyrant,[27] resurrect his herald Morg,[28] manipulate mortal souls[29] and remake dead worlds—including their populations — in every detail.[30]

Galactus requires his armor to help regulate his internal energies. As Galactus must continuously feed to sustain himself, his power levels are inconsistent throughout any given period. For this reason, Earth's heroes have been able to achieve various degrees of success in repelling — though not defeating — a starving, weakened Galactus.[31]

As the oldest known living entity in this universe, Galactus employs technology that by Mr. Fantastic's own admission—perhaps the most brilliant mind on Earth—he cannot even begin to grasp.[32]

File:Galactuspov.PNG
Galactus as various species perceive him: Panel from Fantastic Four vol. 1, #262 (Jan. 1984). Art by John Byrne.

Physical appearance

Although Galactus is usually perceived in humanoid form, each species perceives Galactus in a form resembling its own.[7] As a being who is both abstract entity (e.g. Death, Eternity, et al) and a physical creature, Galactus' true form and nature are beyond the capability of mortal beings to comprehend.

As Galan, he was a humanoid, but as Galactus, his true form is unknown. He has adopted the appearance of a roughly humanoid energy being on at least three occasions.[33]

Heralds

Main article: Herald of Galactus

Galactus has over time appointed a number of beings to act as his Herald, with each being bestowed a fraction of the Power Cosmic so as to locate planets suitable for consumption. His known Heralds to date have included the Fallen One,[34] the Silver Surfer,[35] Air-Walker (and later Air-Walker robot),[36] Firelord,[37] the Asgardian Destroyer armor,[38] Terrax,[39] Nova,[40] Morg,[41] Red Shift,[42] the Human Torch,[43] and Stardust.[44] Curiously many of Galactus' Heralds have either rebelled against him, betrayed him or been cast aside.

In stories in alternate and parallel realities, Galactus also used other heralds: Plasma, Dark Angel, Dazzler, Golden Oldie, the Fantastic Four, Thor, Ardina, Starglow, Dominas and Superman.

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

Main article: Ultimate Galactus trilogy
File:Galadultimate.png
Ultimate Extinction #5 (July 2006), with Gah Lak Tus. Cover art by Brandon Peterson.

Ultimate Galactus, called Gah Lak Tus, was introduced in a trilogy written by Warren Ellis. Gah Lak Tus is first mentioned by Ultimate Vision, an early-warning system for worlds under threat by Gah Lak Tus, an immense (approx. 100,000 miles long) group mind of city-sized robotic drones that attacks worlds using envoys (resembling the Silver Surfer) followed by a flesh-eating virus that destroys all life. After this the entity breaks open the dying world and sucks all thermal energy from the core. Gah Lak Tus considers all forms and expressions of organic life to be so abhorrent it believed itself desecrated when telepathically contacted by Professor X.[45]

Epic Illustrated

The anthology comics-magazine Epic Illustrated published "The Last Galactus Story" by John Byrne. Set 100,000,000 years in the future, Galactus devours a now uninhabited Earth. Accompanied by Nova, Galactus follows the trail of destroyed galaxies to the core of the Milky Way. The story's conclusion was never published, but it involved Galactus combating a rogue Watcher until the death of the universe. When only Galactus and his herald, Nova, remain, Galactus removes his helmet, releasing a new Big Bang. With the end of Galactus and the birth of a new universe, Nova is shown as having transformed into the Galactus for that universe.[46]

Amalgam Comics

In the Amalgam Universe, Galactus merged with Brainiac to create Galactiac, who devoured planets to replenish his energy cells, but simultaneously shrank parts of them to study at his leisure, much like the early, pre-Crisis Brainiac had done with the city of Kandor.

MC2

Galactus, accompanied by a new herald named Dominas, appears in the MC2 universe, in the Last Planet Standing limited series.[47] At its conclusion, Galactus merged with the Silver Surfer and evolved into a new form, actually becoming the source of a completely new form of energy, the "Power essential"; he then proceeded to endeavor to undo all the damage and death he had caused over the aeons.

Earth X

Galactus also appears in the non-canon Earth X series. In Earth X Galactus was one of the three essential entities in the universe as he kept the Celestials in check. By destroying planets, which were really "eggs" of the Celestials, he prevented the Celestials from overpopulating the universe. In its previous incarnation, the universe was brought to a premature end by the overpopulation of Celestials.[48]

Heroes Reborn

Galactus appears in the pocket universe created by Franklin Richards - after the events of the Onslaught saga - and deploys several heralds at once and actually succeeds in consuming the Earth twice, although this is undone by Doctor Doom with the use of his time machine.[49]

Mangaverse

Manga Galactus appears as a gigantic, planet-sized lifeform (similar to Ego the Living Planet ) and once fed upon the planet Earth millions of years ago, causing the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Marvel Zombies

Galactus appears in his "classic" form and battles the Marvel Zombies, and meets his death when he is consumed by the zombie entities, who weaken him using powers they have stolen from the Silver Surfer.[50] This version seems considerably weaker, and also seems to retain his humanic form rather than switch to a different one when he is eventually killed. The Universe is not robbed of a Galactus, however; the Zombies who manage to devour him somehow gain 'Galactus' suits as well as the being's powers, and become an unstoppable force dedicated to attacking perfectly healthy planets without warning, devouring the inhabitants as well as the planet itself.

Exiles

The Exiles comic-book title depicted one reality where Galactus was actually the restorer of worlds, and was pursued by the Silver Surfer, who sought his death.

In other media

Television

  • Galactus appeared regularly in the Silver Surfer cartoon series (1998) and was one of the only characters on the show to be CGI-based. Voiced by James Blendick.

Video games

File:Galactus close up.jpg
Close up CGI image of Galactus from the game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
  • Galactus also has a small appearance in the videogame "Silver Surfer", released in 1990 for the original 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System.

Movies

  • Galactus will be an element in the upcoming movie Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer which is due to be released in June, 2007. The official novelization of the film refers to Galactus as the Gah Lak Tus - the name of the Ultimate version. Galactus does not appear in humanoid form and is described in the novel as a large cosmic vortex.[51]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Data Corrections Fantastic Four 2005. URL last checked 2006-09-01.
  2. ^ Adventures of X-Men #12
  3. ^ a b Super-Villain Classics #1 (May 1983)
  4. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3 #10
  5. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #257
  6. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #257 (Aug. 1983)
  7. ^ a b c Fantastic Four vol. 1, #262 (Jan. 1984)
  8. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #48-50 (March-May 1966)
  9. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #74-77
  10. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #210 - 213 (Sept.-Dec. 1979)
  11. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #242-244 (May-July 1982)
  12. ^ Galactus the Devourer #1-6 (Sept. 1999 - March 2000)
  13. ^ Fantastic Four Annual 2001
  14. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #478
  15. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #520-523 (Jan.-April 2005)
  16. ^ Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill #1-6 (2005)
  17. ^ Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1-4 (June - Sept. 2006)
  18. ^ Annihilation #1-6 (Oct. 2006 - March 2007).
  19. ^ Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2 (2006)
  20. ^ Rom the Space Knight vol. 1, #27
  21. ^ a b The Silver Surfer vol. 1, #1 (Aug. 1968)
  22. ^ Rom the Space Knight vol. 1, #27
  23. ^ Thanos #3
  24. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #242
  25. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #49
  26. ^ Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #9
  27. ^ Cosmic Powers Unlimited #2
  28. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3 #76
  29. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #49
  30. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #130
  31. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #243
  32. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #210 (Sept. 1979)
  33. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #10 (April 1988), Infinity Gauntlet #5 (Nov. 1991), and Super-Villain Classics #1 (May 1983)
  34. ^ Thanos #11
  35. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #48
  36. ^ Fantastic Four vol.1 #120
  37. ^ Thor vol. 1, #225
  38. ^ Journey into Mystery vol. 1, #228
  39. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #211
  40. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #244
  41. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 1, #70
  42. ^ Galactus the Devourer#1 - 6 (1999 - 2000)
  43. ^ As Herald - Fantastic Four vol. 1, #520-523 (Jan.-April 2005)
  44. ^ Stormbreaker: The Sage of Beta Ray Bill #1-6(2005)
  45. ^ Ultimate Nightmare (2004); Ultimate Secret (2005) & Ultimate Extinction (2006): need specific issues unless Prof. X contacted him in every issue of all three series.
  46. ^ the Frequently Asked Questions on John Byrne's website
  47. ^ Last Planet Standing #1 - 5
  48. ^ Earth X #1 - 12 (2000 - 2001)
  49. ^ Heroes Reborn (1996 - 1997)
  50. ^ Marvel Zombies (2005 - 2006)
  51. ^ Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer: The Official Novelization of the Motion Picture. In the movie, he is potrayed as a cosmic storm cloud.

References

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