Galactus

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.

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Rebirth

Originally named Galan (or Galen, the spelling differs on occasion), he hails from the planet Taa, and is the sole survivor of the Big Crunch of the previous universe in which Taa was located.

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A space explorer investigating the impending end of his universe, his ship approached the focal point of the Big Crunch and was promptly destroyed. Galen, the only survivor, was transformed into a cosmic entity even as the universe collapsed, after striking a deal with Eternity, who was about to be reborn in the next universe.

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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.

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Galactus is considered one of the five essential entities within the Marvel Universe alongside Eternity, the personification of the universe, Death, Infinity and Oblivion.

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The Destroyer of Worlds

Though he wields the immeasurable Power Cosmic (indeed, Galactus is so powerful that he must always wear his costume in order to contain his vast energies; were he ever to remove it, the energy thus released would destroy Galactus and turn him into a star), 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.

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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.

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Nevertheless, he is not evil, but rather a force of nature whose feedings are simply a matter of survival.

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Heralds

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.

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Among his heralds are the Silver Surfer, Terrax, Firelord, Air-Walker, Gladiator, Nova, Morg, Red Shift, the Asgardian Destroyer armor, Invisible Man (the Human Torch, who posessed his sister's powers of invisibility at the time), Dazzler, and Stardust (his current herald).

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Attempts on destroying the Earth

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 to harm the Earth.

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Temporary death

In the Galactus: The Devourer limited series (1999-2000), Galactus was killed after a battle against the united forces of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Starjammers, the Shi'ar Empire and an armada of other united planets (including even a Kree starship). He died with an ominous warning that his death would allow a great evil to surface. After his death, Galactus' true form was revealed, that of a star.

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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.

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Humanoid

In the 2005 Fantastic Four storyline Rising Storm, Galactus was separtated from his cosmic energy, and reverted to the humanoid form of Galen. In tribute to "the indominitible spirit of the humanoid order", Galen willingly exiled himself into an other-universal realm, in apparent hope that this would prevent or delay the Galactus-energy-being from finding him.

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This did not last long, however, and as Galactus he encountered Beta Ray Bill shortly after.

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Galactus related Images and Photos (experimental)

Deco Galactus	Deco Galactus	Deco Galactus	Powerless #1 Group: Galactus Hulk Silver Surfer and Thor
Marvel Universe Silver Surfer Vs. Galactus Die Cast Car Set -- 2-Pc.	Marvel Universe Masterworks Galactus Action Figure	Fantastic Four #243 Cover: Galactus	Son of Hulk #17 Cover: Galactus
What If? Thor #1 Cover: Thor and Galactus	Fantastic Four #571 Group: Mr. Fantastic Silver Surfer and Galactus