Editing Galactus (section)

==Fictional character biography==
[[File:Galan-galactus.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Comic-book page, with green and orange explosions|Galan of Taa, and<!--Please do not edit this caption without reading the talk page. The current wording is the result of consensus.--> the Sentience of the previous universe in the [[World egg|Cosmic egg]], which will eventually produce Galactus.<br/>''Super-Villain Classics'' #1: ''Galactus – The Origin'' (May 1983),<br/>art by Jack Kirby and John Byrne]]

Reality goes through cycles of creation and destruction. Galactus was originally the [[Taa-an]] explorer Galan of the planet Taa in the previous iteration of the multiverse, the Sixth Cosmos, which existed before the [[Big Bang]] of the current multiverse, the Seventh Cosmos.<ref name="origin" /><ref>''The Ultimates 2'' (vol. 2) #6 (June 2017). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''The Ultimates 2'' (vol. 2) #8 (August 2017). Marvel Comics.</ref> When an unknown cosmic cataclysm gradually kills all other life in his universe, Galan and other survivors leave Taa on a spacecraft and are engulfed in the [[Big Crunch]]. Galan, however, does not die: after bonding with the [[Eternity (Marvel Comics)#Fictional character biography|Sentience of the Universe]], he changes and gestates for billions of years in an egg made of the debris of his ship that the current universe formed after the Big Bang. He emerges as Galactus, and though an unnamed [[Watcher (comics)|Watcher]] observed Galactus's birth and recognizes his destructive nature, the Watcher chooses not to kill Galactus.<ref name="Thor #168–169. Marvel Comics"/><ref name="Fantastic Four' 1966">''Fantastic Four'' #48 (March 1966). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref name="origin">''Super-Villain Classics'' #1: ''Galactus – The Origin'' (May 1983). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Fantastic Four'' #522. Marvel Comics.</ref> Starving for sustenance, Galactus consumes the nearby planet of Archeopia—the first of many planets he would destroy to maintain his existence.<ref name="Fantastic Four' 1966"/><ref name="origin"/> Subsequently, in memory of his dead homeworld of Taa and the first planet (Archeopia) to fall prey to his hunger, Galactus constructs a new "homeworld": the [[Möbius strip]]-shaped space station called Taa II.

Galactus becomes involved in a civil war among the "Proemial Gods", who had come into being during the universe's infancy. When a faction of the gods led by Diableri of Chaos attempts to remake the universe in their own image, Galactus kills Diableri and imprisons three others ([[Antiphon (comics)|Antiphon]], Tenebrous, and [[Aegis (Lady of All Sorrows)|Aegis]]) in the prison called the [[Kyln]].<ref name="Annihilation 2007">''Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus'' #2 (May 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Galactus then creates the being Tyrant out of a desire for companionship, but the two ultimately engage in a major conflict.<ref>''Cosmic Powers'' #6 (August 1994). Marvel Comics.</ref> Galactus decides to empower his first herald—the [[Annihilation (comics)#Annihilation: Silver Surfer|Fallen One]]—who ultimately rebels against his master.<ref>''Thanos'' #11–12 (August – September 2004). Marvel Comics.</ref> When approaching the planet of Zenn-La, Galactus accepts the offer of Norrin Radd to become his herald, the [[Silver Surfer]], in exchange for sparing his world.<ref name="ss1">''Silver Surfer'' #1 (August 1968). Marvel Comics.</ref> Eventually locating Earth, Galactus is driven off by the [[Fantastic Four]], [[Uatu]] the Watcher, and the rebellious Silver Surfer after the [[Human Torch]]—with the Watcher's assistance—retrieves the [[Ultimate Nullifier]] from Taa II. Although Galactus leaves Earth, vowing that he will never try to consume it again, he banishes the Surfer to Earth for betraying him.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #48–50 (March – May 1966). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Cronin|url=https://www.cbr.com/a-year-of-cool-comics-day-50/|title=A Year of Cool Comics – Day 50|work=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=19 February 2010|access-date=29 September 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504111741/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/02/19/a-year-of-cool-comics-day-50/|archive-date=4 May 2010}}</ref> Galactus later returns for his former herald, but the Surfer is unrepentant and chooses to remain on Earth.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #72–77 (March – August 1968). Marvel Comics.</ref> [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] learns of Galactus' origin when the entity comes into conflict with [[Ego the Living Planet]].<ref>''Thor'' #160–162 (January – March 1969). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Returning to Earth, Galactus unsuccessfully tries to re-enlist the Silver Surfer. After the Fantastic Four and the Surfer defeat Galactus's new herald, the [[Air-Walker]], [[Mister Fantastic]] reprograms Galactus's ship to travel to the [[Negative Zone]], which contains many uninhabited worlds that could potentially be consumed.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #120–123 (March – June 1972). Marvel Comics.</ref> Thor and [[Olympian (comics)|Olympian]] ally [[Hercules (Marvel Comics)|Hercules]] encounter Galactus when his next herald, [[Firelord (comics)|Firelord]], travels to Earth to be free of his master. Galactus frees Firelord when Thor presents Galactus with the magical [[Asgard (comics)|Asgardian]] suit of armor named the [[Destroyer (Thor)|Destroyer]] to animate and use as a herald.<ref>''Thor'' #225–226 (July – August 1974). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Galactus comes into conflict with the [[High Evolutionary]] when attempting to devour [[Counter-Earth (comics)#Earth|Counter-Earth]], but he is temporarily transformed into harmless energy after attempting to devour the planet Poppup, the homeworld of the [[Impossible Man]].<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #172–175 (July – October 1976). Marvel Comics.</ref> After returning to normal form, Galactus is sought by the Fantastic Four to help stop a new cosmic threat, the [[Sphinx (Marvel Comics)#Anath-Na Mut|Sphinx]]. Mr. Fantastic offers to release Galactus from his vow to not devour Earth if he helps defeat the Sphinx. Galactus agrees, if the Fantastic Four first recruit a being called Tyros as a new herald. The quartet succeed, and the newly empowered and renamed [[Terrax]] leads his master to Earth. Galactus locates and defeats the Sphinx in [[Egypt]], but is confronted by Mr. Fantastic, who, unbeknownst to Galactus, wields a fake Ultimate Nullifier. Unable to read Richards' mind (which is protected by the Watcher), Galactus retreats.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #206–213 (May – December 1979). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Galactus empowers and uses the superheroine [[Dazzler (Marvel Comics)|Dazzler]] to locate a missing Terrax, who is in fact hiding from his master inside a black hole.<ref name="Dazzler #10">''Dazzler'' #10 (December 1981). Marvel Comics.</ref> The Dazzler defeats and retrieves Terrax, and forces Galactus to return her to Earth.<ref name="Dazzler #11">''Dazzler'' #11 (January 1982). Marvel Comics.</ref> Galactus is fooled by the [[Galadorian (comics)|Galadorian]] Spaceknight [[Rom the Space Knight|Rom]] into trying to devour the Black Nebula, the homeworld of the [[Dire Wraith]]s, but he is repelled by the Wraiths' Dark Sun.<ref>''Rom'' #26–27 (January – February 1982). Marvel Comics.</ref> A weakened Galactus pursues the rebellious Terrax to Earth and strips him of his power. Near death, Galactus is saved by the Fantastic Four and the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] while also acquiring another herald: [[Nova (Frankie Raye)|Nova]] II, who offers herself as Galactus' herald in exchange for him sparing Earth again.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #242–244 (May – July 1982). Marvel Comics.</ref> Galactus devours the [[Skrull]]s' throneworld of Tarnax IV, and discusses his role in the universe with fellow cosmic entity [[Death (Marvel Comics)|Death]].<ref name="FF257">''Fantastic Four'' #257 (August 1983). Marvel Comics.</ref> Mr. Fantastic is captured by the [[Shi'ar]] for saving Galactus' life, and is tried by all of the aliens who survived the annihilation of their homeworlds by Galactus. During the trial, the cosmic entity [[Eternity (Marvel Comics)|Eternity]] — the sentient embodiment of space and reality of the Marvel Universe — intervenes, allowing all beings present to momentarily become one with the universe, allowing them to understand that Galactus is a necessary part of the cosmic order.<ref name="ff262"/>

During the [[Secret Wars]], Galactus attempts to consume Battleworld to force the [[Beyonder]] to remove his hunger, but his plan is foiled by [[Doctor Doom]].<ref>''Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars'' #1–12 (May 1984 – April 1985). Marvel Comics.</ref> Galactus grants clemency to the Silver Surfer, who aids his former master against the [[Elders of the Universe]]<ref>''Silver Surfer'' (vol. 3) #1–10 (July 1987 – April 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref> and the [[In-Betweener]].<ref>''Silver Surfer'' (vol. 3) #16–18 (October – December 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref> Galactus also rescues the Surfer and Nova II from [[Mephisto (Marvel Comics)|Mephisto]]'s realm,<ref>''Silver Surfer: Judgment Day'' [graphic novel] (October 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref> and aids the cosmic hierarchy in a war against the mad [[Eternals (comics)|Eternal]] [[Thanos]], who wields the [[Infinity Gems|Infinity Gauntlet]].<ref>''Infinity Gauntlet'' #1–6 (July – December 1991). Marvel Comics.</ref>

When Nova II is conscience-stricken at causing the death of billions of aliens, Galactus takes on a new herald, the bloodthirsty [[Morg|Morg the Executioner]].<ref name="Silver Surfer 1992">''Silver Surfer'' (vol. 3) #70 (September 1992). Marvel Comics.</ref> Tyrant eventually returns<ref>''Cosmic Powers'' #1–6 (March – August 1994). Marvel Comics.</ref> and Morg sacrifices himself to stop the former creation of Galactus by using the Ultimate Nullifier.<ref name="Silver Surfer 1995">''Silver Surfer'' (vol. 3) #109 (October 1995). Marvel Comics.</ref> Galactus then decides, with help from his new herald Red Shift, to only devour the energy of living beings, which brings him into conflict with alien races and Earth's superheroes. During a final confrontation near Chandilar, the throneworld of the [[Shi'ar]], the Silver Surfer turns Galactus' siphoning machines against him. A starving Galactus dies and assumes the form of a star.<ref>''Galactus the Devourer'' #1–6 (September 1999 – March 2000). Marvel Comics.</ref> The death of Galactus allows the entity [[Abraxas (comics)|Abraxas]] (a metaphysical embodiment of destruction) to emerge from imprisonment.<ref>''Fantastic Four Annual 2001''. Marvel Comics.</ref> The entity wreaks havoc across thousands of [[Parallel universes in fiction|alternate universes]], killing various incarnations of Galactus before the children of Mr. Fantastic — [[Franklin Richards (character)|Franklin Richards]] and [[Valeria Richards|Valeria von Doom]] — exhaust their powers to restore the original Galactus. Galactus then provides Mr. Fantastic with the [[Ultimate Nullifier]], which he uses to reset reality and prevent Abraxas' initial escape and destruction.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' (vol. 3) #46–49 (October 2001 – January 2002). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Conscience-stricken, Galactus tries to rid himself of his cosmic hunger by feeding on the power from the [[Infinity Gems]], but is tricked into releasing the Hunger, a being which feeds on entire galaxies. The Hunger is destroyed when Thanos orchestrates a final battle with Galactus.<ref>''Thanos'' #1–6 (December 2003 – May 2004). Marvel Comics.</ref> When an alien race develops a technology to make planets invisible to Galactus, he empowers the Human Torch (who has traded powers with his sister the Invisible Woman and becomes the Invisible Boy as a result of this) and utilizes the hero as an unwilling herald to locate the planets. The Fantastic Four and [[Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)|Quasar]] free the Torch by changing Galactus back into the humanoid Galan, who chooses to exile himself to an energy-rich alternate dimension before he can transform back into Galactus so that he can feed on that reality without endangering planets.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #520–523 (January – April 2005). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Galactus consumes [[Beta Ray Bill]]'s homeworld with the help of his new herald, [[Stardust (Marvel Comics)|Stardust]].<ref name="Stormbreaker 2005">''Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill'' #1–6 (March – August 2005). Marvel Comics.</ref> After [[Annihilus]] declares war on the universe, the entity attacks and destroys the Kyln, freeing former Galactus foes Tenebrous and Aegis.<ref>''Annihlation: Prologue'' #1 (May 2006). Marvel Comics.</ref> Sensing their release, Galactus temporarily releases Stardust from his service and re-employs the Silver Surfer as his herald due to his familiarity with their old foes.<ref name="Annihilation 2006">''Annihilation: Silver Surfer'' #3 (August 2006). Marvel Comics.</ref> Tenebrous and Aegis, however, find and defeat the Surfer and Galactus and deliver them to Annihilus.<ref>''Annihilation'' #1 (October 2006). Marvel Comics.</ref> Annihilus intends to use Galactus as a weapon to destroy all life in the universe, but is thwarted when the entity is freed by [[Drax the Destroyer]]. Galactus retaliates and destroys most of Annihilus' forces.<ref>''Annihilation'' #4–6 (January – March 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref> Seeking a final confrontation with Tenebrous and Aegis, Galactus sends the Silver Surfer to locate them.<ref>''Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus'' #1 (April 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref> The Surfer eventually draws the pair into the barrier between the universe and the [[Negative Zone]], which destroys both of them.<ref name="Annihilation 2007"/>

After an encounter with [[Epoch (Marvel Comics)|Epoch]],<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #545–546 (June – July 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref> Galactus consumes the planet Orbucen.<ref>''Nova'' (vol. 4) #13–15 (July – September 2008). Marvel Comics.</ref> When a distraught Beta Ray Bill seeks vengeance for the destruction of the Korbinites' homeworld, Galactus relents and creates a female Korbinite as a companion for Bill.<ref name="Godhunter">''Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter'' #1–3 (June – August 2009). Marvel Comics.</ref> Galactus also consumes the planet [[Sakaar]], earning the enmity of the [[Hulk]]'s alien-born twin sons, [[Skaar (character)|Skaar]] and [[Hiro-Kala]].<ref>''Skarr: Son of Hulk'' #7–12 (March 1, 2009 – August 1, 2009) and ''Son of Hulk'' #13–17 (September 1, 2009 – January 2010). Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Silver Surfer finds the body of a future Galactus underneath New York City, and he summons the present Galactus to Earth.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #583 (November 2010). Marvel Comics.</ref> Mr. Fantastic explains that, in the distant future, the heroes on a dying Earth had killed Galactus and then escaped to the present via [[time travel]].<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #560 (November 2008). Marvel Comics.</ref> When Galactus discovers these heroes now live on a planet called Nu-Earth, he destroys it and its inhabitants in retribution.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #587 (March 2011). Marvel Comics.</ref>

A tear in the fabric of space caused by the Annihilation Wave and other interstellar conflicts allows the extra-universal forces of the [[The Thanos Imperative|Cancerverse]] (an alternate universe without death) to invade. Galactus, the [[Celestial (comics)|Celestial]]s and the resurrected Tenebrous and Aegis combat the powerful Cancerverse weapon: the Galactus Engine (constructed from the corpse of the Cancerverse's counterpart to Galactus).<ref>''The Thanos Imperative'' #2–6 (September 2010 – January 2011). Marvel Comics.</ref> During the events of the [[Chaos War]], Galactus is teleported to Earth by the Olympian demigod Hercules to help fight the [[Amatsu-Mikaboshi (character)|Chaos King]], a metaphysical embodiment of Oblivion and another antithesis of Eternity.<ref>''Chaos War'' #2 (December 2010). Marvel Comics.</ref> While the [[Hulk]] and his allies the God Squad, [[Alpha Flight]], and several members of the Avengers fight Amatsu-Mikaboshi's forces, [[Amadeus Cho]] and Galactus develop a machine which will move Earth to a safe location in a sealed-off continuum, only to adapt the plan by trapping Amatsu-Mikaboshi in that dimension instead.<ref>''Chaos War'' #5 (March 2011). Marvel Comics.</ref>

After an encounter with the High Evolutionary,<ref>''Silver Surfer'' (vol. 6) #1–5 (January – May 2011). Marvel Comics.</ref> Galactus invades [[Asgard (comics)|Asgard]], home of the Norse Gods, seeking an Asgardian artifact to sate his hunger and spare future civilizations. [[Odin (Marvel Comics)|Odin]], ruler of the Norse Gods, contends that Galactus wishes to ensure that he is not replaced in the next universe. To avoid a protracted battle, the Silver Surfer offers to remain on Earth to guard the artifact on the condition that Galactus may have it once Asgard eventually passes. Galactus recruits a human preacher from Earth named Pastor Mike (full name unknown) that he names Praeter to be his new herald.<ref>''The Mighty Thor'' #1–6 (April – September 2011). Marvel Comics.</ref> Later, when the Mad Celestials from Earth-4280 invade, Galactus destroys one before being struck down by the others. Revived by Franklin Richards, he and Franklin succeed in vanquishing the remaining Celestials, and prevent the destruction of Earth.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #602–604 (January 2012 – March 2012). Marvel Comics.</ref> In the aftermath, Galactus learns that he will no longer face the eventual end of the universe alone; he and Franklin will witness it together.<ref>''FF'' #16 (March 2012). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Galactus is then pulled through a hole in space-time to an [[Ultimate Marvel|alternate universe]]<ref>''Age of Ultron'' #10 (August 2013). Marvel Comics.</ref> and meets another version of himself: a space-faring mechanical hive mind called ''Gah Lak Tus''.<ref name="Hunger#1">''Hunger'' #1 (July 2013). Marvel Comics.</ref> After the two merge with one another, Galactus makes his way towards this universe's Earth in an attempt to consume it. The heroes of the alternate Earth travel to Earth-616 to acquire information on Galactus<ref>''Cataclysm: The Ultimates' Last Stand'' #3 (March 2014). Marvel Comics.</ref> and eventually manage to send Galactus to the Negative Zone, reasoning that he will eventually starve to death, as the region is composed of [[anti-matter]].<ref>''Cataclysm: The Ultimates' Last Stand'' #5 (April 2014). Marvel Comics.</ref> A comatose Galactus is found by the [[Eternals (comics)|Eternal]]s and [[Vision (Timely Comics)|Aarkus]], who hope to use him in their war against the [[Kree]].<ref>''All-New Invaders'' #5 (May 2014). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Galactus returns to the universe, and after an encounter with [[Squirrel Girl]],<ref>''The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl'' #4 (January 2016). Marvel Comics.</ref> is forced into his own incubator by the [[Ultimates (2015 team)|Ultimates]], who are determined to end his threat. Galactus re-emerges as a Lifebringer instead of a Devourer of Worlds, his first act as such being to re-create Archeopia, the first planet that he ever consumed.<ref>''The Ultimates'' (vol. 3) #1–6 (January – June 2016). Marvel Comics.</ref> Galactus later rescues the team at the behest of Eternity, and learns that the latter has been imprisoned by an unknown force. Galactus also comes into conflict with fellow cosmic entities [[Master Order]] and [[Lord Chaos]], who, along with the [[Molecule Man]], wish for Galactus to return to his former role as a Devourer of Worlds and thereby restore the cosmic order. Galactus locates the hero Anti-Man outside the Multiverse and, after transforming him into a Herald of Life, sends him to recruit the recently disbanded Ultimates to help discover the identity of Eternity's captor, who is later revealed to be the First Firmament, the first iteration of the cosmos. Master Order and Lord Chaos bring Galactus to trial before the [[Living Tribunal]], still seeking to restore Galactus to his former state for the sake of the cosmic order. Although Galactus successfully argues that the balance of the new Multiverse is different and that his old role is obsolete, the Tribunal is destroyed by a Firmament-influenced Master Order and Lord Chaos. After a brief battle, Master Order decides to create a new cosmic order, which it and Lord Chaos would control. Their former servant, the [[In-Betweener]], is forcibly merged with them into a new cosmic being called Logos. After destroying several Celestials, Logos forcibly transforms Galactus back into the Devourer of Worlds. The process is reversed when Anti-Man sacrifices his life to restore Galactus as the Lifebringer. Galactus then swears to free the imprisoned Eternity.<ref>''The Ultimates 2'' (vol. 2) #3–6 (March – June 2017). Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "[[Infinity Countdown]]" storyline, the Silver Surfer requests Galactus' aid in defeating Ultron/Hank Pym by consuming the planet Saiph, which is overrun by Ultron drones. Galactus reluctantly agrees. After consuming Saiph, Galactus' hunger returns and the Silver Surfer becomes his herald again as he takes Galactus to find an uninhabited planet.<ref name="Infinity Countdown #4">''Infinity Countdown'' #4 (August 2018). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Returning to Earth, Galactus has a confrontation with [[Doctor Doom]] and the Fantastic Four, with Doom revealing his plans to harness Galactus' power as an energy source.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' (vol. 6) #6–7 (January–February 2019). Marvel Comics.</ref> Banished to the mystical realms by an alien sorcerer, Galactus becomes entangled in the schemes of [[Dormammu]] and Mephisto. Galactus begins to consume mystical energy, eventually absorbing Dormammu and other mystical entities, and in doing so goes insane and destabilizes reality. [[Doctor Strange]] intervenes and – with the aid of Eternity and the Living Tribunal – is able to undo the damage wrought by Galactus.<ref name="heraldsupreme">''Doctor Strange'' (vol. 5) #12–17 (March – August 2019). Marvel Comics.</ref>

An injured Galactus crashlands on Asgard, apparently seeking asylum from the cause of his universe's destruction: the Black Winter (Fimbulwinter), a cosmic entity that fulfills a similar purpose to Galactus on a far larger scale — rather than simply devouring planets, it consumes entire universes. Galactus reveals to All-Father Thor that he had a vision of Thor being responsible for his death. In a bid to destroy the Black Winter, Galactus turns Thor into his Herald of Thunder.<ref>''Thor'' (vol. 6) #1 (March 2020). Marvel Comics.</ref> Thor later learns that the Black Winter considers Galactus to be ''his'' herald. This causes an angered Thor to drain Galactus of his energies enough to turn him into a desiccated husk. When the Black Winter moves in to claim Galactus' body, Thor uses it as a bomb to decimate the Black Winter.<ref>''Thor'' (vol. 6) #5–6 (July – August 2020). Marvel Comics.</ref>