11 Reasons Galactus Is More Terrifying Than Thanos

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will agree that Thanos is one of the most terrifying villains they’ve encountered; he managed to overpower the Avengers, exterminate half of all life across the cosmos, and almost defeated Earth’s strongest heroes a second time. However, even though Thanos is undeniably intimidating, comic book enthusiasts are aware that there’s an even more formidable adversary lurking out in space: Galactus.

Galactus initially emerged as a nemesis in the “Fantastic Four” comic series, which sets up his debut in the MCU’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” in 2025. It’s likely that Galactus will quickly overshadow Thanos in terms of power. In the “Thanos Annual” #1 from 2014, Thanos acknowledges Galactus as a being comparable to deities like Odin and Thor. Given the comics’ portrayal of Galactus, it appears that Thanos significantly underestimates him. There’s hardly anything that falls outside Galactus’ grasp – he has the ability to create life, alter reality, and consume entire worlds along with their sentient inhabitants to satisfy his unquenchable appetite. Galactus is such a daunting adversary that Marvel heroes have seldom defeated him; instead, they often resort to devising clever tactics to delay or repel Galactus for a brief period.

In the Marvel universe, there aren’t many threats that can match up to Galactus. Even though fans of the MCU may already be familiar with the fear Thanos instills, let’s take a chilling trip through the reasons why Galactus is even more terrifying.

He’s older than the universe

One aspect that makes Thanos intimidating, particularly for Earth-bound superheroes, is his cosmic travels which have granted him extensive experience and knowledge from across the universe. This means he might unexpectedly unleash a threat from his vast cosmic encounters since he’s seen much more of the universe compared to most Marvel characters. In comparison, Thanos appears relatively local in terms of universal exposure when compared to Galactus.

In the beginning, Galan was born on a planet called Taa, but tragically, his home universe was nearing its end. As Galan attempted to save his people, a catastrophic plague known as the Black Winter swept across and destroyed everything in its path, including his own kind. Just before their entire existence vanished, the Sentience of the Sixth Cosmos combined with Galan’s body, resulting in a single entity that came to be known as Galactus. Witnessing the demise of an entire universe, Galactus has been present throughout the Marvel Universe’s timeline. Regardless of how much Thanos travels, he will never match up to Galactus’ depth of knowledge.

He’s a super genius

Reducing Galactus’s immense power as a cosmic entity, one might consider his extended life and centuries of wisdom less intimidating if he were a typical mortal being. After all, human memory is limited, and we can only retain so much information at any given moment. Initially, Galactus (formerly known as Galan) was a scientist, possessing a curious mind and the ability to self-educate. Following his fusion with the Sentience of the Sixth Cosmos, Galactus gained access to the Power Cosmic, which provided him with nearly infinite knowledge about the universe, as well as the enhanced intellect necessary to effectively utilize his billions-of-years lifespan.

In the Marvel universe, there are several individuals with extraordinary intellect, yet Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic, stands out as a remarkable example of human genius. He possesses the ability to create machines that harness almost unlimited power or navigate through the complexities of the multiverse, but even he has been left puzzled by Galactus’ engineering prowess. As they venture into Galactus’ spaceship along with the other Fantastic Four members, they encounter technology that is beyond their comprehension. The technology found within Galactus’ ship might potentially revolutionize a society’s perception of science, but Galactus often prefers to keep his inventions and discoveries confined to his personal vessel.

His size alone presents a serious challenge

In comparison to Thanos, Galactus presents a more terrifying adversary, not just because of his powers, followers, or gadgets, but primarily due to his immense physical stature. Comic book Galactus towers at nearly 30 feet tall and tips the scales at over 16 tons, though he can alter his size on demand. In fact, he once expanded to such a degree that he engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the sun itself. Consequently, Galactus rarely needs to rely on his powers to overpower threats that come his way.

In “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” Galactus isn’t making his initial on-screen debut; he had a cameo in “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.” The first trailer for this movie sparked conversations about Galactus’ size within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as viewers noticed that his shadow covered Manhattan entirely. Although he remains a colossal figure in the film, he isn’t as monstrously huge as depicted in the comics.

He built a solar system-sized spaceship

One striking demonstration of Galactus’ immense intelligence lies in the fleet of starships he has constructed. Notably, while Galactus can effortlessly navigate open space on his own, he chooses to conserve energy and typically travels in a vast, sphere-shaped starship that accommodates interdimensional travel and other extraordinary abilities. The pièce de résistance of his fleet is the colossal vessel known as the Worldship, so named due to its size equating to an entire solar system. Officially called Taa II, this titanic craft pays homage to Galactus’ former homeworld.

The immensity of Galactus’ Worldship is mind-boggling; it exerts its own gravitational pull, making Taa II one of the most awe-inspiring cosmic objects imaginable. Despite its grandeur, it was not constructed merely for spectacle. Instead, it functions as Galactus’ operational hub, facilitating his scientific endeavors and missions. Equipped with a wide range of resources, it even houses an intergalactic zoo where Galactus keeps creatures from the planets he has consumed during his journeys. In essence, it’s a formidable vessel that outshines Thanos’ Sanctuary starships in terms of scale and purpose.

Galactus has no moral code

Characters such as villains are frequently shaped by their motivations. Thanos isn’t simply chilling due to his immense fighting abilities and possession of the Infinity Gauntlet; it’s his motivation that makes him truly terrifying. This motivation propels him towards a horrifying act: the destruction of half the universe, all while he firmly believes that this action is a reasonable solution. Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thanos views overpopulation as a problem that can be solved by reducing the universe’s population. In the comics, Thanos seeks mass death because he’s infatuated with Death, the goddess, but his villainous actions are driven by something even deeper.

From the perspective of a gamer:

I’ve come to realize that Galactus isn’t your typical villain. He doesn’t act out of some moral compass or emotional urge. Instead, it’s survival that drives him. You see, planets are the only source of energy for Galactus’ gigantic form and his cosmic powers. It’s not a choice or a whim; it’s a necessity.

The Marvel heroes can’t talk sense into Galactus, nor can they offer anything that would make him halt his planet-consuming spree. In many ways, Galactus is trapped by his own power. Even if he wanted to stop, he physically can’t.

Compared to other destructive forces, Galactus feels less like a supervillain like Thanos and more like an unavoidable natural disaster. He’s not evil in the traditional sense; he’s just… existential necessity personified.

He’s destined for immortality

As a gamer, I find myself pondering about characters in the Marvel universe who possess the power to take down cosmic entities like Galactus. Yet, it’s rare that we ever see him truly defeated. There might be various practical reasons behind this, but there’s also a hint of metaphysical forces at play.

In the comic “Fantastic Four” #262, my favorite genius, Reed Richards, stands trial before the Galactic Tribunal. This was after he chose to spare Galactus in a heart-pounding showdown. He acknowledges his crime and confesses that he’s tormented by the fact that Galactus will inevitably consume another world.

However, Reed also shares that he’s come to realize Galactus is a significant figure in our universe, performing a function beyond human comprehension. This enigmatic being isn’t just a destructive force; he might be a necessary one for the cosmic balance.

A Watcher voices accord with Reed, followed by the grand entrance of Galactus himself. He then calls forth a being known as Eternity, revealing his cosmic role exceeds all comprehension. Reed departs from the trial, and later Reed’s offspring, Franklin, forges an extraordinary bond with Galactus. In “FF” #16, an adult Franklin Richards and Galactus share a poignant moment, acknowledging they would bear witness to the universe’s end together. Galactus confides that he had always anticipated outliving the cosmos, and that he has long feared facing its demise alone.

Galactus has the Power Cosmic

The origin of Galactus’ awe-inspiring powers lies in the Cosmic Power, which represents the consciousness of the Sixth Cosmos that combined with a human named Galan to create Galactus initially. Without the Cosmic Power, Galactus wouldn’t have come into being. Yet, equipped with it, his powers are virtually boundless. Recall some of the remarkable feats Thanos accomplished throughout his storyline in the Infinity Saga – using the power of the Infinity Stones, he manipulated reality for the Guardians of the Galaxy and crashed an entire moon onto Iron Man. Capabilities that Galactus possesses without needing the Infinity Stones or any external energy source.

With the Cosmic Power at his disposal, Galactus has the ability to manipulate reality according to his desires, transport himself (and anything else he chooses) across dimensions and timelines, and even generate life forms. This cosmic power also grants Galactus an almost comprehensive understanding of the universe, leaving very little beyond his scope of knowledge or creativity. Moreover, he can bestow his Heralds with the Cosmic Power, making them stronger than many Marvel characters. Thanos needed the Infinity Gauntlet in its entirety to approach Galactus’ level of power, and if that doesn’t make Galactus more formidable than Thanos, nothing will.

He’s defeated gods and Celestials

When not engaged in scientific pursuits aboard his spaceship or consuming planets, Galactus typically spends his time battling adversaries. It’s no secret that most Marvel villains spend their leisure hours clashing for our amusement. Given his immense power, Galactus has faced some truly formidable opponents. After all, the destruction of entire civilizations is essentially his regular occupation, so it’s not unexpected that Galactus effortlessly overpowers Kree armies. However, what might be more astonishing is that Galactus has managed to stand toe-to-toe in a war with the Asgardian gods, and in “Fantastic Four” issue 603, he even succeeded in slaying a Celestial.

Due to their ability to tap into the Power Cosmic like Galactus himself, the Heralds possess immense strength, sometimes even rivaling their master. For instance, the Silver Surfer once confronted two Primordial Deities simultaneously and successfully vanquished both, but required extensive healing from Galactus following the conflict. The only factor limiting Galactus and his Heralds is energy depletion, so when a large-scale battle is imminent, Galactus consumes several planets to recharge his power reserves. At such times, there’s hardly any force in the cosmos that can withstand him, Thanos included.

His Heralds would likely wipe out The Black Order

Although Galactus is incredibly fearsome, many cosmic beings will never encounter him directly because he spends a significant amount of time residing on Taa II. Instead, he dispatches his agents throughout the universe to carry out his grim tasks. His Heralds, identifiable soldiers in this cosmic conflict, are nearly as intimidating as Galactus himself. These Heralds possess the ability to harness energy equivalent to that which powers Galactus, enabling them to engage Galactus’ adversaries single-handedly. Notable Heralds have included the Silver Surfer and Nova, and each one usually comes with their own unique abilities or extraordinary alien talents, making them stand out even before being selected by Galactus.

While Heralds often receive all the acclaim, they’re not the only assistants Galactus has aboard Taa II. The World Devourer also possesses a robot army known as Punishers, crafted with advanced alien tech from a world that no longer exists. Galactus employs these Punishers to safeguard his spacecraft and occasionally to discipline unruly Heralds. Unlike Thanos, who commands his own team of loyal allies – a powerful group of aliens known as The Black Order, The Five Dreadlords, or The Midnight Slaughter – Galactus’ generals are far more fearsome. This is just another reason why Galactus appears even more terrifying.

Killing Galactus might be worse than leaving him alive

Picture yourself standing in Times Square, gazing at the heavens as the colossal figure of Galactus appears from outer space, threatening Earth. The planet seems doomed, and you let out a terrified scream. But just when all hope seems lost, the Fantastic Four swoop in, miraculously defeating Galactus forever. You think you’re finally safe – even starting to celebrate with everyone else on the planet. However, before the festivities can truly begin, another terrifying being known as Abraxas emerges and obliterates not just Earth but the entire multiverse. The twist? Keeping Galactus alive is crucial for the survival of the multiverse, despite the initial destruction he brings.

It appears that the reason behind Galactus’ destructive behavior is rather simple: in each universe, there exists a version of Galactus who safeguards against Abraxas, an ominous cosmic force intent on annihilating all existence. Once Galactus perishes, Abraxas swiftly unleashes chaos and devastation across the universes. Given what we’ve discussed, it may be difficult to fathom, but Abraxas is even more formidable than Galactus, making it prudent to allow the World Devourer to continue his cosmic mission.

Galactus controls the Ultimate Nullifier

The Watchers typically abstain from participating in conflicts, but unusual events have marked the vast cosmic chronicles of the Marvel universe. In a distant past, the Watchers chose to aid a less developed race, the Prosilicans, by bestowing upon them nuclear technology. Regrettably, this technology was misused for warfare, initially between the Prosilicans themselves and later against other planets. This spiraled into a universal conflict, prompting the Watcher Emnu to construct a weapon called the Ultimate Nullifier to quickly end the carnage. With a single blast, the Ultimate Nullifier nearly eradicated the Prosilicans – and incidentally destroyed 90% of the known universe as well.

Initially, the Fantastic Four discovered the Ultimate Nullifier when Johnny stumbled upon it aboard Galactus’ spacecraft. On one occasion, they managed to use this powerful artifact to intimidate Galactus and stop him from destroying Earth. Over time, the Nullifier has been utilized and hidden variously. It’s said to be more destructive than the Infinity Gauntlet and is considered one of the most perilous weapons in existence across all of universe. Galactus stores it on Taa II for both self-protection and to safeguard the cosmos from another disaster similar to the one triggered by the Prosilicans.

2025-02-07 18:01