The Only Galactus Explainer You Need Before The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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It’s often agreed among comic book enthusiasts that Doctor Doom is the toughest adversary for the Fantastic Four. Indeed, Doom is legendary and significant in the grand scheme of things. However, it’s not accurate to say he’s the greatest danger they’ve faced. That title belongs to Galactus, a cosmic entity who consumes entire planets just to satisfy his insatiable appetite.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at the journey of Galactus, who first graced the pages of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s “Fantastic Four” #58. It wasn’t long before this cosmic titan transcended the comic book realm, making his on-screen debut in the 1967 “Fantastic Four” cartoon, albeit with a slightly different appearance than his comic counterpart. However, subsequent animated adaptations did justice to his imposing presence, with striking appearances in the 1994 “Fantastic Four” animated series and 2010’s “Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Galactus predates the universe itself

Enthusiasts of the Fantastic Four were ready to move past cosmic entity Galactus following the 2007 film “Rise of the Silver Surfer,” but this didn’t dampen their desire for a comic book-authentic portrayal. Fortunately, that’s exactly what we’re receiving in “Fantastic Four: First Steps.” This upcoming installment will depict Galactus’ arrival on Earth more truthfully to the comics than the previous film. In the franchise’s inaugural entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Galactus makes his appearance on Earth with the intention of devouring the planet to satiate his immense hunger. His herald, the Silver Surfer, paves the way for his arrival.

It appears that in the comic “First Steps,” Galactus isn’t just visiting Earth for a late-night snack as initially suggested; instead, it becomes clear that he has a different purpose. This secret objective revolves around the newborn child of Reed Richards and Sue Storm – Franklin Richards. In the comics, Franklin is known to be one of the most powerful mutants across various universes, capable of altering reality at will. In some stories, even Galactus serves as Franklin’s herald, and in the 2015 event series “Secret Wars,” he assists his father in creating a completely new timeline.

Intriguingly, the 2003 miniseries “Earth X” introduces an alternate future where it’s disclosed that Galactus feeds on planets with a Celestial egg at their core. The notion of Earth harboring a Celestial egg was novel in “Earth X,” serving as the apparent catalyst for the MCU film “The Eternals.” However, what truly makes this tale thought-provoking is that in “Earth X,” it’s unmasked that Galactus is none other than Franklin Richards.

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2025-07-22 21:00