| “ | It is known by many names. My people called it... Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds. It must feed on energy to survive. Both thermal... and organic. | „ |
| ~ The Silver Surfer telling the Invisible Woman about Galactus. |
Galactus, also known as Gah Lak Tus, is the overarching antagonist of the 2007 superhero film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the sequel to the 2005 film Fantastic Four. He is a massive eldritch entity that feeds on worlds.
Biography[]
Foraging for food[]
Galactus' origins and true name are open to interpretation. He is known for feeding on planets throughout the universe to survive. Specifically, he absorbs all of their thermal and organic energy for nutrients. Upon reaching the planet of Norrin Radd, Radd offered his servitude in exchange for his planet and loved ones' survival. Galactus agreed and granted Radd cosmic powers, transforming him into his herald, the Silver Surfer. This carries a risk, however, as if the Silver Surfer realizes they have the same power, he would be able to amplify both portions of identical cosmic energy to cause apocalyptic explosions against Galactus' will. Galactus, being pragmatic and still needing sustenance for himself, sees it as a worthy risk and their deal is cemented. Radd, with his new abilities, sought out other planets for Galactus to devour, going weeks ahead of his master to prepare the planet for consumption by drilling holes to the planets' cores. Later, the Silver Surfer found Earth.
The Surfer began preparing the Earth for Galactus, though he was opposed by the superhero team the Fantastic Four. The Fantastic Four, desperate to stop the Surfer, team up with Doctor Victor von Doom to attack the Surfer with an energy pulse that will allow his capture. After the Surfer is captured, Susan "Invisible Woman" Storm goes to talk with him.
The Surfer explains what Galactus is, and why he must serve to protect his planet. However, Doom turns against the heroes and steals the Surfer's board, refusing to part with the power even as Galactus arrives.
Death[]
As the Fantastic Four fight off Doom, Galactus begins devouring the Earth. Doom is defeated, but Susan is killed in the process. Realizing that he has a choice, the Surfer uses some of his power to bring her back before reacquiring his board and racing off to confront Galactus. The Silver Surfer tells him that he will no longer serve him and openly threatens to bring an end to both of them. Enraged, Galactus tries to kill the Surfer. However, the Surfer expels all of the cosmic power in his body and sees Galactus has the same power vested in himself, turning two identical forms of power against each other and enabling him to summon enough power to weaken Galactus and create a massive explosion that destroys them both, saving the Earth and everyone on her in the process.
Legacy[]
Later, the Surfer's motionless body is seen drifting through space, with the board following close by before quickly returning to the Surfer, implying that he may have survived his slaying of Galactus.
Personality[]
Galactus is a wrathful and destructive yet ultimately desperate and sympathetic cosmic behemoth who eats planets out of desperation to survive, as he has no control over his own size and his need to partake of meaty sustenance as much as any other non-herbivorous organism. Furthermore, he requires organic energy to survive, hence why he cannot eat larger uninhabited worlds such as Saturn. On the other hand, he is wrathful and his forceful grunts almost sound animalistic when he is clashing with the Silver Surfer. Nevertheless, he is also shown to have quite a pragmatic attitude, as he tried to eat the Silver Surfer's homeworld until the latter redirected him to Earth instead, showing he can be reasoned with and can turn to less mouth-watering meals if it means he can have someone's help in targeting new prey for his colossal belly. However, when the Silver Surfer declares that he will no longer serve, Galactus suffers no defiance to him and tries to kill him instead of arguing with him or even trying to learn why he wants it to be the end for the both of them, proving he only accepted his help out of pragmatic necessity. Ultimately, however, his vindictive attempts on the Silver Surfer's life was his downfall, as he was able to turn his own cosmic power against him, annihilating both of them forever.
Powers and abilities[]
- Cosmic Being Physiology
- Intelligence
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This Galactus was based upon his Ultimate incarnation. The official novelization of the film calls the character "Gah Lak Tus", a reference to the Ultimate comics.
- Throughout the film, the character is shown as a massive tornado of cosmic debris with an obscured, more comics-accurate silhouette only briefly glimpsed from within.
- According to director Tim Story, Galactus' true form was purposefully obscured so that they could fully reveal the character's appearance in a planned Silver Surfer spin-off movie. Unfortunately, the spin-off never materialized as well as a third Fantastic Four film helmed by Story due to 20th Century Fox opting to cancel the film series and reboot it, making highly unlikely that we will see this version of Galactus ever again.
- Concept art for Rise of the Silver Surfer shows Galactus' comic silhouette a lot more clearly.
- Galactus first appeared in the game Fantastic Four: Flame On as a boss.
- Galactus eating a planet at the beginning was made during post-production.
