"The Galactus Trilogy" is a 1966 three-issue
comic book story arc that appeared in ''
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in ''The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first ...
'' #48-50. Written, co-plotted and drawn by
Stan Lee
Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber ; December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Publications which ...
and
Jack Kirby for
Marvel Comics, it introduced the characters
Galactus and the
Silver Surfer. In 2018, ''
The Atlantic'' called it "the indisputable pinnacle of the so-called
Silver Age of comic books".
Publication history
In 1966, nearly five years after launching
Marvel Comics' flagship
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...
title, ''Fantastic Four'',
Lee
Lee may refer to:
Name
Given name
* Lee (given name), a given name in English
Surname
* Chinese surnames romanized as Li or Lee:
** Li (surname 李) or Lee (Hanzi ), a common Chinese surname
** Li (surname 利) or Lee (Hanzi ), a Chinese ...
and
Kirby collaborated on an antagonist designed to break from the era's archetypal mold of
supervillain
A supervillain or supercriminal is a variant of the villainous stock character that is commonly found in American comic books, usually possessing superhuman abilities. A supervillain is the antithesis of a superhero.
Supervillains are oft ...
s, and instead be a being of god-like stature and power.
As Lee recalled in 1993,
Kirby described his Biblical inspirations for Galactus and an accompanying character, an angelic
Herald Lee dubbed the
Silver Surfer:
Kirby further explained, "Galactus in actuality is a sort of god. He is beyond reproach, beyond anyone's opinion. In a way he is kind of a Zeus, who fathered Hercules. He is his own legend, and of course, he and the Silver Surfer are sort of modern legends, and they are designed that way."
Writer
Mike Conroy expanded on Lee and Kirby's explanation: "In five short years from the launch of the ''Fantastic Four'', the Lee/Kirby duo...had introduced a whole host of alien races or their representatives...there were the
Skrulls
The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Skrulls first appeared in ''Fantastic Four'' #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. They originated from ...
, the Watcher and the Stranger, all of whom Lee and Kirby used in the foundations of the universe they were constructing, one where all things were possible but only if they did not flout the 'natural laws' of this cosmology. In the nascent Marvel Universe, characters acted consistently, whatever comic they were appearing in. Their actions reverberated through every title. It was pure soap opera but on a cosmic scale, and Galactus epitomized its epic sweep."
All this led to the introduction of Galactus in ''Fantastic Four'' #48-50 (March–May 1966), which fans began calling "The Galactus Trilogy". It culminated in ''Fantastic Four'' #50 (May 1966), which featured the Silver Surfer interceding on behalf of humankind against Galactus.
Plot summary
"The Coming of Galactus!"
After wrapping up the
Inhumans story of the previous issue, the story moves to the
Silver Surfer as he soars through the
Andromeda Galaxy, earning the attention of the
Skrulls. Terrified, the Skrulls do everything they can to conceal their world from the Surfer's perceptions, explaining to an inexperienced Skrull that wherever the Silver Surfer appears, his master,
Galactus, cannot be far behind.
Back on
Earth, the
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in ''The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first ...
witness the entire skyline appearing to be engulfed in flame. At the
Baxter Building,
Reed sequesters himself inside his laboratory to analyze the situation. The flames in the sky dissipate, giving way to an unending field of space debris.
The powerful being known as the
Watcher appears inside Reed's laboratory. He explains that he is responsible for the atmospheric disturbances, for he has been attempting to conceal Earth's existence from the attention of the Silver Surfer. He further explains that the Surfer is the advance scout of Galactus, a powerful cosmic being that consumes the elemental energies of entire worlds, leaving them as little more than dried, lifeless husks.
The Surfer investigates the Watcher's debris field and finds Earth hidden beneath it. He flies to the roof of the Baxter Building and sends out a cosmic signal for Galactus. The Fantastic Four race to the top of the building, and the
Thing rams into the Surfer, knocking him off the building. In the sky above, Galactus' planet-devouring world ship emerges over Manhattan. The giant Galactus exits the ship and declares his intention to consume the entire world.
"If This Be Doomsday!"
The Watcher tries to appeal to Galactus to leave Earth alone. When diplomacy proves not to work, the
Human Torch and the Thing try to attack Galactus to no effect. The Watcher tells them to return to their base and he will contact them shortly.
Galactus continues to assemble his planet-devouring device and the Watcher explains that there is a device upon Galactus' home planet that could stop him. Meanwhile, the unconscious Silver Surfer wakes up in the apartment of
Alicia Masters. She learns of the Surfer's mission and appeals to him to turn against his master and help save the Earth.
When the Fantastic Four begin attacking Galactus' almost completed device, the planet-eater sends his cyborg Punisher to keep them out of his way while he repairs it. Making use of this distraction and delay, the Watcher boosts Johnny's powers so that he may travel to Galactus' planet and retrieve the weapon they need to defeat the world-devourer. Alicia convinces the Surfer to help save the Earth.
"The Startling Saga of the Silver Surfer!"
The Silver Surfer arrives to attack his former master, giving Johnny the time he needs to return from Galactus' planet with the
Ultimate Nullifier. When Reed threatens to use it against Galactus, the planet-eater agrees to spare the Earth and leave if Reed gives him back the weapon. True to his word, Galactus leaves, but not before making it so the Surfer can never leave the Earth, by removing his "space-time powers". After the battle, before the Silver Surfer can leave and come to know his sudden new home, Alicia thanks him for his help, causing the jealous Thing to think that she is choosing the Surfer over him. He quietly walks away, feeling nothing but rejection, before Alicia has a chance to introduce him with pride.
As life returns to normal, the press dismisses the Galactus fiasco as a hoax.
Legacy
* "The Galactus Trilogy" served as a primary inspiration for the
2007
File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...
film ''
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer''.
*The story arc was used as the basis for
Ultimate Marvel's ''
Ultimate Galactus Trilogy'', a trilogy of three miniseries written by
Warren Ellis.
*The story arc was the basis for the third issue of the ''
Marvels'' four-issue comic book limited series written by
Kurt Busiek, painted by
Alex Ross
Nelson Alexander Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an American comic book writer and artist known primarily for his painted interiors, covers, and design work. He first became known with the 1994 miniseries ''Marvels'', on which he collaborated wi ...
and edited by
Marcus McLaurin, and published by Marvel Comics in 1994.
* The story arc was adapted into episodes of the
1967 ''Fantastic Four'' TV series and the
1994 ''Fantastic Four'' TV series.
* The story arc was also loosely adapted into the first three-part episode of the TV series ''
Silver Surfer''.
* The story arc was voted the 19th best comic book storyline by a reader poll at ''
Comic Book Resources''.
[Cronin, Bria]
Top 100 Comic Book Storylines #20-16
(from reader poll "Top 100 Comic Book Storylines"], '' Comic Book Resources'', December 12, 2009
* The story arc's popularity sparked additional appearances by the Silver Surfer in later issues, and he would eventually receive his own comic book series.
Collected editions
"The Galactus Trilogy" has been
trade paperback (comics), collected numerous times:
References
External links
*
*Hatfield, Charles
The Galactus Trilogy: An Appreciation(in ''The Jack Kirby Collector'' #9, collected in ''The Collected Jack Kirby Collector'' Volume 1, 2004, )
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Galactus Trilogy, The
Comics by Jack Kirby
Comics by Stan Lee
Silver Surfer