Galactus is one of the most destructive cosmic entities in the Marvel universe, with a hunger that has laid waste to countless worlds. In his quest to fulfill his appetite, Galactus has selected powerful heralds throughout his existence to aid him in locating planets ripe for consumption.
These heralds are granted a portion of Galactus’ immense power, known as the Power Cosmic, which vastly augments their natural abilities. While some heralds loyally served the entity, others grew to resent their role or posed a threat due to their unfathomable might. Here are 10 of the most powerful individuals who have acted as heralds to the planet devourer.
10. Red Shift
Red Shift is an alien lifeform selected by Galactus to help locate new worlds in his never-ending quest to feed. Imbued with cosmic power, Red Shift wields a pair of swords that allow him to manipulate dimensional barriers and open portals.
He encountered the Silver Surfer during a battle with the entity, being tossed through a wormhole after losing his swords. Stranded in another realm, Red Shift was trapped as he couldn’t follow without the dimensional control of his weapons. While short-lived as a herald, Red Shift demonstrated potent abilities through his sword-based powers.
9. The Fallen One
Galactus’ very first herald, The Fallen One was uniquely empowered by dark rather than cosmic energy. This gave him the power to manipulate the fundamental fabric of the universe itself, posing a threat even to the entity. When The Fallen One grew too cruel, Galactus exiled him to the realm between dimensions.
Despite multiple attempts, The Fallen One never succeeded in defeating Galactus. He later became a herald to Thanos but ultimately met his end at the hands of mortal enemies. The Fallen One’s formidable command over reality makes him one of Galactus’ most formidable original heralds.
8. Invisible Boy
Taking the Human Torch’s power swap against him, Galactus bestowed Johnny Storm with cosmic might and the title of Invisible Boy. Imbued with the Power Cosmic, Invisible Boy aided Galactus until the Fantastic Four enabled Johnny to sacrifice his newfound abilities.
Invisible Boy showed he could effectively wield cosmic energy despite initial struggles, coming close to joining Galactus permanently before salvation. While his tenure was brief, Invisible Boy demonstrated the potential benefits of someone like the Human Torch gaining access to universal levels of power.
7. Terrax The Tamer
A brutal beast named Tyros from the city of Lanlak, even Galactus required assistance to initially defeat Terrax. Galactus transformed Tyros into the herald Terrax the Tamer, granting control over stone manipulated on a planetary scale.
Terrax’s evil nature made him ruthlessly efficient for Galactus but also undisciplined, eventually leading his master to strip Terrax of the Power Cosmic when betrayal seemed imminent. Terrax’s strategic planet-shaping abilities when infused with cosmic might marked him as a formidable herald.
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6. Stardust
A member of the energy-based Ethereals, Stardust took on murderous zealotry as Galactus’ herald. Not only finding worlds for consumption, but Stardust also hunted all survivors with lethal intent. She faced Beta Ray Bill after devastating New Korbin but was banished to another dimension after nearly being killed.
Stardust’s nigh-immortal composition augmented by cosmic power and complete servitude to Galactus’ wishes made her notoriously dangerous. While ultimately outmatched, Stardust demonstrated extreme devotion and abilities as a herald.
5. Frankie Raye (Nova)
A fellow flame-wielder of the Human Torch, Frankie Raye joined the Fantastic Four before volunteering to serve as Galactus’ herald Nova in Earth’s defense. Blessed with the power of a miniature star, Nova loyally served Galactus for years, growing close as many past heralds hadn’t.
However, unwillingness to destroy inhabited worlds saw Galactus dismiss her. Nova proved a formidable herald through fire-based abilities magnified to stellar levels while maintaining compassion despite cosmic ascendance.
4. Morg
A brutal executioner, Morg impressed Galactus by threatening rather than fearing him during their first meeting. Empowered through the Well of Life, Morg was dispatched to decimate inhabited worlds and even defeated multiple past heralds.
Only his excessively destructive behavior led Galactus to strip Morg of power. Wielding immense magic-defying strength focused through his massive axe, plus no restraint killing or opposing Galactus, marked Morg as among the most ruthlessly effective heralds.
3. Firelord
Originally a member of the Nova Corps as an Air-Walker, Pyreus Kril spent years searching for his lost friend before becoming Firelord. Able to generate and control thermal energy on a stellar scale, Firelord proved highly capable but also noble, causing Thor to later free him from Galactus’ control.
Firelord demonstrated immense destructive potential through plasma abilities yet also showed how a herald’s fundamental heroism could lead them to later oppose Galactus.
2. Air-Walker
A decorated Xandarian soldier, Gabriel Lan embraced the chance to explore the cosmos as Galactus’ herald Air-Walker. Their friendship was unlike any between Galactus and past heralds. Air-Walker effectively harnessed gravity, light, and the fundamental forces of reality through his powers over all forms of energy as a “living sun”.
Only death stopped Air-Walker, with Galactus’ attempt to preserve his essence a touching sign of their bond. Air-Walker epitomized the benefits of a mutually respectful herald-master relationship.
1. Silver Surfer
Perhaps the most famous herald, Norrin Radd sacrificed his entire world Zenn-La to avoid its consumption by stopping Galactus. Imbued with mastery over universal power, the Silver Surfer scoured the cosmos at Galactus’ behest until freed.
Despite Galactus’ attempts to reclaim him, Silver Surfer has opposed his former master and even defeated Galactus before. No herald has defied Galactus longer or displayed superior control over the Power Cosmic. The Silver Surfer remains the most iconic and formidably gifted herald in Marvel history.
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