The Galactus Trilogy


"The Galactus Trilogy" is a 1966 three-issue comic book story arc that appeared in Fantastic Four #48-50. Written, plotted and drawn by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee 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 title, Fantastic Four, Lee and Kirby collaborated on an antagonist designed to break from the era's archetypal mold of supervillains, 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 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, which fans began calling "The Galactus Trilogy". It culminated in Fantastic Four #50, 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 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" has been collected numerous times:
TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
Silver Surfer: The Coming of GalactusFantastic Four #48–5048January 1992
Fantastic Four: Behold... Galactus!Fantastic Four #48–50, 74–77, 120–123, 242–244312August 2018
Fantastic Four: Behold... Galactus! Fantastic Four #48–50, 120–123, 242–244232October 2019
Silver Surfer Epic Collection: When Calls GalactusFantastic Four #48–50, 55, 57–60, 72, 74–77; material from Fantastic Four 56, 61, Annual #5, Tales to Astonish 92–93320December 2014
Fantastic Four: Coming of Galactus! Fantastic Four #44–51, Annual #3200April 2005
Essential Fantastic Four, Volume 3Fantastic Four #41–63, Annual #3–4536March 2007
Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 2Fantastic Four #31–60, Annual #2–4832June 2007
Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four, Volume 5Fantastic Four #41–50, Annual #3240September 2007
Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The Coming of GalactusFantastic Four #33–51, Annual #3448August 2018
Marvel Visionaries: Jack KirbyRed Raven Comics #1, Marvel Mystery Comics #13, Captain America Comics #1, Yellow Claw #3, Strange Tales #94, Amazing Adventures #1, Rawhide Kid #17, Hulk #3, Amazing Spider-Man #8, Avengers #4, Sgt. Fury #6, Fantastic Four #48–51, Thor #134–136, Fantastic Four Annual #5, Amazing Adventures #1–2, Captain America #200, Eternals #7, What If? #11352September 2019