Galactus/Characters

Characters associated with Galactus.

WARNING: There are unmarked spoilers on this page for all but the most recent comics.

The Heralds of Galactus
The Heralds of Galactus are responsible for finding suitable planets for the Devourer to consume, eliminating the planet's defenses, and protecting Galactus while he feeds. Possessing a portion of the Power Cosmic, giving him or her powers on par with a Physical God, the Heralds are some of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe. The most well known Herald is the Silver Surfer, who made his debut in Fantastic Four #48. Other characters who have served as Herald include Johnny Storm, the Asgardian Destroyer, Dazzler, Aunt May, Deadpool, and Superman in the non-canon crossover Superman/Fantastic Four: The Infinite Destruction.

Tropes associated with the Heralds:

 * All Just a Dream: Aunt May's term as a Herald. Granted, while the cover proclaimed, "Not a hoax! Not a What If! Not an imaginary story!" it didn't say, "Not a dream!"
 * Batman Can Breathe in Space
 * Casual Interstellar Travel
 * The Dragon
 * Earthshattering Kaboom: The Heralds possess the power to destroy planets with energy blasts or, Depending on the Writer, pure physical strength.
 * Energy Absorption
 * Green Lantern Ring: The Power Cosmic
 * Flying Brick
 * Hand Blast: One of the more common attacks used by the Heralds, especially those without weapons.
 * Hyper Awareness: The Cosmic Awareness.
 * Monochromatic Eyes: Generally white or yellow.
 * Nigh Invulnerable: The various Heralds have shown the ability to withstand incredible punishment, including planet-destroying blows from Beta Ray Bill.
 * Red Eyes, Take Warning: The eyes of the Heralds tend to turn red while using the Power Cosmic.
 * Super Reflexes
 * Super Senses
 * Super Speed
 * Super Strength: The Heralds can match strength with heroes like Thor, Hercules, and Beta Ray Bill. In Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus #1, Terrax was powerful enough to slice a planet in half with his axe.
 * Super Weight: Level 5

The Fallen One
Making his debut in Thanos #11, the Fallen One is Galactus's first attempt at creating a Herald. Powered by dark energy instead of the Power Cosmic, the experiment proved to be a failure as the Fallen One was both insane and power hungry. Cast out by Galactus, the Fallen One continuously attacked his former master until being locked in the intergalactic maximum security prison known as the Kyln.

Tropes associated with Fallen One:

 * Ax Crazy
 * Loss of Identity
 * Psycho Prototype
 * Retcon: The Silver Surfer was considered the first Herald until the creation of the Fallen One.

Gabriel the Air-Walker
The 3rd Herald of Galactus, the Air-Walker made his first appearance in Fantastic Four #120. Once the Captain of the exploratory starship Way-Opener, Gabriel Lan was abducted by Galactus and willingly transformed into a Herald after the Devourer of Worlds explains his actions. Ever devoted to his master, to the point of being Galactus's only real friend, Gabriel served until being killed in battle with the Ovoids. In response, Galactus transfers Gabriel's soul into an android duplicate. Unsatisfied with his creation, Galactus sends the android Air-Walker to Earth in an attempt to lure the Silver Surfer back into his service.

Tropes associated with Air-Walker:

 * The Captain
 * Robotic Reveal

Firelord
A graduate of the Nova Corps Academy, Firelord made his first appearance in Thor #225. Serving as first officer on the Xandian starship Way-Opener, Pyreus Kril assumed command of the ship after his close friend and Captain, Gabriel Lan, was taken by Galactus. Tracking Galactus down, Pyreus agreed to become a Herald in exchange for information on Gabriel's whereabouts. Galactus agreed, revealing that Gabriel died in battle just before transforming Pyreus into Firelord. Now a Herald, Firelord blames the Silver Surfer for Gabriel's death.

Tropes associated with Firelord:

 * Boom Stick: Firelord's staff can shoot cosmic flames out of both ends.
 * Doomed Hometown
 * Flaming Hair
 * Playing with Fire
 * Popularity Power: How Firelord was beaten in a fight by Spider-Man.

Terrax the Tamer
Originally Tyros, the ruler of the city-state Lanlak on the planetoid Birj, Terrax made his first appearance in Fantastic Four #211. Possessing the mutant power to manipulate the earth, Tyros was transformed into a Herald of Galactus after being defeated by the Fantastic Four. Maintaining a grudge against the Four for their role in his transformation, Terrax attacks the heroes after accompanying Galactus to Earth to combat the growing threat of the Sphinx.

Tropes associated with Terrax:

 * An Axe to Grind
 * Back from the Dead
 * De-Power
 * Dishing Out Dirt
 * Mutants
 * Reliable Traitor
 * Unwilling Volunteer
 * The Worf Effect

Nova (Frankie Raye)
Just a 14 year old girl when she was accidentally exposed to the chemicals that gave her fire-based powers, Frankie Raye had her memories hypnotically repressed by her stepfather, Professor Phineas Horton. In addition, Professor Horton gave his stepdaughter a severe fear of fire to prevent her from subconscious activating her powers. With no memory of her accident, Frankie grew up to be an interpreter for the United Nations. After meeting Johnny Storm in a singles bar, the two start dating until her memories begin to resurface after Johnny uses his own fire-based powers in front of her. Eventually Frankie learns the truth about her past with the help of Reed Richards, which allows her to begin training alongside him and the rest of the Fantastic Four once she overcame her stepfather's hypnotic manipulations.

Working with the Fantastic Four, Frankie used the name Human Torch along with her boyfriend. Though their relationship was strained by the revelation of her fire-based powers, Frankie and Johnny grew closer until the unexpected arrival of Terrax. Curious about the newcomer, Frankie does some research and learns about the Silver Surfer and the sacrifice he made to save his homeworld. With Galactus starving, Frankie volunteered to become his Herald if the Devourer spared the Earth. Agreeing, Galactus transforms Frankie into his newest Herald: Nova.

Tropes associated with Nova:

 * Flaming Hair: Nova is a literal Fiery Redhead.
 * Freak Lab Accident: Nova got her powers after being exposed to the same chemicals as Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch.
 * Most Common Superpower
 * Name's the Same: Frankie Raye shares the name Nova with Richard Rider, the Human Rocket.
 * Nonhumans Lack Attributes: Nova's Herald body is similar to the Silver Surfer's: smooth and shiny.
 * Playing with Fire
 * Wreathed in Flames

Morg the Executioner
A heartless, brutal court executioner from the planet Caraner, Morg was selected to be a Herald after showing no fear when Galactus came to consume his planet. Lacking the conscious of his predecessors, Morg willingly led the hungry Galactus to inhabited planets, including the planet Bastion, where Morg augmented his portion of the Power Cosmic with mystical energy from the Well of Life. Angered, the Silver Surfer and several former Heralds confront Morg for his actions but cannot defeat him. Desperate, the Surfer convinces Galactus that Morg is too dangerous, so the Devourer agrees to enter the fray. While the Surfer is away, Morg kills Nova and wounds Firelord, Terrax, and Air-Walker. Angered by the loss of Nova, Galactus strips Morg of the Power Cosmic and takes Firelord and Air-Walker as his temporary Heralds.

Secretly resurrected by Galactus, Morg is sent to confront Terrax, who stole the executioner's axe, only to be captured by the living machine known as Tyrant. Unable to free his Herald, Galactus leaves Morg in the hands of Tyrant, who siphons away part of the Power Cosmic. Finally escaping from Tyrant on his own, Morg returns to his master's side and becomes one of Galactus's more loyal Heralds. Some time later, Tyrant returns and attacks Galactus. Faced with the prospect of losing his master, Morg confronted the insane Tyrant with the Ultimate Nullifier aboard Galactus's ship. Melting Tyrant's body before attempting to escape, Morg is caught in the blast as the nullifier detonates and left severely wounded. Believing his master dead, Morg heals only to be defeated and, later, dissected by the forces of Annihilus during Annihilation.

Tropes associated with Morg:

 * An Axe to Grind
 * Dead for Real: Morg died during Annihilation and has yet to return.
 * Undying Loyalty

Red Shift
Almost nothing is known about Red Shift prior to his time as a Herald of Galactus. Wielding two swords that can cut holes in the fabric of space, Red Shift leads Galactus to Earth to feed only to encounter the Silver Surfer. Recognizing Red Shift as a wielder of the Power Cosmic, the Surfer defeats the new Herald by trapping him in a black hole. Later, during the Annihilation event, Red Shift is one of several Heralds targeted by the enormous fleet of starships known as the Annihilation Wave. Successfully stalemating the Wave with his cosmic allies, the United Front, Red Shift sacrifices himself by delaying a planet-scorching energy blast long enough for his allies to escape.

Tropes associated with Red Shift:

 * Dead for Real: Red Shift died during Annihilation and has yet to return.
 * Dual-Wielding
 * Heroic Sacrifice
 * Identical Stranger: Red Shift is a dead ringer for Beta Ray Bill, though his creator claims it wasn't intentional.
 * Walking Shirtless Scene

Stardust
Originally an Ethereal named Lambda-Zero, Stardust made her debut in Stormbreaker: The Saga of Beta Ray Bill. Leading Galactus to feed on New Korbin, the home of Beta Ray Bill and the survivors of the Korbinite race, Stardust hunts down the remaining Korbinite fleet while Galactus consumes the planet. Battling Beta Ray Bill, Stardust accidentally releases a demonic creature called Asteroth. Bill and Stardust team up to defeat the creature before going their separate ways. Later, during Annihilation, Stardust is presumed lost after staying behind with Red Shift to delay a planet-scorching energy blast long enough for their allies to escape. An energy being, making her functionally immortal, Stardust reconstitutes herself and attempts to rejoin Galactus. Surprised to find the Silver Surfer back in the Devourer's service, Stardust willingly offers up the surviving Ethereal race to Galactus. Impressed, as no other Herald has ever given up his or her own people, Galactus names Stardust his second Herald.

Tropes associated with Stardust:

 * Ambiguous Gender: Lacking any gender specific features, Stardust was originally written as a male in her earliest appearances. Later writers would make Stardust female, reflected by her appearance in The Superhero Squad Show voiced by Cheryl Hines.
 * Double Weapon: Stardust wields a polearm with the head of an axe on one end and a curved spear tip on the other.
 * Enemy Mine
 * Energy Beings: The Ethereal race were energy beings.
 * Eye Beams: Stardust can fire energy beams from all six of her eyes.
 * Immortality: Type IV