The Return of Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps Could Mean Big Things for Marvel

True Believers, assemble! The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has dropped, giving us our first glimpse of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family, alongside their robotic companion, Herbie. The retro-futurism aesthetic is striking, setting a tone distinctly different from other MCU projects. While the July 25, 2025 release date has us buzzing, one character truly towers above the rest: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.

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While only briefly glimpsed, Galactus already appears far more faithful to his comic book counterpart than the previous attempt in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Let's delve into why The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems poised to finally do justice to this iconic Marvel villain.

Who Is The Devourer of Worlds? Galactus Explained

For those unfamiliar, Galactus boasts a rich history in Marvel comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48, Galactus began as Galan, a mortal survivor of a previous universe. He survived the Big Bang that created our universe, merging with its sentience and becoming the first being of the new cosmos. Now Galactus, he roams the universe, consuming life-bearing planets to sustain himself. He often employs heralds to locate these planets, the most famous being the Silver Surfer.

In their first encounter, the Fantastic Four were warned of Galactus's arrival by the Watcher, who broke his oath of non-interference to save Earth. The team battled the Silver Surfer, but failed to prevent him from summoning Galactus. Despite convincing the Surfer to betray his master, the Human Torch had to retrieve the Ultimate Nullifier—a weapon capable of harming Galactus—from Galactus's worldship, Taa II. Threatened with the Nullifier, Galactus spared Earth in exchange for its return, exiling the Silver Surfer as punishment.

Since then, Galactus has become a major Marvel figure, repeatedly clashing with the Fantastic Four and Thor, revealing his backstory in the process. He isn't simply "evil," but a morally ambiguous being driven by survival. Despite his coolness, however, previous big-screen depictions have fallen short. Until now.

The Second Coming of Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps

While appearing in cartoons and video games (like the '90s Fantastic Four cartoon and Marvel vs. Capcom 3), Galactus's only previous film appearance was in Tim Story's 2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer—a less-than-stellar portrayal. Though the film followed the basic comic storyline, Galactus's design was underwhelming, a featureless cloud far removed from his iconic comic book appearance. His lack of dialogue and unceremonious demise disappointed fans.

However, The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems to be a significant improvement. The trailer, along with a drone light show at San Diego Comic-Con, suggests a closer adherence to Jack Kirby's classic design. Marvel's choice of Galactus as the villain in their reboot is telling; it acknowledges fan dissatisfaction with the previous version and signals a commitment to doing it right this time. With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom seemingly reserved for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars (though a cameo in First Steps remains a possibility), Marvel can fully focus on Galactus's MCU debut.

This is crucial given the MCU's recent struggles in the Multiverse Saga. With its many films and depleted villain roster, Galactus represents one of the few remaining high-profile villains capable of revitalizing the franchise. A successful adaptation could significantly boost the MCU's reputation and generate excitement for the next two Avengers films, in which the Fantastic Four are set to play major roles.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

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Fans previously expressed more interest in seeing the Fantastic Four's rogues gallery (Doctor Doom, Annihilus, Galactus) than the team itself during the Fox-Marvel rights dispute. While the tide has turned, Galactus and associated characters could be the key to reinvigorating the MCU post-Multiverse Saga. Galactus is arguably the Fantastic Four's best villain, and a long-overdue live-action portrayal is finally here. Judging by this trailer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems to be heading in the right direction.