TITLE: Super-Villain Classics: Galactus The Origin Issue #1
YEAR: May 1983
COMPANY: Marvel Comics
BY: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
PENCILLER: Curt Swan
INKER: Vince Colletta, George Klein
COLORIST: Andy Yanchus
LETTERER: John Morelli
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL BY Mark Gruenwald, Ron Wilson, John Byrne and Jack Abel
Back in 1983, Marvel released “Super-Villain Classics” issue #1 featuring Galactus.
Wanting to show the origin of Galactus the comic compiled “Fantastic Four” issue #49, “Thor” issue #160, 162, 167 and 169 and new material added to make a comprehensive story.
When I was a kid, I didn’t know squat about Galactus’ origin, but knowing how many superheroes fear him because he devours planets.
But after reading “Galactus the Origin”, it’s a storyline that actually humanizes Galactus more than anything.
Galactus begins with the introduction to the paradise, the planet Taa. A technological superior planet that is meeting its end unfortunately due to the molecules of the atoms in the universe changing.
Galan is a scientist who was sent to find a way to stop the catastrophe and with their technology, sees many species from other planets dying from the radiation that is killing off all lives.
On Taa, people are being killed off by radiation poisoning and there is no way to prevent it.
Galan and a few of the great minds were selected to be part of the final crew in a suicide mission to crash their spacecraft into a blazing cosmic cauldron to die a death without the plague getting to them first.
All died on the spacecraft except Galan, who was called on by the sentience of the universe. To give him a new form of life, a living organism who possesses the matchless power and raging appetite of a galaxy, to become the galaxy ravager known as Galactus.
We learn that The Watcher saw this spacecraft and even though he violated the code of non-interference, he studied all the technology in the spacecraft and saw an arm come out and grow. He witnessed the power enough to shatter a planet.
The Watcher had to make a decision, to stop the galaxy destroyer before it begins or abide by the code and let Galactus live. And the Watcher decided that his role is to watch and while he may regret the decision that he made, fate dictates that Galactus must be born.
And the storyline goes to show how Galactus came to be and devoured his first planet.
It’s an interesting storyline which I’m not sure if it was retconned in later Marvel series but for me, during my childhood, this comic book gave me an idea of who Galactus is, what he was before and while considered as one of Marvel’s greatest villains because he poses a threat to the planet Earth, his goal that no matter how many worlds he devours and how many civilizations he destroys, it’s his destiny to give back to the universe.
A fascinating origin story worth checking out!