View source for The Galactus Trilogy

{{Short description|Comic books}}
{{Infobox comics story arc
|image          = Fantastic Four 48.jpg
|caption        = ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' Vol. 1 #48.<br>Cover art by [[Jack Kirby]] and [[Joe Sinnott]].
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|startmo        = March
|startyr        = 1966
|endmo          = May
|endyr          = 1966
|titles         = ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #48–50
|notable        = y
|main_char_team = [[Fantastic Four]]<br>[[Galactus]]<br>[[Silver Surfer]]<br>[[Uatu|The Watcher]]
|writers        = [[Jack Kirby]], [[Stan Lee]]
|pencillers     = [[Jack Kirby]]
|inkers         = [[Joe Sinnott]]
|letterers      = [[Art Simek]]<br />[[Sam Rosen (comics)|Sam Rosen]]
|colorists      =
|editors        = [[Stan Lee]]
|TPB            = Silver Surfer: The Coming of Galactus
|ISBN           = 978-0871359575
|cat            = Fantastic Four
|sortkey        = Galactus Trilogy
}}
"'''The Galactus Trilogy'''" is a 1966 three-issue [[comic book]] [[story arc]] that appeared in ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' #48–50. Written, co-plotted and drawn by [[Jack Kirby]] with editor [[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|Silver Age]] of comic books".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/11/stan-lee-marvel-comics-dies/575638/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/11/stan-lee-marvel-comics-dies/575638/|title=Stan Lee Was Synonymous With American Superhero Comics|last=Sims|first=David|date=2018-11-12|work=The Atlantic|access-date=2018-11-13|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Publication history==
In 1966, nearly five years after launching [[Marvel Comics]]' flagship [[superhero]] title, ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'', [[Jack Kirby|Kirby]] and [[Stan Lee|Lee]] collaborated on an antagonist designed to break from the era's archetypal mold of [[supervillain]]s, and instead be a being of god-like stature and power.<ref name=kirbycollector1>{{Cite journal| last = Hatfield| first = Charles| title = The Galactus Trilogy: An Appreciation
|journal = The Collected Jack Kirby Collector| volume = 1| pages = 211|date=February 2004}}</ref> As Lee recalled in 1993, 
{{quote|[[Galactus]] was simply another in a long line of super-villains whom we loved creating. Having dreamed up such powerful baddies as the [[Mole Man]], the [[Frightful Four]], the [[Grey Gargoyle]], the [[Executioner (comics)|Executioner]], the [[Mandarin (comics)|Mandarin]] and [[Dr. Doom]], we felt the only way to top ourselves was to come up with an evil-doer who had almost godlike powers. Therefore, the natural choice was sort of a demi-god, but now what would we do with him? We didn't want to use the tired old cliche about him wanting to conquer the world. There were enough would-be world conquerors in the Marvel Universe and in all the other comic book galaxies. That was when inspiration struck. Why not have him not be a really evil person? After all, a demi-god should be beyond mere good and evil. He'd just be (don't laugh!) hungry. And the nourishment he'd require is the life force and energy from living planets!"<ref>Lee, Stan. "Introduction" (second page, unnumbered) 1993, ''Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 5''<!--as spelled in copyright indicia--> (Marvel Publishing : second edition, second printing, 2007) {{ISBN|978-0-7851-1184-9}}</ref>}} 
<!--Wiki MOS is to use blockquotes for quotes four lines or longer-->
Kirby described his Biblical inspirations for Galactus and an accompanying character, an angelic [[Herald of Galactus|Herald]] Lee dubbed the [[Silver Surfer]]:
{{quote|My inspirations were the fact that I had to make sales and come up with characters that were no longer stereotypes. In other words, I couldn't depend on gangsters. I had to get something new. For some reason, I went to the Bible, and I came up with Galactus. And there I was in front of this tremendous figure, who I knew very well because I've always felt him. I certainly couldn't treat him in the same way I could any ordinary mortal. And I remember in my first story, I had to back away from him to resolve that story. The Silver Surfer is, of course, the fallen angel. When Galactus relegated him to Earth, he stayed on Earth, and that was the beginning of his adventures. They were figures that had never been used before in comics. They were above mythic figures. And of course they were the first gods.<ref>{{cite video| people = Viola, Ken| title = The Masters of Comic Book Art| medium = VHS| publisher = Viola, Ken| location = USA
|date= 1987 }}</ref>}}

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."<ref>Christensen, William A., and Mark Seifert. [http://www.reocities.com/brenni_au/JackKirby.html "The King"], ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'' #36, August 1994, via Brenni_Au/JackKirby (fan site). [https://web.archive.org/web/20101007232709/http://www.reocities.com/brenni_au/JackKirby.html Archive.org archive].</ref>

Writer [[Mike Conroy (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."<ref>Conroy, Mike. ''500 Comicbook Villains'', Collins & Brown, 2004.</ref>

All this led to the introduction of Galactus in ''Fantastic Four'' #48-50 (March–May 1966), which fans began calling "The Galactus Trilogy".<ref>{{Cite document |last=Fein |first=Eric |title=The Creation of the Fantastic Four |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |year=2006 |pages=48 }}</ref><ref>[[Roy Thomas|Thomas, Roy]]. ''Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Universe'' ([[Sterling Publishing]] : New York City, 2006), p. 113. {{ISBN|1-4027-4225-8}}; {{ISBN|978-1-4027-4225-5}}</ref><ref>[[Stan Lee|Lee, Stan]], in Thomas, ''Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Universe'', audio commentary #37</ref> It culminated in ''Fantastic Four'' #50 (May 1966), 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 [[Skrull]]s. 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]], [[Mister Fantastic|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 [[Uatu|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 (comics)|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.
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[File:FF 49 panel.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Alicia Masters pleads with the Silver Surfer. Art by [[Jack Kirby]].]] -->

==="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" served as a primary inspiration for the 2007 film ''[[Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer]]''.
*The story arc was used as the basis for [[Ultimate Marvel]]'s ''[[Ultimate Galactus Trilogy]]'', a trilogy of three miniseries written by [[Warren Ellis]].
*The story arc was the basis for the third issue of the ''[[Marvels]]'' four-issue comic book limited series written by [[Kurt Busiek]], painted by [[Alex Ross]] and edited by [[Marcus McLaurin]], and published by Marvel Comics in 1994.
* The story arc was adapted into episodes of the [[Fantastic Four (1967 TV series)|1967 ''Fantastic Four'' TV series]] and the [[Fantastic Four (1994 TV series)|1994 ''Fantastic Four'' TV series]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}
* The story arc was also loosely adapted into the first three-part episode of the TV series ''[[Silver Surfer (TV series)|Silver Surfer]]''. {{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}
* The story arc was voted the 19th best comic book storyline by a reader poll at ''[[Comic Book Resources]]''.<ref>Cronin, Brian [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/12/12/top-100-comic-book-storylines-20-16/ Top 100 Comic Book Storylines #20-16] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623012858/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/12/12/top-100-comic-book-storylines-20-16/ |date=2012-06-23 }} (from reader poll "Top 100 Comic Book Storylines"], ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'', December 12, 2009</ref>
* The story arc's popularity sparked additional appearances by the Silver Surfer in later issues, and he would eventually receive his own comic book series.

==Collected editions==
"The Galactus Trilogy" has been [[trade paperback (comics)|collected]] numerous times:

{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"
|-
! scope="col " width=20%| Title
! scope="col " class="unsortable" width=45%| Material collected
! scope="col " width=5%| Pages
! scope="col " width=15%| Publication date
! scope="col " class="unsortable" width=15%| ISBN
|-
| ''Silver Surfer: The Coming of Galactus''
| ''Fantastic Four'' #48–50
| 48
| data-sort-value="1992-01"|January 1992
| {{ISBNT|978-0871359575}}
|-
| ''Fantastic Four: Behold... Galactus!''
| ''Fantastic Four'' #48–50, 74–77, 120–123, 242–244
| 312
| data-sort-value="2018-08"|August 2018
| {{ISBNT|978-1302505578}}
|-
| ''Fantastic Four: Behold... Galactus!'' (Marvel Select)
| ''Fantastic Four'' #48–50, 120–123, 242–244
| 232
| data-sort-value="2019-10"|October 2019
| {{ISBNT|978-1302517632}}
|-
| ''Silver Surfer Epic Collection: When Calls Galactus''
| ''Fantastic Four'' #48–50, 55, 57–60, 72, 74–77; material from  ''Fantastic Four'' 56, 61, ''Annual'' #5, ''Tales to Astonish'' 92–93
| 320
| data-sort-value="2014-12"|December 2014
| {{ISBNT|978-0785190028}}
|-
| ''Fantastic Four: Coming of Galactus!'' (Marvel Pocketbook)
| ''Fantastic Four'' #44–51, ''Annual'' #3
| 200
| data-sort-value="2005-04"|April 2005
| {{ISBNT|978-1904419617}}
|-
| ''[[Essential Marvel|Essential]] Fantastic Four, Volume 3''
| ''Fantastic Four'' #41–63, ''Annual'' #3–4
| 536
| data-sort-value="2007-03"|March 2007
| {{ISBNT|0-7851-2625-2}}
|-
| ''Fantastic Four [[Marvel Omnibus|Omnibus]] Vol. 2''
| ''Fantastic Four'' #31–60, ''Annual'' #2–4
| 832
| data-sort-value="2007-06"|June 2007 (reprint December 2013)
| {{ISBNT|0-7851-2403-9}} ({{ISBNT|978-0785185673}})
|-
| ''[[Marvel Masterworks]]: Fantastic Four, Volume 5''
| ''Fantastic Four'' #41–50, ''Annual'' #3
| 240
| data-sort-value="2007-09"|September 2007
| {{ISBNT|0-7851-1184-0}}
|-
| ''Fantastic Four [[Marvel Epic Collection|Epic Collection]]: The Coming of Galactus''
| ''Fantastic Four'' #33–51, ''Annual'' #3
| 448
| data-sort-value="2018-08"|August 2018
| {{ISBNT|978-1302913311}}
|-
| ''Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby''
| ''Red 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'' (Vol. 2) #1–2, ''Captain America'' #200, ''Eternals'' #7, ''What If?'' #11
| 352
| data-sort-value="2019-09"|September 2019
| {{ISBNT|978-1302919696}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Comicbookdb|type=|storyarc|id=3234|title=The Galactus Trilogy}}
*Hatfield, Charles, [https://books.google.com/books?id=KI-et-e206EC&pg=PA210 The Galactus Trilogy: An Appreciation] (in ''The Jack Kirby Collector'' #9, collected in ''The Collected Jack Kirby Collector'' Volume 1, 2004, {{ISBN|1-893905-00-4}})
* {{Cite web |first=Brian |last=Cronin |url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/02/19/a-year-of-cool-comics-day-50/ |title=A Year of Cool Comics – Day 50 |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] CSBG Archive |date=February 19, 2010 |access-date=September 29, 2010 |archive-date=May 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504111741/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/02/19/a-year-of-cool-comics-day-50/ |url-status=dead }}

{{Stan Lee}}
{{Jack Kirby}}
{{Fantastic Four}}
{{Silver Surfer}}
{{Marvel Cosmic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Galactus Trilogy, The}}
[[Category:Comics by Jack Kirby]]
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