What Is the Galactus Seed? Marvel’s Infinity Gauntlet-Level Artifact Already Exists in the MCU

Many artifacts and weapons throughout the Marvel Comics Universe have made a major impact on the direction that the comics take, but few have been as significant as the Galactus Seed. From the Ultimate Nullifier to the Infinity Stones, all-powerful pieces of tech and naturally occurring creations have become the center of many Marvel events. Yet, the Galactus Seed has rarely been a focus in the comics or the MCU.

The Galactus Seed first appeared in 2011’s The Mighty Thor Volume 2 #1, written by Matt Fraction, penciled by Olivier Coipel, inked by Mark Morales, and colored by Laura Martin. It became a central focal point for the origins of Asgard and Yggdrasill, the World Tree, as a whole.

In more recent years, ancient history has revealed a deadly repurposing of parts of the Galactus Seed. With so much already introduced into the MCU and much more to come, there is no doubt that the Galactus Seed could already exist in the MCU.

What is The Galactus Seed?

First created by the powerful cosmic entity known as Eternity, the Galactus Seed, otherwise known as the Worldheart and Cosmic Seed, was first discovered by Asgard’s first king, Bor, and his sons, including Odin. Bor planted the seed upon discovering it, giving birth to the Marvel Universe as it stands today. It also gave birth to the World Tree and the nine realms connected to it. During the Siege event in which Asgard is destroyed, Odin has Thor and Sif retrieve the Cosmic Seed from the ruins of Asgard and keep it within the Destroyer Armor, giving the armor untold power.

The Silver Surfer comes to claim the seed for Galactus, hoping to extinguish his unlimited hunger at last. However, Odin refuses, and he reveals to Thor that the seed will give birth to the next universe, something that Galactus wants to prevent. After a battle with Galactus and the Silver Surfer, Thor and Loki hide the seed from everyone, even themselves. In recent comics, however, a new purpose for the seed has been discovered.

The Seventh Infinity Stone?

In 2023’s Thor #30, written by Torrun Gronbekk and penciled by Nic Klein, the secret history of Bor and the Galactus Seed is revealed. Upon looking for his abducted younger sister, Thor discovers that his grandfather, Bor, attempted to harness even more power from the shell of the Galactus Seed. While fighting a great battle against Thanos, Bor sought to burn the shell within an eternal flame within Asgard, hopoing to use its power to create renewable death energy. However, this led to the creation of the Black Stone, a deadly new Infinity Stone.

This revelation may explain the visions that have plagued Thor in recent years since becoming the King of Asgard. In these visions, Thanos wears a black Infinity Gauntlet, leads an army of undead Avengers, and wields a mighty Infinity-Stone-powered Mjölnir. This revelation regarding the Galactus Seed, as well as both Galactus and Thanos vying for the Cosmic Seed, could be the driving force behind the all-powerful Thanos of the future.

The Galactus Seed Might Exist in the MCU

There are some elements of lore in the MCU that would suggest the Galactus Seed exists. The first Thor movie establishes that the World Tree Yggdrasil is part of Asgardian lore in the MCU. Even after Asgard is destroyed, it’s possible that Yggdrasil is still alive. Of course, while Thanos and his story have ended, there is a lot of history before his final fight with the Avengers that’s been left untold. A secret war fought between Bor and Thanos during the same era that Asgard and the Dark Elves fought is not outside the realm of possibility.

The MCU is set to introduce Galactus to the multiverse in the upcoming Fantastic Four film. If Galactus is the sole survivor of the previous multiverse, as he is in the comics, then it stands to reason the Cosmic Seed could have stemmed from that universe as well. As the Black Stone birthed from the seed ties directly into the power of death, this could potentially explain Hela’s dominion over death throughout Thor Ragnarok as well. That would tie directly into Odin’s habit of keeping elements of Asgard history a secret. With plenty of Marvel Comics artifacts yet to make their MCU debut, perhaps the Galactus Seed is just waiting to be rediscovered.