Marvel Flips Galactus’ Deadly Reputation With an Ultimate Retcon But There Is a Catch

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Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Ultimates #8! Galactus has a reputation in Marvel Comics as one of the most terrifying beings in the universe. Galactus is the physical manifestation of cosmic, existential horror, as he travels the cosmos literally eating entire worlds, and there’s hardly anyone strong or smart enough to stop him. However, in the new Ultimate Universe of Earth-6160, Galactus’ horrific cosmic purpose is totally flipped, which is good news for the universe as a whole. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, as this ‘ultimate retcon’ comes with a pretty terrifying catch.

In The Ultimates #8 by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri, readers are introduced to this new Ultimate continuity’s version of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Rather than just being a rag-tag team of heroes flying around in a spaceship from planet-to-planet in the modern day, this version of the Guardians of the Galaxy is from the distant future with a ship that can travel through the 4th Dimension and appear in any 3rd Dimensional time period. In this case, the Guardians find themselves in the year 2024, as they’re looking for one of their long-lost teammates: America Chavez.

Upon finding America, the Guardians see that she doesn’t remember her life as a Guardian of the Galaxy. In an effort to jog her memory, the Guardians tell America about her home time period, and all the adventures they went on together – including those that ended in tragedy. One of those stories had to do with Galactus, where it is revealed that the ‘Devourer of Worlds’ is actually the ‘Seeder of Worlds’, and is also known as the Lifebringer. However, the story ends with Galactus’ death, revealing that his bloated corpse gives life to hordes of dark entities.

Galactus is the Bringer of Life in the Ultimate Universe, Not the Devourer of Worlds

The Ultimate Universe’s Galactus May Bring Life, but His Corpse Brings Death

While readers don’t get to see him in action, The Ultimates #8 makes it clear that Earth-6160’s Galactus doesn’t go around extinguishing life on countless planets in the universe, but rather seeding life on barren worlds. It seems this Galactus’ cosmic purpose is to ensure life flourishes, using the Power Cosmic to do so. This is the exact opposite of the cosmic task of the original Galactus in Earth-616, who kills billions at a time while consuming worlds.

Earth-6160’s Galactus sounds like a much better option from the perspective of Marvel characters, as they don’t have to worry about some pillar of cosmic horror eating their world, and can rest assured that Galactus will maintain life in the cosmos single-handedly. However, there is a catch, as his death gives life to dark, almost demonic-looking entities born of the residual Power Cosmic in Galactus’ bloating corpse.

The Ultimate Universe’s Galactus Might Be MORE Deadly than the Original

Earth-616’s Galactus Can At Least Be Reasoned With

It is unknown what or how powerful these creatures are, as readers only get a glimpse of them in The Ultimates #8 with little explanation. However, it can be assumed that these creatures are extremely powerful, as they must have Power Cosmic flowing through their veins if they are born from Galactus’ body. Plus, the sheer number of them implies they can be destructive on a planetary scale, with no limit to the number of planets they can destroy. And, by the look of them, it doesn’t seem as though these creatures can be reasoned with.

While the original Galactus literally eats planets, that version might actually be preferable to the version of Galactus in the new Ultimate Universe. The dark creatures Earth-6160’s Galactus produces collectively seem like a mindless, destructive wave, as opposed to the original Galactus who can be reasoned with, and who can avoid planets with an overabundance of life (if he so chooses). So, while Marvel flips Galactus’ deadly reputation in the Ultimate Universe, this ‘Seeder of Worlds’ does come with a horrifying catch.

The Ultimates #8 by Marvel Comics is available now.

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