Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, is one of Marvel’s greatest cosmic menaces. He’s almost unbeatable, a force of nature rather than a villain. Yet occasionally, somebody comes along and manages to defeat him, either through sheer power, strategic thinking, or sheer bravado. Here are ten of the most unlikely characters to ever defeat Galactus solo.
10. Franklin Richards
Franklin Richards is not your typical kid. As the offspring of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, he is born with reality-warped abilities that make most cosmic entities seem tame in comparison. In one tale, Franklin brings Galactus back to life only to turn the tables and make him his herald. In another, he blithely knocks out Galactus with a psychic punch. Although Marvel has increased his powers up and down through the years, Franklin’s battles with Galactus solidify him as one of the most lethal threats to the universe—regardless of his age.
9. Thanos
The Mad Titan isn’t so much noted for being nice, but he’s fought Galactus toe-to-toe more than once. While the Infinity Gauntlet provided him with the ability to wipe Galactus out with a snap, the actual flex was in Thanos Wins, where he battled Galactus without the Infinity Stones. Even with Cosmic Ghost Rider by Galactus’ side, Thanos killed him; he destroyed the Devourer in vicious fashion. When Thanos claims to win, he is not joking.
8. King Thor
Future Thor makes his normal self appear like an apprentice. With the Odinforce (a.k.a. Thorforce), the arm of the Destroyer, and one eye, King Thor finally confronts Galactus at the end of time. Having stripped him of the Power Cosmic, Thor executes him for the countless civilizations he’s annihilated. To the last god standing, Galactus was just a name on his list to strike off.
7. Silver Surfer (with the Quantum Bands)
Typically, Galactus’s most devoted herald, the Silver Surfer, did once become his greatest enemy. In another time and a different future, he acquires the Quantum Bands and assumes the title of “The Keeper.” With this added power, he can defeat Galactus in a straight fight. Rather than killing him, though, Surfer resumes his service—albeit on his terms now, as he requires finding empty worlds for Galactus to devour. A unique instance of a student outdoing a master, then mercifully sparing him.
6. Hiro-Kala
Hiro-Kala, the child of Hulk and Caiera, isn’t motivated by justice—he’s motivated by revenge. Once Galactus devastates his planet, Hiro-Kala poisons entire worlds with the Old Power, which is poisonous to Galactus. When Galactus attempts to feed, he’s tormented greatly, having to experience the suffering of all of his victims. Hiro-Kala condemns him to perpetual hunger and agony—a punishment much more merciless than a tidy defeat.
5. Tyrant
After Galactus’s first herald, Tyrant betrayed his master and battled him in a fight that rocked the universe. Although deprived of his powers and banished, Tyrant returned for another battle. This time, powered by Galactus’s energy, he cut his creator’s face and came close to killing him. The battle concluded in anarchy with the Ultimate Nullifier, but Tyrant had shown he could push Galactus to the edge.
4. Gravity
Initially, Gravity was simply a street-level hero with the ability to manipulate gravity. However, after his selfless sacrifice, he was reincarnated as the Protector of the Universe. When Galactus set his sights on Epoch, Gravity unleashed such cosmic energy that it overwhelmed the Devourer—not to kill him, but to satiate him and save Epoch. In this instance, triumph was achieved through compassion: offering Galactus what he desired but on his terms.
3. Kitty Pryde
Typically, the demure, phase-through-walls variety, Kitty Pryde, stunned everyone at the time of the Cataclysm event. Powered up with Giant-Man’s size-shifting power, she expanded to Galactus’ size and battled him head-on. Invulnerable to his attacks because of her abilities, she dismantled his device and assisted in banishing him to the Negative Zone, where he was left to die of hunger. Not bad for the once “kid sister” of the X-Men.
2. Rick Jones (as Nova)
Marvel’s everyman extraordinaire, Rick Jones, has been a sidekick, a hero, and sometimes a cosmic wild card. In the Ultimate Universe, empowered by the Watcher and Captain Marvel, he was Nova and battled Galactus along with his swarm. Tapping into incredible cosmic power, Rick almost ripped Galactus in half and severed him from his swarm. He was imprisoned in an alternate dimension for it, but hey—that’s a multiverse-saving exchange.
1. Squirrel Girl
And last but not least, the biggest surprise winner of all: Squirrel Girl. In her solo book, she faces off against Galactus on the Moon, prepared for battle. Instead of a grand melee, she has a chat with him. Persuading him to eat an empty planet instead of our own, she settles the fight without even one punch thrown. Squirrel Girl heroically saves the day not through power or firepower, but through courtesy, compassion, and a dash of humor.
Galactus is perhaps Marvel’s most unstoppable force, but like these tales illustrate, he is not invincible. From reality-warping youths to surprise underdogs, heroes (and occasionally villains) have managed to bring down the Devourer of Worlds. Oftentimes through sheer cosmic might, and other times through trickery or even empathy. Ultimately, Galactus may be immortal—but his defeats are legend.