Galactusis one of Marvel’s greatest cosmic powers throughout the multiverse. While the infinite number of other realities possess just as powerful behemoths as Earth-616’s Galactus, others not so much. Marvel doesn’t always have to take itself seriously, but sometimes stuff gets kind of odd. Weird, wacky, and zanny or not, at least these variants are fun to read.
The Marvel Multiverse is oftena playground for writers and artiststo do as they please with some of comics’ most recognizable characters. If you can imagine it, it exists. But it’s not often that the multiverse gets to show off its comedic and confusing variants. As Marvel continues to invest in these grandmultiverse-spanning events, it’s worth taking a step back and looking at the lighter side of the multiverse, especially regarding one of Marvel’s most powerful entities. Admittedly, there may not be many, but these are theten weirdest Galactus variants in Marvel history.
1Galactus Engine (Earth-10011)
First Appeared InThanos Imperative #2(2010)
One of Marvel’s earlier multiversal events that readers seem to ignore, the Cancerverse is a dimension where Death was killed. Life had nothing to hold itself back. This led to the dimension folding over itself, creatingan infectious cancerous massthat threatened to seep into other realities.
From the pits of the Cancerverseemerged the Galactus Engine.This multiversal battering ram, built from Galactus’s undying corpse, dwarfed Earth-616’s Galactus. This sentient horror is one of Marvel’s most terrifying variants yet and especially one of its most grotesquely odd. “Weird,” doesn’t really describe how horrifically uncanny this creature is, but it’s certainly a good start. Despite the shockingly abject horror of this cancerous creature, there are farweirder Galactus variantsto come.
2Galactypus (Earth-8311)
First Appeared InPeter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-Ham #12(1986)
Marvel fans should already be familiar with the comedic animalistic nature of Peter Porker’s reality. While Spider-Ham is often locked in battle with his mortal enemies likeRaven the Hunter and the King-Pig, other heroes have been thrown into perilous battles of their own. Whenthe terrifying Devourer of Worlds, Galactypus, arrives to consume Earth, his mortal rivals, the Fantastic Fur, respond to save the day.
Frankly, who’s to blame the great duck-billed cosmic destroyer? If there has ever been an Earth worth eating, it’s probably Peter Porker’s. While eating humans may seem enticing enough, afull-blown buffet of superpowered pork and beefsounds all the much better.
3Galactiac (Earth-9602)
First Appeared InChallengers of the Fantastic #1(1997)
On more than a few occasions,Marvel and DC Comicshave come head to head in a clash of properties, blending the competitors into one seriously confusing comic. In this amalgamated universe,Galactus has been fused with Braniac.This fusion made both villains more insufferably self-engradizing than they already were.
Frankly, Galactus’s magnificent cosmic power is held back by Braniac’s curiosity. Instead of arriving for his meal and moving on to the next planet, Galactiac decides that he wants a souvenir. Before consuming most of all life on Earth, he hasa plot to turn New York City into a keepsakebefore continuing his cosmic quest.
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4Mah Velous Galactus (Earth-19913)
First Appeared inMarvels Epilogue #1(2019)
Fans who aren’t completely familiar withGalactus’s true natureoften give him a bad break. Galactus does more than just snack on planetswhen the cosmic munchies hit.He was reborn as a cosmic force of destruction, compelled to consume so that new worlds can be created.
Although, in this comedically exaggerated character of New York City stereotypes, Galactus is a tad less cosmically awesome. Instead, the Devourer of Worlds looks more likethe Devourer of Chicken Wings and Cheap Beer.For a Marvel universe that only exists on a single page, it’s wild to consider that Galactus is the least confusing goof there.
5Elvis Presley (Earth-92201)
First Appeared InWhat If…? #34(1991)
When the greatest cosmic powers in the Marvel universe were on the verge of destroyingthe Mad Titan Thanos, the galactic warlord pulled off the most heinous thing he could think of to defeat Galactus:turning him into Elvis.Galactus became stranded on Earth, with no memories of his past self. A young, loving, and adoring fan helped Galactus“remember” his life and career as Elvis Presley, well after the original King had passed.
One month later Galactus was the King of Rock N’ Roll. Meanwhile, Thanos was defeated and Adam Warlock the wielder of the Infinity Gauntlet. Warlock returned Galactus’s memories and offered him a choice, but there was only one true option. The Silver Surfer will have to find a new master becausethe king is back.
6Grootlactus (Unknown Designation)
First Appeared InGroot #2(2015)
While this twiggy behemoth of wood and cosmic hunger is impressively Groot-like, it may only be a figment of Groot’s dream to belong. However, in the Marvel universe,would dreams not be considered portals to other realities?In this one, every hero and villain is part of the Flora colossi, the tree-like people that Groot belongs to.
Grootlactus, Devourer of Floralogical Life, towers over the Groot Avengers, while Earth-616’sGroot is left in aweby the beauty of this world. Now, technically speaking, this is the form that Groot would always see Galactus as anyway.Galactus is an amorphous beingwho every individual perceives as a member of their own species. As fun as Grootlactus may be for readers, this is how the twiggy Guardian of the Galaxy has always known Galactus to look.
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7Galactus (Mojoworld)
First Appeared InAstonishing Tales: Mojoworld #6(2009)
One of the X-Men’s most iconic, and most disturbing, villains, Mojo is a mad sorcerer who hails from a pocket dimension that treats the multiverse like an infinite series of television channels. In this series, Sunspot and Cannonball have been kidnapped by Mojo and forced to create a series of moviesto entertain Mojoverse’s audiences.Their final movie, a riff onMagnum, P.I.,needs to go big or go home.
On their chaotic and sprawling set, a massive“actor” in the form of Galactusis sat off-screen while the two X-Men struggle to put together their grand finale. Galactus doesn’t play any significant role in this mini-issue, but it’s worth remembering that this aspiring actor is still the Devourer of Worlds. Sure, a lackadaisical parody of the primordial cosmic force, buta version of Galactusnonetheless.
8Baby Galactus (Earth-71912)
First Appeared InA-Babies vs. X-Babies #1(2012)
There has always been a comedic trend of turning classic pop-culture characters into babies. The Muppets have done it. Looney Toons have done it. And one ofMarvel’s most dramatic crossover eventshas done it too.
This one-shot comic is mainly just a silly take onMarvel’s more serious matters, with no greater significance than that. While the heroes wage their childish war against each other, Baby Galactus is tucked away, enjoying his planetoid bottle. Honestly, it makes sense. He may be a cosmic juggernaut, but what damage could Galactus really do within teeth? Draped in his plush onesie and cuddled in the void of space, Wolverine describes this variant with a relatable point of clarity,“That’s just… weird.”
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9Jellyfish Galactus (Earth-9610)
First Appeared InTimeslip Collection #1(1998)
TheTimeslip Collectionis more of a late 1990s series ofWhat If…?suggestions more than it is an actual comic. This Time Slip dimension isa strong homage to the silverscreen monster horror flicks of the 1950slikeThe War of the WorldsandForbidden Planet.Ditching the purple-bodysuit-wearing giant bald man,The Thing That Ate the Worldis a sprawling cascade of writhing tentacles and amalgamous flesh.
Like a cosmic jellyfish, reaching its tendrils through New York City, this Galactus is more representative ofthe cosmic force he actually is. It’s unsettling. It’s disturbing. It’s horrifying. It also leaves the reader wishing that Marvel could adapt this concept into its own one-shot or miniseries. Marvel loves playing with stylistic concept pieces and a 1950s horror flick featuringthe jellyfish-like Devourer of Worldscould bea genuinely unique additionto Marvel’s catalog that the company has yet to explore.
10Mangaverse Galactus (Earth-2301)
First Appeared InMarvel Mangaverse #1(2002)
Part of the early 2000s Western explosion of interest in manga,Marvel Mangaverseis a relatively cute and simplistic reality. However, this reality’s Galactus is an entirely different monster. No longer a purely sentient cosmic entity, this Galactus isa super-weapon forged from Mephisto’s personal planet.
Rejecting any semblance of his traditional appearance, this variant takes the visage of a gargantuan eyeball. Tendrils wisp off its back, like optic nerves flowing through the void of space. A ring of asteroids encircles the cosmic creature, caught in its immense gravitation pull. More terrifyingly, the front of the planetary weapon opens to reveal an eye, thousands of miles in length. Ofevery Galactus variantthere is, this one is by farhis weirdest and most terrifying.
