Galactus (Life Bringer) — power rating and matchups

Rating is a score, not a position — it rises by beating strong opponents and barely moves for beating weak ones.

Canon record · encounters, feats and notes

These entries record encounters, feats and other events from the character's stories. Read each outcome with its version, sources and condition tags. Arena verdicts use the selected versions and matchup rules; a story result does not determine an arena result. This panel is for reference and does not feed the engine. The record is still being expanded.

Contains story spoilers.

Feat / note

Galactus restoredFantastic Four vol. 3 #49 (2002)

Franklin and Valeria together restore Galactus; Mac McEntire: Baby back reads it as Valeria adding her power to Franklin's so he can bring Galactus back. Wikipedia: the children "exhaust their powers to restore the original Galactus".

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Mac McEntire: Baby back Galactus — Wikipedia

Loss

v The UltimatesUltimates (2015) #2

Galactus lashes out at Black Panther; the team forces him into the Incubator and accelerates it, and he "emerges changed" (World of Black Heroes: Ultimates #2) as Lifebringer (Ultimates (2015) — Wikipedia). His first act restores Archeopia (Ultimates (2015) — Wikipedia). In #1 Blue Marvel and Capta…

Evidence checked: plot summary checked World of Black Heroes: Ultimates #2 Ultimates (2015) — Wikipedia Gizmodo: Ultimates #2

Feat / note

Lifebringer — Outside rescueUltimates (2015) #5

Retrieves team and puts them to sleep

Evidence checked: other secondary source checked World of Black Heroes: Ultimates #5

Feat / note

Lifebringer — Superflow trialUltimates 2 #2 (2016)

Perceives cosmic setting and disputes forced return to old role

Evidence checked: scene checked directly AIPT: Ultimates 2 #2 AIPT excerpt: cosmic perception

Loss

v Master Order and Lord Chaos (Logos)Ultimates 2 #3 (2017); Logos's agenda continues in #4

He fends off the attacks that felled the Living Tribunal, but Master Order and Lord Chaos force him to revert ("sending Galactus back to the mailroom"); in #4 he is "pulled back into the monstrous agenda of Logos". Wikipedia: "Logos forcibly transforms Galactus back into the Devourer of Worlds" (#3…

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Galactus — Wikipedia AIPT: Ultimates 2 #3 AIPT: Ultimates 2 #4

Feat / note

Anti-Man — Lifebringer restoredUltimates 2 #6

Lifebringer restoration follows Anti-Man's sacrifice

Evidence checked: other secondary source checked Multiverse of Color: Second Eternity

No decisive result

v Aspirants and First FirmamentUltimates 2 #100 (2017)

Galactus participates in the coalition's victory

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Ultimates (2015) — Wikipedia

Win

v Ultron/PymInfinity Countdown #4 (2018)

He at first refuses to eat Saiph, then consumes it "and everyone on it", "sacrificing his soul"; he is "the unstoppable devourer once more" and the Surfer must serve as his herald again. Ultron nearly dies and loses the Soul Stone.

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Infinity Countdown — Wikipedia Gizmodo: Infinity Countdown #4

Also from Galactus's stories · form not verified (23)

These entries belong to the same continuity, but have not been verified for this form. They are excluded from this form's totals.

Feat / note

Galactus Trilogy — arrivalFantastic Four #48 (1966)

His herald, the Silver Surfer, signals him from the Baxter Building roof and his worldship appears over Manhattan; the Watcher had tried to hide Earth from the Surfer.

Evidence checked: plot summary checked The Galactus Trilogy

Loss

v Fantastic Four and the Silver SurferFantastic Four #49 (1966) – Fantastic Four #50

The Surfer attacks Galactus, buying time for Johnny to return with the Ultimate Nullifier; Reed threatens to use it, and Galactus agrees to spare Earth and leave if he gets the weapon back.

Special condition: Left Earth under the Ultimate Nullifier threat

2 logged exchanges

Fantastic Four #49 (1966)Their attacks do not stop the feeding preparations plot summary checked The Galactus Trilogy
Fantastic Four #50The Surfer attacks Galactus, buying time for Johnny to return with the Ultimate Nullifier; Reed threatens to use it, and Galactus agrees to spare Earth and leave if he gets the weapon back. plot summary checked The Galactus Trilogy

Evidence checked: plot summary checked The Galactus Trilogy

Feat / note

Galactus Trilogy — Surfer confinedFantastic Four #50

Before leaving, Galactus strips the Surfer of his "space-time powers", trapping him on Earth.

Evidence checked: plot summary checked The Galactus Trilogy

Loss

v ThorThor vol. 1 #161 (1969) – Thor vol. 1 #161

Enhanced focused blast drives Galactus away

Special condition: Thor's driving blast was boosted by an outside device

2 logged exchanges

Thor vol. 1 #161 (1969)Direct assault fails to settle fight; barrier and bodily counter follow plot summary checked Nick Peron: Thor #161
Thor vol. 1 #161Enhanced focused blast drives Galactus away plot summary checked Nick Peron: Thor #161

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Nick Peron: Thor #161

Win

v SphinxFantastic Four #213 (1979)

Defeats Sphinx and imposes temporal punishment

Evidence checked: other secondary source checked Fantastic Four Blog: #213

Loss

v Reed RichardsFantastic Four #213

False Nullifier threat succeeds

Special condition: Reed bluffed with a fake Nullifier threat

Evidence checked: other secondary source checked Fantastic Four Blog: #213

Win

v UltronMarvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1 (1984)

Doom has the Molecule Man send Ultron at Galactus and Ultron fires on him; "with but a small gesture, Galactus drains Ultron of all its energy".

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Secret Wars — Wikipedia UncannyXmen.net: Secret Wars #1 Comics Archeology: Secret Wars #1

Loss

v The BeyonderSame

Galactus smashes through the villains' energy barrier and flies into the rift to confront the Beyonder, Doom following; both are flung out of the rift (Secret Wars — Wikipedia: defeated and sent crashing down to Battleworld).

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Secret Wars — Wikipedia UncannyXmen.net: Secret Wars #1 Comics Archeology: Secret Wars #1

Loss

v Doctor DoomSecret Wars #9–10; theft resolves #10

Just as Galactus is ready to feast on his converted worldship, the energy is yanked away to Doombase, where Doom lies under his machine and absorbs it; Galactus does not get to eat.

Fought weakenedSpecial condition: Doom used a machine prepared to absorb the energy

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Secret Wars — Wikipedia Spiderfan: Secret Wars #10 Comics Archeology: Secret Wars #10

No decisive result

v MephistoMarvel Graphic Novel #38 (1988)

Confrontation ends with herald rescue

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Peerless Power: Judgment Day Galactus — Wikipedia

No decisive result

v Elders of the UniverseSilver Surfer vol. 3 #9 (1988)

The Elders turn a Soul-Gem device on Galactus that "begins slowly killing him"; a black hole draws in the Soul Gems and the Possessor, Trader and Astronomer, and "with Galactus back at full strength" he saves the remaining Elders, Nova and the Surfer and promises revenge.

Special condition: A black hole swept away the Soul Gems and broke the plot

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Marvel Database: Silver Surfer vol. 3 #9 Wikipedia: Elders of the Universe

Win

v Champion, Collector, Gardener, Grandmaster, RunnerSilver Surfer vol. 3 #10 (1988)

He "captures and consumes five of the Elders" (Wikipedia) in revenge; the Marvel Database adds that consuming them proves difficult. The Elders cannot die, so they remain inside him (Earth's Mightiest Blog: Silver Surfer #8-10). He sends Nova after the Contemplator.

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Wikipedia: Elders of the Universe Marvel Database: Silver Surfer vol. 3 #10 Earth's Mightiest Blog: Silver Surfer #8-10

Loss · team encounter

v Thanos (Infinity Gauntlet)Infinity Gauntlet #5 (1991)

Galactus and cosmic coalition are contained

Decisive action: Thanos, Gauntlet stasis · Galactus’s part: fought in the coalition and was contained with it

Evidence checked: plot summary checked The Infinity Gauntlet

No decisive result

v TyrantSilver Surfer vol. 3 #82 (1993)

Breaches fortress and confronts Tyrant; arrangement leaves Morg behind

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Key Collector: Silver Surfer #82

Win · team encounter

v AbraxasFantastic Four vol. 3 #49

Reed uses Nullifier to resolve crisis

Decisive action: Reed Richards, Ultimate Nullifier · Galactus’s part: pulled the Nullifier out of Abraxas's hands and gave it to Reed

2 logged exchanges

Fantastic Four vol. 3 #49Galactus tells Abraxas "You hold nothing. You are nothing"; the Nullifier leaves Abraxas, and Galactus says it was a part of him all along. He then hands it to Reed. scene checked directly Mac McEntire: Baby back Excerpt accompanying S-12
Fantastic Four vol. 3 #49Reed uses Nullifier to resolve crisis other secondary source checked Mac McEntire: Baby back

Evidence checked: other secondary source checked Mac McEntire: Baby back

Loss

v Tenebrous, Aegis and ThanosAnnihilation #1 (2006), report of prior capture

Annihilation #1 reveals that Thanos sided with Aegis and Tenebrous to capture Galactus and the Surfer for Annihilus (Annihilation — Wikipedia; Omniverse: Annihilation reading order). Wikipedia's Galactus page: Tenebrous and Aegis defeat them and deliver them to Annihilus. The fight itself is not sh…

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Annihilation — Wikipedia Galactus — Wikipedia Omniverse: Annihilation reading order

Unconfirmed lead

v Annihilation WaveAnnihilation #5–6; blast #6 (2007)

Freed in #5: Drax frees the Surfer, who uses Thanos's interface to free Galactus, and he "unleashes his fury upon the Wave". In #6 the blast wipes out most of the Annihilation Wave, more than three star systems and a Watcher (Wikipedia). Annihilus survives.

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Annihilation — Wikipedia Omniverse: Annihilation reading order Marvel Database: Annihilation #5

Feat / note

Hulk (2008) #12Hulk vol. 2 #12 (2009)

Red Hulk holds cosmic power taken from the Silver Surfer, powers that "belong to Galactus"; Galactus absorbs them, then decides to destroy Earth along with the Grandmaster and the Collector.

Evidence checked: plot summary checked Nick Peron: Hulk #12

Win

v OdinThe Mighty Thor (2011) #4 – The Mighty Thor (2011) #5

Both fall; Odin enters sleep while Galactus rises

2 logged exchanges

The Mighty Thor (2011) #4Engages Odin mentally other secondary source checked Weekly Comic Book Review: Mighty Thor #4
The Mighty Thor (2011) #5Both fall; Odin enters sleep while Galactus rises other secondary source checked X-Man blog: Mighty Thor #5

Evidence checked: other secondary source checked X-Man blog: Mighty Thor #5

No decisive result

v Squirrel GirlThe Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015) #4

He comes to devour Earth and Squirrel Girl stops him by persuasion: she convinces him not to consume Earth and he gives her a herald card (ComicBook: Galactus defeats). CBR: "Galactus shows up to devour the Earth and Squirrel Girl stops him."

Special condition: Talked out of eating Earth; no combat

Evidence checked: other secondary source checked ComicBook: Galactus defeats CBR: Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #4

No decisive result

v Thor (herald)Thor (2020) #2

Directed blast does not finish Thor

Fought weakened

Evidence checked: other secondary source checked Cavalier Nerd: Thor #2

No decisive result

v Thor (herald)Thor (2020) #6

Thor turns him into the destructive instrument

Final outcome occurred in Galactus (Starving), Galactus (Well-Fed). Shown here for context and excluded from this form's totals.

Special condition: Thor wielded the cosmic power Galactus had granted him

Evidence checked: scene checked directly AIPT: Thor #6 cosmic shift AIPT excerpt: bomb preparation

Feat / note

Reckoning War — fusion and aftermathFantastic Four (2018) #45 (2022)

Fusion participates in crisis; restored Galactus performs reconstruction

Evidence checked: other secondary source checked Impulse Gamer: Fantastic Four #45 ComicBook: Reckoning War aftermath

Related context (1)

No decisive result

v Mad CelestialsFantastic Four #604

Adult Franklin revives Galactus "to act as his herald and partner" in fending off the threat; together they defeat the remaining Celestials (Wikipedia).

The form used for the final outcome is unverified. Shown here for context and excluded from this form's totals.

Special condition: Franklin revived him; together they beat the rest

Evidence checked: plot summary checked AIPT: Hickman collection vol. 4 Galactus — Wikipedia

Tags describe recorded circumstances. They do not establish that the outcome depended on those circumstances, and an untagged entry does not guarantee equal conditions. Wins and losses include team encounters where indicated. Counts cover the entries listed here, not the character's complete fight history.