Galactus has been the primary antagonist in two different films now, but the version from 2007s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)‘s own The Fantastic Four: First Steps were dramatically different. Before the birth of the MCU in 2008, there were a handful of Marvel movies that managed to gain a degree of success.
Among the most popular were the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies, and the Fox X-Men films. And while it wasn’t quite as widely well-regarded, the Fantastic Four movies that came out in 2005 and 2007 also earned a fanbase of their own. And interestingly, the sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer, has several important points in common with the MCU’s version of Marvel’s First Family.
Both The 2007 & 2025 Versions Of Galactus Are Defeated By The Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four Save The Day From The Devourer Of Worlds
In both movies, Galactus is the ultimate rival. While the 2007 film also features Doctor Doom as a secondary antagonist, following his introduction in the first movie, Galactus presents the ultimate threat to Earth. Likewise, First Steps sees several villains introduced, but Galactus stands out as the primary antagonist of the film.
Galactus, as the Devourer of Worlds, sends a herald ahead of his arrival. Both films feature a Silver Surfer, but each has a unique version of the character, with Rise of the Silver Surfer championing Norrin Radd’s classic version, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps introducing Shalla-Bal. However, both of these heralds form a connection with the humans, and feel sadness and remorse about their mission.
As a result, the Silver Surfer’s both turn on their masters, fighting alongside The Fantastic Four, and bringing down Galactus. And yet, the way these fights play out is very different, revealing different aspects of their respective versions of Galactus.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Galactus “Defeat” Makes The MCU Villain Seem Stronger
Galactus Might Lose The Fight, But He’s Not Down For Good
In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Galactus has a corporeal form, as opposed to being a giant cloud monster. As a result, he arrives on Earth, ready to take Franklin Richards away, and he reduces his size, becoming roughly the size of a tall skyscraper. He displays a series of powers and abilities, and generally has a much greater presence in the story.
On top of that, Galactus is not actually trying to destroy the world. Instead, he has taken an interest in Franklin, which means he is careful about how he approaches the planet, avoiding causing devastating chaos. But his restraint comes across as a sign of strength, not weakness.
In addition, when Galactus is defeated by The Fantastic Four, and Sue Storm uses her considerable power to push him into a teleporter, he still manages to start climbing back from the other side. At this point, both stories line up again, with the Silver Surfer intervening to save the day, but the 2007 film sees Galactus destroyed, while First Steps proves that Galactus is not so easily eliminated.
The MCU’s Galactus Story Supports The Idea That It Has A Stronger Galactus
Galactus Has A Greater Presence In The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Building on this, the fact that this version of Galactus is seen earlier in the film, when the heroes travel across the universe to meet him, it helps to establish more insight into the character. In the MCU, Galactus reveals details about the Power Cosmic, which is not explicitly referenced in the 2007 movie.
In addition, Galactus’ ship can be seen processing entire planets, feeding him, and maintaining a constant supply of energy that plays into just how dangerous and ravenous he is. All of this creates a much more focused and powerful version of the character compared to the gaseous creature that appears to be a mindless threat to the Earth.
Why The MCU’s Galactus Seems Stronger Than The 2007 Movie Version’s
Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer Delivered A More Limited Version Of Galactus
Overall, each of the above details add up to making the MCU version of Galactus appear significantly more powerful, more menacing, and more credible. Galactus is able to reveal his own mind, and his side of the equation, and as such, he becomes a more menacing antagonist who could easily pop up in later projects due to the fact that he was not actually killed.
But beyond even that, the MCU has established a world with dozens of powerful heroes and villains, and over time, the power levels of the series have shifted. Never has this been more true than throughout the Multiverse Saga, with characters like Wanda Maximoff and Loki getting a bump in power. Add to that new powerful characters like Billy Maximoff, Mephisto, and Sentry, and it’s clear that the lineup is stacked.
The MCU version of Galactus appear significantly more powerful, more menacing, and more credible.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps may have a story set in another universe, Earth-828, but it’s been confirmed that these heroes will join the adventures to come in Avengers: Doomsday and beyond. So it makes sense that they possess powers that are at least comparable to other figures in the mainline MCU, with some characters proving to be significantly stronger.
With all of that in mind, Sue Storm manages to push Galactus, a cosmically powerful enтιтy older than the multiverse itself, back across several blocks in a city. Franklin, wielding the same power as the one Galactus possesses, is able to bring his mother back to life, and the Silver Surfer is able to travel at speeds faster than light. Clearly, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has a much more powerful Galactus on display.
