Marvel’s Galactus enters the Spider-Verse and brings a surprising new Herald with him (exclusive preview)

The original Galactus trilogy as told in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s “Fantastic Four” #48-50 remains one of the most influential stories in the Marvel Universe. Although it was told in three simple issues, it was Marvel’s first superhero tale with apocalyptic stakes. Galactus, intending to devour the Earthhe is portrayed more as a force of nature than a mustachioed super villain. Then there is his herald, the silver surfer, who is touched by humanity and turns against his master.

Galactus exiles the rebel surfer from his service at the end of the trilogy. Still, in stories told since, Galactus will generally have a less powerful, human-sized herald in his service to replace the surfer. Most infamously, “Marvel Tales” #137 featured an alternate reality where Spider-Man’s Aunt May becomes the herald of Galactus (“Golden Oldie”). In the end, she convinces Galactus to switch from a diet of planets to cakes.

Recently, Marvel has been pairing similarly unexpected characters with Galactus, in a meta-series tagged “What If… Galactus Transformed X.” Some stories so far include:

The fifth and final one, which Marvel has shared an exclusive preview with /movie, is “What If…? Galactus Transformed Spider-Gwen?” #1 by Kalinda Vásquez and Daniel Picciotto. The problem synopsis says:

“After coming to the aid of a wounded herald of Galactus, Spider-Gwen is empowered and enlisted in the world’s service! But despite her new role surveying the galaxy, Gwen can’t help her heroic streak. When she finds a world reminiscent of home, will she ally with its alien residents and try to fight one of the greatest forces in the cosmos?!

The covers, all drawn by Ron Lim, feature Galactus in the background looking at his transformed herald. Check out Spider-Gwen’s new cosmic energy-infused costume below.

Marvel Comics

Spider-Gwen is basically a “what if…”? ” concept that stuck. Of course, it’s based on Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker’s first serious girlfriend who died in 1973, killed by the Green Goblin in “The Amazing Spider-Man” #121. Gwen’s death was so shocking that she remained dead, a great rarity in superhero comics; The 1994 “Spider-Man” cartoon left Gwen out entirely because the show’s creators thought they couldn’t put a character destined to die in a children’s show.

“Spider-Gwen” presupposes a version of events when Gwen Stacy gained Spider-Powers and Peter Parker died tragically. The character became especially popular thanks to the animated “Spider-verse” films, where Hailee Steinfeld’s Spider-Gwen is as much a protagonist as Miles Morales (Shameik Moore).

Gwen (properly known as Ghost Spider) is a multiverse superhero, which is how she meets Galactus. You see, your current Herald Stardust has rebelled, refusing to let Galactus destroy his own world and his people. To prevent this, Gwen volunteers as Galactus’ replacement Herald. Galactus can feel all the power coursing through her, so he agrees and grants Gwen the power cosmic.

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

The preview ends there, but Lim’s cover shows how the metamorphosis will change Gwen’s costume.

This sequence of events is a tribute to the silver surfer’s own origins. In 1968, Stan Lee and artist John Buscema collaborated on A solo “silver surfer” series. The debut theme He expanded on his origin, revealing that the surfer was once a man named Norrin Radd from the planet Zenn-La. Then Galactus came to destroy their world, so Norrin asked to become his herald. In that role, he would find Galactus other worlds to consume in order to spare Zenn-La, and thus became the Silver Surfer.

Gwen is making the same bargain, but it’s hard to believe she’ll direct her new master to the inhabited worlds, ripe to take How will you extricate yourself from this sticky situation? Wait and see.

“What if…? Galactus transformed Spider-Gwen?” #1 is scheduled for print and digital release on January 29, 2025.