Where did Galactus come from? The only Fantastic Four: First Steps explainer you need

Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t holding back when it comes to scale. The film reintroduces Galactus, not as a vague cosmic storm or unseen force, but as a full-fledged presence with a clear origin and a terrifying purpose.

With Ralph Ineson stepping into the role and Julia Garner as a cold, quiet Silver Surfer, the movie brings one of Marvel’s most intimidating forces to life exactly the way the original comics imagined him, huge, humanoid, and beyond reasoning.

But before Galactus shows up in full, the film spends time laying the groundwork. It hints at strange signals, growing radiation, and a disturbance in cosmic balance that builds toward the reveal.

This isn’t just another Marvel villain showing up to destroy Earth. Galactus doesn’t arrive out of nowhere. His backstory stretches far beyond the universe we know, and Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn’t treat that lightly.

For viewers unfamiliar with the comics or confused by the scale of his appearance, the film offers just enough context to make his arrival land with weight. Still, a lot is left unsaid on screen. That’s where this explainer comes in. In the next section, we’ll break down where Galactus actually comes from, what he is, and why it matters.

Where Galactus Comes From and Why It Matters in Fantastic Four: First Steps

Fantastic Four: First Steps (Image via Marvel Entertainment)

Galactus didn’t start as a god. Long before the current Marvel universe formed, he lived as a man named Galan on a planet called Taa. This planet existed in a different universe entirely, one that came before the Big Bang. Taa was the most advanced civilization in that universe, and Galan was a space explorer and scientist.

But even that universe had an end. As the cosmic collapse approached, killing everything, Galan attempted to escape the destruction with a crew. They flew into the heart of the dying universe, hoping for answers or peace. Everyone died—except Galan.

Instead of dying, he merged with what the comics call the “Sentience of the Universe.” His body didn’t vanish. It transformed. A new universe was forming, and Galan’s remains were sealed inside a cosmic egg that drifted through space until the moment was right.

After the Big Bang created the universe we know, that egg cracked open. Galan emerged reborn as Galactus, an entirely new being. He no longer needed food or water. He needed energy, and the only way to get it was to drain the life force of entire planets.

He’s not evil. The comics never painted him as a villain in the traditional sense. Galactus doesn’t destroy worlds out of anger or for sport. He consumes them because his existence depends on it. Fantastic Four: First Steps leans into that idea.

He’s introduced as a force, not a man, not a god, not a demon, but something older than any of those terms. He exists because the universe demands balance. And in his mind, consuming planets is no different than a star running out of fuel. It’s just the way things are.

Fantastic Four: First Steps sticks close to this origin. You won’t get a full monologue about Taa or the Sentience of the Universe, but the pieces are there. Signals from deep space, cosmic warnings, and the Silver Surfer’s arrival all point to something ancient. When Galactus finally appears, he’s not explained with a throwaway line.

His arrival has weight because it’s been building up. And for those who know the comics, every visual, from his armor to his silence, matches exactly what Jack Kirby drew in 1966. He’s not here to conquer. He’s here because he always was.