galactus (the devourer of worlds)

Galactus' initial origin was that of a Taa-an space explorer named Galan who gained cosmic abilities by passing near a star, [3] but writer Mark Gruenwald further developed the character's origins, presenting Taa and Galan as existing in the universe before the Big Bang that initiated the current primary universe setting. When Galan's universe came to an end, he merged with the "Judgment of the Universe" to become Galactus, an entity who wielded such cosmic power that he required devouring entire planets to sustain his existence. Additional material written by John Byrne, Jim Starlin, and Louise Simonson explored Galactus's role and purpose in the Marvel Universe, and examined the character's actions through themes such as genocide, manifest destiny, ethics, and natural/necessary existence. Frequently accompanied by a herald (such as the Silver Surfer), the character has appeared as both antagonist and protagonist in both central and supporting roles. Since his debut in the Silver Age of comics, Galactus has played a role in over five decades of Marvel continuity. In 2009, Galactus was ranked fifth on IGN's list of the "100 Greatest Comic Book Villains", which cited the character's "larger-than-life presence" as one of the greatest villains ever created. IGN also noted that "Galactus is one of the few villains on our list who truly defies the definition of an evildoer", as the character is driven to destroy worlds due to his hunger, rather than for malicious purposes.[4]