Galactus, Devourer of Worlds, is a terrifying cosmic force of entropy and consumption, and he’s just been given his most terrifying form yet in fantastic fan art. Once known as the mortal Galan of Taa, Galactus was warped and reformed by the very powers that destroyed the Sixth Cosmos. Capable of altering others’ perception of his tangible form, this horrific display by artist Tom Hoskissonshows off the infinite maw that Galactus really is.
Created and shared by Hoskisson (@tomkoskissonart) onInstagram, this stunning art is part of a month-long #marveltober2024 social media challenge that the artist is undertaking to fully design and illustrate portraits for some of Marvel’s classic characters.
Thishorrific and nightmarish representation of the Hunger That Does Not Ceasefully realizes the cataclysmic nature that makes the cosmic force feared. When the silver surfingherald of Galactusarrives to warn the Marvel Universe of his coming, this is the version of the multiversal monster that his future victims should prepare for.
This Galactus Art Fully Realizes the Being’s True Nature
Galactus First Debuted inFantastic Four#48by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
While Galan of Taa was originally of a human-like species,Galactus technically possesses no true form. Instead, any creature who perceives him sees him as a familiar likening to their own species. While the reasoning hasn’t been touched on much, it’s safe to assume that he, either consciously or subconsciously,takes on these forms to lessen the fear his victims will inevitably feel.Because of this warped perspective, it’s difficult for readers to fully grasp the visual horror that having one’s planet eaten would look like. Thankfully, Hoskisson has helped bridge that gap.
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Because, as humans, readers will almost always perceive Galactus as being human, it’s difficult to comprehend how a form like that would “consume” a world. Does he start by taking a large bite out of Earth? Do people watch their planet slowly enter his mouth and slide into his stomach? Probably not. Instead,Galactus is more like a maw: a sentient black hole whose only purpose is to consume. It makes more sense for his victims to slowly see a living mass so large that it slowly encompasses the sky before life finally submits to darkness.
Readers Should Be Afraid of Galactus, Not Sympathetic With Him
He Is Not Human - He Is a Concept
As Hoskisson’s art hauntingly expresses, Galactus is not human. Galactus is a force of nature, a concept given a perceivable form. Horrifically, even Marvel has officially embraced thenightmarish scourge of destruction that Galactus represents. Fan artists like Hoskisson help readers better understand the full scope of a creature dubbed the Devourer of Worlds. Too long hasGalactusbeen seen as a silly bald man with a preference for purple - when, in reality, he is a near-infinite void where existence fades into nothing as the multiverse succumbs to the weight of his power.
Fantastic Four
TheFantastic Fouris a superhero franchise centered on Marvel Comics' first family of superheroes. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the team made its comic book debut in 1961 and quickly became a cornerstone of Marvel’s success. The franchise follows four astronauts—Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—who gain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Over the years,Fantastic Fourhas been adapted into several live-action films, animated series, and video games. The films have seen multiple reboots, with varying levels of success, and are now set to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with a new film slated for release in 2025.
