July 09, 2025: When IGN dropped its list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time, fans were stunned — not because Joker wasn’t #1, but because Galactus soared into the top 5, landing behind only Magneto and Doctor Doom in the Marvel ranks. For comic purists, it was overdue recognition. For MCU-only fans? A wake-up call.
Now, Marvel is giving the Devourer of Worlds his due — and the stage couldn’t be bigger. The Fantastic Four: First Steps, releasing July 25, brings Galactus back to the big screen for the first time in nearly two decades — and this time, he’s the real deal.
A True Cosmic Villain: Why Galactus Matters
In comic lore, Galactus isn’t just another bad guy. He’s a force of nature, a world-ending being with a presence that makes even the fiercest Marvel heroes quake. For all the hype around Thanos in the Infinity Saga, fans of the source material know Galactus operates on another level. On IGN’s ranking, Thanos came in at #47 — a mere footnote compared to Galactus.
The last time we saw Galactus in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), fans were left disappointed. The iconic villain was reduced to a giant space cloud — no helmet, no gravitas, no justice. This time, Marvel is fixing that.
A Comic-Accurate Galactus in ‘First Steps’
The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces a visually faithful Galactus, portrayed by Ralph Ineson, whose deep, resonant voice and ominous screen presence promise to match the mythos. Even through teasers and trailers, Galactus radiates menace and grandeur — a level of cosmic threat Eternals failed to capture with its Celestials.
Supporting him is Julia Fox as the Silver Surfer, who returns as his reluctant herald — another fan-favorite done right this time around.
Can Galactus Save the MCU?
Here’s the irony — Galactus may be a villain, but he’s the one Marvel needs right now.
Post-Endgame, the MCU has struggled to find direction. The multiverse chaos, Kang’s uncertain future, and overstuffed lineups have left audiences both confused and fatigued. There’s no clear threat tying the universe together — no Thanos effect.
Enter Galactus.
What makes First Steps even more promising is its smart decision to set the story in a parallel universe, away from the tangled continuity of current MCU projects. That’s a breath of fresh air for casual viewers and long-time fans alike, who are tired of watching six shows just to understand one movie.
A Fresh Start with Marvel’s First Family
The film marks the long-awaited MCU debut of Marvel’s First Family — with Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm). It’s the first Phase Six movie and aims to not just introduce the Fantastic Four, but reignite the Marvel Cinematic Universe itself.
With a powerful villain, a standalone entry point, and a fresh cast, First Steps could very well be Marvel’s reset button. But more than the heroes, it’s Galactus who carries the burden of revival.
If done right, he might not just devour worlds — he might devour the box office and reignite audience passion for the MCU.