Jack Kirby draw to Fantastic Four #48 March 1966 a character flying to surfboard. Stan Lee asked what's that. That's Galactus's herald, Silver Surfer, Kirby ansvered. Surfer immediately became Stan Lee's and the readers favorite character. It took years before Lee allowed anyone else to write Silver Surfer stories. Silver Surfer #1 appeared in august 1968, but was discontinued 1970 after the 18 issues. The comics began to appear again in 1987. Stan Lee and Jean "Moebius" Giraud made a two part Silver Surfer limited series in 1988. In this very intelligent story Galactus returns to Earth as a god. Silver Surfer Requiem published in 2007.
Galactus is an ancient creature, who was born in the planet TAA, preceding universe before the Big Bang. His abilities are limitless. He is able to build technical devices directly to the air. Galactus stays alive by absorbing planetary life energy. Galactus uses heralds who are looking for suitable planets which energy he can absorb. The heralds of Galactus has been including Terrax the Tamer (first appeared in Fantastic Four #211, 1979), Nova (first appeared as Frankie Raye in FF #164 and as Nova FF #244, 1982) and Silver Surfer. (Continues below.)
Galactus is impossible to win intellectually or technically, but the buried emotions are his weakness. Galactus has won by threatening to destroy the universe by Ultimate Nullifier (look's like a stapler) in
FF #50, 1966, and Dr. Strange has shown Galactus to souls of the all creatures who he has killed (
FF #243). For some reason Galactus always returns to Earth. Earth must be obsess him, because he knows the planets location, and how well it could full to his apetite. Perhaps the Earth has begun to represent seductive dessert to him.
Silver Surfer is the well known herald of Galactus. Norrin Radd offered himself to the herald, instead of his home planet. Galactus made him the Silver Surfer, and he became ruthless servant of Galactus. After arriving to Earth, Surfer found his heart again, and wanted to protect Earth. He rose against to Galactus, and for the punishment Galactus convicted Silver Surfer to Earth for rest of his life. Silver Surfes e is a humane and peace-loving, very philosophical ponder. He is fair but cynical humanity's observer, whose loneliness is almost tracigal.
In Earth X limited series by Alex Ross and Jim Krueger 1997 (14 issues) Galactus is presented in destroyer of eggs of the cosmic entites Celestials. Story suggests that Galactus needs heralds to warn planets to his arrival.
Director Tim Story's movie Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer bases to some of these stories. Doug Jones plays Silver Surfer and Laurence Fisburne is his voice. The Fantastic Four is Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis and Jessica Alba.
