Marvel Can Set Up Galactus & Silver Surfer in 2020

Galactus and Silver Surfer are an essential part of the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe, but where will they fit into the MCU? Marvel’s Eternals can hold the key. The life force of the Eternals could be linked to the energy source that powers Galactus and all his heralds: the Power Cosmic.

Galactus and Silver Surfer’s first and only live-action appearance came in Fox’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which was released in 2007. The two have never been used in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, since both were tied up with Fox’s Fantastic Four rights. The recent Fox-Disney deal restored the rights to Fantastic Four and the X-Men to Marvel, which finally allowed Marvel to have most of its heroes back under one roof. The relaunch of the Fantastic Four and the X-Men is reportedly being overseen by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, and it was confirmed at SDCC 2019 that a Fantastic Four movie is in development.

While it may be a while before Fantastic Four — or any other project associated with Marvel’s new IP — will be released, Marvel can go ahead with laying the groundwork for some of these new characters. Marvel can use its existing characters and concepts to set up their introduction. One way to accomplish this is through Eternals, a film that will dive deep into the history of the MCU by telling the story of an ancient race of alien immortals. A race as old and expansive as the Eternals could share numerous connections to the wider MCU. Here’s how Eternals can set up Galactus and Silver Surfer.

Eternals Are Fueled By Cosmic Energy

The Eternals in Marvel Comics are a super-powered, immortal offshoot of the human race created by the Celestials. The Eternals are fueled by cosmic energy, which is the source of their power. They received it thousands of years ago when one of their ancestors had an accident while experimenting with cosmic energy. An explosion of cosmic power altered their DNA, and every Eternal since has possessed cosmic powers. It’s what gives them their immortality. Without it, the Eternals wouldn’t have lived for thousands of years.

Their cosmic energy gives them access to a vast array of powers, including superhuman strength, manipulation of matter, telepathy, and more. They can channel it to improve their powers, or even grant themselves new ones. In short, cosmic energy is the lifeblood of the Eternals, and is what makes them so unique to other Marvel races.

Marvel’s Power Cosmic Explained

The Eternals’ cosmic energy isn’t so different from another energy source in Marvel Comics: The Power Cosmic. The Power Cosmic belongs to the Devourer of Worlds, Galactus. Thanks to this power, Galactus is nearly omnipotent and is considered in Marvel Comics to be “the most awesome living entity in the cosmos“. The extent of its power can’t be measured, which means that Galactus can achieve almost anything he wants, which usually involves draining the energy from planets and stars.

Galactus doesn’t keep this power to himself. He shares it with others and declares them to be his “Heralds”, super-powered scouts tasked with finding new planets for Galactus to feed on. The most notable Herald of Galactus is of course the Silver Surfer. Originally, Silver Surfer was an alien named Norrin Radd whose planet was threatened by the coming of Galactus. To save his civilization, Norrin agreed to accept the Power Cosmic from Galactus and become his new Herald. The Silver Surfer is easily one of Marvel’s most formidable heroes, despite only possessing only a fraction of the Power Cosmic. How much a small dose of the Power Cosmic can affect someone is a testament of how extraordinary it truly is.

Galactus Can Be A Celestial In The MCU

Galactus is deeply involved in some of Marvel’s biggest stories in the comics, including ones that have already been adapted to the MCU, like Infinity Gauntlet. However, Galactus is such a vital part of the Marvel Universe that there’s still so much that the MCU can do with the character, and it seems like a safe bet that Marvel will look to do something with Galactus at some point down the line, whether it be in Fantastic Four, or some other cosmic movie.

How will Marvel adapt Galactus to the MCU? As a giant, powerful entity that wanders the cosmos, it will be interesting to see how Marvel brings him to the big screen. One way is to associate him with an existing Marvel race, the Celestials. The god-like beings share Galactus’ mysterious nature and are similar in both stature and power level. Making Galactus a member of the Celestials could be the simplest way for Marvel to use the character. If so, Marvel Studios could drop a vague, indirect reference to Galactus in Eternals.

Silver Surfer Can Have The Same Power Source As The Eternals

The Eternals are among Marvel’s most powerful superheroes, which is a very small category that also includes Silver Surfer. Another trait they share is their reliance on cosmic energy. But, that being said, it’s not the same cosmic energy. The Eternals don’t have the Power Cosmic, but that could change in the MCU, if Marvel Studios wishes to link their origins together.

This connection is something that could be followed up on in a future MCU movie. If and when Marvel Studios is ready to dive into Silver Surfer and Galactus, the foundations for these characters will already have been built. It could be explained that one of the Celestials, Galactus, broke away from the other members of his kind and began consuming worlds. Along the way, he could meet Norrin Radd and choose to impart onto him the Power Cosmic, the same power that flows through the veins of the Eternals. This moment would give birth to the Sentinel of the Spaceways, Silver Surfer. Linking the Eternals’ power source to the same energy that fuels Silver Surfer would provide Eternals with a significant connection to an iconic Marvel hero.

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