Contains spoilers for X-Men Red #4!
The longtime Avenger and King of Wakanda, T'Challa the Galactus.
Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, is a being that exists from the last iteration of the universe, surviving its destruction and becoming a roaming monstrosity that must consume the life energy of planets to quell his hunger. Known for keeping a "herald" to scout ahead for viable planets - most famously the Silver Surfer - Galactus is a terrible force of nature in the universe. Now that T'Challa's new empire makes him responsible for multiple planets' safety, he may need to confront the Devourer of Worlds in the near future.
X-Men Red #4 - written by Al Ewing with art by Juann Cabal, Andres Genolet, and Michael Sta. Maria - focuses in part on the X-Men leader Storm gathering with representatives from multiple galactic empires to discuss the recent assassination of Majestrix Xandra of the Shi'ar. During this meeting she must interact with her ex-husband T'Challa, a previously loving relationship that was recently soured once again upon the reveal that Black Panther had left a sleeper agent on Krakoa to spy on the mutants. When confronting T'Challa about this betrayal, Ororo mentions she was never looking to steal state secrets such as his "Galactus Protocols," implying that Black Panther has an entire plan for if he ever must go against the cosmic entity
T'Challa is a brilliant strategist and warrior who most likely has several plans in place to defeat Galactus, either with straight-up weapons or by manipulating the being, which is how Galactus is typically defeated by heroes like the Fantastic Four. The question of whether or not Earth's most advanced country, Wakanda, could take on the Eater of Worlds is an interesting one, but given T'Challa's recent reveal that he built a weapon capable of taking down the Phoenix Force (one he ultimately unleashed against the King in Black), it makes sense that he and his top scientists have also invented a Galactus-destroying armory.
In The Ultimates, also written by Ewing, T'Challa used his superior intellect to distract and outmaneuver Galactus while the rest of the Ultimates team arrived, trapping the Devourer of Worlds into his techology "Birth Changer," turning Galactus into the Lifebringer. Black Panthers across the Multiverse have been shown to be able to defeat Galactus, so it is nigh time that the Earth-616 version of T'Challa lives up to his cosmic potential, and his dedication to keeping the galaxy safe, by enacting his Galactus Protocols the next time the devourer god threatens one of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda's planets.
Regardless of how the Black Panther would defeat the Devourer of Worlds, this is a battle that Marvel 100% needs to make happen after this tease, especially given T'Challa's recent increased responsibility to the galaxy as a whole. Interestingly, Black Panther has shown in the past that he is able to take down Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer, in a hand-to-hand duel, which is shocking given the cosmic abilities of Galactus' most famous Herald, so no one should be surprised that he could also take Radd's master. Marvel should do anything it can to pit Black Panther against the Devourer of Worlds, so that fans can see what his undoubtedly brilliant "Galactus Protocols" actually involve.
X-Men Red #4 is available now from Marvel Comics.
