The Devourer of Worlds... The World Eater... The Great Destroyer... the iconic Marvel villain called Galactus is known by countless names across the universe, but one that may surprise many is... Father! That's right, in one Marvel reality, Galactus begets a daughter - through a complex plot involving a cosmic tapeworm named - Gali, or Galacta, who fights back against her inherited hunger to become a true hero.
Now, in a gorgeous variant cover by acclaimed artist Peach Momoko promoting the Marvel Rivals video game, Galacta has chosen a shocking Marvel hero to be her first official Herald... the beloved Land Shark called Jeff!
Marvel Rivals is a highly anticipated team-based PvP shooter game - a collaboration between Marvel Games and NetEase Games - that is absolutely bursting with epic playable characters, including the fan-favorite Galacta. Momoko's gorgeous variant cover, revealed by Marvel and which will grace Fantastic Four #28, features Galacta among the stars, cuddling up with her confoundingly adorable new Herald, Jeff, who also appears to have been upgraded to cosmic proportions.
Jeff The Land Shark Is Used To Going Through Wild Adventures
Galacta is going to have her work cut out for her...
The iconic Galacta was introduced in Marvel Assistant-Sized Spectacular #2, debuting as Gali - or "The World Eater's Daughter" - a teenage version of Galactus using the Power Cosmic to hide on Earth as a human, protecting the planet from extraterrestrial threats. Hailing from Earth-610102, Gali is able to control the powerful hunger she inherited from her father, choosing to devour enemies of Earth instead of destroying the planet itself. Marvel Assistant-Sized Spectacular ended in a fan vote, deciding whose short story would be expanded on in a limited series, and unsurprisingly, Gali won the vote, leading to her debut series Galacta.
Originally, series editor Jordan D. White intended for Galacta to be a part of the main Earth-616 universe, but this idea was shot down by Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, leading to Gali's status as an inhabitant of Earth-610102.
While many fans might not know about Galacta - most heard about her when it was announced she would appear in Marvel Rivals - the beloved Jeff the Land Shark is one of Marvel's most famous animal characters. Debuting in 2019's West Coast Avengers (Vol. 3) #7, Jeffrey was initially saved by Gwenpool after the team fought a group of Land Sharks created by B.R.O.D.O.K., adopting Jeff as a mascot for their Avengers squad. Since then Jeff has had countless adventures with heroes like Elsa Bloodstone, Deadpool, and Kate Bishop, even bonding with a symbiote for some time. Jeffrey is more than accustomed to taking part in ridiculous adventures with Marvel heroes and villains, meaning he will be able to handle anything Galacta throws at him!
Galacta And Jeff Could Become Earth's Greatest Defenders
If only Gali could travel to Earth-616...
Galacta has not yet appointed a Herald to work with her, mainly because she has not had the need for one... but if she managed to somehow enter Earth-616, she would definitely need a guide for her new universe. Gali was last seen pregnant - yes, with her own Cosmic Tapeworm - devouring a star with the Shard of Ire in it, in 2024's Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic #94, hinting that Galacta could enter main Marvel canon in the near future. Jeff would be the perfect Herald for Galacta, helping the young cosmic entity control her hunger and adjust to life in a new reality. Plus, it would be truly iconic to see Jeffrey with the Power Cosmic...
While there is no confirmation from Marvel of if, or when, the daughter of Galactus may travel to the Earth-616 universe, but if Galacta ever does find a way into Marvel's main reality, hopefully she will choose the fan-favorite Jeff the Land Shark to be her adorable, cuddly Herald.
Fantastic Four #28 from Marvel Comics debuts on January 22nd, 2025.
Source: Marvel Entertainment
