Fantastic Four #243
Shall Earth Endure?
On the ruined top floors of the Baxter Building, Frankie Raye learns from Sue Richards that the stone man attacking their teammates is Terrax, herald of Galactus. Realizing that Galactus is actually a real being that exists in the universe sweeps the young woman with awe. Meanwhile at Avengers Mansion, Captain America and the Wasp arrive to learn from their butler Edwin Jarvis that all the auxiliary generators to the mansion have been mysteriously cut off. While they frantically scramble to make sense of what is happening in Manhattan, Jarvis finally notices that there is something wrong with the sky. Indeed there is, as Sue Richards strains to keep a force field around the city visible so that a panic doesn't start when the locals realize that Manhattan is now speeding through space toward the ship carrying Galactus. As it gets ever closer, above the top of the World Trace Center, Reed, Johnny and Ben face off against Terrax. Terrax offers the three male members of the Fantastic Four an ultimatum: free him from his bondage to Galactus or the entire island of Manhattan will be destroyed and Galactus will be set to feed the Earth. With no other choice, the trio of heroes speed off toward the ship carrying Galactus.
Onboard, Galactus is getting dangerously weak after his various trials and must feed soon. In order to preserve his strength, Galactus uses the last bit of energy stored upon his vessel to revitalize himself temporarily. Grimly, Galactus realizes that he must be the victor in the coming battle or face his demise. Elsewhere on the ship, the Fantastic Four make their way to Galactus. Along the way, Reed reminds Ben that Galactus can now feed upon the Earth after he was lifted from his promise in exchange for helping the Fantastic Four defeat the Sphinx. When they finally find Galactus they inform him how Terrax has taken the entire island of Manhattan hostage in order to force the Fantastic Four into bargaining with Galactus to release Terrax as his herald. Before Reed can make a proposal as to how to deal with the issue, Terrax grows impatient with the lack of battle, and decides to face Galactus alone. Having had enough of his errant herald, Galactus unleashes his power, teleporting Manhattan and everyone on it back to Earth. Back at the Baxter Building, Sue collapses after straining herself to keep the force field visible. Frankie is at a loss as to how to deal with the situation, still in awe over Galactus.
While at the top of the World Trade Center, Terrax unleashes a furious attack on his master. Having had enough of Terrax, Galactus ends the charade by stripping the rebellious herald of the Power Cosmic within him and send him falling into a trash-strewn alley below. As weak as ever, Galactus has no choice but to feed on the planet Earth in order to save himself and begins constructing the device that will allow him to consume the planet. When the device is completely constructed on top of the WTC, Reed begs Galactus to stop. His pleas go unheard, but before Galactus can activate the device that will drain Earth's life energies, he is struck by a bolt of lightning summoned by the Asgardian thunder god Thor. He is joined in the attack by his fellow Avengers: Iron Man, Captain America, and the Wasp. The four additional heroes join the battle and are able to stagger the ever-weakening Galactus. The battle also draws Spider-Man and Daredevil, who feel that Galactus is way out of their class and resign to the fact that all they can do is sit back and watch.
The battle continues to go in the heroes favor as Doctor Strange arrives and uses the Images of Ikon to make Galactus see the ghosts of all he is killed. Horrified, Galactus begins to scream as Reed lands the final blow that sends Galactus toppling. With Galactus down for the count, Reed notes how the world devourer does not have much time left, and shocks everyone gathered when he tells them that they must work together to save Galactus.
Recurring Characters
Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch, Thing), Frankie Raye, Avengers (Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Wasp), Doctor Strange, Galactus, Terrax, Edwin Jarvis, J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Daredevil, Spider-Man
Continuity Notes
Frankie's initial disbelief that Galactus was a hoax is not surprising, as Marvel TV: Galactus - The Real Story #1 point out, there are is an entire section of society that believes that the Fantastic Four's battle with Galactus (seen in Fantastic Four #48-50) was nothing more than a publicity-seeking hoax, among other wild and crazy conspiracy theories.
The appearance of the Twin Towers at the site of the World Trade Center should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616. The Twin Towers were destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.
Terrax mentions how the Fantastic Four forced him into being a Herald of Galactus. This happened in Fantastic Four #211.
Galactus mentions his recent tribulations that have left him so weak. They were in Dazzler #10-11 where he obtained the aid of the mutant Dazzler to recover an errant Terrax and Rom #26-27 where his attempts to consume the planet Galador were thwarted by Rom and his Spaceknights.
Reed mentions the promise that Galactus made to never consume the Earth and how he was released from that promise recently. Galactus first promised not to consume the Earth after he was defeated by the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four #48-50. However, Reed forfeited that promise when he obtained the aid of Galactus to stop the Sphinx in Fantastic Four #212-213.
