Synopsis
Last issue the Elders Of The Universe tried to kill Galactus with the 6 Soul Gems, expecting the universe to end and themselves to take his place in the next universe. But Big G's current Herald Nova (Frankie Raye) and ex-Herald Silver Surfer foiled the plan. Some of the Elders fell with the Gems into a black hole, but G saved 5 of them plus his Heralds.
Now he holds the remaining EOTU (Champion, Collector, Gardener, Grandmaster and Runner) to face his wrath. Champion and Runner recall how they failed to defeat Surfer (#1 and #3) so they should have know they didn't stand a chance against Galactus. Grandmaster typically just thinks of it as a gamble lost. Collector says he lived for his trophies not for games, but Gardener points out that he lost to the Avengers several times (#28,51,119 and #172-175 of their original series). G says they should have thought of that before they began their foolish plan and now he will end their long lives. But Grandmaster reminds all that he beat Death in a contest (West Coast Av Annual #2 and Av An #16) and won immortality for them rather than just long life. Galactus counters that he is a 3rd force equal to Death and Eternity. And with that he consumes the 5 Elders.
Now he comments to his Heralds that 3 more of the conspirators fell into the black hole, and Surfer got rid of the Obliterator (#6). This only leaves the Contemplator who escaped because he was only astrally present. (He seems to have discounted Ego the Living Planet whose only role was as a meeting place for the EOTU (#4).) He now orders Nova to go and bring the errant Elder to him and asks Norrin Radd to accompany his rookie Herald to help her (he at least knows where that Elder was in #8). Norrin says he only got involved to rescue his 2 loves Shalla-Bal and Mantis who the Elders had kidnapped. He saved 1 but not the other, and so he sought and gained revenge. They bicker about their past relationship even though Nova declares that she doesn't *want* the help of a Herald who betrayed his master. But SS agrees if Big G will extend his promise to never menace Earth again (Fantastic Four #50) to also spare Radd's homeworld (and home of Shalla-Bal) Zenn-La. G readily agrees, and this bolsters Norrin's suspicion that he actually *cares* for his new servant. G says he consumed enough energy from 6 worlds (last issue) and the Elders to keep him going while they're gone.
The Heralds fly off, but Silver Surfer makes them hide behind a nearby planet. He suspects that Galactus had another reason to want to be alone. They see him standing on his large spherical spaceship as something even larger forms in the space before him. He expands and takes on the form of a humanoid sun to greet his 'brother' Eternity in the form of a humanoid cosmos. The Big E says he's come to apologise to Galan for the way he handled this. He sensed some time ago that the Elders intended to defeat Death (presumably before WCA An #2 & Av An #16) then G then himself. His role is not to act so he just *thought* about the problem and his thoughts had consequences. The Celestial Jemiah The Analyser had turned up to stand over the capital of Skrull Emperor Kylor. The Skrulls had recently lost their shape-changing ability (Av An #14/FF An #19) and were spooked into pre-emptively starting a new war against the Kree. This war threatened Zenn-La and set Silver Surfer against the Kree (#7) and sent him to Kree-Lar to confront the Supreme Intelligence and take his Soul Gem (#8), stopping the EOTG from gaining all 6 Soul Gems to use against Galactus and Eternity himself. He admits that SS was a weak link in the chain but it all worked in the end. Then the cosmic beings separate and G returns to his giant humanoid form.
Nova is stunned by how much larger her master is in the scheme of things than she had thought. Norrin Radd resents being used as a pawn again, and this time it cost him his love Mantis. Remembering that Frankie Raye was an associate of the Fantastic Four before she became a Herald he recalls the last time he was with them (#1 when the team was Invisible Woman, Mr Fantastic, Thing and She-Hulk instead of Human Torch). And (we get a peek at Black Panther visiting the almost completely different current team of Crystal, Human Torch, Thing and She-Thing.)
We leave them for some other scenes.
On Kree-Lar Chief Coordinator Nenora has taken 'temporary' control of the Kree Empire after the Supreme Intelligence lost his mind (in #8 after Surfer took his Soul Gem). She grants an audience with the ambassador from Waziliah and tells her guards to leave the room so they can converse as what we know they both are - Skrull spies. In fact they kiss because they are lovers, or at least they were before the Skrulls lost the power to shapeshift leaving them stuck in their disguises. Nenora offers Aptak some wine, but it's poison which kills her. She's determined to keep on ruling the Empire and intends to dispose of anyone who knows her real identity.
Back on top of his spaceship Galactus has got a bit of stomach ache. But behind him Death isn't happy.
Characters:
Plus: Champion, Elders Of The Universe, Nenora, Nova (
Frankie Raye), Runner.