Synopsis
Ultimates² (2017 series) #8 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
Golden Galactus the Lifebringer narrates the 'previously' page this time. Eternity (a multiversal version that incorporates the Eternity's of each universe) personified the 7th Multiverse and now also its continuation in the 8th Multiverse (since the Secret Wars event). (Since SW) he's been chained by the 1st Firmament (that preceded all multiverses) in order to corrupt and absorb him. Galactus is (Galan) the last survivor of the 6th Multiverse. He is the Lifebringer and he seeks allies to fight the 1F. But he used to be the Devourer and in that state he made a terrible enemy.
Galactus now lies recuperating in the pocket universe created by the Molecule Man. And he sleeps and dreams of the end of his earlier life (as depicted in #2 of the previous series, and many earlier versions). As his universe was dying Galan and his companions set course for the Ultraflow to break through to Neutra-Space to discover the ultimate secret. After only he survived he was approached by the Sentience Of The 6th Multiverse, who in this dream appears to be Conner Sims, the dead Anti-Man. G emerges from the dream renewed and filled with purpose by Conner who sacrificed himself to save him (from the 1F's minion Logos last issue).
He decides to leave the pocket reality which he had named Taa III (after Galan's birth planet and Galactus' worldship) by a dimensional door which takes him to a barren planet. He's still reduced in power and size and treads lightly. But still Ego the Living Planet recognises his enemy. He recalls how Galactus tried to consume him (in Thor #160-161). Then in Th#226-228 he sent Thor, Hercules and Firelord against him before attaching huge engines to him to exile him to the void between galaxies. And he's not forgiven him.
The surface of the Living Planet forms many arms which try to drag weakened Galactus underground, but he dispels them with a blast from his body. He apologises for the pain that he caused Ego because he no longer wishes him harm. And with his new constructive power he creates a tunnel (which takes him underground anyway). Still unconvinced Ego utters the classic (Dracula) line "Enter freely and of your own will" ... and be swallowed up. The walls of the tunnel extrude creatures which act as antibodies to counter dangerous intrusions. Galan reasons that these are an autonomic response not under Ego's conscious control and he persuades them he's not a threat, and Ego's commands make no difference. The LP is getting worried now and tries to negotiate with his invader.
Not-so-big G reaches the brain at the centre of the planet and agrees to negotiate, but Ego panics because his brain is vulnerable. He's not convinced by Galactus' shiny new gold armour and *knows* he's just the same underneath. G removes his helmet to face him as Galan, and sheds the rest of his gold armour to reveal his original (purple) Galan clothes. He introduces himself as Galan of Taa who lived and died at the end of the 6th Multiverse. And Ego manifests the 'ghost' of *his* former being, Egros, a scientist like Galan. He tells how the Stranger caused his home star to go nova as an experiment. Egros tried to save his people in bunkers called Project Worldcore but they all died and Egros 'became' them and all of the world to be Ego the Living Planet.
Galan and Egros realise they share a similar history, and now that Galactus has changed they need no longer be enemies. Instead G invites Ego to be his 'brother' and a brother to Eternity who needs them. But now he lets his Lifebringer power flow into Ego and cause the planet to flower with life again. And Ego the planet grows himself a body to become Ego-Prime (but also becomes smaller?). And Galan leads him through the dimensional door to join the rest of his Eternity Watch (the Infinaut, the Shaper's ghost and the Psi-Hawk).
There's an epilogue to this issue as Maker, the evil Reed Richards of the Ultimate Universe and survivor of the death of that universe during the Secret Wars event, has a proposal for the High Evolutionary. Maker has been working on evolving the multiverse, a job he claims he was given by the Molecule Man. He thinks HE would like to help, and HE agrees.
CharactersGood (or All)Plus: Infinaut, Psi-Hawk.
