Are Galactus & Silver Surfer dead? Fantastic Four: First Steps ending explained

by

In the final scenes of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” the Four face off against Galactus who wreaks havoc in New York City. However, the question remains: Where did Galactus go after that encounter, and does he continue to pose a danger to the cosmos?

Since the debut of the initial Fantastic Four trailer, Marvel enthusiasts have harbored a somber forecast: these heroes might face defeat at the hands of Galactus (or even Doctor Doom), which could explain their transition from Earth-828 to Earth-616.

It appears that the conclusion of Thunderbolts supports this idea; indeed, what other reason could there be for them to venture into the mainstream Marvel Cinatic Universe?

Actually, The Fantastic Four: First Steps concludes quite differently. Instead, they manage to triumph over Galactus, yet there could be consequences lurking in the future. Be advised, spoilers follow…

How does The Fantastic Four: First Steps end?

In the conclusion of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” Galactus is transported to the most distant parts of the cosmos. The Silver Surfer, in a valiant move, opposes Galactus and forces him through the portal, ultimately giving her life for this act.

Following their decision to keep young Franklin Richards – endowed with divine abilities – away from Galactus, Mr. Fantastic devises a strategy to transport the entire Earth to a different solar system instead.

Temporarily, it seems as if everything will go smoothly, but unexpectedly, the Silver Surfer swoops in at the last second, damaging all transport portals, leaving the planet stuck and vulnerable to the approach of an approaching, ravenous Galactus.

Reed and his team devise a contingency plan: They intend to lure Franklin towards the remaining teleporter, hoping it will transport Galactus far away, potentially billions of light-years. Initially, Galactus seems to have caught on to their strategy (“You’re quite clever little creatures,” he remarks), but when he grasps Franklin, Sue exerts all her strength to shove him towards the teleporter. In a swift move, Reed snatches the baby before he gets pulled into the portal.

Unfortunately, what has been done so far is insufficient. Galactus somehow manages to escape, but as Johnny prepares to say goodbye to his family and give up his life for Earth’s salvation, the Silver Surfer intervenes, pushing him aside and hurtling towards Galactus instead. Just in the nick of time, they both are teleported away as the bridge closes.

After peace was restored worldwide, life seemed to return to its usual rhythm… that is, until Sue suddenly fell ill and passed away. The energy required to battle cosmic forces left Sue drained, and unfortunately, her heroic actions proved too strenuous for her physical condition.

Surrounded by their tears, Reed carefully lays Franklin on Sue’s chest. Miraculously, he revives her.

In the final moments of the flick, we found ourselves back at The Ted Gilbert Show. However, things took an unexpected turn when he aimed to reveal us as the “Fantastic Five.” Reed and Sue weren’t too keen on that, but just as we were about to step onto the stage, a fresh danger surfaced. With no time to waste, we jumped into the Fantasticar, zoomed off together, and soared away from there instead.

So, what happens to Galactus?

Hey there! It’s quite a pickle I find myself in, reminiscent of Galactus. You see, an unexpected cosmic event has hurled me far beyond the familiar realms of my universe, leaving my ship behind. As of now, I’m stranded without a means to return, and it leaves me wondering if my existence will come to an end without devouring planets for sustenance or traversing through space.

Despite some hints given about Galactus in the movie, there’s still much we don’t know about him. The film suggested his origin somewhat, implying that he was once as small as Reed Richards. It remains to be seen if the Marvel Cinematic Universe will follow the comic book version of his origins more closely (in essence, Galactus was a space traveler who became a cosmic entity after being pulled into a massive collapse and emerging in a new universe as a colossal, world-devouring being).

As a devoted admirer, I ponder if he could harness the Power Cosmic – that cosmic energy derived from consuming planets – for survival and navigation towards a neighboring celestial body. This distant orb would serve as his sanctuary to restore his vigor and exact retribution upon Earth and the Fantastic Four.

Matt Shakman expressed uncertainty when asked about his potential return, stating, “It’s uncertain.” He added, “Given that he’s a cosmic entity, he might appear at any moment. After all, he has been appearing for over 60 years in comic book history.

Is Silver Surfer alive?

Based on news and gossip, it seems that the Silver Surfer is set to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe again, which suggests that she’s still alive – but most likely light-years away from us.

Her primary challenge lies in evading Galactus beyond the portal’s reach. Should she manage to break free beforehand, she might have the opportunity to traverse the cosmos until she finds a secure location – and possibly revisit her home (depicted in flashbacks during her interaction with Johnny).

In an interview with GamesRadar+, Julia Garner expressed her desire to reprise her role, stating, ” frankly, I really enjoyed delving into this world. So if they asked me to return, I’d be all for it – even if they wanted me back tomorrow! Absolutely, that would be a pleasure.

Could we possibly see her return and what kind of movie project might it be? It’s been speculated that she could reappear in a standalone Silver Surfer film. Previously, Garner has hinted at the potential for portraying Norrin Radd, the original character from the comics who goes by the Silver Surfer.

According to our reports, the Silver Surfer Special Presentation is expected to share a similar tone with Werewolf by Night. The storyline will revolve around Norrin Radd as he fulfills his role as Galactus’ Herald across the vast expanse of space. Importantly, during this special presentation, Radd won’t be on Earth and will not engage with any cosmic characters that are already part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Consider the information with some skepticism since it’s from two years ago, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has undergone significant transformations since then. With less successful commercial and critical responses leading to reduced output, a Silver Surfer project might no longer be in development.

Given the anticipated blockbuster performance of the upcoming film (its box office earnings are expected to surpass those of James Gunn’s Superman), this could potentially lead to a comeback for Garner’s Surfer character.

For a comprehensive look at the initial, fleeting appearance of Doctor Doom within the Marvel Cinematic Universe during the post-credit scene, please check out our dedicated article.

Read More

2025-07-24 11:19