WARNING! Spoilers for What If...? Galactus Transformed Gambit? #1Galactus' role as Marvel's resident World-Eater means that he requires the assistance of a herald to scout out worlds for his consumption. Over the years, he's enlisted a variety of characters to fulfill this vital position, but they've all contributed to the same problem time and time again. Galactus keeps getting betrayed by his heralds, and with each new one he appoints, he neglects to learn this critical lesson.
In the preview for What If…? Galactus Transformed Gambit? #1 by Josh Trujillo, Manuel García, Ceci de la Cruz, and Travis Lanham, Galactus chooses the X-Men's Gambit as his new herald, bestowing the Power Cosmic upon him. Transformed by Galactus' energy, Gambit is meant to aid Galactus' cause, but he decides to make a different call.
Rather than assisting Galactus as intended, Gambit opts to return to Earth and deal with "unfinished business" now that he's been empowered with the means to do so. Gambit's insubordination unveils a glaring issue with many of Galactus' heralds, in that they consistently refuse to adhere to his orders.
Galactus' Heralds All Disobey Him After Being Chosen by the World-Eater
Gambit Immediately Turns Against Galactus Once He Obtains the Power Cosmic
Gambit's background as a thief influences his decision to turn on Galactus, since he isn't keen on listening to authority, as does his heroic history as a Galactus' World-Eater status puts his whims in direct opposition to Marvel's superheroes, so his big mistake here is thinking someone like Gambit would be easily swayed to destroy planets in his name.
Marvel Flips Galactus’ Deadly Reputation With an Ultimate Retcon But There Is a Catch
Galactus is known as "The Devourer of Worlds" in Marvel Comics' prime continuity, but the new Ultimate Universe flips that (with a major catch).
This comic continues a series of What If...? stories that center on Galactus choosing different Marvel characters as his heralds. So far, these tales have repeated the pattern of Galactus' failure to control his heralds. For instance, Galactus appoints the Hulk as his herald in What If…? Galactus Transformed Hulk? #1 by Mat Groom and Lan Medina. Unsurprisingly, the Hulk doesn't obey Galactus' commands for long, and he seeks to take down the cosmic entity himself. These recent examples are far from the only heralds who have disobeyed Galactus in Marvel lore, and it doesn't seem that this cycle will end any time soon.
Every Herald of Galactus in Marvel History Has Defied Him at One Point
Galactus Keeps Spawning His Own Enemies by Recklessly Choosing Heralds
Galactus' issue with heralds betraying him can be traced back to Silver Surfer, who was revealed to have volunteered as a herald with the intention of herald of Galactus to turn his back on him, and he won't be the last. Therefore, Galactus should be much more selective about who he grants the Power Cosmic to if he wants to avoid creating problems for himself.
What If...? Galactus Transformed Gambit? #1 is available January 8th, 2025 from Marvel Comics.
