Galactus, known as the Devourer of Worlds, first appeared in Fantastic Four #48 in 1966, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. Originating from a time before the current universe came into existence, Galactus was originally a mortal named Galan who lived in the previous universe. When that universe collapsed, Galan was transformed into a cosmic entity by the 'Cosmic Power', which granted him god-like abilities and a hunger for energy that manifests as the consumption of planets. Throughout his history in comics, Galactus has been depicted as both a villain and an antihero; he is often misunderstood, acting out of necessity rather than malice. This duality makes him a complex figure, one respected and feared across the cosmos. His encounters with various superhero teams, notably the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, often oscillate between adversarial and collaborative, with heroes sometimes seeking to understand his motives while others fight to protect their worlds from his insatiable hunger. Galactus has also been involved in major crossover events, such as 'Infinity Gauntlet' and 'Annihilation', further enshrining his status as one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe.