Galactus chose Tyros of the planet Birj to become his herald because he was utterly devoid of morals. Unfortunately, Tyros wasn’t devoid of ambition and, after gaining power of earth from Galactus and becoming Terrax (during IN SEARCH OF GALACTUS, 1979-1980), he jacked in his new job to become a tyrant again.
Last time we saw Klaw, he was discorporated and sucked into his own sound converter thanks to the Aquarian. Now he’s back! And it’s all thanks to the cleaner at Project PEGASUS. But what does that have to do with Galactus and how do these events play into the impending SECRET WARS (1984-1985)?
Aside from the Fantastic Four, this storyline also features Rom who only recently returned to his home planet Galador and freed it from the Prime Director‘s evil half, Mentus. He also redeemed the demented Terminator who had been placed Rom’s human body with cyborg parts matching Rom. Dazzler also makes an appearance, changing the direction of Klaw’s life and becoming an unlikely love interest for the Devourer of Worlds…
Related Events: Each story can be read separately but, all together, tell the larger story of Galactus’ issues with his new Herald; the tie-in relates more to Dazzler’s run-in with Klaw than Galactus’ problems with Terrax.
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- IN SEARCH OF GALACTUS (1979-1980) – Galactus gains a new Herald
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers; issues in bold are ‘must-reads’:
- Marvel Two-in-One Annual #6 (tie-in)
- Dazzler #9-11
- Rom #26-27
- Fantastic Four #242-244
| Must Read | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| Marvel Two-in-One Annual #6 (tie-in) The Thing and Wyatt Wingfoot take a trip to the Savage Land to help the American Eagle apprehend the men who destroyed his people’s land. Together with Ka-Zar, the group take down Klaw and American Eagle’s brother. The Thing takes Klaw back to Project PEGASUS… 1st appearance: American Eagle/Jason Strongbow | |
| ✔ | Dazzler #9 Project PEGASUS threaten to reveal Dazzler‘s mutant nature to the public to force her to stay at the facility so they can run tests on her. Convinced Klaw is as much a victim as she is, Dazzler breaks him out. Realising her mistake, she absorbs his sound assault only to end up absorbing his entire solid-sound body! Dazzler blasts her way out of PEGASUS and falls unconscious… |
| ✔ | Dazzler #10 Galactus kidnaps the amped up Dazzler and takes her aboard his fancy spaceship where she blasts him with all her newfound might. Galactus coats Dazzler in invisible energy and sends her to retrieve his missing herald, Terrax the Tamer, from the black hole he’s hiding in. Meanwhile, on Earth, everyone’s wondering where Dazzler’s gotten to… |
| ✔ | Dazzler #11 Dazzler’s infinite light projection powers mark her as the only being who can enter a black hole without getting squished. She defeats Terrax with laser blasts and Galactus (having fallen a little in love with Dazzler) guides her back. She convinces Galactus to give Terrax another chance before she’s returned to Earth. Terrax locates Galador as a viable world for consumption… |
| Must Read | Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| Rom #26 Galactus arrives on Galador, ready for lunch as Terrax the Tamer starts cutting into the Spaceknights who call it home. Galactus absorbs the life force of the Terminator, ending Rom‘s chance to regain his humanity. Rom pleads with Galactus to spare Galador, offering him Wraithworld in the Dark Nebula as an alternative. Back on Earth, Dire Wraiths take over the town of Clairton, West Virginia… 1st appearance: Javelin/Darin | |
| Rom #27 Rom and a band of Spaceknights lead Galactus to Wraithworld, only for the planet to try to consume him right back. He tries to consume the Dark Nebula’s black sun instead, only to end up with battered armour and a leg like a cloud. Realising Rom’s tricked him, Galactus rehomes Galador somewhere in space where Rom can’t find it. Laughing, Galactus leaves hungry as the Spaceknights are now stranded in the void with no idea where their home planet is. | |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #242 Terrax lands on Earth, blows the top two floors off the Baxter Building, creates an invisible energy cocoon around Manhattan island and lifts it into space. While the Invisible Girl makes the cocoon visible to keep the Manhattanites calm, Mister Fantastic, the Human Torch and the Thing confront Terrax on top of the World Trade Centre. to save Manhattan, Terrax orders the Fantastic Four to kill Galactus. Back at the decimated Baxter Building, Frankie Raye‘s tiny mind tries to deal with the existence of a being like Galactus. She heads indoors to do some research… |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #243 Galactus restores Manhattan and strips Terrax of his cosmic powers, letting him fall to Earth from space. To avoid dying of hunger, Galactus must consume Earth. The FF, Avengers and Doctor Strange team-up to tackle Galactus when he decides to consume Earth. Strange’s magic confuses Galactus, allowing Mister Fantastic to launch the Thing at him, making Galactus fall. It looks as though Galactus will die, but Mister Fantastic demands the heroes save his life… |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #244 Five days later, a frazzled Human Torch recounts how Mister Fantastic and Iron Man built a machine powered by Thor to feed Galactus. Galactus accepts Frankie Raye’s offer to become his new herald, transforming her into Nova. A couple of months later, construction on the top floors of the Baxter Building continues with Mister Fantastic buying the building. Two days after that, young Franklin Richards begins to show signs that his mutant powers have returned… New identity: Frankie Raye as Nova |
See how this story fits into the wider Marvel Universe with these reading orders:
- FANTASTIC FOUR, 1981-1984 – Back to Basics
- ROM, 1979-1994 – Spaceknight of Galador
- X-MEN FAMILY, 1982-1984 – From Broodworld to Battleworld
| Must Read | Issues & Fallout | Event / Crossover |
| Dazzler #12 (1982) Dazzler gets back to protecting Harry S Osgood from Techmaster; Osgood saves Techmaster’s life, ending their dispute. | ||
| ✔ | Rom #28 (1982) Starshine transports herself and Rom to Earth while the Spaceknights begin their search for Galador; Starshine is killed by the Clairton Dire Wraiths; Rom frees Clairton from the Wraiths. | |
| ✔ | Dazzler #13 (1982) Quasar vouches for Dazzler in court when she’s accused of murdering Klaw; Paul Jansen breaks up with Dazzler because they don’t seem to spend time together. | |
| ✔ | Dazzler #18-19 (1982) Mister Fantastic uses the research carried out by Project PEGASUS on Dazzler to weaponise a ‘tape deck’ for her, which she uses against the Absorbing Man. | |
| Rom #39-40 (1983) Doctor Dredd merges Brandy Clark with the Starshine armour. | ||
| Fantastic Four #245 (1982) Franklin Richards briefly transforms himself into an adult before reverting back while putting in blockers to prevent his abilities from returning until he’s an adult; while he’s an adult, Franklin returns the Thing to his rocky form; the Barbara Walker interview with the Invisible Girl goes on air. | ||
| ✔ | What If? #33 (1982) An alternate reality (Earth-8207) is revealed in which Galactus kills Terrax and makes Dazzler his new herald. | |
| Fantastic Four #246 (1982) The Fantastic Four confront Doctor Doom again when the Doombot restores his mind to his body and they help him reclaim Latveria. | TOO MANY DOOMS | |
| Dazzler #21 (1982) Quasar attends one of Dazzler’s live shows; Dazzler finally reconciles with her father, Carter Blaire; Carter reveals the real reason Dazzler’s mother left (she was addicted to drugs, hence his reaction to finding her strung out on the sofa). | ||
| ✔ | Uncanny X-Men #167 (1983) Lilandra Neramani of the Shi’ar warns Mister Fantastic that there will be repercussions if Galactus consumes any inhabited worlds. | THE BROOD SAGA |
| Marvel Team-Up #123 (1982) Solarr escapes from Project PEGASUS and is recaptured by Spider-Man and Daredevil. | ||
| ✔ | Super-Villain Classics #1 (1983) Galactus recounts his origins. | THE TRIAL OF REED RICHARDS |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #257 (1983) Nova leads Galactus to the inhabited Skrull world, Tarnax IV; HUBERT is repaired by Mister Fantastic. | ANNIHILATION GAMBIT THE TRIAL OF REED RICHARDS |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #259-260 (1983) Doctor Doom is revealed to have acquired Tyros (aka, Terrax without his cosmic powers); Doom powers him up to use against the Fantastic Four; the Silver Surfer seemingly kills Tyros. Fantastic Four #261-262 (1983-1984) Mister Fantastic stands trial in front of the Galactic Council for saving Galactus’ life; Eternity reveals the true reason for the existence of Galactus to everyone gathered, clearing Mister Fantastic’s name. | THE TRIAL OF REED RICHARDS |
| Dazzler #32 (1984) It’s revealed that Dazzler’s sound absorption powers enable her to absorb Black Bolt‘s destructive scream. | ||
| ✔ | Secret Wars #6 (1984) The energy Dazzler blasted at Galactus is revealed to have been Klaw himself; Klaw is released from Galactus’ home and given form again by Doctor Doom, though he’s been driven mad. Secret Wars #9 (1985) Mister Fantastic convinces Earth’s heroes to allow Galactus to consume Battleworld so the Beyonder can end his hunger; Mister Fantastic changes his mind, in favour of seeing his wife, Franklin and their unborn child. | SECRET WARS |
| Power Man and Iron Fist #113 (1985) Solarr is freed from his cell once again, but is killed by the demon/dark god Bres. |
| Must Read | Issues & Fallout | Event / Crossover |
| Rom Annual #3 (1984) Brandy Clark is separated from the Starshine armour. Rom #64-65 (1985) Rom thwarts the Dire Wraiths’ attempt to merge Wraithworld with planet Earth. | WRAITH WAR | |
| Fantastic Four #278-279 (1985) Kristoff Vernard (believing himself to be Doctor Doom) launches the Baxter Building into space, destroying it completely. | ||
| Rom #73-75 (1985) The Spaceknights find Galador; Rom’s humanity is restored. | STRANGERS IN PARADISE | |
| ✔ | Daredevil #237 (1986) Klaw’s sanity is restored. | |
| ✔ | New Warriors #1 (1990) A Genetech experiment inadvertently brings Tyros back as Terrax. | |
| ✔ | Quasar #6 (1990) Quasar and Klaw have a rematch. | ACTS OF VENGEANCE |
| ✔ | What If? #15 (1990) Uatu the Watcher reveals an alternate universe (Earth-907) in which Mister Fantastic is executed by the Galactic Council at the end of his trial. | |
| ✔ | Silver Surfer #70-75 (1992) Terrax teams up with Nova, the Silver Surfer and other former heralds when Galactus empowers a psychotic herald called Morg; Morg kills Nova. | |
| Galactus the Devourer #1-6 (1999-2000) When Galactus only became capable of consuming sentient worlds, Mister Fantastic is among those who bring about his death. | ||
| Fantastic Four #49 (2002) Franklin Richards resurrects Galactus when his absence allows the existence of the destructive Abraxas. | THE RESURRECTION OF GALACTUS | |
| Thanos #11 (2004) It’s revealed that the Silver Surfer wasn’t Galactus’ first herald; the Fallen One acted as herald before the Surfer. | ||
| ✔ | Thunderbolts #112-115 (2007) American Eagle gets a modern makeover and takes on the Thunderbolts. | |
| ✔ | Heralds #1-5 (2010) Frankie Raye’s spirit returns to Earth and is reborn in the human form of Frances Hyatt, becoming Nova once again. |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-in-One vol.7 | Marvel Two-in-One Annual #6 |
| Dazzler Omnibus Marvel Masterworks: Dazzler vol.1 | Dazzler #9-11 |
| Rom: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus vol.1 | Rom #26-27 |
| Fantastic Four: Behold… Galactus Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus vol.1 Fantastic Four: The Trial of Galactus Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne vol.2 Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four vol.22 | Fantastic Four #242-244 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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