"The Galactus Trilogy" is a 1966 three-issue comic book story arc that appeared in Fantastic Four #48–50.

Written, co-plotted and drawn by Jack Kirby with editor Stan Lee for Marvel Comics, it introduced the characters Galactus and the Silver Surfer.

[1] In 1966, nearly five years after launching Marvel Comics' flagship superhero title, Fantastic Four, Kirby and Lee collaborated on an antagonist designed to break from the era's archetypal mold of supervillains, and instead be a being of god-like stature and power.

[2] As Lee recalled in 1993, Galactus was simply another in a long line of super-villains whom we loved creating.

"[5] Writer Mike Conroy expanded on Lee and Kirby's explanation: "In five short years from the launch of the Fantastic Four, the Lee/Kirby duo...had introduced a whole host of alien races or their representatives...there were the Skrulls, the Watcher and the Stranger, all of whom Lee and Kirby used in the foundations of the universe they were constructing, one where all things were possible but only if they did not flout the 'natural laws' of this cosmology.

It was pure soap opera but on a cosmic scale, and Galactus epitomized its epic sweep.

[7][8][9] It culminated in Fantastic Four #50 (May 1966), which featured the Silver Surfer interceding on behalf of humankind against Galactus.

He explains that he is responsible for the atmospheric disturbances, for he has been attempting to conceal Earth's existence from the attention of the Silver Surfer.

He further explains that the Surfer is the advance scout of Galactus, a powerful cosmic being that consumes the elemental energies of entire worlds, leaving them as little more than dried, lifeless husks.

The giant Galactus exits the ship and declares his intention to consume the entire world.

When the Fantastic Four begin attacking Galactus' almost completed device, the planet-eater sends his cyborg Punisher to keep them out of his way while he repairs it.

Making use of this distraction and delay, the Watcher boosts Johnny's powers so that he may travel to Galactus' planet and retrieve the weapon they need to defeat the world-devourer.

The Silver Surfer arrives to attack his former master, giving Johnny the time he needs to return from Galactus' planet with the Ultimate Nullifier.