In a rare moment of imagination becoming reality, Marvel and DC both decided to answer the question of who would win in a fight between two all-powerful cosmic beings: Marvel’sGalactusand DC’sKrona. During theJLA / Avengerscrossover series by Kurt Busiek and George Pérez,a conflict between Kronaand Grandmaster led to Galactus being drawn into battle.
The battle began with Krona’s desire to unlock the secrets of the universe.With Galactus’s originas a survivor of the previous universe who witnessed creation,Krona demanded Galactus’s knowledge to take for himself. The world-eater refused, deeming Krona a madman - and it’s saying something if the Devourer of Worlds is calling someone else a “madman.”
However, in the midst of their conflict,Krona proved that even Galactus was no match for him, making the constant Green Lantern threat one of the most powerful beings in the multiverse. But this moment surely left fans wondering how Krona was able to defeat a being as powerful as Galactus.
Galactus Is One of Marvel’s Most Powerful Cosmic Beings
First Appearance:Fantastic Four#48 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, was originally known as Galan of the planet Taa, buthis universe was destroyed, and his people were engulfed in the event known as the Big Crunch. He survived, however, bonding with the being known as Eternity and gestating for billions of years in the shell formed by the ship he had tried escaping in. He emerged in the post-Big Bang version of what would become the Marvel Universe.
Galactus' need for sustenance makes him a threat to the universe.
Not only does Galactus emerge witha hunger that can only be satiated by devouring entire worlds,but he is recognized by a Watcher for his destructive nature. He takes part in cosmic battles with primordial and ancient gods and createsheralds such as the Silver Surferto lead him to new worlds to consume. As the physical embodiment of an entire cosmos, the character’s need for sustenance makes him a threat to the universe, although many attempts have been made on his part and byt the heroes of the universe to curb his hunger.
The Green Lantern Villain Krona Seeks “Ultimate Truth”
First Appearance:Green Lantern#40 by John Broome and Gil Kane
Krona is unique in that, like Galactus, he was not born a god-tier being. Instead, he was a scientist from Maltus, the same planet that is home to the Guardians of the Universe, who went on tocreate the Green Lantern Corps. Krona created a machine that pierced the time and space barrier, witnessing the beginning of time but shattering the universe in the process, making the multiverse. This event also caused the Oans to become the Guardians of the Universe.
The current threat to the Green Lantern Corps is just as nefarious as Krona: internal corruption. Check out what’s been going on with Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and the other Lanterns in the Dawn of DC-era seriesGreen Lanternby Jeremy Adams and Xérmanico andGreen Lantern: War Journalby Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Montos, both available now from DC Comics.
The Guardians turned Krona into pure energy and banished him. Although he returned many times to cause trouble, he regained his original form, albeit with unlimited power,after the villain Nekronfreed him. It took the entire Green Lantern Corps to stop him, but he still survived, later becoming the embodiment of Entropy and forcing the new Guardians of the Universe to face him in battle. His obsession led him to begin destroying entire universes to see his dream realized.
The Marvel and DC Universes Collide inJLA / Avengers
Including Two Iconic Villains
Krona’s obsession leadshim to the Marvel Universe, driving the Grandmaster to challenge Krona in a contest of champions, pitting the heroes of the Marvel Universe against the DC heroes. While the teams fought, they were tasked with collecting powerful artifacts from across the two universes. The Grandmaster entices Krona into this contest with the promise to reveal the being who witnessed the Big Bang personally, knowledge that Krona is desperate for. When the Grandmaster’s team wins, Krona strikes him down in a fit of rage and drains knowledge from the Grandmaster, learning that it was Galactus who witnessed this event.
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While defeating and draining Galactus of his knowledge, Grandmaster thought he outwitted the god-like villain by using the artifacts from the game to trap him at a multiversal juncture point. However, Krona survived, using this connection to try to destroy both universes and create a new one. His power was so great he even turned Galactus’ body into his new base of operations, shocking the heroes of both Earths. While Krona is eventually defeated and trapped in a cosmic egg,Galactusproved to be no match forKrona’suniverse-destroying power.
JLA / Avengersis available now from DC and Marvel Comics.
