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Quote1 To wield the Power Cosmic is to be in touch with every other living thing at once. It is to recognize that we aren't alone in the Universe... we alone are the Universe. We are the cosmos coming to know itself, to love itself... and when you witness that for even the briefest of moments, you will see... there is nothing more beautiful. Quote2
Silver Surfer[src]

The Power Cosmic is a source of unlimited cosmic energy primarily wielded by the godlike cosmic being Galactus and his Heralds.[2]

Properties

Galactus can employ the available Power Cosmic within him to produce nearly any effect he desires, including but not limited to energy absorption and projection, size alteration, the molecular restructuring and transmutation of matter, the teleportation of objects up to entire galaxies across space and time and the creation of interdimensional portals, the creation of force fields, telepathy, telekinesis, and cosmic awareness on a universal scale. Galactus has even been shown as capable of creating sentient life, resurrecting the dead, manipulating mortal souls and remaking dead worlds—including their populations—in every detail.[citation needed]

As shown during the Annihilation War, the Power Cosmic replaces the "aura" or soul of its wielders, meaning wielders of the Power Cosmic have no souls of their own.[citation needed] As a result, no two wielders of the Power Cosmic are the same, with the wielder's very physical form having adapted to the function of controlling and storing the Power Cosmic.[citation needed]

Reed Richards (Earth-616) from Fantastic Four Antithesis Vol 1 3 001

Reed Richards after absorbing all of Galactus' Power Cosmic

The Power Cosmic is what makes the mortal Galan of Taa become Galactus. Should Galactus lose the Power Cosmic, he reverts back to his mortal form.[3][4][5][6] Additionally, if Galactus' Power Cosmic is absorbed by someone else, on a small scale, it results in a Herald, but on a large scale, that new recipient becomes a new Galactus-like being.[7][3] After being depowered, Galan has referred his dislodged Power Cosmic as the "Soul of Galactus."[8]

Wielded by the Heralds of Galactus[]

Most of the Heralds of Galactus, including the Silver Surfer, possess certain measures of the Power Cosmic bestowed on them by Galactus during their service to him. Their abilities and degrees of influence vary, but the power can usually be expelled violently as concussive force, and sometimes used with precision to restructure molecules. A Herald's power is however only a fraction of that possessed by Galactus, and Galactus can strip them of that power on his own whim.[citation needed]

The Silver Surfer has the ability to absorb and tap ambient cosmic energy into his body at will, and expel those energies violently or more subtly. He can channel beams of energy through his hands with sufficient destructive force to destroy a planet, or wield the energies with such finesse as to restructure the molecules of the natural dyes within a plant to change its color. The Surfer can rearrange matter to create other configurations and can even transmute elements (such as turning a steel napkin holder into solid gold or tons of rock into harmless gas). Other uses of the Power Cosmic have included the ability to phase through objects; accelerate the evolution of life forms (even on a planet-wide scale); see the past by peeling back the layers of time; time travel; trans-dimensional travel; the manipulation, absorption and discharge of any form of energy or radiation; and, granting limited cosmic powers to others. The Silver Surfer also possess the ability to negate or suppress the powers of other mutants/beings making them temporarily (potentially permanently) unable to use them. The Power Cosmic allows Silver Surfer to teleport through hyperspace; the distances he can teleport is almost limitless. The Silver Surfer has full mental and physical control over his Power Cosmic, which is why it cannot be taken by siphoning mutants. An occurrence had taken place where the Living Tribunal had shown a vision of how Zenn-La once was, enraged by this, the Silver Surfer had granted upon himself almost to a "godlike" state which had given him infinite power cosmic. Before the Surfer could do anything, the Living Tribunal had gone. However, Galactus remained in a state of confusion, as he did not know at the time who could possibly have strength and power even greater than his own.[citation needed]

Cosmic Awareness[]

Wielders of the Power Cosmic can become "one with the universe" through a degree of concentration, allowing them to "know almost everything", including the weaknesses in objects and opponents, events occurring on the opposite side of the galaxy, and even precognition of coming danger. The larger or closer the event, the less concentration is needed to see it. The "near-infinite" knowledge afforded by the Power Cosmic can also be difficult for some to handle.[citation needed]

Old Power[]

Ten thousand years ago, the Shadow People created an artificial version of the Power Cosmic, the Old Power. They originally sought to use it in conquering the universe, but it was too unstable and destructive, forcing the Shadow People to go to different planets to seed them with the Old Power in order to undo the damage it had caused. Only a select few could channel the Old Power, becoming known as the Oldstrongs.[9] Hiro-Kala would later combine the Power Cosmic and the Old Power to create the New Power which simply all of the attributes of both.[10]

Connection to cosmic rays[]

Reed Richards identified the Power Cosmic as a form of cosmic radiation, but "more raw" than the less powerful cosmic rays that afforded him and the rest of the Fantastic Four their powers.[11] However, less powerful cosmic rays can be converted into the Power Cosmic through the use of Anti-Yellow Quarks.[12] When the Human Torch uses his Nova-Blast, his cosmic ray-borne powers can also briefly reach the power levels of the Power Cosmic, surpassing the "knock-off" Power Cosmic given to Victorious by Doctor Doom.[13]

In Galactus' origin, he was bombarded with cosmic rays,[14] and Johnny Storm has even commented how incredibly similar Galactus' origin is to that of the FF.[8]

Trivia

See Also

Links and References

References

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