Ultimate Nullifier

Last updated
Ultimate Nullifier
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Fantastic Four #50 (May 1966)
Created by
In story information
TypeDevice
Element of stories featuring Fantastic Four
Galactus

The Ultimate Nullifier is a fictional device in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the device first appeared in Fantastic Four #50 (May 1966). [1] The Ultimate Nullifier is capable of completely erasing any chosen target from existence; however, if the wielder’s willpower is insufficient, the device will destroy them as well. [2] The device was first depicted during the Fantastic Four's confrontation with Galactus. Retrieved from Galactus' ship by Johny Storm / Human Torch with Uatu the Watcher's assistance, the device was used by Reed Richards to threaten Galactus, compelling him to abandon his plan to consume Earth. [3]

Contents

Publication history

The Ultimate Nullifier debuted in Fantastic Four #50 (May 1966), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. [4] It subsequently appeared in several Marvel series, including The Infinity War (1992), [5] Fantastic Four (2018), [6] Old Man Quill (2019), [7] and Doctor Doom (2019). [8]

Fictional history

The Fantastic Four, facing the threat of Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, who intended to consume Earth's energy, learn from Uatu the Watcher about a weapon capable of destroying him. Uatu sends Johnny Storm to retrieve the device from Taa II, a massive structure built as a monument to the original world of Taa. [9] While this issue presents the Ultimate Nullifier as originating from Taa II, later official Marvel sources list its origins as “unknown.” Its destructive potential is emphasized by the fact that Galactus retreats when threatened with its use. [10]

During the Infinity War storyline, Quasar was manipulated into using the Ultimate Nullifier against the Magus. [11] Although the Magus's Infinity Gauntlet was not a true version of the artifact, it was powerful enough to stop the Nullifier's effect, resulting in Quasar erasing himself instead. [12]

The Ultimate Nullifier is generally kept within Galactus' ship Taa II, though at times Galactus has been known to carry it aboard his spherical starship. If the Nullifier gets stolen or kept in other locales such as the Fantastic Four's headquarters, it inevitably returns to Galactus' possession. In the Abraxas saga, Galactus demonstrates his ability to recall the Nullifier to himself at will and states it to be a part of himself. [13]

The "Reckoning War" event reveals that the Ultimate Nullifier was created by the Watchers during a war with the Prosilicans and was used to kill 90% of the universe's population. [14] [15]

Powers and abilities

The Ultimate Nullifier is capable of erasing from existence anything its wielder can fully comprehend, such as destroying an entire universe if the wielder could conceive of it in its entirety. [16] Its origins and nature are unknown, but it is respected and feared by cosmic entities such as Galactus. The device can target an individual or a world, though most beings lack the focus to control it, and misuse can result in the annihilation of the wielder as well as the target. Accounts from Uatu describe a power-adjustment mechanism capable of erasing the solar system in a microsecond, and its effects have been depicted as either a spreading sphere of nullification or directed energy beams. In some instances, beings destroyed by the Ultimate Nullifier are sent to the realm of Oblivion, with the Time Variance Authority and Uatu stating that its use erases the target and all traces of their actions from reality. [17]

Other versions

Age of Ultron

An alternate universe variant of the Ultimate Nullifier from Earth-61112 appears in Age of Ultron #5. [18]

Earth X

An alternate universe variant of the Ultimate Nullifier from Earth-9997 appears in Earth X . Thanos uses it to kill Death, leaving those still living unable to die.

JLA/Avengers

The Ultimate Nullifier appears in JLA/Avengers .

Marvel Adventures

An alternate universe variant of the Ultimate Nullifier from Earth-20051 appears in Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #26. [19]

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe variant of the Ultimate Nullifier from Earth-1610 appears in Ultimate Extinction . This version was created by Reed Richards and is powered by the energy of a Big Bang.

What If?

In What If? #32, "What If The Avengers Had Become Pawns of Korvac?", Korvac uses the Ultimate Nullifier to destroy the universe. [20] Doctor Strange, Phoenix, and the Silver Surfer survive and attempt to restore the universe, but Eternity stops them, choosing to leave the expanse where the universe was as a warning against the Nullifier's use. [21]

In other media

Television

Video games

References

  1. ↑ Sims, Chris (September 7, 2010). "Anatomy of a Classic: 'Fantastic Four' #50". ComicsAlliance . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  2. ↑ Loffhagen, Matthew (April 30, 2016). "The 15 Most Powerful Objects in the Marvel Universe". Screen Rant . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  3. ↑ Avina, Anthony (September 16, 2019). "10 Most Powerful Cosmic Artifacts In Marvel Comics". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  4. ↑ Smith, Thompson (September 1, 2021). "The History Of Marvel's Fin Fang Foom Explained". Looper . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  5. ↑ Davison, Josh (October 11, 2021). "Marvel: 10 Weapons That Corrupted Their Users". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  6. ↑ Corley, Shaun (December 19, 2020). "Marvel's Most Powerful Weapon Returns to the Comics". Screen Rant . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  7. ↑ Dietsch, T. J. (October 8, 2019). "The Most Powerful Object in the Marvel Universe". Marvel.com . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  8. ↑ Zachary, Brandon (December 23, 2020). "Doctor Doom Confirms Marvel's Most POWERFUL Weapon Is NOT the Infinity Gauntlet". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  9. ↑ Fantastic Four #50 (May 1966)
  10. ↑ Fernandes, Mariana (June 9, 2019). "10 Questions About The Ultimate Nullifier, Finally Answered". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  11. ↑ The Infinity War #5 (October 1992)
  12. ↑ Cronin, Brian (May 16, 2018). "Ultimate Nullifier: 15 Secrets About Marvel's Most Powerful Weapon, Revealed". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  13. ↑ Fantastic Four (vol. 3) #49 (January 2002)
  14. ↑ Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #44 (August 2022)
  15. ↑ Isaak, Joshua (June 17, 2022). "Galactus' Ultimate Weapon Is Finally Explained in Huge Marvel Lore Change". Screen Rant . Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  16. ↑ Fantastic Four (vol. 3) #24 (December 1999)
  17. ↑ "Ultimate Nullifier (Cosmic power item; Fantastic Four, Avengers, Spider-Man and many other stories)". Marvunapp.com. May 25, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  18. ↑ Age of Ultron #5 (April 2013)
  19. ↑ Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #26 (September 2008)
  20. ↑ What If? #32 (April 1982)
  21. ↑ What If? #43 (February 1984)
  22. ↑ Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau (writers) (July 15, 2012). "Awesome". Ultimate Spider-Man . Season 1. Episode 14. Disney XD.
  23. ↑ Rowley, Jim (May 21, 2021). "The Gadgets In SHIELD Storage During MODOK Episode 2 Explained". Looper . Retrieved July 12, 2022.
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