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Back when Marvel / DC crossing were more vulgar , one ofSuperman’svisits to the Marvel Universe saw him receive an unbelievable power upgrade while interacting with the Fantastic Four andGalactus . Receiving a content suggest that Galactus was responsible for the demolition of Krypton , Superman embark on an adventure involve Marvel ’s First Family , the Cyborg Superman , and the World Devourer himself . However , the crossover event also sport the Power Cosmic , the very same transformative vim source that turned Norrin Radd into Galactus’herald recognize as the Silver Surfer .
Coming from Dan Jurgens and Art Thibert , 1999’sSuperman / Fantastic Fourwas a one - shot issue that saw Superman essay answers about Galactus and his persona in the death of Krypton . Requesting the assistance of expert on the World Devourer , Superman approaches the Fantastic Four for help . However , thing are more than they seem with the arrival ofHank Henshaw ’s Cyborg Superman . Interestingly enough , Jurgens make Henshaw to serve as a DC villain counterpart to Marvel ’s Reed Richards , go steady as how Henshaw likewise fail up into space in a birdie hit by radiation therapy . However , the genetic mutation his crew suffer led to their decease , with Henshaw as the only subsister , finally becoming the dismal Cyborg Superman .
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Sadly , once Superman makes it to the First Family , Ka - El is soon hit by a gadget created by Galactus , grant the Kryptonian the Power Cosmic itself , and amplifying even his big businessman far beyond the abilities he already has . Having been transformed into the Herald of Steel , Mr. Fantastic confirm in this crossover that Superman has become the " secondly - most powerful being in creation " withGalactus being the only greater powerin the universe .
Looking very much like avariant of the Silver Surfer , Superman as the Herald of Steel is likely one of his most sinewy forms ever ( regardless of the particular universe he ’s in . ) While Kal - El initially ends up serving Galactus and guiding him to a desolate world to consume , once they descend upon an inhabited universe , he ’s capable to infract free from Galactus ' control , team up up with the Fantastic Four to convince Galactus to only feed worlds without life , and doctor his technology in exchange . While Cyborg Superman is present as well , it ’s revealed that he only agree to aid the Fantastic Four to get the Power Cosmic for himself , having fabricated the subject matter about the World Devourer destroy Krypton for this very intellect .
It ’s fascinating that Marvel and DC were willing to go so far in their crossovers , definitively identifying Superman as less sinewy than Galactus ( even with the Power Cosmic ) and giving Kal - El perhaps his biggest power - up ever in a population other than his own . In the forward-looking day where Marvel and DC working in tandem feels near unimaginable , the beingness of the Herald of Steel is a surprising moment from Kal - El ’s past .
Thankfully , Henshaw does n’t get what he ’s after , and Superman is eventually restored to his normal self with the Power Cosmic being come back to Galactus . While Superman ’s time as the Herald of Steel was brief , it was credibly for the best . After all , there would n’t be much long - terminal figure amusement from a version ofSupermanwho could n’t logically be perplex byanyone aside fromGalactushimself , get phenomenal cosmic force on top of his own impressive abilities during his escapade with the Fantastic Four .
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