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Ultimate Nullifier

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Ultimate Nullifier
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Fantastic Four #50 (May 1966)
Created by
In story information
TypeDevice
Element of stories featuringGalactus

The Ultimate Nullifier is a fictional device of immense power appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The device made its first appearance in Fantastic Four volume 1, issue #50 (May 1966), in which Johnny Storm retrieves it from the home of Galactus (as directed by Uatu the Watcher) to employ against Galactus himself. The Nullifier appears as a small, hand-held metallic device with no apparent functionality. When first introduced in 1966, it was described as the only known weapon in the universe capable of inspiring fear in Galactus.[1]

Fictional history

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In its first appearance, the Fantastic Four recover the Ultimate Nullifier with help from Uatu the Watcher and threaten to use it on Galactus, forcing him to retreat.[1][2]

The Nullifier later appears in "The Infinity War". Quasar tries to use it in an attempt to destroy the Magus, who had acquired the collective power of five cosmic cubes and a gauntlet containing five of the six Infinity Gems. The Reality Gem was replaced in this instance with a duplicate created by Thanos. Although Quasar tried to use the weapon on Magus, his attack is redirected by the Infinity Gauntlet, temporarily nullifying Quasar in the process.[2][3][4]

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. In the rare instances that the Nullifier gets stolen or kept in other locales such as the Fantastic Four's headquarters, the Nullifier inevitably returns to Galactus' possession. In the Abraxas saga Galactus demonstrates his ability to recall the Nullifier to himself at will. In conjunction, he stated it to be "as much a part of me as my heart itself."[5] In the 2006 edition of Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, Marvel Comics included a profile of the "Ultimate Nullifier" which, using technobabble, described the device to be of "unknown origins" within the context of the fictional Marvel Universe.[6]

Titus later falsely tells Sam Alexander that he had killed his father Jesse, and threatens to kill his family if not given the Nullifier. The two battle, during which Sam accidentally activates the Nullfier and seemingly kills Titus and a Chitauri fleet. Afterwards, Sam brings the Nullifier to the Watcher for safekeeping.[2][3][7]

During the "Original Sin" storyline, an evolved Mindless One obtains the Ultimate Nullifier and uses it to commit suicide despite the Thing trying to talk it down.[2][3][8]

The "Reckoning War" event reveals that the Ultimate Nullfier was originally created by the Watchers during a war with the Prosilicans, and was used by the Watcher Enmu to kill 90% of the universe's population.[9]

Powers and abilities

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The Ultimate Nullifier has been described as "the universe's most devastating weapon", being able to defy the laws of physics by completely erasing objects from existence.[3][4] In the hands of a being with an extremely powerful mind, the Ultimate Nullifier can destroy entire timelines and universes.[3][5][10][11] However, if the user is not skilled or does not have enough willpower, then the Nullifier will erase them as well.[3]

Other versions

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Age of Ultron

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An alternate universe variant of the Ultimate Nullifier from Earth-61112 appears in Age of Ultron #5.[12][2][3]

Earth X

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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.[2][3]

JLA/Avengers

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The Ultimate Nullifier appears in JLA/Avengers.[2][3]

Marvel Adventures

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An alternate universe variant of the Ultimate Nullifier from Earth-20051 appears in Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #26.[13][3]

Ultimate Marvel

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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?

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In What If? vol. 1 #32 'What If The Avengers Had Become Pawns of Korvac?,' Korvac and Captain America use the Ultimate Nullifier to kill Galactus. However, after Korvac merges with the spirit of the universe, he uses the Nullifer against several spacefaring civilizations who have traveled to earth to stop him, destroying the universe in the process.[14] Doctor Strange, the 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 Nullifer's use.[15]

In other media

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Television

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  • The Ultimate Nullifier appears in The Fantastic Four episode "Galactus".
  • The Ultimate Nullifier appears in the Fantastic Four episode "Silver Surfer and the Coming of Galactus". This version resembles a two-handed gun.
  • The Ultimate Nullifier makes a cameo appearance in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Awesome" as one of several items kept in Curt Connors' laboratory on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
  • The Ultimate Nullifier makes a cameo appearance in the M.O.D.O.K. episode "The M.O.D.O.K. That Time Forgot!", where MODOK discovers it in a S.H.I.E.L.D. storage facility.[16][17]

Video games

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  • The Ultimate Nullifier appears in Marvel Ultimate Alliance. A side mission involves finding the damaged Ultimate Nullifier in Castle Doom. If the Ultimate Nullifier is found, Mister Fantastic will repair it and use it to stop Mephisto from invading Earth. If it is not found, the team of heroes will be forced to band together once again to fight Mephisto with the resulting battle causing a tremendous amount of destruction.
  • The Ultimate Nullifier appears as an equippable item in Marvel Heroes.

References

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  1. ^ a b Fantastic Four #50. Marvel Comics.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Cronin, Brian (May 16, 2018). "Ultimate Nullifier: 15 Secrets About Marvel's Most Powerful Weapon, Revealed". CBR. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fernandes, Mariana (June 9, 2019). "10 Questions About The Ultimate Nullifier, Finally Answered". CBR. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  4. ^ a b The Infinity War #5 (Oct. 1992). Marvel Comics.
  5. ^ a b Fantastic Four #478 (Jan. 2002). Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #11 (November 2006). Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Nova Vol. 5 #5. Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ Original Sin #1. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ Isaak, Joshua (June 17, 2022). "Galactus' Ultimate Weapon Is Finally Explained in Huge Marvel Lore Change". ScreenRant. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  10. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 3 #24. Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 3 #49. Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ Age of Ultron #5 (Apr. 2013). Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #26. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ What If? #32. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ What If? #43. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ Davison, Josh (January 28, 2022). "MODOK: 10 Easter Eggs You'll Only Notice On A Rewatch". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  17. ^ Rowley, Jim (May 21, 2021). "The Gadgets In SHIELD Storage During MODOK Episode 2 Explained". Looper. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
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