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.

Fictional history

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. 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. 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." 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. 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. 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. 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.

Powers and abilities

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. In the hands of a being with an extremely powerful mind, the Ultimate Nullifier can destroy entire timelines and universes. However, if the user is not skilled or does not have enough willpower, then the Nullifier will erase them as well.

Other versions

Age of Ultron

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

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.

Teen Brigade

A character named the Ultimate Nullifier appears in Vengeance as a member of the Teen Brigade. However, he bears little resemblance to the Ultimate Nullfier weapon besides the ability to negate superpowers.

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.

Ultimate Universe

A character inspired by the Ultimate Nullfier from Earth-6160 will appear in the Ultimate Universe as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Marvel: What If?

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. 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.

In other media

Television

Video games