Warning: SPOILERS for History of the Marvel Universe #6

Franklin Richards, the son of the Fantastic Four’s Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, is destined to become the next Galactus. Gifted with the mutant power to create entire new realities, Franklin Richards has recently been confirmed as the most powerful mutant ever born. As far as Marvel is concerned, he’s the ultimate Omega mutant, with his powers having no definable upper limit at all.

Mark Waid’s History of the Marvel Universe has revealed just how phenomenally powerful Franklin really is. The comic is set at the last moments of the universe’s existence, as the cosmos experiences heat death. It stars the last two survivors, the only living beings to remain; Galactus and Franklin. Millennia before, Franklin had promised Galactus that he would stand at his side in the universe’s dying moments so that he would not be alone; it seems he is destined to honor that promise. But, in a remarkable twist, The History of the Marvel Universe #6 reveals that Franklin Richards will actually live on beyond the death of the universe.

Marvel has always believed in the cyclic model of the universe; the idea that there is a single universe, which goes through an unending cycle of expansion and destruction. Every Big Bang is ultimately followed by the Big Crunch caused by heat death, but every collapse triggers the next expansion phase. Galactus is himself a survivor of the previous universe, and in The History of the Marvel Universe #6 the Devourer of Worlds reveals that his final fate is to allow one being to live on into the next one. That person is Franklin Richards, who inherits Galactus’ helmet as his last friend transforms into an energy wave to preserve his life.

This, then, is Franklin Richards’ destiny; he will essentially become the new Galactus, integrated into the cosmic order of the universe to come. It’s impossible to say what role Franklin will have in this new reality, but it will be a very different one; for, unlike Galactus, his survival was no accident. He carries within him the memories of a universe of heroes, including friends and members of his own family, and the comic ends with Franklin recalling one crucial lesson; “with great power there must also come great responsibility.” A single tear streaks down Franklin’s face as he recalls the friendship and fellowship of the past, and anticipates the surely lonely role he will play in the cosmos to come.

In thematic terms, this is the perfect end to the Marvel Universe. From an out-of-universe perspective, Marvel really began with the publication of Fantastic Four #1, and now their legacy is the one that will live on. What’s more, Spider-Man has always been Marvel’s biggest name, and he is the one whose core lesson is embraced by Franklin as he bravely steps forward into the unknown.

The History of the Marvel Universe #6 is on sale now in comic book shops.

More: Marvel’s New X-MEN Are Crossing Over With Fantastic Four