Exciting news from the world of Marvel Comics. The long-awaited return of Marvel’s Eternals has been teased in a new preview. Helmed by comic maestro Kieron Gillen (Phonogram and The Wicked + The Divine), and star illustrator Esad Ribic (Silver Surfer: Requiem, King Thor), this new entry into Marvel’s oldest superhero team - that’s in-universe chronology - is shaping up to be just as exciting as the upcoming MCU film adaptation. But who, or what, are the Eternals again?
The Eternals were originally created by the legendary Jack Kirby after his return to Marvel Comics in the mid-70s, after a brief stint creating The New Gods over a DC Comics. The lore is complex and combines elements of science fiction and epic mythology. The short answer is the Eternals are a race of immortal protectors created by the first host of Celestials who came to Earth to experiment with early lifeforms. Their purpose is a straightforward one: to battle the Deviants - also created by The Celestials - and all of their offshoots. The history of the Eternals in the Marvel Universe has actually been used as a canonical explanation as to why some humans have developed superpowers, but that’s another story. What’s important to know is that the Eternals have been around since the earliest forms of humanoid life in our solar system, protecting humanity and serving the Celestials ever since.
The preview showcases concept art reintroducing readers to the series’ characters, which include Sersi, Makkari, Thena, Zuras, Sprite, Kingo, as well as the Eternals poster boy Ikaris. Fans can also read the first five pages of Eternals #1, and get a taste of the visual and narrative feast Gillen and Ribic have put together. These pages give fans a poignant sense of the book’s stark tone, the advanced Celestial technology operating behind the scenes, the politics in a society of secret god-like beings, as well as the grind of immortal life. Quite the backdrop for a superhero comic, but one Marvel has been slowly building up to. And still more twists await readers.
Marvel has already revealed the return of an old arch-nemesis, the mad titan himself: Thanos. As seen in other preview material, such as the trailer, Thanos is set to play a major role in the Eternals’ return to the spotlight. He has made a promise: the only thing to be eternal will be death. As this will be an entry point into the Eternals mythos for many readers, it’s a good idea to have such a rich and recognizable villain be there to help establish a new fanbase. Who knows where it will go from there?
Considering the creative talent Marvel Comics has put behind the book, it’s fair to say that this relaunch is more than just publicity for the upcoming feature film, which is still slated for release in November 2021 as part of the MCU’s Phase Four. By all accounts, this storyline is going to not only pay homage to the stories and characters crafted by the late great Jack Kirby, but also build on the established canon. Hopefully, this will set up The Eternals for years to come.
Eternals #1 goes on sale Wednesday, January 6th.
Source: Marvel Comics