Intelligent Design: The Return of the Eternals

(Morning, early) I am or would like to think of myself as Eternals Fan Numero Uno - as a Kirbyist acolyte, I have studied and restudied the original 20-issue series (19 regular and 1 annual) from the '70's where the King laid out his reality of giant Celestials coming to earth and creating various strains of humanity, some beautiful, powerful and godlike (eternals), some grotesque, bizzarre and evil (deviants). It was one of those comics that I fell in love with from one issue on the comic rack and then proceeded to complete the set at comic shops and be upset when Marvel cancelled it. No matter, it is still maybe my single favorite comics series of all time; cosmic, weird, funky, all over the place, I am convinced it was way way way ahead of its time, as Kirby was in most things.

Many attempts were made to conform the Eternals to the Marvel Universe and usually they ended up looking like just another batch of gods or godlike beings (ala the Inhumans). Sersi was an Avenger for awhile; Thanos and Starfox turned out to be Eternals, etc. There were a few attempts, most notably the 12-issue miniseries of some years back, but for the most part they werent terribly good and never measured up to the level of the originals (which by the way are available for your viewing pleasure this week in a new hardcover from Marvel - you may wish to check it out at Amazon.com or some such.)

Now, the concept has arisen again, and Marvel has put it in the hands of two comics superstars to once and for all find a way to incorporate this particular batch of superbeings into the Universe. Neil Gaiman and John Romita, Jr., have taken on King Kirby's Koncept and ever since they announced this project months ago I have been nervously awaiting the first issue to see if they screw it up. In terms of visuals I havent been as concerned because a few years back JRJr. did a one-shot during the Amalgam period (where DC and Marvel concepts were "mashed up" as it were to create new hybrids) called Thorion of the New Asgods which mixed up the New Gods, Thor, and a dash of Eternals, and managed to capture some of the grandeur and scope that Kirby produced on a daily basis. No, it was what Mr. Gaiman might do - famously, he took the classic DC character Sandman and dumped everything but the name, but in the process created a new classic and helped set new standards - that worried me.

Thankfully, at least based on the first issue of the Eternals, my fears are unfounded. Basically, the core Eternals, Ikaris, Makarri, Thena, Sersi, and others, appear to have been stripped of their memory of being Eternals and are living various lives where the powers they dont even realize they have seem to manifest themselves on occasion. Ike Harris visits medical resident Mark Curry (compare to previous names) and says he has memories of 500,000 years ago and of the genetic tinkering the Celestials did with proto-humans way back when to create the divergent species. He remembers much, up until the Celestials' most recent return about 30 years ago, which would be the events accounted for in the original Kirby book. After that, well, it all gets fuzzy. Of course, Mark thinks Ike is a wacko, even after he sees Ike walk in midair away from his apartment window. And we're off.

They pack a lot of story into this first issue; there are also brief subplots that highlight Sersi and Thena and this definitely ties into the Marvel Universe - a brief vignette deals with the need for the superpowered to register with the government (see Civil War) - and by gumbo if it aint a lot of fun. The only other creator I could have seen taking the Eternals and revitalizing them would be Walt Simonson, who did that very kind of update recently in his brilliant Orion series for DC. I would definitely recommend you get down to your comic shop (if in Delaware, please go to The Comic Book Shop on Marsh Road, see link at your right) to beg for a copy.

A couple of other brief recommendations: Despite my misgivings, the first two issues of Civil War are really entertaining, remarkable comic books and worthy of the press hype they've been getting. Also, Fantastic Four #537, featuring the return (yayayayayayayay) of Dr. Doom and Thor's hammer, respectively, is a heckuva lot of fun. And Planet Hulk continues to be terrific....once again, it appears to be the Marvel Age of Comics!!!!

Roger and out, good buddy.

Postscript - (same day, later): http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Eternals/GaimanEternals.html
Newsarama did a great and exhaustive series on the previous history of the Eternals in the MU; at the end of the above interview with writer Neil Gaiman are links to those multiple articles if you are so inclined. Its a lot of reading - why not open a nice cold beverage?