Marvel's Eternals is set to hit theaters on November 5, 2021. There's been a lot of buzz around this movie, especially since director Chloé Zhao's film took home multiple awards including Best Picture at this year's Oscars. However, people don't really seem to know much about the Eternals. This is not surprising, they are one of Marvel's more obscure properties and might be unfamiliar even to many long-term superhero fans. If you're interested in learning about this team through reading the comics, but aren't sure where to start, you've come to the right place. I'm here to give you advice on how to approach the Eternals comics.
A Brief Overview of the Eternals
Jack Kirby, co-creator of more than half Marvel's biggest properties and possibly the greatest comic book creator of all time, wrote The Eternals #1 in 1976. This was a triumphant return for Kirby, who had previously quit the company in 1970 over unethical treatment and a contract dispute. Unlike his previous work, mostly collaborations with his former friend Stan Lee, The Eternals would be a solo project not directly connected to the Marvel Universe. Kirby set up an entirely new mythos for his cosmic epic about the relationship between man and the gods.
Early humanity was experimented on by enormous aliens of unfathomable power, the Celestials, also known as the first lifeforms in the universe. In their attempt to elevate humanity, the Celestials created two off-shoots. The Eternals, a race of beautiful powerful beings who represented the best about what humanity could achieve. The Deviants, a race of hideous monstrous creatures who represented the worst of what humanity could become. The secret war between Eternals and Deviants has spanned centuries, with humans taking the individuals as inspiration for many gods and devils throughout history.
Kirby unfortunately left the book unfinished, but future writers would incorporate the characters more directly into the Marvel Universe while trying their own takes.
Recommended Reading
* The Eternals by Jack Kirby - I normally hate recommending a comic from the 1970's because they usually don't hold up very well for new readers. In this case though, nobody has ever managed to make the Eternals work quite like Kirby. Other books have been good, but the sheer magnitude of his vision can only be appreciated at the source. I won't tell you it's high art just because Kirby was a genius, it probably doesn't even rank in the top 10 of my favorite Kirby books. It is however the most innovative mind in comics history given a blank check to do basically whatever he wants, so that is at least worth checking out.
* Eternals by Neil Gaiman - There have been numerous unsuccessful attempts to revive the Eternals in the modern era, and Gaiman's 2006 book is one of the better efforts. In this new series the Eternals have forgotten who they are, and must remember before it is too late.
* Eternals: Only Death is Eternal - This 2021 comic written by Kieron Gillen is still very new but already very promising. Gillen expertly reexamines the role of the Eternals in the history of the Marvel Universe while carving out a new niche to make the characters feel fresh. This book is designed as a jumping-on point for new fans interested in the movie.
I always love to hear I got someone new into comics, so please pretty please tell me if you enjoy reading anything that I recommend. If you're a long-time fan of the Eternals and have thoughts about what makes them hard to get into, or where to start for new readers, please also let me know in the comments!
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