Last night, I began reading the graphic novel or comic books The Eternals written by Neil Gaiman. This comes in the wake of the release of Avengers: Endgame, which generated a lot of buzz around comic books and graphic novels. Even in a conversation with a friend, we discussed how graphic novels should be more popular given their unique position between textual books and visually-centric TV shows or movies.

Graphic novels, occupying a middle ground, should logically enjoy popularity somewhere between traditional books and visual media. However, I find that they often fall below the popularity of written texts, partly due to their historical association with content for younger audiences. Despite this, graphic novels are a versatile medium capable of conveying mature and complex stories.

Now, diving into The Eternals by Neil Gaiman, the concept of these characters traces back to Jack Kirby in the 1960s and 1970s. Inspired by Erich von Däniken’s book Chariots of the Gods, Kirby explored the idea that ancient civilizations were visited by aliens, influencing their advancements. While the concept didn’t gain immense popularity in the Marvel Universe, it resurfaced in other comics.

The Eternals story, as penned by Neil Gaiman, unfolds millions of years ago when celestial beings, giant alien robotic creatures, visited Earth. They manipulated the DNA of human-like creatures, creating two distinct species: the Eternals and the Deviants. The Eternals, endowed with special abilities, were the “good guys,” while the Deviants, monstrous and animal-like, played the role of antagonists.

As the Deviants started to overrun Earth, the Eternals, outnumbered but stronger, fought back. Calling upon the Celestials, they managed to eradicate most of the Deviants. The current narrative follows a med student who, through strange dreams, discovers he is one of the Eternals but has lost his memory. The plot centers on his journey to recover his past.

As for my initial impressions, the lore is intriguing, and the artwork surpasses that of Spider-Man. I look forward to seeing where the story takes us.

Original draft written in May 2019.