From Gods to Humans: The Eternals‘ Journey of Self-Discovery

The Genesis: Jack Kirby’s Cosmic Inspiration

The Eternals are a group of beings originally created by one of Marvel’s cofounders, Jack Kirby, in the 1960s or 70s. Kirby drew inspiration from Erich Von Daniken’s book, Chariots of the Gods, which explores the idea that ancient civilizations were visited by aliens, aiding in technological and societal development. Jack Kirby incorporated this concept into creating superhero characters.

Celestial Experimentation: Pre Proto-Human Genesis

In the narrative, millions of years ago, pre proto-humans were visited by large godlike creatures, aliens named Celestials, who conducted experiments with human DNA. This experimentation led to the creation of two groups: the Eternals, who resembled modern humans with advanced abilities, and the Deviants, monstrous beings with rapidly mutating DNA.

Eternal Abilities and Deviant Diversity

The Eternals, resembled modern humans but possessed advanced physical abilities, including flight, telepathy, and the manipulation of matter. They were virtually immortal, with the Celestials creating only a limited number, approximately 100 or a few hundred.

In contrast, the Deviants, took on monstrous forms that deviated significantly from humans. Their DNA mutated rapidly, leading to various species over time. Unlike the stable Eternals population, the Deviants bred prolifically, causing their population to grow rapidly and extensively.

Power Struggle: Eternals vs. Deviants

Over time, the Deviants engaged in activities that could be described as torture or experiments on humans. The book mentions attempts by the Deviants to interfere with or manipulate The Eternals, but The Eternals, despite their smaller numbers, proved too powerful to be easily overcome.

The narrative highlights a crucial moment when The Celestials, having manipulated the DNA of humans, left Earth and ventured into space. However, the Eternals retained the ability to call them back. Upon their return, the Celestials almost wiped out the Deviants entirely, showcasing the power dynamic between these groups.

This excerpt provides a foundational understanding of the intricate relationships and dynamics among The Eternals, Deviants, and Celestials.

Present-Day Enigma: Eternals Among Us

The story unfolds in the present day, where The Eternals are living among humans. Strangely, they have lost their memory of their past lives. The protagonist, Mark Curry, a medical student interning at a hospital, becomes entangled in the mystery.

Mark encounters a stranger who insists that Mark is not who he believes himself to be, an assertion Mark dismisses due to his lack of memory. However, events take a dramatic turn when the mysterious person is ambushed on top of a building and thrown off of it with a bomb. Remarkably, he survives and ends up in the same hospital where he works.

Lost Memories and Strange Dreams

As Mark begins to believe the stranger’s story, he discovers that he has been having strange dreams featuring the same person. These dreams serve as glimpses into forgotten memories. The narrative then introduces other Eternals who have lost their memories, such as a party planner in New York and a former homeless leader, once the most powerful among the Eternals.

The plot revolves around the Eternals’ quest to uncover the reasons behind their memory loss. A key character emerges – a person with abilities who was made into an Eternal as a child. Stuck in a child’s form for thousands of years. In the contemporary setting, he becomes a child star on television.

The storyline navigates the complexities of memory, identity, and the challenges faced by these Eternals in the face of forgotten pasts. The mystery deepens as they seek to understand the forces at play and grapple with the consequences of their altered identities.

Reflecting on the narrative’s developments, the Eternals uncover the truth about their lost memories. Surprisingly, the leader of the Eternals turns out to be a former homeless man who ultimately kills someone by snapping their neck, adding a layer of intrigue to the unfolding events. Amidst these revelations, the deviants, though not entirely eradicated, still linger, possessing the ability to shape-shift into human forms. Simultaneously, they pursue the extermination of the Eternals.

Another significant element emerges – a dormant celestial on Earth. In the past, this celestial intervened to prevent the destruction of deviants by the Eternals. The deviants view this celestial as a deity, attempting to resurrect and awaken it. However, such an act poses the risk of catastrophic consequences for humanity.

Eternals Awaken: Struggle Against Impending Calamity

The Eternals, now awakened to their true identities, engage in a struggle to prevent impending calamities. A concept called the “uni-mind” is introduced, wherein the Eternals can combine their energies to create a powerful entity. This entity is expected to facilitate communication with the celestial and potentially rectify the situation.

Conclusion

Acknowledging its initial intrigue with a protagonist discovering his ancient origins, the story eventually reaches a point where it becomes merely “okay.” I believe that there’s untapped potential in this story.

Before originally reading The Eternals who are relatively obscure in Marvel’s canon, it was announced that a movie project based on this lore was going to be made. (Update: I liked the movie and didn’t understand why so many people didn’t/don’t.)

In summary, the narrative explores a complex interplay of identity, memory loss, and cosmic forces. It navigates the challenges faced by the Eternals as they confront their forgotten pasts and grapple with the consequences of their altered existence. The trajectory of the story raises anticipation for its continuation beyond the initial issues.

Original draft written in May 2019