*Eternal Spoilers Ahead*
You know how Marvel pumps out a new comic before the book’s theatrical movie release, to get casual fans familiar with the character(s)? Usually, the book reeks worse than vomit colored liquid dripping out the back of a garbage truck during a NYC summer. Luckily for us, The Eternals was having none of that. This book has been absolutely fantastic on all fronts.
Eternally Grateful for this Comic
While the writing has always been good, it was the artwork that first grabbed my attention. Esad Ribic has created some of the most unique settings I’ve ever seen in a Marvel comic, the action sequences are clean and engrossing, and this is all despite the L he’s been taking on the faces of his characters (mad meh). On the flip side, Kieron Gillen has been writing his ass off.
The first six issues of this series have been surrounded by the theme of immortality. It looked like signs were pointing to this story becoming a whodunnit once the leader of the Eternals, Zuras, is found murdered on the throne (Tywin wishes he could’ve been dealt such a death). But we quickly discover the culprit is as predictable as which Sesame Street character stole the cookies from the cookie jar. Thanos crushed that boy’s skull the same way the Mountain popped Red Viper’s noggin like bubble wrap.
With the villain on the loose, things shift to the real problem, The Machine is broken, and no eternal can be resurrected. This is the epitome of catastrophe for an Eternal. The incomprehensible problem is wrapped up in a 6-issue arc, with the culmination leading to one hell of a conversation piece. What would you be willing to sacrifice to live forever? The rebirth of an Eternal means the random (or perhaps, calculated) death of a human. It’s a devastating revelation for most of the Eternals, though one of them admits she had knowledge of this trade-off and clearly has been willing to let an Earthling die to come back to life.
Do the Costs Outweigh the Benefits?
Gilgamesh is torn up inside because he’s the Eternals version of the Punisher. He’s sentenced many of his kind to death, and in light of these new developments, has been sending humans to the grave this entire time. Ikaris is in shambles. The boy he was charged with protecting is the boy who allowed him to have a life again. Phastos doesn’t even believe they have much of an eternal purpose anymore, with all the heroes the Earth now has. Thena is the only one with a solution, but it may alter the future of the Eternals for good.
I can only wonder what kind of conundrum this would cause amongst my friends, but I’m even less certain how this would play out across the country or world. What would you consider a necessary loss – collateral damage – if you were bestowed with the gift/curse of immortality? Would you refuse such an opportunity knowing every friend, love, and family member would perish long before you? Would you shrug your shoulders if you had to trade 1 human life for your resurrection? What if you could choose who dies for you to return? Would your comfort levels for gaining immortality balance out if it only meant an injury to another? Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook and IG to let us know your thoughts, because this is one of the toughest scenarios a hero could ever face!
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