Marvel Select: Eternals (Panini)

 

The latest Marvel Select collection arrived in the post and features the Eternals in a timely publication to coincide with the release of the latest MCU feature film. These characters were created by Jack "King" Kirby back in the mid-seventies when he returned to Marvel comics after a stint at the rival "Distinguished Competition" as the referred to DC in those days.

This was obviously built upon the work of Erich von Däniken whose book Chariot Of the Gods and it's sequels were casing a stir back in the early seventies. AS a schoolboy I got thrown out of RE class for raising his thesis that Mary might have been artificially inseminated by an alien. The Headmaster wasn't particularly bothered and just told me to disappear...

The theories that mankind was visited and helped by aliens has gained much traction over the years with books and TV programmes becoming big business. Personally as fascinating as these theories are there is of course no firm evidence of alien intervention. In fact despite the efforts of UFO spotters no indisputable evidence of actual aliens has ever been produced.

I firmly believe that mankind is not alone in this vast universe but am sceptical of any contact though I live in hope and that they are friendly...

However I digress in Kirby's stories the Eternals live in the Andes awaiting the return of their Celestial masters to pass judgement on mankind. The Eternals are not alone as their masters also for reasons best known to themselves also created a race of mad "deviants" leaving the two in eternal war.

Originally it was not clear that these tales took place in the Marvel Universe but eventually they were retro included a decision I wasn't happy with at the time but has led to some interesting stories involving the enigmatic Celestials themselves. The long Ring Saga in Thor leading to the epic confrontation in Thor #300 is one of the best single issue comics of all time.

As for the Eternals themselves their indestructibility always annoyed me. However their presence allowed a offshoot to create the mad Titan Thanos the most genocidal criminal in universal history, which in a roundabout way brings us back to this tome. The Eternals are being reborn and there is a threat afoot. It just had to be Thanos but did he murder Zuras?

This edition reprints the first six issues of Kieron Gillen's series and is pretty good value. There's also a timeline guide to help the unfamiliar reader. Quite enjoyable science fiction.

Rating 5 Stars.