ETERNALS #7 - Review & Spoilers

[Expletive Deleted]

ETERNALS #7 - Gaiman and Romita - out today . . .

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. . . okay, that was a little anti-climactic.

This issue is basically about setting up the Eternals' new status quo. Zuras is back in charge, Ajak is looking after the Celestial, Sersi is still missing some memories and isn't quite ready to go back into superheroing, Druig is still in charge of his Eastern European country, Mak and Ikaris are out searching for the rest of the missing Eternals, the Deviants think Mak is some sort of messiah figure, and Sprite (after a nicely done scene) is dead.

And that's about it. I was hoping for some sort of throwdown with Iron Man over registration, but he just accepts Zuras's refusal and moves on. There's some nice stuff with the Deviants, but it ultimately boils down to them talking it over.

Like I said, a little anti-climactic. JRJR's art is really very nice, though. If only he'd really been able to strut his stuff. Ah, well. There's always World War Hulk.

[InfinityBriefs]

Are they planning on some new series? Because at the end it said "The Beginning" or something to that effect.

[XPac]

It is kind of anti-climactic given the way things ended before.

But I suppose it was realistic (darn it). Stark may be a jack @$$, but he's not stupid. He won't get into it with the Eternals. This was basically an epilogue, and a descent way to start off a new status quo for the Eternals.

Hopefully we'll see more from them.

[Thursaiz]

I would love to see an Ikaris VS Sentry.

I have loved the Eternals since I picked up the original Jack Kirby #1 from back in the 70s. Great concept. Totally underused.

[Karthak]

Pity. I was so looking forward to seeing Zuras punch Iron Man in the face.

[Syzygy]

Wow! I really loved this! What I read comics for!

So...is Gaiman going to do an Eternals, ongoing, or that just a delusion wet dream of mine?

Peace,
Syzygy

[Lord S]

JRJR's art is really very nice, though. Well I wouldn't say very nice...I wasn't too impressed with the way he drew Zuras as being on the obese side. He was the same artist that drew the Thor series with Thanos and Mangog, and even then he drew Thanos as extremely obese.

As for issue itself...it didn't impress me, at all. This series kind of ended with a whimper, though I hope the Dreaming Celestial's presence in San Francisco is played into regular continuity involving the Fantastic Four, and other new teams that have sprung up in the wake of 'Civil War'.

So this issue was 5/10 for me...the series was probably closer to 7/10.

[CYOTI]

What happens to Thena?

[DoctorDoom]

I would love to see an Ikaris VS Sentry.

I have loved the Eternals since I picked up the original Jack Kirby #1 from back in the 70s. Great concept. Totally underused.
as would I.

[drwho]

I got the first issue didnt really do anything for me. I'll probably get the trade when it comes out. This was one awfully damn expensive mini. Can someone tell me exactly what the status is of the eternals. I do recall a one shot that involved Apocalypse that introduced some new Eternals and put a more super hero public spin on the group. Was the same thing done here or is it same old same old?

[berk]

What happens to Thena?IIRC, she was limited to a very brief appearance in which she cajoled Zuras into letting her keep her kid in Olympia; which pretty much sums up how Gaiman has diminshed this character from the version in Kirby's series. (If he was attempting a parallel with the bit in the original in which she talks Zuras into letting the Reject and Karkas stay in Olympia with her, Gaiman's missed the point even more than I thought).

[Lord S]

Was Olympia always in the Artic? I thought it was in Greece, (near Olympus). I knew Ikaris' Polar Eternals came from the Artic, but not everybody.

Unless I missed something from yesteryear involving Olympia being moved to the Artic, I'd say there's some no-prize material here from Gaiman.

[Syzygy]

So...how come so little conversation on this?

This is Neil Gaiman!

The reaction is quiter than dropping a small stone in a lake; that at least evokes a few ripples.

Nothing?

Peace,
Syzygy

[StoneGold]

I loved the first six books, hated the seventh. Seriously, what the hell was up with that? No one told me this was being used to launch a series.

[XPac]

I loved the first six books, hated the seventh. Seriously, what the hell was up with that? No one told me this was being used to launch a series.

A good 90% of the time, a mini is an attempt to launch a series. A feeler, if you will.

Though I agree, as a finish it was pretty weak. And the way the PRo regs were in the faces of the Eternals was such a tease.

[BeastieRunner]

Good setup for an ongoing. I hope Gaiman writes it.

[berk]

I don't think much will come of this miniseries, to tell you the truth. Gaiman did his best to deliver what Marvel asked from him - a version of the Eternals that fit into the Marvel Universe - but IMO he didn't succeed any more than all the previous efforts since Kirby's series, and for the same basic reason: the concept just doesn't work at any level in the MU, and in the process of modifying it to fit the expectations of MU fans, you end up losing everything that made it so original and different (IOW, every characteristic that defined it as a unique creation) in the first place. I won't go into all the details here, but look at where the series ends up and ask yourself this: do you see future writers feeling any great complusion to do something with the scenario Gaiman's left them? I'm sure there'll be more than zero, just as there were sporadic attempts after previous similar efforts at jamming the Eternals idea into the MU. And Gaiman's personal prestige might attract a little more support from Marvel if anyone does want to "pitch" (I have to laugh at how comics has latched on to this little piece of jargon) an Eternals follow-up. But it'll all fizzle out eventually because the MU-Eternals just aren't a very compelling idea. Just another bunch of superpowered humanoids, just as the MU-Celestials are just another set of cosmic beings lost amongst all the others in Marvel's over-elaborated cosmic bureaucracy.

[berk]

So...how come so little conversation on this?

This is Neil Gaiman!

The reaction is quiter than dropping a small stone in a lake; that at least evokes a few ripples.

Nothing?

Peace,
SyzygyI think this lack of interest is an indication of two things:
that this isn't really Gaiman; I mean, Im sure he did his best to complete his assigned task, but that task was basically a matter of developing a commercial property belonging to Marvel Comics, Inc, not a personal project he came up with himself;
that Gaiman's Eternals don't really differ very much from previous efforts at MU-Eternals, none of which ever managed to garner any fan interest, not that that's ever a sign of quality (or the lack thereof).

But I do give Gaiman credit for a couple other things:
his re-invention of Makarri,;
and the whole idea of the Eternals being guardians of the earth, including Zuras's description of earth as a "machine", i.e a system the parts of which all work together in an intricate and complex manner (leaving aside the question of what that machine's function might happen to be), and of the individual Eternals as indispensable components of that "machine". Some cool implications there for questions of ecology, the meaning and purpose of immortality, and so on.

So I was being a bit unfair: Gaiman did bring some new insights to the concept - and if my hostile gaze has managed to notice these two, there are probably a few more I've missed - maybe more sympathetic readers can point them out for us - but I don't think those insights are enough to overcome the fundamental incompatibility between the Eternals and the Marvel Universe, as already manifested in Gaiman's series with his dumbed-down MU-versions of such crucial elements as the Celestials and Thena, plus the absence of the Reject and Karkas (whose relationships with their fellow Deviants and with the Eternals was one of the keys to Kirby's concept), and all kinds of other things.

[berk]

sorry - double post.

[ultramandingo]

yeah , i was expecting more from KIRBY !!!!! and GAMIAN.!!!!!!....too bad it had to be continuity , stupid iron man . but at least now theres a giant robot god in golden gate park for the tourists to gawk at.....

[Will.S]

Wow, I totally forgot this was out.....what the hell.

[sgt pepper]

What a terrible series. I kept thinking, this is Gaiman so things will get better, but nope. Just gradually worse and worse. Definitely wasted money and time.

[Dusty.]

I loved this entire series. Gaiman impressed me. In an age where egotistical writers at Marvel are so into themselves that they put THEIR version of characters ahead of established work, it was refreshing to see Gaiman actually respecting other writers.

Gaiman was able to play with the themes of the Eternals, as well as flesh out an interesting and fresh new frontier for the gang.

His use of the well established Marvel heroes like Iron-Man, Wasp, and Yellowjacket was spot on, and after having to deal with these characters written by people who clearly didn't bother taking any notes (if they ever read them at all...), I applaud this superstar's dedication to make sure that he respected the writers of the past and the fans of these characters. When I see this kind of effort, whether it's Gaiman, Brubaker, Whedon, Heinberg, or Loeb, I can't help but hold them in the highest regard. On the flip side, when I see Ellis, Bendis, or Millar being hacks and writing whatever the hell they feel like for a paycheck... Gaiman put on a clinic with how to do it right, and this was a good example of why he's so respected in the field.

Good job! I wish Gaiman and Romita Jr. (who did stellar work on this series!) would be the guys who continued the series. Quesada said before it started that plans were for the Eternals to become a force in the MU, and the ending made it clear that more is to come. I want more!

[marveljrjr]

I loved this entire series. Gaiman impressed me. In an age where egotistical writers at Marvel are so into themselves that they put THEIR version of characters ahead of established work, it was refreshing to see Gaiman actually respecting other writers.

Gaiman was able to play with the themes of the Eternals, as well as flesh out an interesting and fresh new frontier for the gang.

His use of the well established Marvel heroes like Iron-Man, Wasp, and Yellowjacket was spot on, and after having to deal with these characters written by people who clearly didn't bother taking any notes (if they ever read them at all...), I applaud this superstar's dedication to make sure that he respected the writers of the past and the fans of these characters. When I see this kind of effort, whether it's Gaiman, Brubaker, Whedon, Heinberg, or Loeb, I can't help but hold them in the highest regard. On the flip side, when I see Ellis, Bendis, or Millar being hacks and writing whatever the hell they feel like for a paycheck... Gaiman put on a clinic with how to do it right, and this was a good example of why he's so respected in the field.

Good job! I wish Gaiman and Romita Jr. (who did stellar work on this series!) would be the guys who continued the series. Quesada said before it started that plans were for the Eternals to become a force in the MU, and the ending made it clear that more is to come. I want more!

Dusty,
Thanks!

[Butch Mapa]

I liked it. Some weak moments, but overall an intriguing concept. LOVE how Gaiman worked Civil War and the Marvel heroes in there-- it was like Neil saying, "oh yeah, I can do mainstream superhero books too!"

Thinking of picking up the trade form, although the HC is too expensive at this point ($30 for 250 pages). Maybe they'll come out with a Premiere or something, I'd get that.

Terrific JRJR art all throughout.

[Lord S]

plus the absence of the Reject and Karkas (whose relationships with their fellow Deviants and with the Eternals was one of the keys to Kirby's concept) IIRC, Karkas was killed at the end of 'New Eternals: Apocalypse Now', when Apoc speeds up his mutation which consumes him, (I'm not sure, I'd have to doublecheck). Though Ransak the Reject is conspicuous by his absence.

[berk]

... , it was refreshing to see Gaiman actually respecting other writers. Which writers are you thinking of?

[Shyft]

I enjoyed the series in general, and thought it was cool how a 7th issue came from nowhere. wasn't MASSIVELY impressed with the last issue, but meh. would have LOVED to see the Eternals literally kick the Sh*zzle out of Tony and Hank, but not like permanently kill them or anything, and then just be like "so yeah, still gonna try and make us?"

[TJ Shoun]

This was like having really great sex... and then not being able to climax.

If the primary editorial objective here was to move the Eternals into the forefront of the Marvel U, fine -- but why couldn't just any writer have been hired to do that?

Maybe the problem here was my own misconceptions going in. I was expecting something a little more self-contained, and less continuity-centric. (Hell, if it was Busiek or Johns, I'd have understood.) And honestly, I think if Gaiman had been allowed more free reign this would have been an amazing piece of work, but as it is, it's ultimately very unsatisfying by itself.

Ah well.

If nothing else, we got seven issues of fantastic JRjr artwork.

And it should also be a federal law that only Danny Miki can ink Romita from now on.

[Jadeskies]

I don't know how they manage to sell Iron Man comics conscidering that -everyone- wants to see -everyone- kick his can.

I mean like Cap A, Hulk, Black Panther, Thor, Namor, She-Hulk, Spiderman, Hercules, (anyone not on pro-reg or on the New Avengers) ect all have good reasons to kick Tonys butt.

[Syzygy]

Well, I guess that means he's the man to beat, right about now....