Marvel Comics: Eternals

So, the Kieron Gillen run seems to have been well-liked by critics (and, judging by how much was added, fuel for tropers), added a lot more structure and mythology to them, and aligned them more closely with the film versions (well, perhaps except for Ikaris and Druig).

But it also seems to be ending this week, leading into Judgment Day and showcasing them alongside the Avengers and X-Men.

Where do/should Marvel go from here, though? Should another Eternals project come out of the other side of all this? And how does it compare to their previous attempt to make the Inhumans (that other insular, slightly problematic property) stars?

What should they keep, cut or amend from the Gillen/Ribic run? And who are the stand-out characters they should focus on? Thoughts?

Edited by Mrph1 on May 18th 2022 at 1:14:14 PM

I'm not really qualified to answer this. I enjoyed the first arc, but the reveal at the end of it didn't make me want to read more.

I really liked the reveal, but it's bleak.

And either someone will undo it or it will/should deter future writers from killing them off too casually.

I do think they need a better rogues' gallery, though. Thanos and Druig carried the series, but we need more internal and external threats if they're going to come back as a team book.

So, the mysterious Hex have been revealed in one of the Judgment Day promo interviews. And they are not what I expected.

I'm getting a definite Neon Genesis Evangelion angel vibe from these six. Also, looking at the size comparisons in the art...

https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/axe-judgement-day-valerio-schiti-interview-hex-designs

I was thinking of Final Fantasy VII's Weapons when I saw the Hex. They even fulfill a similar role, being last resort living doomsday weapons.

Kieron Gillen's still saying (on Twitter) that the one-offs will eventually end up in their own TPB collection. Which suggests there will be more than three of them in the end, and hints that he's doing more Eternals post-Judgment Day.

If so, good news. :)

Looking at them in Judgment Day #1, yeah, the Weapon comparison is entirely accurate.

And a new Gillen interview -

Key takeaway is that the Hex are sisters and, if you read it literally, daughters of Uranos.

Which would make them Druig's aunts. Although one is possibly his mother.

https://www.cbr.com/marvel-judgment-day-kieron-gillen-interview/

So, Death to the Mutants ends with The Machine annihilating its own personality, with help from Phastos, to prevent the Progenitor seizing control and using it to destroy Earth.

And... well... that feels like Gillen writing a bold line under his run on the Eternals. Farewell to the narrator who defined the narrative style of Gillen's series, exiting on a defiant, heroic note. I expect the Eternals to be resurrected when the event hits the reset button. I don't expect the Machine to come back. A bit sad about that.