With a recent film on the way, Marvel’s coveted “Eternals” property is finally coming back to comics after an extended hiatus. Celebrated author Kieron Gillen is returning to Marvel with the great Esad Ribic lending his interior art to the title. Both Gillen and Ribic pick their projects incredibly carefully making this comic feel even more important than it already is. The creative team behind “Eternals” #1 is one of the very best Marvel could have put together for a new series. With the all-star talent and film on the way, everything is set in place for this book to be one of the very best of the year. Does Marvel’s new “Eternals” comic book series live up to its impressive pedigree?
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Esad Ribic
Colored by Matthew Wilson
Lettered and Designed by VC’s Clayton CowlesNEVER DIE. NEVER WIN. ETERNALS. What’s the point of an eternal battle? For millions of years, one hundred Eternals have roamed the Earth, secret protectors of humanity. Without them, we’d be smears between the teeth of the demon-like Deviants. Their war has waged for all time, echoing in our myths and nightmares. But today, Eternals face something new: change. Can they – or anyone on Earth – survive their discovery? From the thought provoking minds of Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine, Uncanny X-Men, Thor) and Esad Ribić (Secret Wars, King Thor) comes a new vision of the classic Marvel mythology!
When titles have been gone for an extended period of time the responsibility of a comic book creator to revitalize a property is even greater. Thankfully both Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribic put their best foot forward on the creative team. It’s impossible to deny the astounding production value of this debut issue. This title is loaded with impressive text pages of the same quality from the current X-Men line as well as staggering colors from Matthew Wilson. From nearly every critical perspective I can hardly do anything but praise this title. The praise even holds on the letters and design work from VC’s Clayton Cowles. The “Eternals” logo even looks stunning on the beautiful Esad Ribic image.
If you are a Marvel Comics fan this issue is positioned in an important place. The publisher is already starting to tease some potential changes in continuity by the last page of this issue. Gillen slowly introduces the cast in this issue while catching new readers up to familiar Marvel characters. Mainstays like Ikaris should intrigue new readers and delight older ones. Gillen also hints at what the relationship is currently like between heroes and Eternals. It is refreshing to see just how comfortable Gillen and this property sit within the greater Marvel Universe. Gillen chooses to use continuity when it is appropriate and quickly catches readers up to speed with what is going on. The captions in the issue are written really well and have an interesting rhythm.
Esad Ribic is one of Marvel’s strongest artists. The majesty of science fiction worlds that Ribic can create on the page is unmatched by nearly any creator in the industry. When Ribic is supported with a script worthy of his talent I find the comic book page almost stretches farther than my imagination. Ribic is also fantastic at finding really dramatic facial expressions that pull you into the emotional state of characters. The puzzled and angry expressions from Ikaris will quickly acclimate the reader to the greater story being told here. If I had to nitpick Ribic’s art, his figures towards the end of the over-sized issue appear noticeably rushed in a very select few panels. I definitely get the impression that Ribic may have short on time and omitted a few details towards the end of the chapter.
One of the most important advances that “Eternals” #1 accomplishes is are a set of emotional stakes. In the span of one issue, Gillen gives readers a reason to care about this property. Ikaris and Sprite are both incredibly likable and have a really complicated friendship. Seeing other Marvel characters react to these fringe heroes is also an interesting direction that I hope Gillen continues to explore in later chapters. Seeing Gillen effortlessly weave a central plot into this story without losing focus on the astounding characterization is a difficult balancing act that Gillen excels at in this debut script. Also, Gillen accommodates the wide spaces and science-based landscapes for Ribic’s art to really shine through the pages of the story. Before we wrap up, I have to give Gillen commendation for the surprise on Druig scene and lob a nitpick at some of the cliche Iron Man dialogue that feels like it should be in another title entirely.
I was hoping for a smooth comic book and introduction to a Marvel property that I had no experience with in “Eternals” #1. Thankfully, the sheer quality and detail that every member of the creative lends to this series successfully achieve greatness. Fans curious about the upcoming film are going to be able to transition into this title. Giving a new start to a property this dense can be really difficult but “Eternals” #1 makes it look so easy. Matthew Wilson’s colors are wonderfully vivid. Clayton Cowles’s letters and design bring a level of authenticity to the issue. Esad Ribic’s characterization of The Eternals depicts their flawed humanity. Kieron Gillen’s writing brings a new start to a fringe group of Marvel heroes that will capture your imagination. With the promise of an interesting film It’s hard to be anything but optimistic about the future of the “Eternals.”
Final Verdict: 9.5 – “Eternals” #1 masterfully resurrects a dormant Marvel franchise bursting with potential.
