Eternals #4 – Review

By Charles & Daniel Knauf (Writers) and Daniel Acuña (Artist)

I suppose I’m not the only person who’s noticed that Ajak is fighting Skrulls with the “God Squad” in Hercules at the same time he’s acting mysteriously in this book. Assuming it’s not a case of bad editorial direction, I guess that means he’s a Skrull, which would certainly explain why he’s trying to kill the other Eternals. But shouldn’t the real Ajak then be dead or incarcerated somewhere, instead of running loose? And if he’s not a Skrull, then what are the Skrulls’ plans for the Eternals anyway?

I wish I cared more about what’s going on in this book, but it’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on or what’s at stake. In this issue, Thena and Ikaris are still trying to waken Phastos; Druig is still trying to take over the world; Zuras is still oblivious that Joey is a spy for the alien Horde; and Sersi is still upset that Makkari is physically deteriorating due to his link with the Dreaming Celestial. We’ve seen all this before. In fact, Iron Man shows up this issue to reprise the role he played in the Neil Gaiman mini-series, standing around bitching that the Eternals don’t follow the Superhuman Registration Act rules (he’s fighting Ikaris on the cover, but inside he just stands there with his arms crossed, trying to look badass), so we actually seem to be moving backwards plot-wise.

The biggest chunk of the book is taken up with Sersi trying to communicate with the Dreaming Celestial, which of course goes nowhere. The best part of the story comes at the very end, when Druig and Legba try to recruit the Forgotten One, who has no interest in their schemes. The melee that follows is pretty cool, if brief.

It’s hard to say why this book doesn’t excite me. It’s certainly not lacking in plot. But there’s really nothing original or clever in the story, and not a lot of fun. Moments of playfulness are few, and when they are introduced (“Next month’s issue may very well render you a quivering, gutless husk!”), they seem forced. Similarly, the art, while quite nice, is still much too heavy in the browns and grays.

C’mon, guys, lighten up! (Grade: B-)

– Andrew C. Murphy

Eternals #1 – Review

Charles & Daniel Knauf (Writers) and Daniel Acuña (Artist)

How do you follow up a writer like Neil Gaiman?

The answer is, of course, you can’t. And you shouldn’t try. That’s why when Gaiman stopped writing Sandman, DC stopped publishing it. Unfortunately, with The Eternals Marvel didn’t have that option. When Gaiman stopped writing, the Dreaming Celestial had been awakened, Druig was trying to take over the world, and a nasty horde of… something… was coming to devour the Earth. Wisely, Marvel didn’t resume the book immediately; they took a year to regroup and try to find a team that might do justice to Gaiman and Romita Jr.’s run on the book.

Let’s start with the obvious: the Knaufs aren’t as good as Gaiman. (But that’s no surprise. There’s only once exception to the “Can’t Follow” rule, and that was Gaiman himself following Alan Moore on Miracleman.) They haven’t his wit, or his knack for seeing things from an alien perspective. Similarly, Acuña may technically be a better artist than Romita Jr. (the faces he draws actually seem three-dimensional) but he doesn’t have the same energy, and his colors are muddy, overburdened by browns and grays.

That being said, the Knaufs do a great job picking up and expanding on the plot threads of the last series. There’s a race going on: Ikaris and Thena are trying to reach and reawaken the Eternals mindwiped by Sprite before Druig can get his hooks in them. Their quarry this issue is a character I don’t believe we’ve seen before: Legba, the first Voodoo Eternal, who is currently a charismatic and less-than-angelic minister in Louisiana. Hopefully he’ll inject some much needed humor into the story, now that Sersi is stuck playing nursemaid to Makkari, whose link to the Dreaming Celestial is tearing him down, physically and emotionally. There’s also a sub-plot involving Thena’s son, who seems to be playing host to one of the nasty things that are bearing down on Earth.

All in all, it’s a good start to a promising series. The Knaufs and Acuña seem to be well poised to carry on the work begun by Gaiman and—judging by the over-the-top caption at the end of the book: “You have yet to read the ANCIENT AND SUBLIME COSMIC SECRETS OF THE CELESTIALS to be revealed in the next heart-stopping issue!”—the great Jack Kirby before him. (Grade: B)

– Andrew C. Murphy

A Second Opinion

As someone who’s read the entire run of Jack Kirby’s original Eternals series, I can’t say I was a big fan. The concept, blatantly ripped out of the old Chariots of the Gods novel, was poorly executed thanks to Kirby’s schizophrenic and convoluted storytelling as a writer. It was just too much, too ambitious, and felt out of place within the Marvel Universe. And then it ended abruptly. I know there’s stories about how Kirby was upset with Marvel’s failure to support the series and maybe that’s what led to the series ultimate demise. Whatever the case, The Eternals was not a very compelling or entertaining series for me.

Thankfully Neil Gaiman found some redeeming qualities, because his reboot worked very well for me. He modernized characrers, retooled their sense of purpose, and found a way to make them gel within the Marvel Universe – no easy task. In this newest series, the Knaufs have done a competent job in carrying the torch that Gaiman lit. And while the Dreaming Celestial’s dialogue feels trite at times, the race that’s going on between Ikaris an Druig seems interesting, especially with the cosmic threat at hand. Still, The Horde are not played up as much as they should, and unless Marvel has some big crossover plans in store with these creatures, they don’t seem to be much of an impending threat. Is it me or is The Horde a bit too reminiscent of the Annihilation Wave? Do we need another similar plot so soon? These aren’t complaints, but more so, reservations.

My real complaint is Daniel Acuna’s portrayal of action. After some of the gorgeous pages he did in Iron Man, it’s a bit disheartening to see him fumble around with what be best described as a run-of-the-mill confrontation between hero and villain. What gives? As for the rest of the issue, Acuna’s art quite good. His portrayal of the many characters of the Marvel Universe is a treat, and his coloring (particularly in Druig’s stronghold) is very mood driven.

To answer your question if this book’s worth picking up, I think so. Readers unfamiliar with The Eternals may still seem confused or lost despite the many recaps laden throughout the issue. There’s nothing mindblowing at work here, either, but as a debut issue it’s a solid story with a decent hook. This is not Jack Kirby’s Eternals and because of that the story may not work for some people. But I’m quite alright with that. This is actually much better. (Grade: B-)

– J. Montes