Chloé Zhao's highly anticipated Eternals movie introduces Jack Kirby's iconic heroes into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Zhao has been very vocal about Kirby's influence on the upcoming film. It's fitting that Marvel's new one-shot comic, Eternals Forever #1, by veteran writer Ralph Macchio and artist Ramón F. Bachs (Star Wars), is an excellent homage to the creator. The stand-alone comic is an exciting adventure that will delight longtime fans and serve as the perfect introduction to new readers.
At the beginning of Eternals Forever #1, Ikaris is flying around and enjoying his powers when a Deviant ship attacks him. Ikaris fights back bravely, but he is no match for their electric nets and Brain Mines. The Deviants capture the Eternal and take him to their base of operations in the underwater ruins of Lemuria, where their leader Priestlord Ghaur implants a tracking device into the hero's brain. When Ikaris awakes, he fights off the villains and flies home to Olympia, not knowing he's leading them straight to his home.
Macchio has crafted an exciting story that contextualizes classic elements of the Eternals' mythology. The inclusion of such a wide array of characters and ideas represents an appreciation of Kirby's Eternals comics and introduces these ideas to a new generation of readers. Macchio even writes in Kirby's florid, bombastic style, the expository nature of which allows him to squeeze even more background information onto every page. Unfortunately, there are times where this method takes away from the story's pacing. At one point, Gilgamesh, the forgotten one, explains that he is sometimes mistaken for Hercules because of the similar nature of their heroic acts in the middle of a fight with a horde of deviants. This insertion of background information into the comic's climax is remarkably clunky and distracts more than it adds. But even when he throws subtlety to the wind, Macchio's characters are endearing and a joy to watch.
Much like Macchio, Bachs wears his appreciation for Kirby proudly on his sleeves. He lovingly draws the Deviants' Genetics Interface Laboratory --- complete with the pseudo-psychedelic machinery that made Kirby's work so fascinating. Bachs also draws Olympia in a style that is reminiscent of the original comics. That's not to say Bachs' style doesn't shine through his homages. His knack for capturing characters' emotions is on full display, especially when Ikaris struggles with disorientation. This emotional range helps build tension leading to the climactic battle, which lands with thrills and excellence.
Eternals Forever #1 doesn't break any new ground, but it does an excellent job of distilling the energy and imagery that makes the Eternals exciting into one stand-alone story. Readers looking to discover the Olympians before the movie will find just the thing in this issue. Fans of the heroes will be treated to a thoroughly entertaining read. Macchio and Bachs have created a comic that stands on its own merits while being a great tribute to Jack Kirby.
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