Eternals#1 July, 1976

Writer/Artist- Jack Kirby
Inker- John Verpoorten
Consulting editor- Marv Wolfman 

SUMMARY

Dr. Daniel Damian, his daughter Margo, and their guide, Ike Harris, discover the "chamber of the gods" beneath the Andes mountains. Within are heavily ornamented sculptures, and figures of "space gods" within a vehicle. As Ike films their findings, he begins insisting that other races exist, but Dr. Damian won't listen to him, denying the existence of other races within humanity.

Meantime, an airplane is destroyed by a sudden surge of energy over the
Pacific Ocean. An advanced weapon, fired by Warlord Kor, lowers itself back into the waters. The Deviant leader, Brother Tode himself, and his wife, Queen Vira are presently disgusted by a blue-skin Deviant whom they feel looks too human, and note that more and more "unstable" Deviants are being produced each day. Tode orders Kro to prevent the Eternals from following a beacon sent from the Inca Chamber. Kro and his men depart from the underwater city of Lemuria aboard an attack craft.

Back at the Chamber, Ike reveals the truth to the Damians. His name is
Ikaris, and he is an Eternal, a species created by the "space gods". He also tells them of the Deviants, and how the "space gods" created men, Deviants & Eternals by experimenting on primitive life-forms. Just then Ikaris sees the beacon of the space gods lighting up upon a monitor- and realizes that they are returning to the Chamber!

Kro leads his craft through an underground opening into the Chamber, and he and his troops enter- tripping an alarm! Kro instantly recognizes Ikaris of the Polar Eternals! The Deviants try to destroy the beacon to prevent the space gods from returning, but Ikaris guards it with a force field, then shoots back with his eye-beams!

Unfazed, Kro has one of his men shoot Ikaris with a "shroud" gun that coats him within a cloth-like garment, blocking his eye-beams! Dr. Damian courageously tries to hold the Deviants back with his pistol- when the sound of a loud explosion is heard! The shadow of an immense ship covers the land!

Racing outside, Ikaris, Kro & the Damians see the vessel of the space gods! Kro resolves to fight to the end- while Ikaris prepares the Damians for a meeting with their makers!

This issue also contains an editorial by Jack Kirby which can be viewed here.

COMMENTS

Although this story conflicts somewhat with established Marvel lore, it is a great start to a wonderful story. My only major complaint are the two-page spread and two one-page spreads found within each issue. Granted, those pages are filled with wonderful Kirby art, but you tend to feel the story is been skimped.

There's also a funny moment with the "shroud" gun. Ikaris can't fight his way out of a blanket! My hero!

Also noted, Dr. Daniel Damian first appeared in Fantastic Four#64, as the archeologist who found Sentry#459 on Easter Island. Finally, Lemuria, had already been established as an underwater city populated by green-skinned Atlanteans in Sub-Mariner, thus giving Marvel TWO Lemurias. The Lemuria we will deal with shall be referred to as "Deviant Lemuria".