Eternals #11, May 1977

"The Russians Are Coming!"
Edited, written and drawn by Jack Kirby
Inker & Letterer- Mike Royer
Consulting Editor- Archie Goodwin

SUMMARY

High above Olympia, Zuras commands the Eternals to form the Uni-Mind, as legions of them circle through the air. Some of the Eternals below are not so easily impressed:

1st woman:"The sun shines in UNTROUBLED skies! Yet, Zuras entertaining dark visions! Can age be STIMULATING his fears?"
2nd woman:"Disasters happen at the most INOPPORTUNE times!"
Bald man:"Agreed, lady. I was at a PARTY in London."
Man:"I'd rather MEDITATE-- than mingle with SILLY humans!"

Margo feels somewhat out of place among the many Eternals who appear from nowhere. There is one in particular that Ikaris calls her over to meet- an Asian man in the robes of a samurai!

Makkari:"SAY! That must be--"
Ikaris:"--KINGO SUNEN! I'd know his SAMURAI silhouette anywhere!"
Kingo Sunen:"HAIL, IKARIS! I see that you and Makkari have NOT yet neglected BEAUTY in this grave hour!"
Ikaris:"Nor have you the sword, Kingo! Be as one with Great Zuras!"
Makkari:"What's wrong Margo? You look PUZZLED! Eternals are as VARIED as humans, you know. Kingo's city is on a mountain on the island of HOKKAIDO!"
Margo:"Y-you DON'T understand! I've seen him before-! He's a FAMOUS Japanese movie star!"
Ikaris:"That's TRUE! Kingo loves nothing better than PORTRAYING samurais!"
Makkari:"--And WHO can do it more ACCURATELY, I ask you?! He was a witness to the REAL thing in SIXTEENTH-CENTURY Japan!"

Just then, Sersi appears with Sam Holden, who was brought unaware of the events.

Ikaris:"The time is at hand for humans to familiarize themselves with our ways. COME! Zuras and the Uni-Mind AWAIT us!
Sersi:"You show much more concern than your ICE-BOUND family, Ikaris. I see none of THEM here!"
Makkari:"FORGET them!"
Ikaris:"The POLAR MOUNTAIN Eternals have all heard the call! They WON'T fail Great Zuras!"
Margo:"I-I don't remember you EVER mentioning your RELATIVES."
Sersi:"Ikaris is the BEST of those boors. And I wouldn't rate HIM among the top ten most popular males!"
Ikaris:"Alas, the BLEAK north does NOT breed gentle hearts. The Polar Eternals are where thunder rolls and lightning rides the sky--!"
Sersi:"Yes! Margo would get quite a JOLT if she knew where your BULLY-BOYS are!!"

A war-room in the Kremlin...

The Soviets are ready to take action. General Greshkov intends to destroy Nezarr before he reaches a populated area. General Vulcanin, however, would sooner they send an expedition of scientists to study the immense Celestial. Unfortunately, the others in the room do not agree with Vulcanin- they are convinced that he is a threat to Russia and must be destroyed. Disheartened, Vulcanin leaves.

In the hall, Vulcanin meets with two of his aides who rendezvous with him to his helicopter and pilot. Once they have taken off, they shed their disguises- General Vulcanin is actually Valkin, leader of the Polar Eternals! His aides are his son Druig, and Aginar. The pilot is Zarin.

Valkin:"Better to be VALKIN, of the Polar Mountains, than hold HIGH rank in a human military machine! I DON'T suppose that you agree, Druig!"
Druig:"To be a son of Valkin is honor, indeed...however, I am NOT displeased with my lot as a Major in the KGB..."
Aginar:"Sly TORTURER! You LOVE the foul work! You revel in the shaping of PLOTS and the training of assassins!"

Valkin silences them, as Zarin teleports the entire helicopter to Olympia- where they strike the Delphan Brothers, a team of boxers armed with steel gloves.

Valkin:"The sun glows WARMLY in these regions. The Eternals of Zuras are prone to the SLOTH induced by its rays!"
Zarin:"A blast of COLD wind would QUICKLY jolt them from their meditations!"
Delphan:"CAREFUL, brothers! We are beset by IDIOTS!"
Zarin:"CLEAR THE WAY, you levitators!"
Delphan:"The arrogance is FAMILIAR-- but the faces are in DEEP FREEZE!"
Delphan:"They can only be our POLAR cousins! It is said that they run with the storm and play with Russian junk!"
Delphan:"They're landing, brothers. Perhaps they'll play with US!"
Delphan:"The Delphan Brothers bid you welcome-- with THESE!"
Delphan:"They're used in SPORT and known to WARM the bones!"
Delphan:"Come out! We wish to FLATTEN your noses into more PLEASING shapes!"
Zarin:"Olympia resounds with all manner of DULL echoes!"
Aginar:"Can it be that I hear the BLEATING of sheep?"
Delphan:"If you feel like a LION, come and BARE your teeth!"
Aginar:"DONE!!"

And so, a fight breaks out while Valkin and Druig look on.

Valkin:"You're a COOL one, Druig! Are tensions UNKNOWN to your kind!?"
Druig:"I IGNORE tension as I do the need for HORSE-PLAY!"
Valkin:"And I've neglected YOU, Druig! I have allowed our involvement with humans to MOLD your character! You've been INFLUENCED by the WORST of their instincts!"
Druig:"If you seek the HERO in me, All-Father, look then-- from OTHER views!"
Valkin:"Shall we EVER see each other as FATHER AND SON?"
Druig:"-In WORD. -In DUTY. But, alas, not in VISION!"

Aginar:"Patience, family! These FLOWERS of Delphi are FADING fast!"
Delphan:"This one is in FULL bloom! Look to your THICK head!"

Before the Delphan can strike Aginar, Ikaris knocks him down and joins the fray!

Margo:"SERSI! C-can you STOP this?!"
Sersi:"They'd CRY like BABIES!"

Delphan:"The FLAB of Ikaris will avail you nothing--!"
Zarin:"His flab is enough to DENT your skulls!"

Finally, Valkin tires and stops the battle with a flash of lightning.

Valkin:"It's a BAD day for moderation! The time for HARSH decisions has come! UP, IKARIS! Your travels have done LITTLE to improve your mind!"
Ikaris:"You see me as I've ALWAYS been, uncle!"
 

The Delphan Brothers are dismissed, and the Eternals turn once more to the Uni-Mind.

In Russia, General Greshov is ready to fire the missile he hopes will destroy Nezarr. The missile fires from the silo- it comes closer and closer to its target- until, suddenly, it reverses direction, heading right back to the launch site! Greshov's men panic- there is no escape! The missile comes closer- and closer- and then...

...The crew collapses in their seats. The missile never left the silo. The entire launch was an illusion- an illusion which gave the entire staff cardiac arrests!

Next: The Uni-Mind![one more to my favorite!]

COMMENTS

Great issue! Kingo Sunen makes his first appearance- but we won't see him again till the limited series. Far more important, we meet Ikaris' uncle Valkin and Valkin's son Druig.

Incidentally, some readers toke offense to seeing Eternals working with the Russians.

Lots of funny dialogue- especially in the fight with the Delphans. Best of all: Sersi & Sam are back!