Eternals #16, October 1977

"Big City Crypt" ["Crypt" written in EC font- nice touch]
Edited, written & drawn by Jack Kirby
Inker & Letterer- Mike Royer
Consulting Editor- Archie Goodwin

SUMMARY

Ikaris warns Zuras not to engage the Cosmic Hulk, but as the eldest Eternal, Zuras is unafraid. The Hulk hefts a huge block of stone at Zuras, but it shatters around his force field, leaving him untouched. As the Hulk tries to understand what has happened, Zuras grabs him on each shoulder, and where he touches, the cosmic energy spills out! Frightened, the Hulk leaps away. Zuras orders Makkari & Ikaris to make sure the robot is destroyed.

The Hulk lands in a street and begins digging through the ground, looking for some escape- he finds a deep passageway...

Zuras & Sersi appear on television with Sam & Margo, as Zuras explains the Eternals' intention of opening relations with humanity.

Suddenly, there is a great explosion! The energy leaking from the Hulk has ignited the gas lines! Makkari & Ikaris see something moving below ground, tearing up the concrete, and presume it's the Hulk, but as Ikaris lands, a hand snatches him and pulls him below ground! Makkari journeys after him, and finds an ancient passageway, and a tomb...whose door is ajar! Before he can react, a massive hand pulls him into the tomb!

Zuras journeys to the site of the explosion, and with a blast of lightning, dispels the flames. A large pit remains, and Zuras is troubled by what he sees.

Sersi:"Great Zuras! If the problem has been DEALT with, perhaps we can LEAVE this city..."
Zuras:"Ikaris and Makkari have yet to be HEARD from. It would be best to WAIT for their report! In all frankness, Sersi, the ancient fears that lie BURIED in this old heart have been mightily STIRRED here!"
Sersi:"Can the PIT be the source of your fears? It is of AWESOME size and depth!"
Zuras:"Heed me, child-- though you've seen AGES pass, you are very YOUNG within the ETERNAL context! The shaft below was formed LONG before you came into being!"
Sersi:"PLEASE, Sire...if there is something I should know about this place, I ask but to SHARE the knowledge!"
Zuras:"LATER, Sersi. This demands my personal attention. I must DESCEND into the pit!"
Sersi:"Let me go wtih you! I would also share the MYSTERY in its depths!"
Zuras:"I order you to JOIN your friends and WAIT for my return! Do as I command!"

Travelling below, Zuras finds the crypt open, and within, finds an empty tomb and a discarded helmet.

Zuras:"DROMEDAN, THE BRAIN-SNATCHER IS FREE TO PLAGUE THIS CENTURY!"

The helmet is the only means of shutting off Dromedan's powers, so Zuras takes it with him. Moving through a passageway, he finds Makkari & Ikaris, their minds controlled, battling one another, though they detest it. Zuras steps in and is able to snap them back. He tells them to leave- only he can confront Dromedan. Zuras is assaulted by winds, set aflame, and even turned to stone, but keeps moving- until the massive Deviant, swathed in bandages appears before him!

Zuras:"This time, you shall wear the NEUTRALIZER helmet for ETERNITY-- and plague the world no more!"
Dromedan:"I'LL DO WITH THE WORLD AS I PLEASE! YOUR DAY IS OVER! KNEEL, ZURAS!!"

Next: More mind-bending excitement!

COMMENTS

The cover proclaims, "Ikarus trapped by the Thing in the Big City Crypt!". Who is this "Ikarus", and why does his name keep turning up?

"Big City"? Something wrong with "New York", Jack?

The Eternals Annual came out at this time, but I'm going to cover it AFTER the actual series is done. It doesn't really fit within any order. All I can say for certain is that it comes after the Uni-Mind story. So it might as well wait for last.

I find Zuras' treatment of Sersi interesting. It's easy to forget just how many centuries apart some of the Eternals are.

Michael Hoskin, Brain-Snatcher