Eternals #19, January 1977

"The Pyramid"
Edited, written & drawn by Jack Kirby
Inker & Letterer- Mike Royer
Consulting Editor- Archie Goodwin

SUMMARY

Ikaris is sealed within a the floor of Sigmar's lab. He cannot get out, but attempts to appeal to Druig, pleading him not to take the weapon. Druig tortures him with a torch, then beats Sigmar when he objects. He orders Sigmar to guard Ikaris while he journeys to the Pyramid of the Winds.

Sigmar:"Thus are DISASTERS born-- in the minds of DEMON-DRIVEN MADMEN!"

Launching his "Ice-Runner", Druig sets out for the Pyramid. As he nears it, the weather becomes more fierce, but he activates a force-field to pass through the "Bridge of Terror". He follows a tunnel into a sophisticated-looking room, at the center of which lies a pyramid. The base of the pyramid is surrounded with doors, and Druig does not know which one to open.

Back at the castle of the Polar Eternals, Ikaris checks his powers. His disintegration abilities have returned at a mild level, and he manages to put a thin slice through the iron door above him. Then he crashes through, back into the lab! Sigmar makes a pathetic attempt to hold him back, but Ikaris is more than a match for him!

Ikaris:"And I would crush you to a pulp-- if I didn't NEED your knowledge of the PYRAMID! You're coming with me!"

The two Eternals fly off, and soon find the Celestial Ziran before them. Ikaris now realizes who Druig intends to use the weapon on. Sigmar knows of a secret entrance he did not inform Druig of, and so they are able to pass-by the Bridge of Terror without incident.

At the Pyramid, Druig realizes which door he wants- the one which bears the same symbol found on Ikaris' chest. The Weapon is there, and it is immense- built for a Celestial to use. But before he can seize it, Ikaris and Sigmar enter! Ikaris and Druig grapple, but Ikaris is still weak, and Druig has fire to spare! It's no use- Druig dashes for the weapon. Sigmar tells Ikaris he has only one chance.

Sigmar:"Druig almost finished you because you sought to take him ALIVE! It can't be done! He must be DESTROYED!"
Ikaris:"If you mean--"
Sigmar:"You know EXACTLY what I mean! DISINTIGRATE DRUIG! HE'S REACHED THE WEAPON!"
Ikaris:"But-- he's of my FAMILY-- the son of Great Valkin!"
Sigmar:"Once he triggers that weapon he will RELEASE a force which will wipe out ALL families! ACTIVATE YOUR DISINTIGRATOR EYE-BEAMS! DESTROY HIM!"
Ikaris:"I-I have NO choice!"

Druig has begun to activate the firing mechanism, so there is only one thing Ikaris can do- disintegrate the weapon! The force of the explosion disintegrates Druig, and causes a powerful shockwave! Ikaris & Sigmar flee, but Sigmar is struck down! Heroically, he asks Ikaris to leave him, but Ikaris carries him to safety as the entire Pyramid crashes down!

But the threat is not over. The energies of the weapon continue to tear apart the surroundings at the atomic level! There is no way Ikaris can stop it- sooner or later, the earth will die!

Suddenly, a large hand reaches down- it is Ziran. With his great powers, he contains the blast, settling the land. Where the Great Pyramid once stood, there is only a sea of molten metal.

Sigmar:"Stranger and stranger are the VARIED ways of fate! That terrible force has fallen prey to its INTENDED victim!"
Ikaris:"The Great Celestial had the ANSWER to the problem all this time! Druig could NEVER have succeeded with his plan! The Space Gods remain an unconquerable ENIGMA-- mysterious and majestic among the creatures of the cosmos!"

Narration:"Thus, like his fellows, the Celestial moves on-- perhaps dwelling on a DISTANT time when men have gained the stature to face them eye to eye-- and know ALL!"

THE END...?

COMMENTS

"Ikarus" returns on the cover, after being spelt correctly the previous issue. What's wrong with the letterer?

Well, this is the end. And it's been a blast. Shame there's nothing left.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Next: Okay, I'm not done. Eternals Annual#1 is next, as we say goodbye to Jack Kirby. Since I can't pinpoint this story exactly, I decided to leave it for last. See you then.