Eternals #2, August 1976

"The Celestials!"
Edited, written & drawn by Jack Kirby
Inker- John Verpoorten
Consulting Editor- Marv Wolfman

SUMMARY

A massive vessel hovers above the Temple of the Sun Gods, as Ikaris, Margo, Dr. Damian & Kro look on. The Damians are terrified, while Ikaris accepts the events rather nonchalantly, and Kro fumes that the "Space Gods" bring nothing but destruction.

Kro runs before the vessel and defiantly proclaims that the Deviants will rule the earth again one day, and send the gods back to the stars! His reply is a shockwave of energy that forces him to retreat, with the Damians & Ikaris right behind. The four run back into the Temple for shelter from the debris, as Ikaris wonders why the gods responded with such wrath.

Margo asks Ikaris if he can stop the gods attack, but he replies that only one Eternal has ever communicated with them- Tecumotzin, Lord of Flight, a god of the Incas who has long since vanished.

Convinced that the gods will destroy them all, Kro retreats with his men to their underwater vessel, telling Ikaris that he is dooming himself by remaining.

After they have gone, the shocks seem to die down, and Dr. Damian asks Ikaris for more information about the Deviants. Ikaris tells him how they had once ruled the island continent of Lemuria, and most of the world. But one day, the gods returned, and the Deviants fired upon them as an enemy! The gods' reply was to sink the island by flooding the entire planet with water! The Eternals survived, high upon their mountains, and Ikaris guided a wooden ark containing the last humans to shore. (He notes that the humans mistook him for a bird!) Margo is overwhelmed by this information.

Ikaris now turns to an Inca carving of man in a helmet, and presses a special latch to the "Resurrection Crypt". The wall folds down, revealing sophisticated machinery, as Ikaris introduces the Damians to Tecumotzin himself! Or as Ikaris knows him- Ajak!

Realizing that the gods have returned, Ajak immediately orders his staff to their stations, and is shocked to find that it is Ikaris, a fellow Polar Eternal, who has released them from their hibernation. After exchanging pleasantries (and after Ajak calls Margo "bluebird"), Ajak & his men get to work within their control room to open a channel to the space gods!

As they hear Ajak's introduction, Dr. Damian now realizes why the Celesials forced them to leave the field- they expected Ajak to welcome them.

The Celestials(as they are called here on in) reply- a gigantic figure clad in red armor lands upon a stone pillar. He is Arishem, the leader of the Fourth Celestial host, and he will determine whether the earth shall live or die!

This issue also contains an editorial by Jack Kirby- "Gods, Myths, and UFOs", and a picture of Sersi to advertise the next issue!

COMMENTS

Ikaris remains in civies throughout this story. He won't don that familiar red & blue suit till next time. It's strange to meet so many Eternals at once- after Ikaris being the only Eternal last issue, in this issue we meet Ajak and a large crowd of unnamed characters. The Eternals in this series never had trouble making a Uni-Mind, let me tell you!

No silly moments either, though that Ark scene is taken with a nudge and a wink. On the other hand, there's a Hostess ad within that was so funny, I just had to summarize it for you. I can't help but think how superior it is to the recent Mark Waid story...

"Captain America and The Red Skull"

I have no idea who wrote or drew it. Might have been Ron Wilson drawing.

*Scene: Washington DC*

Captain America: "I want my part in the Bicentennial Celebration to be the most patriotic, most fantastic ever. So I must practice."

*Cap is caught in an energy beam*

Cap:"Holy lightning, where are these blasted rays taking me?"

*Red Skull's base*

Red Skull:"Ah yes, my little fellow, my Cosmic Cub...with your powers and my evil brain we can take over the United States BEFORE the Bicentennial Celebration. And THEN the world. (Of course, it will be lots easier with Captain America out of the way.)"

*Cap appears*

Skull:"Welcome, Captain America. My Cosmic Cube has just delivered you from Washington to my doorstep. Now we'll see what kind of Bicentennial it will be with you as my prisoner."

Cap(thinks):"I know how to get that Cosmic Cube on my side." (aloud):"Okay, Cosmic Cube, since you're so super-powerful, maybe you'll be supersensitive to delicious HOSTESS TWINKIES."

*Cap hands the Cube a Twinkie*

Cosmic Cube(thinks):"...MMMM...DELICIOUS GOLDEN SPONGE CAKE."

Skull:"Cosmic Cube, I command you to pulverize Captain America!"

Narration:"The Cube refuses to do anything against Cap, because it is enjoying the Twinkies too much!"

Cap:"Your Cosmic Cube refuses to obey you, because it's enjoying the HOSTESS TWINKIES."

Cube(thinks):"MMMM. SMOOTH CREAMED FILLING TOO..."

*Cap decks the Skull*

Cap:"...And now back to the important work of the glorious bicentennial. (I'd better stop off for another package of HOSTESS TWINKIES on my way back to the Washington Monument)."

Skull:"By George Washington! My Cube has gone square!"

I did NOT make that up! It's all true!

Next time: Sersi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (maybe some more Twinkie ads too!)