Eternals #3, September 1976

"The Devil in New York!"
Orginated, Written & Drawn by Jack Kirby
Inker- John Verpoorten
Consulting Editor- Archie Goodwin

SUMMARY

As Ajak and his crew ponder what Arishem and his host intend for the planet, he notes that the host will soon close off the area for fifty years- and if Ikaris & the Damians remain within, they won't leave until then!

Dr. Damian decides to remain behind, and Ikaris forces Margo to leave with him! He drags her back to the plane, past the descending Celestials, then knocks her out with an eye-beam to keep her quiet. Then, they fly away.

In Deviant Lemuria, Brother Tode and his host watch as Kro is tortured before them for failing to keep the Celestials from landing. Kro remains adamant that the Deviants will be able to slay the Celestials, and is released so that Brother Tode can hear his plan. He intends for the humans to slay the Celestials by stirring up fear- and demonstrates by growing a pair of horns from his forehead. He intends to masquerade as the devil!

Above the Andes Mountains in the plane, Margo has awoken. She is devastated that she will probably never see her father alive again, so Ikaris rises the plane above the clouds to cheer her up, showing her the sights. It is then that he suddenly appears in a red & blue costume, explaining that his civilian clothes were nothing more than an illusion. He then steps out of the plane and flies alongside, having fun circling the plane- when suddenly, an advanced craft rises up and fires upon him!

It is a Deviant craft, armed with a "Z-Ray" that can kill a hundred humans! Ikaris is hurt, and returns to the plane. Kro, in command of the vessel, prepares to fire upon the plane- when suddenly, it vanishes!

Surrounded by a force field, the plane lands above New York, having been teleported there by Ikaris. Margo actually lives in Denver, but Ikaris wants to leave her with a friend for protection. They land at Kennedy airport, and take a cab to an apartment in New York's west side, on the tenth floor. Ikaris makes mental contact with the owner, and is welcomed in- by Sersi, a young woman dressed in a green costume. Margo does not need to be told that she is an Eternal.

Sersi:"How do you like it, Ikaris? Has my dance form improved since we last met?"

Ikaris:"You are as you've always been, Sersy[sic]! Beautiful-- charming-- inspiring to watch! To say more would exhaust the adjectives in a thousand languages..."

Sersi:"Flatterer! You're afraid that I'll turn you into a pig! But I'm too fond of you to do that!"

Ikaris asks Sersi to watch over Margo, and tells her that the Celestials have returned- and that he fears the Deviants are preparing to strike at New York! Sersi tells him to give them what they deserve!

Deviant troopers dressed in armor and armed with flame throwers shower upon New York, destroying all they find, while the "Devil" leads their assault! Crowds panic, as Ikaris flies to their rescue!

COMMENTS

This issue contains the first letters page- with a long one about how the Eternals don't fit in the Marvel Universe- by Ralph Macchio, only months before being hired by Marvel!

Sersi's name is mis-spelt "Sersy" throughout this issue.