REVIEW: ‘Eternals: Celestia #1’ Crackles with Kirby Continuity
In Eternals: Celestia #1 by Kieron Gillen, Kei Zama, John Livesay, Matthew Wilson, and Clayton Cowles, with a main cover by Esad Ribić, we get a story that leans heavily into the religious overtones of the Eternals world created by Jack Kirby… and that leads an issue that you’ll surely want to pick up!
Eternals: Celestia #1. Photo: Marvel Comics
Eternals
This issue has a big job: it has to contextualize the story of the Eternals for readers of Marvel Comics, some of whom may be entirely unfamiliar with the story and characters… Which is very similar to the role that the Eternals movie, premiering tonight and releasing in theaters nationwide on Friday, November 5th, 2021, must do for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Ajak. Photo: Marvel Comics
Eternals: Celestia #1 bridges the gap between the Eternals’ Marvel origins and the superheroes that MCU fans are meeting for the first time in the upcoming film, with the comic book’s storyline mirroring the changes that Marvel Studios has made to Kirby’s Eternals team. One of my favorite updates is to Makkari, who has lost her hearing and ability to communicate telepathically, and now uses what appears to be American Sign Language to communicate.
Makkari. Photo: Marvel Comics
However, if the Eternals movie leans this heavily into the religious element (and it may, considering that the team is being billed as “the original superheroes”), then I am curious how audiences will react!
This issue wastes no time in establishing some key story elements that may carry through to the movie: (1) the Eternals view the Celestials as their gods, and (2) the course of the Eternals’ development has been repeatedly shaped by the decisions that the Celestials make.
Eternals: Celestia #1. Photo: Marvel Comics
But now, it now seems as though the Celestials are no longer talking to the Eternals… and making things even more complicated is the fact that the Avengers are currently using the corpse of one of the Celestials as a headquarters (in their defense, they believe they have permission).
Photo: Marvel Comics
The comic addresses these heavy thematic concerns with appropriate gravity, integrating new and old elements of Marvel Comics continuity alike into this interesting, engaging tale.
Photo: Marvel Comics
While this story is unquestionably part of the Marvel universe, it feels very different than most of the publisher’s comics. And on top of all the interesting story elements, many of the pages in this issue have absolutely fascinating layouts that really play with perspective and design.
Eternals: Celestia #1. Photo: Marvel Comics
Celestia
Have you had a chance to pick up Eternals: Celestia #1 from your local comic shop? What did you think of this issue? We’re waiting to hear from you, Marvel Blog True Believers! Give us a shout-out in the comment section.
