An Interesting New Take: The Eternals #1

If your whole race was to be named, and summed up, by one single adjective, you would really want it to be a good one. No one would want to be know as "The Adequates" or "The Smellies." You need an adjective with gravitas, dignity, and power. Something that would really impress and inspire outsiders. Something like...The Eternals.

Even if you know your Marvel Universe history, you may not be familiar with the Eternals. They are an often overlooked part of the Marvel U, despite being quintessential Kirby creations. At the dawn of history, Earth was visited by a gigantic, god-like race known as the Celestials. Somewhat underwhelmed with what they saw of the human race, the Celestials decided a little genetic experimentation was in order. From the raw material of human beings, they created two races: the hideous, powerful, Deviants and the human-looking, yet powerful and immortal, Eternals.

Recently, the Eternals were brought to the foreground of the Marvel Universe by a plucky young writer of some note: Neil Gaiman. In the Gaiman/Romita JR limited series, the Eternals had all been stripped of their memories and powers by an Eternal gone bad. They were living amongst the humans in blissful ignorance, until the Eternal Ikkaris regained his memories, and set about awakening the rest of his people. Unfortunately, the villainous Druig set off to build his own power base, creating a rift amongst the Eternals and starting a dangerous power struggle.

In Eternals #1, written by Charles and Daniel Knauf with art from Daniel Acuna, Ikkaris and his followers are desperately trying to awaken and recruit Eternals. If the Earth is to survive the approaching doom known as the Horde, all the Eternals will need to be united. Unfortunately, Druig's immoral recruiting methods seem to be much more efficient. All in all, things don't look good for Earth, the Eternals, or the human race.

If you liked Neil Gaiman's take on the Eternals, you will enjoy this continuation of the Eternal's saga. If you missed that series, you can jump right in with Eternals #1 now, while it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. You don't want to see the Earth destroyed, do you? Do you? Then get reading! The future of the planet hangs in the balance.

Defying Expectations: House of Mystery #2

Houses come in many varieties. There is the Fun House, the Haunted House, the White House, my house, your house, a house of cards, and even houses of ill-repute. Whatever your particular housing needs may be, there is a house to suit your tastes and purposes. However, the one house that should be avoided at all cost is....the House of Mystery! (Cue dramatic crash of thunder and ominous organ music.)

House of Mystery is actually the latest offering from DC's Vertigo imprint. This book, by Matthew Sturges, Bill Willingham, Luca Rossi, and a variety of other artists, comes with a pretty high pedigree. I mean, these are the people who created the all-together awesome Fables universe, so my expectations were pretty high. Of course, befitting a House of Mystery, they met my expectations, but didn't give me what I expected.

The House of the title is a sprawling mix of architectural styles, all leaning towards the creepy and weird. There are doorways to this house from many different worlds. In fact, it seems to be connected to an endless array of places, times, and realities. No one really knows where the house came from, or why it exists. People who are supposed to find the House do, but no one knows why they end up there. Most visitors to the House can return from whence they came when their business there is done, but a select few can't leave. When they try, they find themselves in a desolate wasteland with an impassable gate. (Though every once in a great while, a mysterious coachmen comes to take one of the residents away, but no one knows where they go.)

The permanent residents of the House busy themselves by essentially providing "bed and breakfast" services for their many visitors. They are desperate for entertainment, so the payment for their services comes in the form of stories. Each issue has a story within the story, told by one of the unusual, exotic, or just plain disturbing, guests of the House. (Seriously, don't read the Hungry Sally tale in the first issue before eating, or you'll be sorry!) These stories may all form part of some larger picture, or they may just be entertaining tales. I cannot claim to truly understand the mysterious ways of the House of Mystery.

If you like stories that make your puzzler work, or you just enjoy a healthy dose of weird and creepy in your comics, you should check out House of Mystery #2 this week, while it is guaranteed at Four Color Fantasies. If you act now, there are still copies of #1 available. Get it while you can, because you never know when you might open the wrong door and find yourself trapped...in the House of Mystery! (One more time with the thunder and the organ music. Make it extra ominous this time!)