Eternally Cool: Eternals #1

Most people don't respond well to being approached by strangers who are desperate to share their crazy ramblings with them. As soon as some guy on the street starts telling you about the secret government plan to hide Atlantis from the aliens who, by the way, are always watching you, you're probably gonna head in the opposite direction as fast as your feet will carry you. That kind of thing is just way out of our comfort zone.

Unfortunately for him, that is just about what happens to Mark Curry in Eternals #1 by Neil Gaiman and John Romita Jr. Mark is a hard-working medical intern whose life has hit a bit of a rough patch. His job is relentless, his student loan payments are overdue, his girlfriend just left him, and he is having some really weird dreams. The only thing that could make matters worse would be having some weirdo show up at the hospital to tell Mark that they are both actually super-powerful, immortal aliens who have been around for half a million years, give or take a decade. So, of course, that guy does turn up in the men's room.

The weirdo, who says his name is Ike Harris, is not easy to get rid of. He keeps turning up where Mark least expects him, with tales about the dawn of time, the origins of the humanity, a race of gigantic aliens called the Celestials, and super-powered beings known as the Deviants and the Eternals. Mark, normally enough, is not inclined to believe anything Ike tells him. It seems, however; that SOMEONE believes because Ike and the other Eternals soon find themselves targeted by some very violent and dangerous people.

If you've been a comics reader for any time at all, the names Gaiman and Romita will almost certainly not be new to you. Neil Gaiman is an award-winning, best-selling novelist, who also wrote Sandman (widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest series in comic's history). Known for his epic fantasy tales, Eternals is a perfect fit for Gaiman. These characters, originally created by Jack Kirby, inhabit a world of god-like beings, mysterious aliens and thought-provoking, fantastic concepts. It is a real treat for fans to have Gaiman back in comics with such a great story. Top that off with powerful and dynamic art from John Romita Jr. (who has probably drawn just about every character in the Marvel Universe by now), and you have a winning combination that is hard to beat.

Great writing, great art, and really cool characters. What more could anyone ask for? Eternals is definitely a series that should not be missed. That's why it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week. Just try not to get distracted by that guy on your porch who wants to sell you an aluminum foil hat to keep the little gray men from reading your mind. That guy really is crazy.