The Eternals were brought to life by Jack Kirby in the 1970s upon his return to Marvel after a brief stint with rival DC. These humanoid aliens originate from the planet Olympia and were genetically engineered by the godlike Celestials. Marvel’s version of the Eternals protected humanity by battling the wicked Deviants, and they have vigilantly safeguarded Earth for over 7,000 years.
Marvel’s 2021 film The Eternals kicked off a new chapter in the Marvel universe. Here is the complete list and biography of Eternals characters introduced in the film – plus a few you probably didn’t know.
The most well-known Eternals characters
Sersi
Sersi is a museum curator on Earth who has the unique power to manipulate inanimate matter. Despite her abilities, she values her strong connection to humans. Originally introduced in the comic book series The Eternals from 1976-78 as “Sersy,” she is depicted as having a deep love for fellow Eternal, Ikaris. Sersi later made guest appearances in The Avengers and Captain America after being incorporated into the Marvel Universe. Following Marvel’s acquisition of Malibu Comics, Sersi and the Black Knight (Dane Whitman) were featured in the Ultraverse imprint, where they developed a romantic relationship. In the 2006 relaunch of The Eternals, Sersi’s character was redesigned by the renowned Neil Gaiman. Unfortunately, she met her demise in issue #4 during a story arc involving the Dark Celestials.
Ikaris
Of all Eternals characters, Ikaris is one of the most formidable, possessing abilities similar to Superman’s, such as flight and the ability to emit cosmic energy beams from his eyes. He was originally introduced in Eternals #1 (July 1976) and was created by Jack Kirby. Ikaris’ backstory explains that he was born more than 20,000 years ago in Polaria, which is now known as Siberia. He is the offspring of Virako and Tulayn, two other Eternals.
When the Second Host of the Celestials sank the Deviant Lemuria in what is known as the “Great Cataclysm”, Ikaris guides a ship of humans to safety. The humans mistake Ikaris for a bird, and he is memorialized as the dove that guided Noah to the Mountains of Ararat (Eternals #2).
Kingo
Kingo possesses the unique ability to emit cosmic energy projectiles from his hands. He has a strong desire for fame and has even adopted a secret identity as a renowned Bollywood film star, though only his valet is privy to this information. Kingo made his debut appearance in Eternals #11 back in May 1977.
Having spent numerous centuries in Japan, Kingo has become proficient in the art of the Samurai, which he frequently employs in lieu of his natural superhuman abilities.
Sprite
The Eternals character known as Sprite possesses the unique ability to create realistic illusions, capable of deceiving those around her. Despite being thousands of years old like the other Eternals, she retains the physical appearance and mannerisms of a 12-year-old child. Sprite was first introduced in Eternals #9 (March 1977) as a mischievous prankster. Interestingly, she has claimed to have inspired the creation of iconic literary characters such as Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Peter Pan from J.M. Barrie’s famous novel.
Sprite revels in what she sees as “playful” behavior and is unmindful of the often deadly consequences of her “pranks”, especially to fragile “mortal” humans.
Phastos
Meet Phastos, a technological genius and skilled weapon inventor who is also a superhero. In fact, he is the first gay superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Phastos was created by Peter Gillis and Sal Buscema and made his debut in The Eternals Vol. 2 #1 back in October 1985. As a third or fourth generation Eternal, he decided to stay on Earth to look for something or someone whose identity remains unknown. With his superhuman speed, strength, and regenerative abilities, Phastos is a force to be reckoned with.
Makkari
Did you know that Makkari is considered the fastest woman on earth? It’s true! However, you may be surprised to learn that Makkari was originally a male character in Jack Kirby’s The Eternals. Later on, Mark Gruenwald reintroduced Makkari as a supporting character in the Quasar series. Makkari’s backstory is quite complex and has evolved over time in the MCU. He was born in Olympia to Verona and Mara and is highly skilled in constructing high-speed vehicles. Interestingly, he also taught writing to the Egyptians under the name Thoth and was taught philosophy by Plato. He’s even had some exciting adventures, such as rescuing Sersi from Nero’s Fire and spending time as the charioteer of Darius I of Persia. Makkari has witnessed some major historical moments, including the Trojan War, the reign of Vlad the Impaler, and the Alamo.
Druig
Druig possesses the unique ability to manipulate the minds of others. His first appearance was in The Eternals #11 (May 1977), and he subsequently appeared in The Eternals #17-19 (Nov. 1977-Jan. 1978) and Thor Annual #7 (1978). After a period of absence, he returns in Captain Marvel #5 (April 1996) and later appears in The Eternals mini-series written by Neil Gaiman, in Eternals vol. 3 #3-4 (Nov.–Oct. 2006), and #6-7 (Jan.–March 2007). Druig is the son of Valkin and the cousin of Ikaris.
Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh, also known as The Forgotten One, is renowned as the strongest Eternals character in terms of physical prowess. However, he is often ostracized by other Eternals, leading him to prefer the company of humans. According to his backstory, he ascended to the throne of Uruk in Sumeria around 3,000 BC and subsequently forged close friendships with the likes of Hercules, Achilles, and King David.
Ajak
Ajak, the matriarch of the Eternals, dedicated much of her life to learning the language of the Celestials, who acted as intermediaries between the two species. Rather than living with the rest of the Eternals, she preferred to reside amongst her own kind in the city of Polaria, home to the Polar Eternals. At some point, Ajak was reborn as a male.
Thena
Thena, much like Wonder Woman, is a skilled warrior who creates powerful weapons using cosmic energy. She has a romantic side, having been involved with various men throughout history, including the forbidden Deviant named Kro. At one point, Thena held the esteemed title of Prime Eternal, but eventually relinquished it to Ikaris.
Black Knight/Dane Whitman
Dane Whitman is Sersi’s boyfriend and works with her at the Natural History Museum. In the comic books, he eventually takes on the role of Black Knight.
Deviant Kro (aka Warlord Kro)
Kro has appeared as a villain in various Marvel comic books. He sometimes acts as the leader of the Deviant race, an offshoot of the human race created by the Celestials. In the past, Kro has disguised himself as the Devil in order to try to influence or frighten humans.
Arishem the Judge
Arishem, a Celestial, possesses the power to determine the fate of civilizations on different planets. He is one of the two Celestials tasked with this responsibility. Arishem serves as the leader of Celestial landing parties and has led all Four Celestial Hosts on Earth. Arishem made his debut in The Eternals #2 (August 1976).
Eros/Starfox
In the mid-credits scene of Eternals, Starfox, Thanos’ brother, makes an appearance. His first appearance was in The Invincible Iron Man #55 (February 1973). Eros of Titan’s origin story reveals that he was born on Titan as Mentor’s son and possesses the power to manipulate the emotions of others.
Some unusual additions to The Eternals cast
The 2021 film, The Eternals, introduced a couple of Eternals characters that are not traditionally (or typically) associated with Eternals.
Pip (Pip the Troll)
In the world of comics, Pip the Troll was created by Jim Starlin for Strange Tales vol 2 #179 (February 1975). Pip’s character is meant to be a humorous contrast to the story’s main protagonist, Adam Warlock. As per his backstory, Pip was originally an extraterrestrial belonging to the Laxidazian race. He had a passion for painting the night sky. However, a drinking episode involving a mutagenic, hallucinogenic ale led to his physical and psychological transformation into a stunted, morally degenerate form known as a “troll”. Though Pip isn’t an Eternal himself, he frequently encounters Eternals, especially Starfox and Thanos.
Eric Brooks/Blade
Blade, the human/vampire hybrid, was introduced in a voice-only cameo during the post-credits scene of The Eternals, which most moviegoers missed. In the second end-credits scene, as Kit Harington’s Eternals character, Dane Whitman, reaches out to touch the Ebony Blade, an offscreen voice warns him, “Sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?” before the scene abruptly ends. This voice belonged to Mahershala Ali, who voiced the character of Blade.
Why Blade? Blade is not an Eternal (so to speak) but often teams up with Dane, the Black Knight.
Two characters that were cut from The Eternals movie
The original draft of The Eternals had 12 Eternals characters rather than 10. Two were cut to make the movie more manageable.
Valkin
Valkin was a Polar Eternal and the father of Druig. He later became the leader of all the Eternals but left Earth when they joined the Uni-Mind.
Zuras
Son of Koronox, Zuras first appeared in The Eternals #5 (November 1976). He married Cybele who gave birth to Thena. Zuras was the first Eternal to form a Uni-Mind by creating the first ritual of the Uni-Mind, and was therefore chosen to become leader of the Eternals of Earth. He is often mistaken for Zeus.
And a whole bunch of Eternals that rarely make the cut
Many Eternals are often not portrayed as such. For instance, everyone is familiar with Thanos, but few draw the correct conclusion that he is indeed an Eternal. Here are examples of Eternals you may not be familiar with.
Kronos
Once upon a time, Kronos and his brother Uranos were part of the higher-ups of the Eternals community. It was around 500,000 years ago when Kronos was busy conducting an experiment on cosmic energy in his lab situated in Titanos, the city of Earth Eternals. Unfortunately, an unintended explosion took place that led to the destruction of the city, along with Kronos’ physical form. Despite the tragedy, his consciousness remained unscathed and combined with time and the universe. As a result, Kronos has developed an extraordinary level of intellect, telepathy, and cosmic awareness that go beyond human abilities.
Legba
Legba is the Eternals character who has roots in Haitian Vodou. He is known as the gatekeeper between the mortal world and the spirit world, and often appears as an old man with a cane. Legba plays a significant role in the Eternals’ story, serving as a guide and mentor to some of the characters.
Mentor
Mentor was a member of the Eternals, a race of super-powered beings created by the Celestials. He was known for his wisdom and guidance and was often sought out by other Eternals for advice. Some say he was one of the oldest and most respected members of his kind, and that his wisdom was passed down through the generations. However, there are conflicting reports about Mentor’s true identity and his role in Eternals society, so it’s difficult to say for sure who he was and what he did.
Daina
Daina she was one of the Gaian Sisters, who would study present events to create prophecies and advise the Eternal leaders. Oddly, Daina was first mentioned in Mentor’s entry in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #7, before finally appearing in Eternals: Thanos Rises #1, almost 40 years later.
Sui-San
Sui-San was the mother of Thanos, one of the most iconic villains in the Marvel Universe. She was the wife of Mentor, the leader of the Eternals of Titan. Sui-San played a pivotal role in the origin story of Thanos, and her tragic death had a profound impact on his character development.
Uranos
Uranos is the father of the Eternals, beings with superhuman abilities who were created by the Celestials. He is portrayed as a powerful and enigmatic figure, with a complex relationship with his offspring. His actions and motivations are central to the plot of the series and have significant repercussions for the Eternals and their world.
El Vampiro
El Vampiro was a character in The Eternals, but it’s not clear who he was or what his role was in the story. Some fans speculate that he may have been a vampire or some other type of supernatural creature. However, without more information from the creators of The Eternals, it’s impossible to say for sure.
Thanos
Thanos is technically an Eternal himself, albeit a deviant one. In the comics, he was born on Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, and was a member of the Eternals of Titan. He was born with a physical deformity and was shunned by his people as a result. This led to his obsession with death and his eventual quest to destroy half the universe in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
