There are a few things I discovered through comics more serious than just fun, and one of the best was the work of Neil Gaiman. I still haven’t found a world he created that I did not like, or even better sink into; I am currently reading his Anansi Boys and enjoy each page with the happiness of a six year old kid opening his present! His latest creation with Marvel was a tale of gods and humans, of how our world was created and some of those present in that moment still walking among us. The return of the Eternals!
The Eternals were introduced by previous marvel series, kind of indifferent if you ask me. Immortal beings that came to Earth million of years ago and offered the mammals they found here the potential to become humans, something like Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey opening scene, they were sent by other, superb entities called The Celestials that created and watched them. In this new aspect of the story by Neil Gaiman (Books of Magic, The Sandman, American Gods, Anansi Boys, Stardust) and John Romita Jr. (X-Men, Daredevil, Thor, Hulk) the Eternals are living as normal people with most of them having no recollection at all of their powers and nature, at least until certain events unlock their memories and begin a chain of events that might change the route of history!
This is a Gaiman story and the way I see it that’s the only credential it needs to be in my bookcase, but it is also a Romita Jr. book (he’s one of the best known Marvel artists) and it presents a story with unused potential which finally gets the depth it deserves. The 7 issues should be sold out by now (the limited series was originally planned to last 6 issues but one more was added) but if you are willing to give it a try, which I recommend, the hard-cover collection will by out this May, get your own copy!
