Notes on Eternals (Marvel)
"The archetypes to be discovered and assimilated are precisely those that have inspired, throughout the annals of human culture, the basic images of ritual, mythology, and vision. These "Eternal Ones of the Dream" are not to be confused with the personally modified symbolic figures that appear in nightmare and madness to the still-tormented individual. Dream is the personalized myth, myth the depersonalized dream; both myth and dream are symbolic in the same general way of the dynamics of the psyche. But in the dream the forms are quirked by the peculiar troubles of the dreamer, whereas in myth the problems and solutions shown are directly valid for all mankind." - Joseph Campbell, The Hero With A Thousand Faces
Information on Eternals (not included in The Stranger's Main article) for unfamiliar readers.
The Fulcrum, or The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything: To over summarize the nature of the multiverse, there was originally a universe until the Celestials desired change and, in a long story short, shattered the universe into the first multiverse. Jumping ahead further, the god-like Celestials are balanced out by the Horde, a race of insect-like, creepy, devouring critters. When the Celestials harvest a world, they take it/ its energy to the Fulcrum. If there is a greater balance of Deviants, the Horde gets the energy of the world. If it balances towards Eternals, then the Celestials get the energy of the world. The Watchers also serve the Fulcrum in their capacity as observers. When Eternals die, they go to the Vestibule, a cosmic waiting room for the Fulcrum, which could appear in a more human-like guise. (see Trope: Afterlife Antechamber) The Celestials had a particular interest in Earth because they thought early humans might evolve and develop into a much more genetically useful species to be used against the horde rather than as a mere harvest of energy. While both Celestials and the Horde have come for Earth in various plot lines, it is notable that the Fulcrum specifically spared Earth.
Excess Deviation: The Deviant gene is a possible precursor to the mutant X-factor gene. But, in a sort of Deviant equivalent of Eternal Mahd Wy’ry, a deviant can mutate too much, too rapidly, spontaneously and go mad. But for Eternals, Mahd Wy’ry is more akin to human Alzheimers or other forms of senility. Excess Deviation poses a much greater threat to others as the Deviant looses complete control. Eternals are forced to kill these unfortunate individuals - excess deviation is the 3rd Principle for Eternals, after protecting Celestials and the Machine That Is Earth. SOmetimes portrayed as resulting in a form of justified Fantastic Racism.
The Fourth Principle: Earth-616 had a big cross-over Judgement Day plot line (2022) which added a fourth principle onto the Eternals three laws of robotics: “YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO JUSTIFY YOURSELVES.” Yes in capitals - Hilarious! Post Judgement Day crisis, it was reinterpreted as a reminder of a duty to act and that each day matters. The principals can invoke an involuntary response if not followed, so this will be interesting!
Uni-mind: a joining of energy, mind, and willpower between Eternals (and sometimes other species) and hypothesized to help prevent Mahd Wy’ry. In a Captain Planet like fashion, it is greater than the sum of its parts, ranging from basic telepathic and emotional sharing for a small group to having one of the Eternal Patriarchs assuming control of it as an entity, in which case its abilities depend on who has been included in the Uni-mind.
The Exclusion: a pocket dimension located in Antartica where some key things are located: activation/resurrection chambers (Machines of Resurrection), machinery that hides Eternal cities from humanity (Reality Loom), and a sort of prison capacity that’s been described as the “Eternal’s Hell on Earth.” Those jailed here cannot join the Uni-mind.
Gann Josin: Another possible preventative for Mahd Wy’ry, this is the practice of bonding with a chosen life partner, or the name given to said partner, creating an empathic and telepathic bond between them.
Family Relationships: Eternals cannot procreate with each other (but can with humans and deviants). Some have shown more familial relationships which can either be from original programing or from “generations” created after large waves of reboots.
Cities: The Eternals have a few hidden cities around the globe. The original city in the Rockies, Titanos, was ruined, and the newer capital is Olympia, in Greece. Polaria, in Siberia, is a second city to Olympia. Because of civil wars and schisms 500,000 years ago, there is a large population on Titan rather than Earth.
Example Eternal Groups from Earth-616:
- The Hex: the war group, self-described as six sisters
- Gaian Sisters: prophesies
- The Tricks: underworld
- Eternal Prime - whoever the current leader is
- Damocles Foundation: a coalition between Eternals, Deviants, and Humans
- Oceanic Watch and Lemurian Mission - specific subset to watch over this ancient civ.
- Celestian Priests: Six priests that correspond with the six principles in Eternal spiritual tradition
- The Forgotten: Four Eternals that, in a radical move, interpret the principle to protect the Machine as protecting humanity over Eternal society. One even has previously sabotaged the Resurrection Machine. They took their name from the Forgotten One, Gilgamesh, for his attempts to interfere positively with humanity.
What about the MCU? The MCU alters the number and purpose of the Eternals to 10 sent to Earth to protect a Celestial embryo, gestating in the world itself. The gestating Celestial, Tiamut, was taken from a plot line as a sleeper under San Francisco by Neil Gaiman, as well as some trickery from Sprite, deceptions from Ikaris, and fun with wiping out each other’s memories to preserve the mission. While the details changed a lot, the horror of discovering your true purpose is a shared theme.