The Eternals #2
The Eternals #2 (August 1976) is one of the most consequential single issues of Marvel's Bronze Age because it delivers the first full appearance of the Celestials as a race and the individual debut of Arishem the Judge — the cosmic arbiter whose thumbs-up-or-down verdict over entire planets would become a load-bearing pillar of Marvel's cosmology for decades. The same issue introduces Ajak, the Eternal designated as the Celestials' communicator, whose role ties the 'Space Gods' mythology to Incan legend and the ancient-astronaut ideas Jack Kirby was channeling throughout the series. Together, Arishem and Ajak gave Marvel writers a framework — planets judged, civilizations seeded, Deviants punished — that later creators from Roy Thomas to Kieron Gillen drew on continuously, and that became the conceptual spine of the 2021 MCU film. The issue also provides the first partial account of Deviant origins and the sinking of Lemuria, grounding Kirby's mythological universe in a pseudo-prehistoric timeline that subsequent Marvel continuity writers treated as canonical bedrock.
In "The Celestials," Jack Kirby’s bold vision unfolds as the Deviants, led by Kro, escape the ruins of an ancient Incan chamber after the arrival of a colossal Celestial vessel. Ikaris activates a resurrection chamber, bringing Ajak back to life, and together they face the towering presence of Arishem, the Celestial judge, who descends to stand atop rising pylons. With the fate of Earth hanging in the balance, the Eternal council prepares to learn the purpose behind the Celestial’s long vigil. The story, written and illustrated by Jack Kirby, features cover art by Kirby and John Verpoorten, and was originally released as a 25-cent comic in 1976.
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Written, penciled, and self-edited by Jack Kirby — with Archie Goodwin serving as editor-in-chief and Marv Wolfman in a consulting/editorial role — the issue was released in June 1976 with an August cover date, making it the second chapter of a series Kirby had pitched partly as a vehicle free from the constraints of existing Marvel continuity. Kirby had been building toward this 'ancient astronaut' concept since his New Gods work at DC, drawing heavily on Erich von Däniken's Chariots of the Gods? as filtered through his own mythological imagination; the series was originally titled 'The Celestials' and then 'Return of the Gods' before Marvel settled on 'Eternals' to avoid potential legal complications. John Verpoorten inked the issue, and Glynis Wein colored it — the same core production team that had assembled issue #1.
Trivia · 7 facts
- First full appearance of the Celestials as a race, and the individual first appearance of Arishem the Judge, established here as the leader of the Fourth Host and the Celestials' designated judge of worlds.
- First appearance of Ajak (also known by his Incan alias Tecumotzin), an Eternal who has remained in suspended animation in the Resurrection Crypt awaiting the Celestials' return; he is the Eternals' designated liaison to the Space Gods.
- The Deviant Empire and the Deviant Navy make their first appearance (in flashback context), and the partial origin of the Deviants — including the prehistory of Lemuria — is revealed for the first time.
- Written, penciled, cover-drawn, and self-edited by Jack Kirby; inked by John Verpoorten; colored by Glynis Wein; lettered by John Costanza. Archie Goodwin was editor-in-chief; Marv Wolfman served as consulting editor.
- The story is titled 'The Coming of the Celestials!' and is set in South America at the Andes Mountains location Kirby called the City of the Space Gods.
- Arishem's role as planetary judge — introduced in this issue — became foundational to decades of Marvel cosmic storytelling, appearing later in Thor, Avengers, X-Men crossovers, and the 2021 Eternals MCU film where he is portrayed as the central antagonist/authority figure.
- The entire Kirby run (including this issue) has been collected in 'Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection' and 'The Eternals: The Complete Saga Omnibus,' keeping the issue continuously available in print.
Cast · 16 characters
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Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Kro and his Deviants flee in their vessel from the destruction levied on the Incan chamber with the landing of the enormous Celestial spaceship. Ikaris opens a resurrection chamber and is pleased when Ajak, a fellow Eternal, emerges. With the ability to communicate with the gods, Ajak calls to them, announcing they are ready to learn the gods new plan. Pylons rise up and a gigantic figure lowers itself to stand atop them. It is the Celestial Arishem, leader of the Fourth Host, and judge, and he is to remain there for fifty years, at which time he will decide whether Earth lives or dies.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).