Eternals #12
- Writer
- Kieron Gillen
- Artist
- Esad Ribic
- Letterer
- Clayton Cowles
- Cover Artist
- Esad Ribic
- Publisher
- Marvel Comics
- Price
- 3.99
- Release Date
- 2022-05-18
- Colorist
- Matt Wilson
The Eternals have recently learned that Thanos is both a true Eternal and a true Deviant. To activate the failsafe within him, they first need to commune with their Celestial God, Progenitor, the hollow shell of whom is now the home base of the Avengers, setting the Eternals and the Avengers on a collision course. Meanwhile, the Mad Titan begins the next stage of his plot to destroy the Eternals' Machine, the planet Earth itself. The final issue of this limited series brings serious ramifications for the Marvel Comics Universe as the Judgement Day event approaches quickly. Written by Kieron Gillen with artwork from Esad Ribic and Matthew Wilson and lettering by VC's Clayton Cowles, Eternals #12 brings the world closer to Armageddon in the tale that hurries to the finishing line.
The crisis continues in Eternals #12 as two of the Earth's premier teams clash. The clock is ticking, and the Eternals need to get out of the skirmish as soon as possible while the puzzled Avengers fight on, wanting some answers. As the battle rages on, desperation grasps the Eternals' camp as time is not their ally in this situation. In the other part of the world, Thanos continues his sacrilege, invading the consciousness of his father A'Lars in search of his birth secrets, with which he wants to join the machine and be born anew as an Eternal. As his physical makeup does not allow him to undergo the conversion, he enacts another plan: the destruction of the Eternals' Machine, dooming everything on Earth.
Throughout his life, Thanos has worshipped death, spreading its blight across the universe and unleashing woe and despair, all of which has changed him and turned him into a monstrosity. No wonder his sudden wish for immortality is not adaptable to the Machine. Yet, the Mad Titan smiles, believing whatever has not killed him has made him stronger than his Eternal cousins. Eternals #12 attempts to wrap up the open narratives, doing so in a rushed manner since there is quite a lot to unpack between the pages and even more loose ends to tie up before the start of the next major Marvel event. Aside from resolving the central conflict, the story delves deep into exposition. Still, Kieron Gillen finds ways to keep the issue interesting with things like the Machine's unending quips and the comical way Thanos is defeated.
While Esad Ribic's illustrations are a mesmerizing work of art, with a beautiful blend of landscape scenery and elaborate action sequences adorning the pages, there are telltale signs of rushing. Even though the artwork exhibits some uncharacteristic flaws, like out-of-proportion stances and oddly sparse backgrounds, such things can easily be overlooked given the sheer epic scale and framing that takes the story from one moment to another. The intense close-up shots add to the character's personalities, making the drama boil on the pages. Colorist Matthew Wilson complements Ribic's granular hatching with a pastel-like aesthetic that helps the earthy tones pop out as flashy effects and gradient glow help set the mood.
As the narratives converge and coalesce into one resolute ending, with an aftermath that can have widespread consequences, Eternals #12 manages to pull off a deus ex machina in a glorious climactic battle. Putting a timer on the clock adds flavor to the thrill because as it comes down, the Mad Titan has very little to offer in terms of a fight, even less than the brief encounter the Eternals have with the Avengers. The real pillar of the story is the dialogue that holds the storytelling together and gives a sense of closure to all the moving parts. Eternals #12 ends on an ominous tone, bringing the curtain down on a great tale.
