How are ‘Eternals’ different from the ‘Avengers’?

The new trailer for Marvel’s Eternals is here and Marvel fans all over have begun speculating and theorizing about the movie, its characters, and its impact on other movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the movie is not the first superhero ensemble for Marvel studios, it is different from their most popular superhero ensemble, Avengers. While both the movies boast of a talented cast, the movies will be different. Let’s find out what makes these heroes different from each other.

Who are the ‘Eternals’?

Eternals are humanoid aliens who hail from the planet Olympia. They were genetically engineered by Celestials, who are an ancient godlike race. The Celestials sent the Eternals to Earth 7,000 years ago to protect humanity from Deviants. 

It was Jack Kirby, the popular comic book artist who also co-created characters like the Hulk, Iron Man, etc., who created the Eternals. In the 70s, when Kirby came back to Marvel Comics after working with DC Comics for a while, he came up with these characters. 

Though the Eternals have stayed on Earth for all these years and have blended in with the rest of humanity, they are still powerful beings who often use comic energy to their advantage. A big question that then emerges is why didn’t they help humanity when Thanos came to the planet?

It is because none of the villains that humanity faced up till now were Deviants. After the Avengers undid Thanos’ work and brought back half of Earth’s population, humanity now faces threat from Deviants and that is why Eternals will now band together to defend humanity.

The Difference between Eternals and Avengers?

There are quite a few glaring differences between Eternals and Avengers. To begin with, Avengers, with the exception of Thor, are humans with superpowers and skills. Eternals are humanoid aliens, they might look like the rest of us mere mortals, but they are engineered as evolved humans with superior strength, speed, and stamina. 

One major difference between the Eternals and Avengers is their mortality. While Avengers, no matter how strong they are, can be killed. Eternals on the other hand are almost immortal. They are said to possess cosmic energy throughout their body, which makes it difficult for them to die or be killed. Additionally, their superior mental strength allows them to control their biological processes. Literally, mind over matter. 

Either an injury that harms the energy molecules of their body or their mental control over their body can cause their death. 

There also exists a fundamental difference in how both these movies will appear and approach their characters. While the Avengers have an authentic look and appeal based on the world we see and know, the Eternals are somewhat mythical beings, their stories are not ordinary stories of men but ones that extend beyond the realms of Earth.

But they have this one thing in common

While there are differences in the origin stories, strengths, and superpowers of the two Marvel superhero groups, they share a big similarity. It is their goal of defending humanity. Both these franchises have served the common goal of defending Earth albeit against different enemies, making them each other’s allies. 

In the comics, these superhero groups also have overlaps when stories of two or several characters intersect. Whether these intersections get replicated onscreen in the form of an Avengers and Eternals crossover, we’ll find out. For now, Eternals will come out in theaters on Nov. 5.