Eternals Reading Order: From Kirby’s Cosmos to Judgment Day
The essential eras, from Jack Kirby's 1976 saga to Judgment Day.
By Web Admin
The Eternals are Jack Kirby at his most cosmic: a race of near-immortal super-beings created by the god-like Celestials, locked in an ancient war with the monstrous Deviants, and quietly living among humanity for millions of years. Kirby dreamed them up in the 1970s as a mythology unto itself, and later writers folded them into the wider Marvel Universe, where they connect to everything from the Avengers to Thanos of Titan.
Because the Eternals have been relaunched every decade or so, their comics can look like a scattered pile of miniseries. This guide sorts them into a clean reading order, from Kirby’s original saga to Kieron Gillen’s acclaimed modern run and the line-wide Judgment Day event, with real creators, years, and collected editions. If you are new to Marvel’s cosmic side, our Marvel reading order for beginners is a gentle first step.
First, what the Eternals actually are
The Eternals are one of three species the Celestials engineered from early humanity: the refined, near-immortal Eternals; the unstable, monstrous Deviants; and ordinary humans, seeded with the potential for mutation. That premise makes the franchise Marvel’s grand origin myth, tying into the cosmic corners of the universe. For the wider cosmic context, our best cosmic Marvel comics roundup is the ideal companion.
Stage 1: Jack Kirby’s original saga (1976-1978)
Start with The Eternals by Jack Kirby, which ran for 19 issues plus an annual from 1976 to 1978. Kirby introduces Ikaris, Sersi, Thena, the tyrant Kro of the Deviants, and the towering Celestials who return to Earth to pass judgment on their creations. It was originally conceived almost as its own mythology, and its sense of scale is staggering. It is collected as Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection and in an oversized omnibus.
Stage 2: Integrating into the Marvel Universe (1985)
Next read the Eternals maxiseries (1985) by Peter B. Gillis and Sal Buscema, a twelve-issue story that firmly wove the Eternals into mainstream Marvel continuity. It picks up threads from Kirby’s saga and from the Celestials’ role in the wider universe, bridging the gap between the original vision and the modern era. It is collected in the Eternals classic trades.
Stage 3: The Neil Gaiman relaunch (2006-2007)
The modern era truly begins with Eternals (2006-2007), a seven-issue miniseries by Neil Gaiman and John Romita Jr. Its clever hook: the Eternals have been made to forget who they are, living ordinary human lives until they slowly reawaken. It is the most accessible entry point for a new reader and reintroduces the whole cast, making it a superb alternative starting place if Kirby’s 1970s style feels daunting.
Stage 4: The Knauf ongoing (2008-2009)
Charles Knauf and Daniel Knauf continued the story in an Eternals ongoing series (2008-2009), following the reawakened Eternals as they navigate a Marvel Universe that has moved on without them and a returning Celestial threat. It is a direct sequel to the Gaiman miniseries, picking up its cliffhangers and expanding the cast, and it is worth reading if that run hooks you. The series is collected in a pair of modern trades and slots neatly between Gaiman’s reintroduction and the ground-up reinvention Kieron Gillen would deliver a decade later.
Stage 5: Kieron Gillen’s modern epic – Only Death Is Eternal (2021)
The definitive modern run is Eternals (2021) by Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribic, beginning with the arc “Only Death Is Eternal” (issues #1-6). Gillen reinvents the concept with a brilliant central mystery: the Eternals cannot truly die, so how do you solve a murder among immortals? Ribic’s painterly art is stunning, and the run rebuilds the mythology from the ground up. This is the book to hand anyone curious about the Eternals today.
Stage 6: Hail Thanos and the Titan connection (2021-2022)
Gillen’s run continues into “Hail Thanos” (issues #7-12), which leans fully into the Eternals’ most famous relative: Thanos, the Mad Titan, is himself a deviant-blooded Eternal of Titan. The arc reframes the whole franchise around him and sets up the crossover to come. For the full picture of that character, see our Thanos reading order.
Stage 7: A.X.E. Judgment Day (2022)
Gillen’s run pays off in the line-wide event A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022), with art by Valerio Schiti, which pits the Eternals against the X-Men and the Avengers when a Celestial awakens to judge all of humanity. It is one of the best-reviewed Marvel events of recent years and the natural capstone to the modern Eternals story. It connects directly to the wider hero community in our Avengers reading order.
Reading order at a glance
| Step | Title | Creators / era | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eternals by Jack Kirby | Kirby (1976-78) | The original saga |
| 2 | Eternals maxiseries | Gillis & Buscema (1985) | Marvel integration |
| 3 | Eternals | Gaiman & Romita Jr. (2006-07) | Best modern on-ramp |
| 4 | Eternals ongoing | Knauf brothers (2008-09) | A direct sequel |
| 5 | Only Death Is Eternal | Gillen & Ribic (2021) | The definitive modern run |
| 6 | Hail Thanos | Gillen & Ribic (2021-22) | The Titan connection |
| 7 | A.X.E.: Judgment Day | Gillen & Schiti (2022) | The capstone event |
Start at step 1 for the full history, or jump to step 3 or step 5 for the two best modern on-ramps. All lead to the same sprawling cosmic saga.
Where to buy and how to collect
Kirby’s original run is collected in Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection and an omnibus, while Gaiman’s miniseries is a single, widely stocked trade. Gillen’s modern run is available in trade paperbacks and a deluxe hardcover, and A.X.E.: Judgment Day is collected as its own volume. Marvel’s digital service carries essentially all of it if you want to sample first.
AmazonCheck price on AmazonWhere to go next
The Eternals sit at the heart of Marvel’s cosmic mythology. Broaden out with our best Marvel graphic novels and the Marvel hub, and if you want another Kirby-rooted team from the mutant side of the universe, our New Mutants reading order is the natural Marvel companion to this guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start with the Eternals?
For the foundation, start with Eternals by Jack Kirby: The Complete Collection (1976-78). For the most accessible modern entry, start with Neil Gaiman and John Romita Jr.’s 2006 miniseries, or with Kieron Gillen’s 2021 run, which is the best current jumping-on point.
Is Thanos an Eternal?
Yes. Thanos is a deviant-blooded Eternal of Titan, a colony of Eternals living on Saturn’s moon. Kieron Gillen’s “Hail Thanos” arc leans fully into that heritage, which is why the Eternals and Thanos are so closely linked in modern Marvel.
Do I need to read Kirby’s run before the modern comics?
No. Both Gaiman’s 2006 miniseries and Gillen’s 2021 run are designed as fresh starting points and reintroduce the cast. You will get more out of the mythology having read Kirby, but it is not required homework.
What is A.X.E. Judgment Day?
It is a 2022 line-wide event by Kieron Gillen and Valerio Schiti in which the Eternals, X-Men, and Avengers clash while a Celestial rises to judge humanity. It caps off Gillen’s Eternals run and is one of the most acclaimed recent Marvel events.
Keep exploring with our best cosmic Marvel comics and the wider Marvel hub.
