For over half a century, DC Comics has dominated the superhero genre, acquiring characters from various publishing companies during its prosperous Golden Age. These characters have been integrated into the expansive DC Multiverse, often making appearances in comics like JSA, which focuses on the lineage of the original Golden Age heroes. Currently, JSA stands out as one of the top team comics available, blending the legacies of the most iconic Golden Age characters with their contemporary descendants. In this latest installment, a character with a fascinating past both within DC Comics and the comic book world in general – Kid Eternity – has returned to the forefront. Since the series restarted last year, the JSA has been under siege by the Injustice Society, and Kid Eternity is poised to play a pivotal role in the team’s survival.
The fight against the Injustice Society commenced as the main forces – Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, Doctor Fate, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Wildcat – found themselves ensnared in Surtur’s fiery realm. During this ordeal, Hawkman and Hawkgirl became detached from their teammates, encountering a spectral young woman along the way. Caught off guard by missing their return journey, these two were assisted mysteriously by a new Kid Eternity. This enigmatic figure has been aiding them while attempting to decipher the nature of her afterlife circumstances. In this installment, Kid Eternity uncovers his purpose, which resonates with long-time fans who are acquainted with the earlier incarnation of the character.
Kid Eternity Is One of DC’s Strangest Golden Age Legacies
Originally, Kid Eternity wasn’t a DC character; instead, he first debuted in Quality Comics’ “Hit Comics” #25, published back in 1942. This character was the brainchild of two legendary comic book creators: Otto Binder, renowned for his work on Captain Marvel/Shazam and the creator of Supergirl and Brainiac, and Sheldon Madoff, one of the creators of Alan Scott. The character, initially nameless, was Kit Freeman, a young boy who perished prematurely during World War II when his grandfather’s fishing boat was sunk by a German U-Boat. However, Kit had another 75 years left to live. He was resurrected for those 75 years as a form of compensation and granted the power to harness the abilities of any deceased individual whenever he uttered the word “Eternity”. His role was to perform good deeds in the world, with Mr. Keeper, a celestial assistant, aiding him. DC Comics acquired Kid Eternity in the 1950s, and before the Crisis, he inhabited Earth-S, revealed to be Freddy Freeman’s brother, who later became Captain Marvel Jr./Shazam Jr. After the events of “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, Kid Eternity was integrated into the New Earth but didn’t reappear until 1991.
As a devoted comic book enthusiast, I can’t help but reminisce about my encounter with Kid Eternity back in 1991, a character bestowed upon Grant Morrison following his triumphs with Animal Man and Doom Patrol. This captivating horror title for mature readers played a significant role in the establishment of Vertigo a few years later, and it marked the beginning of a new series for Kid Eternity.
Morrison, alongside artist Duncan Fedrego, reimagined the origin of this character. In our story, Freeman’s “grandfather” was not just an ordinary man but a sexual predator who abducted Kit and kept him on his boat. The boat was attacked and sunk, with Kit dying before his time. His soul was then claimed by the Lords of Chaos, who brought him back to life at a cost – he could summon any person, real or fictional, to aid him in the Lords of Chaos’ battles. Mr. Keeper continued to be his faithful ally throughout this journey.
Kid Eternity is often overlooked but holds a special place in my heart. After the initial series, he made numerous appearances across the DC Universe. His next notable appearance was in JSA (Vol. 1), where he met an unfortunate end at the hands of Mordru. However, he reappeared in Teen Titans (Vol. 2), crossing the boundary between life and death due to Brother Blood’s influence.
His subsequent realizations led him to understand that the Lords of Chaos were malevolent entities, as the beings he summoned turned out to be demons. He eventually switched sides and joined the Lords of Order after being saved by Sister Sentry. Yet again, tragedy struck when he was kidnapped by the Calculator, who sought to communicate with his deceased son Marvin.
In the New 52, Kid Eternity resurfaced as a police coroner with the power to revive the dead – another intriguing chapter in this character’s captivating tale.
The New Kid Eternity Holds the Fate of the Justice Society in Her Hands
In the fifth issue of JSA Volume 2, Kid Eternity made her debut, joining forces with the Hawks and aiding them in escaping Surtur’s demons, only to vanish later. In the tenth issue of the same volume, we find her in the afterlife among the deceased members of the Justice Society. Mir. Keeper instructed her on how to utilize her abilities, enabling her to tap into the powers of the fallen Justice Society, who tasked her with saving the Hawks and their comrades. Inquiring about her past life, she asked Mr. Keeper, but he admitted ignorance, stating that she would uncover the truth upon completing her mission. Utilizing Doctor Fate’s powers, she assisted the Hawks in overcoming Gentleman Ghost, Solomon Grundy, and three demons (these may have been revamped versions of the Demons Three, though this is never clarified). When she disclosed to Hawkwoman that she was employing Fate’s abilities, she questioned whether she had communicated with Khalid, the present Doctor Fate, but she replied that it was Kent Nelson, the original, which startled Hawkwoman.
The fresh character, Kid Eternity, shows great promise. Throughout this ongoing conflict between Justice Society and Injustice Society, a decisive edge could be gained by Kid Eternity, who can harness powers from deceased individuals. On our planet, the Injustice Society has acquired the Spear of Destiny, giving them control over any superhuman entity. As such, the Justice Society may greatly benefit from Kid Eternity’s assistance.
JSA #10 is on sale now.
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2025-08-10 16:17