Marvel’s Eternals Has A Bizarre Connection To A History Channel Classic

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For decades, television and comic books have shared a connection, but the link between popular shows and the theories presented in History Channel’s Ancient Aliens is particularly unusual. With increasing interest in unproven archaeological ideas, fans of shows like Ancient Apocalypse might find a lot to enjoy in Jack Kirby’s Eternals comics.

Most people think of teams like the Avengers and Fantastic Four when they hear ‘Marvel’s 616’ universe, but there are other, lesser-known groups too. In 1976, Jack Kirby created one such team, building a unique mythology that was comparable to his famous ‘New Gods’ series. Surprisingly, fifty years later, this team became connected to science fiction and shows you might find on the History Channel, creating a really unusual link in popular media.

How Jack Kirby Crafted His Own Ancient Aliens Saga

Following his work on the New Gods series, Jack Kirby finally returned to Marvel Comics. Known for blending ancient myths with comic book storytelling, he drew inspiration from sources like Norse legends and the Roman Empire. This influence is clear in his work on characters like Thor, Kamandi, and the New Gods. In 1976, he created Eternals, a series seemingly sparked by Erich Von Daniken’s Chariots of the Gods?

So, the story of the Eternals is basically a ‘what if’ for the Marvel Universe. Turns out, humans didn’t quite evolve on our own – these super powerful cosmic beings called the Celestials had a hand in it. They created three groups: the Eternals, who are like perfect, god-like heroes; regular humans like us; and the Deviants, who are basically the villains and want to mess things up for everyone. The Eternals are tasked with protecting humanity from the Deviants, and the story follows their adventures throughout history – tons of quests, missions, and epic battles!

Erich von Däniken has been criticized by many historians for his unconventional approach to archaeology, often called “pseudo-archaeology.” His book presented a theory and sparked questions by using incomplete information and unexplained mysteries from ancient cultures to suggest the influence of a hidden, highly developed civilization. Since then, other authors have expanded on his ideas, proposing explanations ranging from alien intervention to the legendary city of Atlantis.

The influences become more apparent the more one explores Kirby’s work, particularly his interest in speculative archaeology and reimagined history. Similar to Erich von Däniken’s book, Kirby highlighted unusual objects, landmarks, and historical locations, hinting at the involvement of highly advanced civilizations. While Kirby never directly admitted to being inspired by Chariots of the Gods?, the similarities are undeniable.

Pseudo-Archaeology is Back in Vogue

I’ve noticed a lot of buzz lately, especially since that Netflix show Ancient Apocalypse came out, about some pretty out-there ideas about history. It feels like a lot of people are mixing real facts with stuff that’s just… not true, and presenting it all as entertainment. What’s interesting is that someone like Kirby – you know, the comic book artist – got that stuff like Erich von Däniken was better as a starting point for cool stories, like sci-fi or fantasy. He was around the same time as L. Ron Hubbard, the guy who wrote pulp magazines and then started Scientology, and it’s wild how Hubbard’s fiction basically became his followers’ religion. It just shows how easily lines can blur between what’s made up and what people believe.

The film Eternals cleverly uses fantastical ideas inspired by ancient mysteries and science fiction – similar to Jack Kirby’s New Gods series and 2001: A Space Odyssey – to spark the imagination, without presenting them as fact. It’s clear Kirby was influenced by books like Chariots of the Gods?, and the similarities are striking. It’s a shame more writers haven’t explored the creative possibilities in works like that one, but Kirby demonstrates how powerfully it can be done.

If you enjoy detailed stories even when you know they aren’t entirely accurate, Eternals is a great place to start. It’s often compared to Jack Kirby’s Fourth World series, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in July 2026. Plus, Eternals is considered one of the most visually stunning and dynamic works of Kirby’s impressive career.

Eternals is Jack Kirby’s Fifty-Year-Old Classic

The movie adaptation of Marvel’s Eternals highlighted a key point: some comic books are simply too grand in scope to translate well to film. Jack Kirby’s work is known for its incredible imagination, filled with sweeping adventures, complex cosmic lore, and a sense of wild energy. While his more grounded, street-level heroes have been successful on screen, both Marvel and DC struggle to effectively adapt his science fiction stories.

Man, the ’70s were amazing for comics. So many iconic characters debuted then – Darkseid, Swamp Thing, Ra’s al Ghul… the list goes on! And when Jack Kirby came back to Marvel in ’76, his Eternals run was a huge deal. It was all about this grand, cosmic stuff, and honestly, it feels like a weird ancestor to shows like Ancient Aliens. There’s a definite connection there, even if it’s a little complicated.

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2026-03-19 04:39