Marvel boosts its most underrated characters, the Eternals, with the unexpected help of Fall Out Boy. While A-list Marvel characters like Spider-Man and Hulk are expected to retain their prominence year after year, Marvel’s extensive roster of heroes and villains are constantly rotating in terms of exposure. Some find success and enjoy a sudden rise in popularity, while others have take long breaks between appearances.
Anniversaries provide natural opportunities for popularity pushes. For example, 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of Black Panther and the Silver Surfer, as well as the 50th anniversary of Star-Lord, Nova, Captain Britain, and the Eternals, to name a few. Marvel is already celebrating these, starting with the perpetually underrated Eternals.
Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump Introduces A New Eternal In Marvel Comics
The Eternals 50th Anniversary; Written by Ralph Macchio, Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan & Patrick Stump
Marvel is celebrating five decades of cosmic mythology with The Eternals 50th Anniversary #1, an oversized special honoring Jack Kirby’s 1976 creation. The special issue revisits unseen chapters of the Eternals’ history, and it adds a mysterious new member of Eternals lore. Fans of Jack Kirby’s immortal Marvel species won’t want to miss the anniversary celebration on April 1st, 2026.
The introduction of a brand-new Eternal is particularly exciting, as it allows Marvel to revisit the Eternals’ history and come up with explanations behind the Lost Eternal’s absence. Patrick Stump’s involvement adds another layer of intrigue. As the creative force behind Fall Out Boy, Stump’s mythologically-inspired approach promises a fresh take on a character shaped by modern sensibilities and Silver Age cosmic storytelling.
Most Eternals have existed in the shadows of Marvel’s more popular heroes for decades. The Lost Eternal’s debut presents an opportunity to heighten the Eternals’ cultural relevance by becoming a solo star with the potential to headline solo runs, as well as by further connecting his kind to the broader Marvel Universe. If handled well, this new figure could elevate the Eternals to a revitalized pillar of Marvel’s mythos.
The Eternals Deserve To Return To The Spotlight Soon
Marvel Can Eventually Find The Right Way To Keep The Eternals Relevant
Marvel has already recognized the Eternals’ potential but still struggles to unlock it in a way that resonates with mainstream audiences. Chloe Zhao’s ambitious MCU adaptation portrays the Eternals as emotionally grounded gods, but Eternals‘ tone and pacing made the movie divisive. Similarly, the comics event A.X.E.: Judgment Day placed the Eternals at the center of the Marvel Universe, but despite its ambition, the event failed to make the Eternals memorable.
These efforts prove that Marvel understands how much the Eternals matter conceptually, but hasn’t yet found the precise strategy to make them indispensable. The Eternals aren’t meant to compete with Spider-Man or the Avengers on their terms. They require the right thematic niche, the right creative vision, and the right timing. Perhaps shaking up the Eternals’ lore with new members like Patrick Stump’s Lost Eternal could be the first step in that direction.
The Eternals 50th Anniversary is available from Marvel Comics April 1st, 2026.
- Release Date
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November 5, 2021
- Runtime
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156 minutes
- Director
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Chloé Zhao
- Writers
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Chloé Zhao, Patrick Burleigh, Ryan Firpo, Kaz Firpo
- Producers
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Kevin De La Noy, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso
