As the Marvels Eternals unfold, there are many criminal cases as heroic aliens find out who killed one of them on Earth. No one should be so strong, suggesting the culprit is a new Deviant breed. Eventually, however, the film takes a downturn on the identity of the natural killer, which fails in Invincible.
It is revealed that Ikaris is the one who killed Ajak because he did not want to stop the plan to destroy the Earth to give birth to Tiamat, a new celestial body. But the problem is that it telegraphs prematurely. Given the power of Icarus, it can be expected of anyone who has seen Invincible.
Invincible has Omni-Man to kill The Guardians of the Globe; in the beginning, the series doesn’t save much either. He prepared the planet for his utopians to invade, understand, and build a better cog in their galactic coalition. In his eyes, the world needed this to thrive, which Ikaris and Ajak also believe because Arishem, their leader, made them realize that a dead planet can create more.
It’s not a bad ride, but its execution does not help. Viewers can recognize Icarus’ divine complex from an early age that, like the Omni-Man, poses as a deformed Superman. As he disappears in the opening act and then comfortably returns to rescue Sersi, it is clear that Icarus is not telling the truth. This makes her look like Mark / Invincible as she tries to stop the deception eventually, but if she had carefully observed Icarus’ behavior, the signs are there from the start.
Sersi’s ex-boyfriend has an extremist alliance with Arishem, is obsessed with becoming Ajax’s successor, and how the Deviants still insist on killing his mother’s character, there are many explicit stories. Many scenes do not even hesitate to watch Icarus sulk and press after Cersei gave Ayak the lead. Eternals should be discreet and hide the expression on his face to add more intensity and drama and ultimately more surprise.
It does not help that Ajax’s love for the land is half implied, as he mentally attaches himself to Arishem and suggests that Ikaris, the hopeful general, will rob him. Arnhem, who reminded him of his place, remained in the Eternals until later, with several scenes of Icarus wanting the throne. It could have been a big surprise for the audience if he expected to stab them in the back when Tiamat showed up. By this time, the film could have shown how she met and rebuked Ajak for her betrayal, Ajak’s shaky faith in Arishem, and Ikaris’ last murder, which accused her of divergence.
It’s the kind of creative blindness that many superhero movies lack because of decades of comics. Conversely, flashbacks do not work on the timeline as he, as the audience knows, waits for Ikaris to attack the people closest to him. It ends with Omni-Man trying to deceive, distract and ultimately convince Mark. The Eternals similarly tell Icarus to push him. Unfortunately, this is how Eternals loses its charm, which is a shame as the emotions, the characters, and the general narrative were there to make Icarus a true deceptive tyrant who inevitably realizes his mistake.
