Thena (Angelina Jolie) is shown wielding an unusual sword in Marvel’s first Eternals footage, which was included in a video previewing Marvel’s Phase 4 movies. A trailer still hasn’t been released yet, but this footage at least gives fans a glimpse at a few of the characters.
One of the heroes shown off is Thena, a key figure in Jack Kirby’s original Eternals comic from the late 1970s, as well as several other stories about this mysterious race of superpowered immortals. In Marvel Comics, Thena is the headstrong daughter of their leader, Zuras, and an experienced warrior who has been at the center of many conflicts with their race’s oldest enemies, the Deviants. She was famously involved in a forbidden romance with the Deviants’ Warlord Kro for thousands of years. She, like all Eternals, possesses a number of super powers, including the ability to fly, super strength, manipulation of matter, and more. She isn’t as powerful as Gilgamesh, Sersi, or Ikaris, but she is still considered to be a powerful Eternal and a force to be reckoned with.
The first look at Eternals depicts Thena wielding a glowing, golden sword that seems to be transparent and not even made out of metal. The appearance of the weapon makes it clear that’s it’s not Dane Whitman’s Ebony Blade, the iconic black sword expected to make its MCU debut in Eternals. This is an entirely different weapon, and it doesn’t appear to be connected to any specific sword from Marvel Comics, nor is it something that Thena is known for carrying in the comics. Her weapon of choice is actually a golden spear, not a sword.
Given the sword’s unique composition, it’s possible that this strange weapon is a manifestation of Thena’s cosmic powers. In the comics, Eternals are capable of utilizing the cosmic energy that flows within their veins for a variety of purposes. For instance, Makkari uses his to boost his speed, and Sersi relies on hers to manipulate matter on a scale greater than all other of her race. Also, all Eternals are capable of concentrating this energy into a ranged attack that can be fired from their both their hands and eyes (a power shared by the MCU's Eternals). Recent comics have revealed that Eternals – Thena, in particular – can shape that energy into swords that can be employed in combat. It makes sense that this is what Angelina Jolie’s character is doing in Marvel’s Eternals footage.
Based on what is known so far, it seems likely that just as it was in the comics, cosmic energy will be at the core of what powers the characters in Eternals and what keeps them alive through the centuries. The vast amount of potential that their cosmic energy gives them access to in the comics will make it possible for Marvel to bring to life the most powerful team of superheroes ever to exist in the MCU.
