Ajak

Not to be confused with Ajax (comics).

Ajak
File:Ajak.jpg Ajak. Art by John Romita Jr.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Eternals #2 (August 1976)
Created by	Jack Kirby
In-story information
Team affiliations	Eternals God Squad
Notable aliases	Quetzacoatl, Tecumotzin, Lord of Flight, Ajax the Greater, He Who Talks To Celestials
Abilities	Superhuman speed, strength and durability Accelerated healing factor Energy blasts Flight Teleportation

Ajak is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in The Eternals #2 (August 1976) and was created by Jack Kirby. The character is usually depicted as a member of the Eternals, a human offshoot race in the Marvel Universe. He was also a member of the God Squad.

In 2019, it was announced that Salma Hayek would be playing a female Ajak in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, debuting in The Eternals (2020).

Publication history

Ajak first appeared in The Eternals #2 (August 1976), and was created by Jack Kirby. Ajak made subsequent appearances in the series, in issues #3-4 (September–October 1976), #7 (January 1977), and #12 (June 1977).

The character subsequently appears in Thor Annual #7 (1978) (in flashback, as Ajax), Thor vol. 1 #284 (June 1979), 291 (January 1980), 300-301 (October–November 1980), Contest of Champions vol. 1 #1 (June 1982), Iron Man Annual #6 (1983), Avengers vol. 1 #248 (October 1984), Eternals: Herod Factor (November 1991), Avengers vol. 1 #361 (April 1993), and Starblast #1 (January 1994).

The character did not appear again for some time, but Ajak briefly appeared in the Marvel mini-series The Eternals, written by Neil Gaiman, in Eternals #5-7 (December 2006, January 2007, March 2007). He also made an appearance in Incredible Hercules #117-120 (July–August 2008).

Ajak received an entry in the original Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1, and in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #10.

Fictional character biography

Ajak is a member of the sub-race of Eternals known as the Polar Eternals. He was born in the area of Polaria, Siberia. His parents were Raka and Amaa, and he has a brother named Arex. He was an archeologist with an advanced knowledge of archeology.

Ajak fought Warlord Kro's Deviant forces in Babylon 2500 years ago. He also had a strong presence in Central America, where the Aztecs believed him to be Quetzalcoatl and the Incas worshipped him as Tecumotzin, Lord of Flight. Ajak once met the Norse god Thor, and fought alongside him against Dromedan. During the Third Host of the Celestials, Ajak acted as a liaison between the Celestials and Earth and was present in Peru when they arrived. With Zuras, he arranged the flight plan the Celestials used to leave Earth. Then he put himself into storage as atoms within the City of the Space Gods, to await their eventual return.

Under Zuras' order, Ikaris awoke Ajak when the Fourth Host of the Celestials arrived. Ajak befriended human archaeologist Dr. Daniel Damian, and let him live in the City of the Space Gods. Ajak was sealed with Doctor Damian behind the force barrier surrounding the site of the Fourth Host's arrival. Ajak was attacked by agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., who were converted to stored atoms by the Celestials after their failed escape attempt. He is also known for battling an Incan wrestler.

Ajak then had another encounter with Thor at the Fourth Host site in Peru. This time Ajak opposed him, but Thor won their battle. Ultimately Ajak found himself battling Zeus, who saw the Eternals as the Celestials' pawns. He was also among the Eternals captured by Brother Tode, and was later set free by Iron Man. Ajak joined the space-faring Eternals Uni-Mind. He later returned to Earth. A maddened Dr. Damian transformed Ajak into a monster through the use of Celestial technology, and sent him to kill Thena and Kro's twin children, Donald & Deborah Ritter. The monstrous Ajak killed many sets of twins along the way. After the Eternals restored him to his true form, he was so grief-stricken with his deeds that he disintegrated himself along with Dr. Damian.

Sprite states that some time later he used the machineries of Olympia to partially "reactivate" Ajak and Zuras — and then deceived them into visiting the tomb of the Dreaming Celestial, forming a Uni-Mind there. This provided Sprite with the power he needed to rewrite some aspects of reality, stripping the other Eternals of their powers and memories and removing all record of them from the world. Sprite also stated that Ajak is the only Eternal able to directly speak with the Celestials. Ajak appeared, seemingly in his normal state, and revived Zuras to his normal state.

Secret Invasion

Ajak left to join Hercules' "God Squad" to battle the Skrull gods—not only to defend Earth, but, due to the Skrulls, in fact, being Deviants (as their native people were also transformed by the Celestials, but the Deviants won their war), which he thinks will allow him greater understanding of the Celestials, and perhaps allow him to communicate with the Dreaming Celestial (whom only Makkari can communicate with). He takes command of the God Squad just before they battle the Skrull Gods, thinking Hercules is a bad leader and caused Snowbird's death with his lack of planning. He is killed in the confrontation with the Skrull God Kly'bn.

Post-Secret Invasion

Ajak along with the other Eternals continue their mission of awakening Eternals who no longer remember who they are and are living human lives, thanks to Sprite. During this time Ajak breeds a resentment towards Makkari for being the Dreaming Celestial's chosen communicator, warning the other Eternals that the Dreaming Celestial is broken. While Ikaris and Druig's opposing forces race to awaken and convert as many "sleeping" Eternals as they can to their respective sides, Ajak locates the Eternal known as Gilgamesh, "The Forgotten One", in Peru, who he manipulates into believing Ikaris' Eternals are actually Deviants. Ajak does not do this out of loyalty to Druig but out of his resentment towards Makkari; Gilgamesh ends up brutally killing Makkari, which Druig and Legba witness. Ajak then goes to Makkari's side and signals Sersi, who he tells that it was Druig and his forces that killed Makkari. Ajak then continues to monitor the Dreaming Celestial while Ikaris and Druig's forces go to battle.

Sometime during these events Ajak helps the Eternals battle the Young Gods who have returned from the Celestial's ship. Ajak mainly watches the battle from Olympia, reveling in the Young Gods defeat of Makkari, but when Makkari is about to be killed Ajak chooses to intervene because he thinks even an Eternal such as Makkari deserves better than death at the hands of "these blasphemers." It is assumed Ajak has gone back to monitoring the Dreaming Celestial.

Powers and abilities

Ajak possessed the standard Eternal abilities of cosmic energy manipulation and complete control of his own cellular makeup. The physical control granted him an indefinitely prolonged lifespan and cellular regeneration along with superhuman strength and durability. His cosmic powers granted him flight, teleportation and the ability to fire energy bolts.

It was also revealed in Gaiman's miniseries The Eternals that Ajak possesses the ability to directly communicate with the Celestials when they are nearby.

In other media

Television

• Ajak appears in Marvel Knights: Eternals, voiced by Kirby Morrow.

Film

• Ajak will be portrayed by Salma Hayek in the 2020 film The Eternals, making the character female.

External links

• Ajak at the Marvel Universe wiki
• Ajak at MarvelDirectory.com
• Sersi's Loft's entry on Ajak (Archived 2009-10-24)