Kingo was created byJack Kirby. He first appeared inThe Eternals #11 (May 1977). Just like all the other Eternals, Kirby created him as a mixture of science fiction mixed with classic mythology. Similarly to what he did when he created theNew Gods forDC Comics in 1971.[1][2]
Like all otherEternals, Sunen was created by the Celestials around a million years ago on earth in early humanity. Like others of his species he was created as a result of the many genetic experiments the Celestials did onEarth-616.[3] Another of these experiments is the deviousDeviants who are also the primary antagonists of Eternals.
Kingo spent centuries inJapan learning the ways of theSamurai, and is one of the most skilledswordsmen on the planet. In the present day and age, he has parlayed his skills into becoming a majoraction film star in Japan.[4]
He later reappeared, afterSprite'smindwiping of the Eternals, once again, as a major Japanese film icon, now an actor, director, and producer, who is making a film in San Francisco starring theBlob, finding himself drawn to theDreaming Celestial.[5]
Kingo Sunen presumably has all the typical powers of Eternals—immortality, super-strength, flight, energy projection, and molecular manipulation. However, he eschews the use of these powers in battle, preferring to fight in the traditional manner of the Samurai. Kingo uses a sword forged by the EternalPhastos that can cut through nearly any material.[citation needed]
Kingo appears in the 2021 filmEternals, portrayed byKumail Nanjiani.[6] This version was sent to Earth with other Eternals to save humanity from theDeviants, but they disbanded when they felt that the Deviant threat had abated. Subsequently, Kingo became a popularBollywood film star,[7][8] and to hide his immortality, portrayed himself as the descendants of the "original" Kingo over the course of multiple generations. He reunited with the Eternals when the Deviant threat returned. WhenIkaris revealed their true mission was to protect the Earth so that it could function as a womb for the Celestial Tiamut, whose emergence would destroy the Earth, Kingo abandoned the mission. However, after this catastrophe was averted, Kingo,Phastos, andSersi were kidnapped by the CelestialArishem, who intended to analyze their memories to judge whether humanity is worthy to live.
Kingo returns in the 2024What If...? episode "What If... Agatha Went to Hollywood?". Set in an alternate history 1930s Hollywood, as Kingo is making his English language debut in theHoward Stark-directedCosmic Queen, afterAgatha Harkness absorbs the rest of the Eternals, Kingo initially fights her before agreeing to give her his power to prevent the Emergence, with Agatha absorbing Tiamut and thereafter Arishem, becoming aCelestial herself. After revealing her true plan of using this power to conquer the world, Kingo instead convinces Agatha to return to Earth to live as a celebrity with him and "inspire" humanity.[9]
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