When Did Gilgamesh Marvel First Appear In Comics?

Comic history nerd mode: I love tracing the comic-book genealogy of gods, and the clearest landmark is the Silver Age debut of Marvel's Norse pantheon. The first major, enduring Marvel god to show up was Thor in 'Journey into Mystery' #83 (1962) — Stan Lee and Jack Kirby replanted the Norse myths into a super-hero universe and things exploded from there. That said, Marvel's roots in myth go a little deeper. During the Golden Age (the Timely era) writers sometimes used mythic themes and one-shot retellings of legends, but it wasn't until the 1960s that mythological beings became regular, shared-universe characters. Throughout the mid-to-late 1960s and into the 1970s Marvel folded in Olympians, Egyptian deities, and cosmic reinterpretations — and later creators even retconned some gods as alien or extra-dimensional beings, which gives the Marvel take its trademark sci-fi spin. If you want to read the origin of Marvel's gods, start with 'Journey into Mystery' and then look forward to the Kirby era of 'The Eternals' for cosmic context.

I got hooked on this stuff because of the art, and Gilgamesh is one of those characters who sticks with you. He was created by Jack Kirby and first showed up in 'The Eternals' #1 back in 1976. Kirby’s run introduced a whole cast of mythic, larger-than-life heroes and Gilgamesh fit right into that pantheon — a super-strong, ancient warrior whose name obviously nods to the Sumerian epic but is filtered through Kirby’s cosmic imagination. I still have a worn copy of that first issue, yellowed at the edges, and every time I flip through it I’m struck by how Kirby blended myth and sci-fi. Gilgamesh has popped up in various Marvel books over the years and even made it into the MCU’s 'Eternals' film, which brought a fresh spotlight to the character. If you like mythic characters reimagined through bold, pulpy comics storytelling, Kirby’s Gilgamesh is a fun rabbit hole to dive into.

I get a kick out of how Marvel takes something ancient and makes it cosmic. In the comics, Gilgamesh is basically Marvel's riff on the Sumerian king-hero, pulled into the whole Celestials/Eternals tapestry. Jack Kirby’s 'Eternals' introduced him as one of those long-lived, super-strong Eternals — immortals created or uplifted during the Celestials' experiments on early Earth. He shows up in mythic eras, gets worshipped as a hero or god in places like ancient Mesopotamia, and carries that mythic-warrior vibe through modern stories. He’s often portrayed as a powerhouse: huge strength, endurance, and typical Eternal-level longevity. Over the years writers have leaned into his role as a wandering champion — sometimes noble and protective, sometimes isolated and a little tragic — which is why older comics nicknamed him things like 'The Forgotten One' at points. If you like myth mixed with cosmic sci-fi, he’s an awesome bridge character, and I love spotting where the writers let Gilgamesh’s ancient legend bleed into modern superhero plots.

Hyperion, one of Marvel's most complex powerhouses, first burst onto the scene in 'The Avengers' #69 back in 1969. Created by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema, he was initially introduced as a villainous counterpart to Superman, leading the Squadron Sinister. Over the decades, his role evolved dramatically—alternate versions emerged, like the heroic Hyperion of the Squadron Supreme, a parallel-world team mirroring the Justice League. His debut story set the stage for his legacy: a godlike being grappling with morality, often caught between destruction and redemption. What makes his first appearance fascinating is how it reflects comics' Silver Age tropes while subverting them. Hyperion wasn't just a brute; his struggles with identity and purpose added depth. Later iterations, like the post-2013 'Avengers' run by Jonathan Hickman, reimagined him as a tragic figure, the last survivor of a dead universe. That debut issue planted seeds for his multifaceted mythology, blending raw power with existential weight.

I still get a little thrill when Gilgamesh shows up on a page — there's something about that hulking, tragic, almost mythic presence that hooks me every time. If you want to see him as a main figure, the most consistent place to look is the various runs of 'The Eternals'. He’s one of the roster of immortals in Jack Kirby’s original work and pops up in later Eternals revivals, so those volumes give you the best long-form treatment of him and his backstory. Outside the Eternals books, Gilgamesh turns into more of a featured player in a few team-up and superhero titles: he shows up in multiple arcs of 'The Avengers' as a heavyweight ally and occasionally takes center stage in 'Thor' stories where the mythic angle makes him a natural fit. Marvel also drops him into solo-ish spotlight moments across anthologies and guest-appearance arcs, so you’ll find him carrying or anchoring short runs in things like anthology series or limited crossovers. If you want exact issues, bookmarking the Marvel Database or Marvel Unlimited and searching his alias 'the Forgotten One' will point you straight to issue lists and trades — that’s how I tracked down a couple of obscure Gilgamesh-centric issues that weren’t in the main Eternals collections.

If you want the core Gilgamesh experience in Marvel, start where he was properly introduced: the Jack Kirby run. Read 'The Eternals' (vol. 1) #1–19 — that’s the backbone. Kirby’s cosmic, mythic tone is exactly where Gilgamesh (the Forgotten One) feels most alive: huge-scale origin, mythic fights, and the character’s big personality moments. Those issues show him as the hulking, noble brawler and give you the Alderaan-sized lore that feeds everything later. After Kirby, I’d move to the modern retelling: Neil Gaiman’s 'The Eternals' mini-series (#1–7, 2006). Gaiman polishes the characters’ psychology and gives Gilgamesh quieter, more human beats. It’s shorter, beautifully illustrated, and acts like a perfect palate cleanser — you’ll see how a contemporary writer reframes that raw Kirby energy. Beyond those two pillars, skim his guest spots in various Marvel titles and look for collections like 'The Eternals: The Complete Collection' or an omnibus of Kirby’s run. If you like tracking down the small cameos, Marvel Unlimited and Marvel Database are lifesavers for locating every pro wrestling-sized punch he threw in other books. For me, the Kirby run plus Gaiman’s mini is the essential combo — everything else is icing or callbacks that make more sense after those reads.

If you meant the moody, hooded empath from the Teen Titans, then you're actually talking about a DC character, not Marvel. Raven (the one who pulls out shadows and talks to souls) made her comics debut in 'DC Comics Presents' #26 in 1980. She was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez and got most of her character development in the early '80s through the launch of 'The New Teen Titans', where her backstory — being the daughter of a human mother and the demon Trigon — really took shape. I still get a little giddy thinking about how that era fused gothic vibes and superhero soap opera. The comic run set up everything later adaptations leaned on: the conflicted anti-heroine, the emotional control theme, and those unforgettable costume and color motifs. If you're tracking the character across media, check out the animated 'Teen Titans' series from the 2000s and the live-action 'Titans' where Rachel Roth is a modern, grittier take — both of those draw heavily from that original early-'80s comic DNA.

Found him while digging through a beat-up longbox at a con once and it felt like striking gold: Hulkling's first full appearance is in 'Young Avengers' #1, cover-dated April 2005. Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung created him, and they gave us Teddy Altman — part Kree, part Skrull, and delightfully complicated. The issue introduces the team and plants the seeds for Teddy's relationship with Billy Kaplan (Wiccan), which became one of the most beloved romances in modern superhero comics. I still chuckle thinking about how the opening scenes play like a teenager’s summer of secrets and sudden heroics. Beyond that first issue, Hulkling's arc grows into something huge: his heritage as a hybrid prince becomes central in later stories like 'Avengers: The Children's Crusade', and his powers mix shapeshifting with surprising brute strength. If you want to start with his origin, grab the 'Young Avengers' trade — that first issue is the perfect doorway into his whole vibe, messy feelings and all.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately because I caught myself rewatching 'Eternals' on a rainy afternoon and got nostalgic about Don Lee’s take on Gilgamesh. To put it plainly: Marvel’s Gilgamesh has already shown up in the MCU—he’s one of the Eternals in the 2021 film, played with this grounded warmth that stuck with me. That appearance establishes him on-screen, so the question isn’t whether he’ll appear, but whether he’ll pop up again and where. From a storytelling perspective, I’d love to see him in more team-up settings. In the comics he’s this incredible powerhouse with a protective streak, so I can picture him showing up in Guardians-style crossovers or even the bigger Avengers-level conflicts. With the MCU leaning into multiverse stories and character crossovers, a Gilgamesh cameo or larger role feels plausible—especially if Marvel wants to explore more Eternal lore or use him as a thematic foil to heroes like Thor or Hulk. If you’re mixing him up with the famous Gilgamesh from 'Fate'—those are totally different characters from separate worlds, so don’t expect the anime version to pop into Marvel’s movies. But I’m optimistic: the MCU loves borrowing from its comics, and since Gilgamesh is already introduced, it’s really about timing and whether future scripts call for his particular vibe. I’d keep an eye on sequels, Disney+ tie-ins, and any league-style movies where his kind of brute-heart energy would shine.

I’ve always loved when comics pinch stuff from ancient myths — there’s this delicious little thrill when familiar names pop up. When I first saw Marvel’s Gilgamesh in a trade paperback, I blinked: same name, heroic vibe, but that’s where the neat overlap mostly ends. Marvel borrows the legend’s name and some mythic flavor, but the comics treat him like a superheroic figure built to fit into Marvel’s strange cosmology. Instead of a straight retelling of 'Epic of Gilgamesh', the character gets retooled with superpowers, team ups, and modern conflicts. He’s more of a nod or homage than a faithful adaptation. I like thinking of it like a cover song — familiar melody, different arrangement. If you’re curious, read the poem alongside the comic appearance. The original 'Epic of Gilgamesh' has this raw, ancient meditation on friendship, mortality, and the fear of death that comics don’t usually replicate beat-for-beat. But seeing how Marvel riffs on those big themes is its own kind of fun, and sometimes that contrast makes me appreciate the source material even more.