Kingo Sunen

{{Short description|Marvel Comics fictional character}}

{{Infobox comics character

|image=

|caption=

|character_name=Kingo Sunen

|real_name=Kingo Sunen

|noimage=yes

|publisher=Marvel Comics

|debut=The Eternals #11 (May 1977)

|creators=Jack Kirby

|alliances=Eternals

|species=Eternal

|powers=Immortality, master swordsman, other powers not demonstrated

}}

Kingo Sunen is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in The Eternals #11 (May 1977) and was created by Jack Kirby. He is depicted as a member of the Eternals, a fictional race in the Marvel Comics universe.

The character appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the 2021 film Eternals and the 2024 What If...? episode "What If... Agatha Went to Hollywood?", played by Kumail Nanjiani.

Publication history

{{expand section|date=July 2019}}

Kingo was created by Jack Kirby. He first appeared in The 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 the New Gods for DC Comics in 1971.{{Cite web|title=Who Is Kingo? A Look At Marvel Comics' Eternals Characters - Comic Years|url=https://comicyears.com/comics/marvel/who-is-kingo-a-look-at-marvel-comics-eternals-characters/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=comicyears.com|archive-date=2022-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127002139/https://comicyears.com/comics/marvel/who-is-kingo-a-look-at-marvel-comics-eternals-characters/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=G|first=Alex|date=2020-08-14|title=The History Of Marvel's Kingo Explained|url=https://www.looper.com/236691/the-history-of-marvels-kingo-explained/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Looper.com|language=en-US}}

Fictional character biography

Like all other Eternals, Sunen was created by the Celestials around a million years ago on earth on early humanity. Like others of his species he was created as a result of the many genetic experiments the Celestials did on Earth-616.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-06|title=INTERVIEW: Eternals' Kaeon Gillian Hypes the Return of Marvel's Cosmic Angels|url=https://www.cbr.com/eternals-kieron-gillen-interview/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=CBR|language=en-US}} Another of these experiments, is the devious Deviants who are also the primary antagonists of Eternals.

Kingo spent centuries in Japan learning the ways of the Samurai, and is one of the most skilled swordsmen on the planet. In the present day and age, he has parlayed his skills into becoming a major action film star in Japan.The Eternals #11 (May 1977)

He later reappeared, after Sprite's mindwiping 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 the Blob, finding himself drawn to the Dreaming Celestial.Uncanny X-Men #500 (July 2008)

Powers and abilities

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 Eternal Phastos that can cut through nearly any material.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

In other media

  • Kingo appears in the 2021 film Eternals, portrayed by Kumail Nanjiani.{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/20/marvel-eternals-comic-con/|title=Marvel introduces 'The Eternals' at Comic-Con with Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, and more|last=Coggan|first=Devan|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 20, 2019|accessdate=July 23, 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721135516/https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/20/marvel-eternals-comic-con/|archivedate=July 21, 2019}} This version was sent to Earth with other Eternals to save humanity from the Deviants, but they disbanded when they felt that the Deviant threat had abated. Subsequently, Kingo became a popular Bollywood film star,{{Cite magazine |last=Coogan |first=Devan |date=August 18, 2021 |title=Hope Springs: Go behind the scenes of Marvel's Eternals |url=https://ew.com/movies/marvel-eternals-exclusive-details/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818161352/https://ew.com/movies/marvel-eternals-exclusive-details/ |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |access-date=August 18, 2021 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{Cite web |last=Ridlehoover |first=John |date=March 4, 2020 |title=Eternals: Nanjiani's Kingo Will Hide in Plain Sight - As a Bollywood Star |url=https://www.cbr.com/eternals-nanjianis-kingo-bollywood-star/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305194937/https://www.cbr.com/eternals-nanjianis-kingo-bollywood-star/ |archive-date=March 5, 2020 |access-date=March 5, 2020 |website=Comic Book Resources}} 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. When Ikaris 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, and Sersi were kidnapped by the Celestial Arishem, who intended to analyze their memories to judge whether humanity is worthy to live.
  • Kingo returns in the 2024 What If...? episode "What If... Agatha Went to Hollywood?". Set in an alternate history 1930s Hollywood, as Kingo is making his English language debut in the Howard Stark-directed Cosmic Queen, after Agatha 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 a Celestial 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.{{Cite web |last=Milakovic |first=Robert |date=November 15, 2024 |title=Full List of Voice Actors for 'What If…?' Season 3 Revealed & There Are Some Interesting Names |url=https://www.comicbasics.com/full-list-of-voice-actors-for-what-if-season-3-revealed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116215824/https://www.comicbasics.com/full-list-of-voice-actors-for-what-if-season-3-revealed/ |archive-date=November 16, 2024 |access-date=November 16, 2024 |website=Comic Basics}}
  • Kingo appears in Marvel: Future Fight.{{r|Eternals MFF}}

References

{{Reflist|2|refs =

{{cite web | date= 17 November 2021 | title = Marvel Future Fight Adds Kingo, Gilgamesh, and Thena to the RPG in Latest Eternals Update | url= https://www.pocketgamer.com/marvel-future-fight/kingo-gilgamesh-and-thena-rpg-eternals-update/ | access-date= 21 November 2021 | publisher= Pocket Gamer | author = Dellosa, Catherine Ng }}

}}

{{Eternals}}

{{Jack Kirby}}

Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1977

Category:Eternals (comics)

Category:Fictional actors

Category:Fictional swordfighters in comics

Category:Marvel Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds

Category:Marvel Comics characters with accelerated healing

Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability

Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength

Category:Marvel Comics male superheroes