Forgotten One

• Core Identity: The Forgotten One is an immensely powerful Eternal, exiled by his own kind for his constant intervention in human affairs, who has wandered the Earth for millennia as a lonely hero, often mistaken for mythological figures like Gilgamesh and Hercules.
• Key Takeaways:
• The Eternal Outcast: His defining characteristic is his self-imposed banishment from the Eternal city of Olympia. While other eternals remained aloof, the Forgotten One felt a deep connection to humanity, acting as its secret protector, which put him at odds with the Eternal Prime, zuras. This history of isolation has shaped his lonely and often misunderstood personality.
• Unrivaled Physical Power: Among the Earth-based Eternals, the Forgotten One is arguably the physically strongest, with his raw power placing him in the same tier as beings like thor, the Sentry, and hercules (whom he has been mistaken for). His mastery over cosmic energy is often channeled to further enhance his already staggering physical might.
• Key Incarnations: In the Earth-616 comics, he is a solitary, wandering figure who briefly finds community with the avengers. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is primarily known as Gilgamesh, a warm, loyal, and protective Eternal who voluntarily exiles himself to care for his friend thena as she suffers from Mahd Wy'ry.

The character who would become known as the Forgotten One made his first appearance in The Eternals #13 in July 1977. He was created by the legendary writer and artist Jack Kirby during his seminal run that introduced the concepts of the Eternals, Deviants, and Celestials to the Marvel Universe. Initially, Kirby presented him as a near-mythological figure, a powerful being whose identity was deliberately kept mysterious. The name “Forgotten One” was literal; his own people had struck his existence from their records. This concept tapped into Kirby's grand themes of “gods” walking among mortals, ancient astronauts, and the secret histories of humanity. It wasn't until later writers, primarily in the pages of Thor and Avengers, that the character was given the name Gilgamesh and his backstory was fleshed out to explicitly connect him to the Sumerian hero. This layering of identities—the Forgotten One, Hero, Gilgamesh—became a core part of his character, reflecting his long and lonely journey through human history.

The origin of the Forgotten One is fundamentally tied to the cosmic genesis of his entire race. Like all Eternals, his creation is a direct result of the grand genetic experiments conducted by the god-like celestials on early proto-humanity millions of years ago.

Born in the ancient city of Olympia, the Forgotten One was a member of the third generation of Eternals. From his earliest days, he displayed a unique and profound empathy for the burgeoning mortal races of Earth. While his fellow Eternals, under the strict leadership of Zuras, adhered to a policy of non-interference, the Forgotten One could not stand idly by. He saw humanity's struggles—their battles against tyrants, monsters, and natural disasters—and felt compelled to act. He descended from Olympia and wandered the Earth, using his incredible powers to aid humanity. Throughout the centuries, his heroic deeds became the stuff of legend. He was the basis for countless myths, unknowingly taking on the identities of humanity's greatest heroes. The Mesopotamians knew him as Gilgamesh, the Hebrews as Samson, the Greeks as Hercules (leading to a friendly rivalry with the actual Olympian god), and the Anglo-Saxons as Beowulf. He battled monsters, deposed despots, and saved entire civilizations. However, his constant meddling in mortal affairs was a flagrant violation of Zuras's primary decree. Zuras believed that such intervention would make humanity dependent and disrupt the Celestials' grand experiment. For his repeated disobedience, the Forgotten One was declared a pariah. Zuras confined him to a remote sector of Olympia, effectively erasing his name and deeds from the official Eternal records, thus earning him his somber title. For centuries, he remained in isolation, a hero punished for his own heroism, until the day he was needed once more when the deviants threatened the world and he was freed by the Eternal named Sprite. Even after his release, he remained an outsider, a solitary figure defined by a past that no one was allowed to remember.

In the MCU, as depicted in the film Eternals (2021), the character's origin is streamlined and re-contextualized for a more focused narrative. He is known almost exclusively as Gilgamesh (portrayed by Don Lee) and is one of the ten Eternals sent to Earth by the Celestial Arishem in 5,000 BC. Their stated mission was to protect humanity from the monstrous Deviants, allowing the human population to grow and flourish. Unlike his comic counterpart's rebellious nature, the MCU's Gilgamesh was initially a loyal soldier who followed the orders of Prime Eternal Ajak and field leader Ikaris. He used his unique ability to manifest cosmic energy into powerful gauntlets to fight Deviants alongside his family of Eternals for thousands of years. The critical divergence from the comics occurs after the apparent eradication of the Deviants. The Eternals disbanded, awaiting their recall by Arishem. During this time, the Eternal warrior Thena began to suffer from a condition known as Mahd Wy'ry (a mispronunciation of “mad weary”), a psychological affliction caused by the immense weight of millennia of memories being cyclically erased and restored. This made her dangerously unstable, causing her to lash out at her fellow Eternals as her mind fractured. While Ikaris believed the only solution was to have her memory completely wiped, Gilgamesh refused to let his friend suffer such a fate. He volunteered to become her full-time guardian. He took Thena into a self-imposed exile, living a quiet, isolated life with her in the Australian outback. For centuries, he cared for her, helped her manage her episodes, and provided a stable, comforting presence. This act of profound loyalty and friendship defines his MCU character, transforming him from a rebellious loner into a selfless protector. His origin is not one of punishment for helping humanity, but of a willing sacrifice made for a cherished member of his family.

The Forgotten One is classified as a Prime Eternal, placing him in the highest echelons of power within his race. His abilities stem from his complete and total psionic control over his own molecular structure and his ability to manipulate vast quantities of cosmic energy.

In the comics, the Forgotten One is a powerhouse whose abilities have been honed over millennia of constant combat and solitary survival.

• Abilities:
• Superhuman Strength: This is his most famous attribute. The Forgotten One is the physically strongest of all the Earth-based Eternals, a fact acknowledged by Zuras himself. His strength is considered to be on par with beings like a calm Savage Hulk, Thor, and his rival Hercules. He has performed incredible feats, such as supporting massive structures and battling cosmic-level threats through sheer physical force.
• Superhuman Durability & Stamina: His body is virtually indestructible. He is immune to all terrestrial diseases, aging, and conventional injury. He can withstand extreme pressures and temperatures, high-caliber bullets, and tremendous impact forces without harm. His stamina is practically limitless, allowing him to fight at peak capacity for days on end.
• Cosmic Energy Manipulation: Like all Eternals, he can manipulate cosmic energy for various effects. While he is not as skilled or versatile as masters like Ikaris or Sersi, he can project powerful concussive blasts of energy from his hands and eyes, generate force fields, and use it to further augment his physical attributes.
• Flight: By psionically levitating himself, the Forgotten One can fly at supersonic speeds.
• Psionic Powers: He possesses low-level psionic abilities, including limited telepathy and the ability to create illusions. He primarily uses these abilities to mask his presence from mortals.
• Molecular Regeneration: He has total mental control over his own molecules, allowing him to rapidly regenerate from almost any injury, up to and including the regeneration of lost limbs. This ability, combined with his durability, makes him exceptionally difficult to kill.
• Master Combatant: Millennia of fighting monsters, armies, and super-powered foes have made him one of the most formidable hand-to-hand combatants on Earth. He is proficient with numerous ancient and modern weapons, though he typically prefers to rely on his fists.
• Equipment:
• Eternal Uniform: His costume is woven from unknown, near-indestructible materials that provide further protection and are keyed to his molecular structure.
• Ancient Weaponry: At various points in his history, he has wielded axes, spears, and swords, all of which he used with superhuman skill.
• Personality:

The Earth-616 Forgotten One is a study in stoic loneliness. Having been cast out by his own people and living in secret among a species he can never truly join, he is often brooding, quiet, and melancholic. He carries the immense weight of his long life and the burden of being a forgotten hero. Despite this, he possesses an unshakeable moral compass and a deep-seated desire to protect the innocent. His time with the Avengers showed a capacity for friendship and teamwork, but his default state is that of a solitary wanderer.

The MCU's Gilgamesh retains the core concept of being a powerful Eternal brawler, but his abilities and personality are adapted to better serve the film's ensemble dynamic.

• Abilities:
• Cosmic Energy Manifestation (Exo-Gauntlets): Gilgamesh's signature ability in the MCU is his power to project cosmic energy into a tangible, golden, semi-transparent exoskeleton around his arms and fists. These gauntlets vastly increase his striking power, allowing him to stagger and injure incredibly durable Deviants with his punches. This provides a clear visual distinction from other Eternals' energy projections.
• Superhuman Strength and Durability: While his upper strength limits are not as explicitly defined as in the comics, he is clearly the “strongman” of the team. He is shown effortlessly dispatching Deviants with his physical power and withstanding powerful blows from Kro, the leader of the evolved Deviants.
• Standard Eternal Powers: He possesses the same baseline Eternal abilities as his teammates: immortality (does not age), a regenerative healing factor, and enhanced physical attributes. He is not shown to fly or project energy beams like Ikaris or Thena.
• Personality:

In a significant departure from the comics, the MCU's Gilgamesh is warm, gregarious, and deeply empathetic. He is the heart of the team, often acting as a stabilizing, paternal figure. His defining traits are his unwavering loyalty and his capacity for love, particularly for Thena. He is patient and kind, finding joy in simple pleasures like cooking (he is shown to be an excellent pie-baker). His self-imposed exile is not a punishment but a choice born of love, showcasing a selfless and protective nature that makes his ultimate sacrifice all the more impactful. This version completely eschews the brooding loner archetype for that of a loving guardian.

• Thena (MCU): This is Gilgamesh's most important relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They share a bond that transcends friendship and romance, built on centuries of mutual respect and trust. When Thena is afflicted with Mahd Wy'ry, Gilgamesh becomes her sole protector, dedicating his life to managing her condition. He understands her in a way no one else does, providing a calming anchor to her fractured mind. His final act is to sacrifice his life to save hers, a testament to his absolute devotion.
• The Avengers (Earth-616): For a significant period, the Forgotten One was a member of the Avengers. After being found blind and amnesiac by captain_america, he was given the name “Gilgamesh” and inducted into the team. He served with distinction during major crises like “The Evolutionary War” and the “Inferno” event. He developed a respect for Captain America's leadership and formed a working camaraderie with Thor and Hercules. This was a crucial period for the character, allowing him to experience the sense of belonging he had been denied for millennia.
• Sprite (Earth-616): The mischievous, perpetually young Eternal was one of the few who remembered the Forgotten One during his exile. It was Sprite who freed him from his confinement in Olympia to help battle a Deviant threat. They shared several adventures, with the Forgotten One often acting as a weary but protective guardian to the trickster, showcasing a softer side to his otherwise hardened exterior.

• Deviants (Both Universes): As an Eternal, the Forgotten One shares a natural and eternal enmity with the Deviants, the grotesque and genetically unstable counterparts to his race. In the comics, he has fought their armies for eons, clashing with leaders like Warlord Kro and Ghaur. In the MCU, the Deviants are his primary antagonists, and his final battle is against their evolved leader, Kro, who ultimately kills him and attempts to absorb his powers.
• Zuras (Earth-616): The conflict between the Forgotten One and Zuras is ideological. Zuras, as the Prime Eternal of Earth, is the embodiment of the law of non-interference. He represents order, tradition, and adherence to the Celestials' plan. The Forgotten One's rampant heroism was, in Zuras's eyes, a dangerous form of chaos. As the one who exiled him, Zuras is the Forgotten One's most personal antagonist, representing the system and people who rejected him for his compassion.

• The Eternals: By birthright, he is a member of the Eternals of Earth. However, for most of his history in the comics, this affiliation was fraught with tension due to his exile. He often operated independently of them, only joining his brethren during times of extreme crisis, such as the arrival of the Celestial Fourth Host.
• The Avengers: His tenure as an Avenger is a significant part of his comic book identity. He was officially recruited in Avengers #291 (1988) and served as the team's primary powerhouse for a time. Though his membership was relatively brief, it proved that this eternal outcast could function as part of a team and find acceptance among humanity's greatest heroes.

This is Jack Kirby's original saga where the Forgotten One is introduced. He is freed from his prison by Sprite to aid in the battle against the Deviants while the Fourth Host of the Celestials arrives to pass judgment on Earth. His appearance is a major event, as even the Eternals believed him to be a mere myth. He demonstrates his colossal power by acting as a one-man army, solidifying his status as one of the most powerful beings on the planet and establishing the core tragedy of his character: a hero so great he had to be forgotten.

During his time as an Avenger, Gilgamesh (as he was then known) played a crucial role in this line-wide crossover. The High Evolutionary sought to forcibly advance human evolution with a “gene bomb.” Gilgamesh was on the front lines, battling the High Evolutionary's forces alongside the Avengers. His raw power was an invaluable asset, but the event also highlighted his struggle to fit in with a modern team. The storyline tested his ability to take orders and work as part of a unit, pushing him far beyond his comfort zone as a solitary wanderer.

The Forgotten One's most defining moment in the MCU is his death. After the Eternals reunite to face the threat of the newly evolved Deviants and the impending “Emergence” of the Celestial Tiamut, the group's safe house in the Amazon is attacked by Kro. Thena suffers a severe Mahd Wy'ry episode during the fight, leaving her vulnerable. Without hesitation, Gilgamesh focuses on defending her, using his body to shield her from Kro's attacks. Kro impales Gilgamesh and uses his tendrils to absorb his cosmic energy and memories before killing him. This selfless sacrifice is the emotional climax of his character arc, fueling Thena's resolve and profoundly impacting the entire team.

While the Forgotten One does not have as many prominent alternate-reality counterparts as characters like Spider-Man or Wolverine, his identity is itself a collection of variants, as he is the in-universe “original” for several mythological figures.

• Mythological Counterparts (Earth-616): The prime version of the Forgotten One is the “real” Gilgamesh, Samson, Beowulf, and Hercules within the Marvel Universe's history. These aren't separate variants but rather historical identities he adopted. His rivalry with the Olympian God of Strength, Hercules, stems directly from the confusion their similar deeds and power levels caused among ancient mortals.
• Hero (Pre-Retcon): Before his name was established as Gilgamesh, he was briefly known simply as “Hero.” In Avengers #300, after his tenure with the team, he suffered severe injuries that left him near-dead. Sersi rebonded his life-force, and he was returned to Olympia to heal, effectively writing him out of the main Marvel narrative for many years. This “Hero” persona can be seen as a distinct chapter in his life.
• Video Game Adaptations (e.g., Marvel: Future Fight): In mobile games like Marvel: Future Fight, Gilgamesh appears as a playable character based on his MCU incarnation. These versions focus entirely on his cosmic-gauntlet fighting style and his role as a “Combat” type hero, emphasizing his brawling nature and often including team-up bonuses with other Eternals like Thena. This adaptation prioritizes gameplay mechanics over the deep narrative of his comic book loneliness.

• eternals
• deviants
• celestials
• thena
• avengers
• zuras
• ikaris
• jack_kirby

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