Biography
Makkari is the fastest of the Eternals, and Marvel's continuity treats the Mercury and Hermes myths as human attempts to describe seeing him move. Kirby's version lived among humans under assumed names for centuries, racing, exploring and generally treating immortality as an opportunity rather than a burden, which sets him apart from the more solemn members of the pantheon.
The 2021 film made two significant changes and improved the character with both. Lauren Ridloff plays Makkari as a woman and as the MCU's first deaf superhero, with her deafness written as the reason her speed does not shred her senses, and the film's best action sequence is built entirely around silence broken by shockwaves. She spends centuries alone on the Domo cataloguing human artefacts, which is the most Makkari way to wait out an apocalypse.
Vital statistics
- Real name
- Makkari
- Also known as
- Mercury, The Fastest Eternal, Mike Kahri
- Species
- Eternal
- Place of origin
- Olympia, Earth
- First appearance
- The Eternals (1976)
- Created by
- Jack Kirby
- Affiliations
- Eternals, Olympia
Power grid
Intelligence3
Strength4
Speed7
Durability5
Energy3
Fighting4
Rated 1–7 on the classic Marvel power-grid scale.
Powers
- Super-Speed
Makkari moves at speeds that make her effectively untouchable and let her cross oceans on foot.
- Eternal Physiology
Immortality, enhanced durability and immunity to disease.
- Accelerated Perception
Her senses and reflexes operate at the same scale as her movement.
- Cosmic Energy Channelling
She converts Eternal energy into kinetic force.
- Uni-Mind Participation
She joins the merged Eternal consciousness.
Abilities
- Reconnaissance and courier work across continents
- Extensive knowledge of human history and artefacts
- Combat effectiveness through pure velocity
Weaknesses
- Comparatively low durability against sustained cosmic attack
- Restlessness and impatience with Eternal deliberation
- Vulnerable when confined or immobilised
Comics history
Makkari appeared in Kirby's Eternals as the pantheon's speedster and its most enthusiastic student of humanity, living under human names and taking part in human pursuits. Later revivals kept that framing, and Neil Gaiman's 2006 series used the amnesia premise to strand the Eternals in ordinary lives before their memories returned.
MCU appearances
| Title | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eternals | 2021 | Lauren Ridloff plays her as the MCU's first deaf superhero |
On screen
Allies
- Sersi
- Druig
- Ikaris
- Thena
- Gilgamesh
Enemies
- Deviants
- Arishem
- Ikaris
Weapons & equipment
- None; velocity is the weapon
- The Domo, the Eternals' ship
Trivia
- Marvel's Eternals mythology treats Mercury and Hermes as human accounts of Makkari's speed.
- Kirby's Makkari lived under human aliases for centuries, embracing human culture more than most Eternals.
- Lauren Ridloff's casting made Makkari the MCU's first deaf superhero, and the film uses sign language throughout.
- The 2021 film explains her deafness as the reason her super-speed does not destroy her hearing.
- She spends centuries alone aboard the Domo collecting human artefacts while waiting for the Emergence.
Famous quotes
I have run across every continent your species named. Twice.
You take the long way. I will be there.
Timeline
- 1976
Debuts in Kirby's The Eternals as the pantheon's speedster.
- 1980s
Recurs through the post-Kirby Eternals revivals.
- 2006
Rediscovers her identity in Neil Gaiman's Eternals.
- 2021
Lauren Ridloff plays her as the MCU's first deaf superhero in Eternals.
Gallery
Poster art is generated from each character’s signature palette. Drop official art into assets/images/ and set the img field to swap it in.
Related characters
Frequently asked
How fast is Makkari?
Fast enough to be effectively invisible to normal perception, to run across oceans and to reposition through an entire battlefield between blows. In the 2021 film her speed generates visible shockwaves, which is the cleanest depiction of Eternal velocity Marvel has put on screen.
Was Makkari always deaf and female?
No. Kirby's Makkari was male and hearing. The 2021 film cast Lauren Ridloff, making the character a deaf woman and the MCU's first deaf superhero, and used her deafness as an in-universe explanation for how she survives her own speed.