Fans have reached a point with the MCU that they expect surprise debuts. Every movie and TV series is accompanied by rampant speculation as to who is going to pop up. Being right isn’t even the fun part. Trying to guess what’s coming next is where the joy is. But every once in a while, speculation pans out and fans get something really cool. That happened in Eternals in a mid-credits scene featuring Pip the Troll and Eros.
These two long-rumored cosmic comic characters have finally joined the MCU. Pip the Troll is a CGI character being voiced by comedian, actor, and respectably notorious geek Patton Oswalt. Eros is being played by pop singer and handsome devil Harry Styles. Once again, MCU casting is absolutely on point. But causal fans have to be wondering who these characters are and what their arrival means.
Pip the Troll is exactly what the name implies
The creation of the legendary Jim Starlin, Pip the Troll made his comic book debut in 1975 alongside Adam Warlock. He was essentially the comic foil to Adam’s overly serious and humorless demeanor. That dynamic would continue for decades. Pip has frequently been seen at the side of Adam Warlock in several comic book stories. That includes the first Infinity Gauntlet storyline and beyond.
Pip isn’t exactly a powerful being. Trolls from his homeworld only real abilities seem to be debauchery and havoc. But Pip has been resurrected a few times by Adam Warlock. His most recent form has been imbued with superstrength. Additionally, long-term exposure to the Space Stone has given him the ability to teleport great distances. At the same time, Pip has virtually no fighting skills that would allow him to make effective use of any of this.
Originally a much different alien, Pip became a “troll” after getting drunk on some sort of mutagenic ale. Since the late 1990s, the character hasn’t exactly been used a lot. He still appears in some cosmic comics but has also popped up in a few Mutant-related titles. That being said, being part of the MCU might spur interest in Pip and bring him back to the comics.
Eros earned his name
Sometimes known as Starfox, Eros is an Eternal and the brother of Thanos. The Mad Titan is a genetic mix between Eternals and Deviants, which is part of the reason he turned out the way he did. Unlike his brother, Eros isn’t interested in killing half the universe. He’s pretty much just interested in sleeping with the female half of the universe as well as the occasional heroic adventure.
Eros made his comic book debut in 1972 in the pages of Iron Man. Sometimes a member of the Avengers, he primarily ends up involved in any variety of cosmic shenanigans. And more often than not they have something to do with dissuading Thanos from whatever nonsense he’s up to at the moment. Honestly, trying to keep Thanos in check has been a full-time job for Eros over the years.
His cosmic Eternal physiology has imbued Eros with a variety of powers. That includes flight, super strength, invulnerability, immortality, and cosmic energy manipulation. Eros also has the ability to manipulate people’s pleasure centers, a gift he has been accused of using immorally at times. Eros holds a surprising amount of power despite his appearance as a pretty boy.
How Eros and Pip fit into the MCU
Pip the Troll and Eros were introduced in the mid-credits scene of Eternals. The implication of that scene is that they will play a role in the upcoming sequel to the movie. They will likely help rescue some of the Eternals from Arishem the Celestial. This actually makes a lot of sense as both characters are frequently involved in cosmic storylines in the comics. But there’s also more to this.
Adam Warlock and Pip are closely associated in a variety of comic books. And it was recently confirmed that Adam is coming to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. This means that fans may be seeing this iconic duo in the MCU at some point. At the same time, Eros is quite closely associated with Thanos, who is gone from the MCU. That being said, he never stays dead in the comics. The appearance of Eros and Adam Warlock could herald the return of the Mad Titan.
The appearance of Pip and Eros combined with the pending debut of Adam Warlock seems to indicate that the cosmic side of the MCU will continue to grow. That includes the oncoming storm of Kang the Conqueror. It’s only a matter of time before heavy hitters like Galactus, Annhilus, and Silver Surfer show up, turning the MCU on its head.
