How Netflix’s The Eternaut deviates from the comics in 5 ways

Netflix's latest Argentine sci-fi miniseries, The Eternaut, is adapted from Héctor Germán Oesterheld's comics of the same name.

Oesterheld's comics, released between 1957 and 1959, follow a fictional alien invasion in Buenos Aires. They are among the most important literary works in Argentine history.

The Netflix adaptation stars Ricardo Darín, Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, and many more in the leading roles.

While the sci-fi show closely adapted the comic's story, it made some natural changes to make it better align with the small screen.

Here are 5 key differences between Netflix's The Eternaut and the comics.

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Netflix's The Eternaut does not label its alien species

Since the sci-fi show is based on an alien invasion, the comics had various species of them. Some of the aliens introduced in Season 1 included the beetle-like alien called Cascarudos in the comics.

The latter episodes of the show also introduced an alien with many fingers that uses music to control humans. This alien species was named 'Hand' in the comics. Another dangerous alien species in the comics is called Ellos ("Them"), which might debut in Season 2.

While the Netflix show included all the species, it did not categorize them into names like the comics.

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Netflix's The Eternaut changed the period of Oesterheld's story

Since Oesterheld's comics were released between 1957 and 1959, the story is also set during the 1950s.

While the Netflix show does not explicitly mention the period, the visuals confirm that it is not set in the 1950s.

The show is set in the present, making it more aligned with current reality. Another narrative change that confirms the show's setting is that, unlike the comics, it attempts to explain the toxic snowfall.

While the comics did not address the cause, a mechanical engineer explains that the toxic snowfall is likely caused by the radiation from the Van Allen belts in the show.

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The mind-controlled humans are different in Netflix's The Eternaut

The primary plot involves aliens using mind-controlling technology to control humans. In the comics, humans have no memory of their past, but the show changes this.

In Netflix's show, when Clara is under the alien's spell, she remembers everything about her past before her abduction. Unlike in the comics, she can even snap in and out of her hypnotic state in the show. While the mind-controlling is much stronger in the comics, it might expand more interestingly in the show in Season 2.

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Netflix's The Eternaut changed the comic's opening scene

The opening scene of Oesterheld's comics is probably the most memorable one, where the author meets a mysterious man, Juan Salvo, who is eventually revealed to be a time traveller and the story's main protagonist.

After his introduction, the comics expand on Juan's perspective and his story. While the show also adapts Juan's story, the opening scene is excluded, and time-traveling elements are introduced much later.

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Mind-controlling technology is different in Netflix's The Eternaut

In the comics, the aliens use a specific device called "the telecontroller" to control the human mind. The device is attached to their spinal cords and brains, leaving them with no autonomy over their bodies.

While the aliens' mind control method is much clearer in the comics, it is implicit in the Netflix show. When Juan reunites with his daughter Clara in the show, he notices a swell on her head, which suggests that the aliens installed some device or chip to control their subjects' minds.

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