Karun Patel (Hindi: करुण पटेल) is the personal valet and assistant of the Bollywood filmmaker and Eternal, Kingo, and also served as the cameraman for Kingo's personal vlogs. In 2024, Karun accompanied Kingo as the Eternals reunited to stop the Emergence, bringing along several cameras to document the experience. Following the betrayal of the Eternal, Ikaris, Karun returned to India with Kingo.
Patel met with Kingo in India. Having been shocked by Kingo's agelessness and unaware of his status as an Eternal, who is immortal by nature, Patel thought Kingo was a vampire and attempted to kill him by staking Kingo through the heart. The two eventually reconciled, with Patel and Kingo going on to enjoy a friendship that lasted for fifty years. Patel also became Kingo's assistant in the latter's film career.[1]
When Sersi, Ikaris and Sprite journeyed to India to reunite with Kingo as he was filming his new movie, Patel recognized them as being Eternals and warmly greeted them, stating that it was an honor to meet them. Upon hearing the Eternals informing Kingo of Ajak's death, Patel understood how grave the moment was and instructed the movie staff to leave. Patel then encouraged Kingo to go with the other Eternals, reminding him of a quote from one of his movies about how protecting one's family was the most important duty.
Patel thus accompanied Kingo in this journey, boarding his boss' private jet while keeping track of their adventure in the shape of a documentary about the Eternals, with Patel filming Sersi and Sprite, albeit with mixed results. Patel and the group landed in Australia to meet with two other Eternals, Gilgamesh and Thena. As they arrived, Patel approached the corpse of a Deviant, stating it to be a magnificent creature, although Kingo insisted that they were ferocious.
Patel, introducing himself to Gilgamesh, was invited to enjoy a copious meal in his house, although he was quite disturbed by how Thena stared at him. Later, he learned from Sersi the true nature and purpose of the Eternals, to ensure the Emergence of Tiamut the Communicator, which would result in the death of all humanity, including Patel. Although instructed by Kingo to go back to India, Patel refused, stating that he would not miss out on the opportunity to stand by the side of the world's original superheroes.[1]
Allowed to stay, Patel accompanied the Eternals to the Amazon Rainforest, where the Eternals were reunited with Druig. As Patel was confronted by the latter regarding humanity's tendency to be hostile to each other, Patel insisted that humans were able to learn from their mistakes and improve themselves. However, Patel was mind-controlled by Druig who forced Patel to throw and break the camera he was using, prompting Kingo's anger and Patel's apology.
Using a spare camera, Patel recorded the conversation between Kingo and Sprite as they discussed the latter's love for Ikaris, although Sprite, noticing his presence, broke this camera as well. Later, when Deviants attacked the settlement, Patel used yet another spare camera to record the fight between the Eternals and the Deviants, taking it as an opportunity to incorporate action sequences in the documentary. Although ordered by Sprite to take cover, Patel was able to film as Kingo killed a Deviant by blasting its head. In the aftermath of the battle, Patel conducted a funeral ceremony in honor of Gilgamesh, who had been killed by Kro.[1]
Patel's final step in his journey led him to Iraq, where he was able to board the Domo, the spaceship used by the Eternals and unearthed by Phastos. Patel then remained mostly silent as the Eternals discussed their plan to stop Tiamut's Emergence, until the moment when Ikaris revealed that he had no intention to allow them to interfere in Arishem's design and left. As Kingo left as well since he did not approve of the plan as well, Kingo bid the other Eternals farewell, expressing his gratitude that he had been able to share their journey and how he would miss them.[1]
In the aftermath of the Battle at the Emergence Point, Patel and Kingo were reunited with Sersi and Sprite, the latter now being human. Patel opened the door of his car to Sprite, who would now attend classes to blend in human society, driving off.[1]
Personality[]
"We're not gonna let everyone on Earth die, right?" "Right! I am human, I am little biased."
Patel has a close working and personal relationship with Kingo as he has known and worked for him for fifty years. He reserves tremendous amounts of respect for the Eternals, as he recognized them as Earth's original superheroes. Patel is also superstitious to a degree, due his belief in the existence of vampires.
When Kingo was summoned by Ikaris, Sersi and Sprite to resume their war against the Deviants and Kingo was hesitant to do so, Patel spurred Kingo to join them and reminded Kingo of the importance of defending one's family, indicating that Patel tends to act as Kingo's voice of reason. Patel also demonstrated bravery and a hunger for adventure, when the Eternals were discussing the possibility of killing the Celestial Tiamut the Communicator and Kingo instructed Patel to go back home, Patel refused, preferring to join their fight against the all-powerful Celestials despite his status as a mere mortal with no superpowers. Patel could also act solemn whenever the situation was grave enough, and as such he conducted the funeral held for Gilgamesh after he was killed by Kro.
He is also shown to be committed to his job, as shown when he carried multiple cameras with him to film a documentary about the Eternals, and continued to capture footage of them fighting Deviants even when he was at close proximity to danger.
Abilities[]
Multilingualism: Patel is fluent in his native Hindi and English. In addition to that, he could recite Sanskrit mantras during Gilgamesh's funeral.
Patel brings a number of handheld camcorders to record the adventure that he, Kingo and his Eternal friends went through in order to stop the Emergence.
Tripod Camera: Patel brought a tripod to Druig's Compound in Peru to document his and the Eternals quest to find Druig. Druig later enthralled Karun and made him break the Tripod Camera.
