Jupiter's Legacy is an American superhero comic book series, first published in 2013, written by Mark Millar, drawn by Frank Quitely, colored and lettered by Peter Doherty and published by Image Comics. Published as a series of eponymous limited series and interstitial prequel miniseries, it is to date the longest series that Millar had published as part of his Millarworld line of creator-owned comics, spanning an issue run three times as long as his then-most recent series, Supercrooks and Nemesis. It was also the first collaboration between Millar and Quitely since their work on The Authority in 2001, and Quitely's first long-form work with a writer other than Grant Morrison.
The story, which is influenced by Star Wars, King Kong, Roman mythology and origin stories from the Golden Age of Comics, was written as Millar's treatise on superheroes' connection to the American ideal. The first few issues of the opening story arc explore the generational conflict between a group of aging superheroes known as the Union, who used the powers they gained in 1932 for the betterment of mankind, in particular their leader, Sheldon Sampson (also known as the Utopian), and their children, who are daunted by the prospect of living up to their parents' legacy. Other conflicts and themes in the book include sociopolitical and economic differences among the older heroes and the end of capitalism, in the form of Sheldon's differences with his brother, Walter, which were inspired by Millar's reaction to the Great Recession.
The series received generally positive reviews, with praise given to Millar's writing, Quitely's art and Peter Doherty's colors, though more than one reviewer regarded the series' take on realistic superheroes as derivative.Houvouras, Anghus (September 26, 2013). "Comic Book Review - Jupiter's Legacy #3". Flickering Myth.comWilkerson, Zach (September 26, 2013). "Review: Jupiter's Legacy #3" . Multiversity Comics.
The series' storyline is further explored in the prequel series Jupiter's Circle, which depicts the lives of the six founding members of the Union in the 1950s and 1960s. The first volume of the prequel debuted in 2015, and the second in November 2015. The sequel series Jupiter's Legacy: Requiem, which continues the storyline decades after the end of the original series, debuted in June 2021, also yielding positive critical reception. Subsequently, both volumes of Jupiter's Circle were retroactively rebranded as Volumes 1 and 2 of Jupiter's Legacy, with the original two volumes rebranded as Volumes 3 and 4, Requiem rebranded as Volume 5, and the new Jupiter's Legacy: Finale closing off the series rebranded as Volume 6, published by Dark Horse Comics.
In April 2015, it was announced that Millar had partnered with film producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura to adapt Jupiter's Legacy into feature films. In 2018, it was announced that Netflix, which acquired Millarworld the previous year, was developing a television adaptation of the comic series, with Steven S. DeKnight hired as showrunner and one of the executive producers. The series lasted one season.
Publication history
Development Jupiter's Legacy was initially planned to be titled Jupiter's Children. The original concept for the series was developed by writer Mark Millar after reading the memoirs of Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher. In her memoirs, Fisher noted that despite her fame as Princess Leia, she did not feel exceptional because her parents were even more famous. This observation led Millar to reflect on the challenges of living up to parental expectations, noting that even a character such as Princess Leia could experience a sense of inadequacy in comparison to previous generations.
Millar described the story as reflecting a generational conflict similar to that depicted in Hamlet. One of the central themes of the series explores the experience of growing up as the children of iconic superheroes, comparable to figures such as Wonder Woman and Superman, and the difficulty of maintaining the legacy established by earlier generations.
The series was conceived as a large-scale narrative focused on superheroes while also examining their relationship to the American ideal. Millar cited several influences on the development of the series, including Star Wars, King Kong, origin stories from the Golden Age of Comics, and elements of Roman mythology. The title Jupiter was chosen because of its association with grandeur and mythological symbolism, reflecting the intended epic scope of the story. Millar aimed to modernize these themes by combining classical mythological elements with contemporary imagery and a narrative structure inspired by Wagnerian traditions.
Additional themes and motifs explored in the series include the dawn of humanity, the origin of Earth, and contemporary concerns related to the global economy and the potential decline of capitalism. Millar explained:
Asked about the pulp era opening scenes of issue one, in which the group of protagonists charter a boat to journey to a mysterious island, Millar explained that King Kong is his favorite film, and that the sequence in which that film's characters travel to Skull Island is "one of the greatest ever". Millar further explained that he wanted to give the characters a superhero origin that was more both mythical and simple, such as the Golden Age Green Lantern and the Silver Age Flash, instead of grounding it in real world science. The mystery of what exactly happened to the protagonists of Jupiter's Legacy on the island in 1932 is gradually revealed during the course of the miniseries, beginning with issue #4.
In October 2012 Millar stated that his intention for the series was to have it produced as closely as possible to a monthly schedule, which he predicted would mean an issue published every six weeks, and that after the first five issues, which represents Book One of the story, there would be a break of a few months for the creative team to catch up, before resuming with the second half. Millar announced that the entire series would be released over the course of 20 months, for 10 – 12 issues in total.McMillan, Graeme (October 4, 2012). "JUPITER'S CHILDREN: Not What You'd Expect (If You're The Artist Of The Book)". Newsarama. However, issue 4 was not published until January 1, 2014, and issue 5 was not published until January 14, 2015. In response, Millar announced that beginning in April 2015, all Millarworld titles would be completely drawn before the publication of their debut issues, to ensure a monthly schedule.
The first three issues of the series are collected in Jupiter's Children: Giant-Sized Edition #1, which was published on December 26, 2013 for $3.99."Image Announces 'Jupiter's Legacy Giant-Sized Edition' With 64 Pages At $3.99". Comic Book Resources.
In October 2014 Millar revealed that he would expand the universe of Jupiter's Legacy with Jupiter's Circle, a ten-issue prequel set in 1959, when the Utopian, Lady Liberty and their contemporaries were in their prime, and interacting with such real-life personalities as J. Edgar Hoover and Katharine Hepburn. The first issue debuted in April 2015. Frank Quitely provided covers and character designs for the prequel, while its interiors are illustrated by Wilfredo Torres and Davide Gianfelice. Following the conclusion of Book One of the Jupiter's Circle, it was indicated that Millar would publish Book Two of the parent series, Jupiter's Legacy.
Although Millar stated that he began sharing his concept for Jupiter's Legacy with filmmakers with whom he was acquainted since he began working on it in early 2012, he wanted the project completely worked out before he embarked in earnest on a film adaptation. He stated that he had actor Richard Dreyfuss in mind the entire time he wrote Walter, and hopes for him to play the character, calling Dreyfuss "one of the cinematic greats". Millar also explained that film adaptation of the book would require an entire trilogy, and that the third act in particular "needs room to breath[e]".Wilding, Josh (April 23, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: Mark Millar Talks JUPITER'S LEGACY Movie; Wants Richard Dreyfuss To Star". ComicBookMovie.comStrong, Hercules (March 9, 2015). "From Mark Millar, The Comic-Book Writer Who Gave Us KINGSMAN And KICK-ASS!! Universal Snags CHRONONAUTS!!". Ain't It Cool News.
Synopses
This links to a chronological list of story arcs in Jupiter's Legacy, its prequel series Jupiter's Circle, later rebranded as Jupiter's Legacy Volumes 1 and 2, and its sequel series, Jupiter's Legacy: Requiem and Jupiter's Legacy: Finale. The first, five-issue volume of Jupiter's Legacy premiered in April 2013, and was published monthly by Image Comics.
Characters The first generation Sheldon Sampson/The Utopian – A patriotic American who lost everything in the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and who in 1932 charters a boat to a mysterious island 600 miles west of Cape Verde after the island appears to him in a dream. Sheldon, who believes that the United States was the greatest idea in human history, and for whom the United States Constitution is sacred, is convinced that the island holds gifts that will return the country to greatness. After journeying to the island with his brother Walter and a group of five old college friends, including his future wife Grace, he becomes a Superman analogue named the Utopian, who is regarded as the greatest superhero on the planet. Donning a red and white costume with a gold eagle chest emblem, he and his five companions to the island form a superhero group called the Union, with headquarters located in New York City.
Sheldon's first wife is a television executive named Jane, who is good friends with Grace in the 1960s. Jane had thought Sheldon would have proposed to Grace after they acquired their superhuman powers, as Grace's family was as rich as Sheldon's, and she long harbored a crush on him, but as Sheldon tells Jane, he was not in love with Grace. However, Sheldon and Jane, who are unable to bear children, eventually divorce, and by 2013, he and Grace are the married parents to Chloe and Brandon, whom Sheldon views as shallow celebrities, feeling that he has failed them as a parent. He approaches crises reactively and leads by example, though he is criticized by Walter and the younger generation as old-fashioned and out of touch. He and Grace are the last two superheroes who still maintain their secret identities.
In his civilian identity during the 1950-60s storyline of the prequel spinoff Jupiter's Circle, he is the CEO of one of the most successful companies in the United States, with a fortune about half as large as John D. Rockefeller III's, but eventually gives his fortune to charity in the late 1960s. Jane eventually divorces him due to her perceived inability to live up to the perfect example he sets, after which Sheldon and Grace become a couple. By 2013, as seen in Jupiter's Legacy, Sheldon runs an auto repair shop in Los Angeles because he says an honest day's work keeps one grounded. Sheldon leads the Union according to a strict moral code, suspending Walter's son Jules from the main team for dating a woman that he rescued from a fire. He also believes that superheroes should not unilaterally interfere in the actions of their government but should obey their elected leaders, which puts him into conflict with Walter, who along with Brandon, murders Sheldon.