Netflix's Jupiter’s Legacy is a different kind of superhero story, one that largely contends with changing generational ideas and family drama. Fighting supervillains is a thing, to be sure, but it doesn’t take precedence over the storyline. The Netflix series is focused on the founding members of the Union of Justice first and foremost, a team of elite superheroes who got their powers in the 1930s. However, while they’re the only ones with abilities at first, Jupiter’s Legacy has many more superheroes in the present. Here’s how they got their powers.
In 1933, the original Union members, led by Sheldon Sampson (aka, The Utopian), ventured to a mysterious and remote island, with Sheldon’s visions leading the way. When they got there, they had to overcome some obstacles before they went through a portal, interacting with aliens taking the form of their loved ones before being bestowed with superhuman powers. In the present day, the Union has grown to include not just the adult children of the founding members, but several others superheroes like Ghostbeam, Tectonic, and Sierra Ectoplex.
Jupiter’s Legacy never explains how others got their powers in the following decades, but it’s possible the modern-day superheroes are descendants of the men aboard the ship that took the Union to the island, including Captain Borges. The captain and the rest of the ship’s crew were waiting for the Union’s return when they saw a sudden burst of light and energy. The crew’s faces are awash with this very spark, their skin briefly shining with the alien symbols located throughout the island, on the Union's suits, and on the wall where the portal was located. The symbols dissipate rather quickly, but they glow brightly in the sunlight.
The crew might not have been aware of being hit with the energy at the time, too focused on the Union returning to the ship with super suits and the power of flight. The captain et al never did have a physical reaction to it. While they weren’t directly bestowed superpowers, they likely passed down any remnants of the aliens’ gifts to their children over the course of 90 years. After all, it’s highly unlikely the captain and the crew headed to the island to obtain those same powers, especially since the aliens seemed adamant the Union had to pass the tests and prove their worth before attaining their abilities. It’s the only explanation that makes sense amidst season 1’s unfolding events.
It’s also possible the alien energy was also transmitted to others beyond the ship’s crew. Who knows how many other ships were in close enough vicinity? The original Union members don’t seem confused about anyone having superpowers either and just take it in stride, though it’s unclear how they initially reacted when they learned other people also had enhanced abilities. Jupiter’s Legacy is vague on the details and never confirms how exactly the new generation gained their powers — whether they were inherited or bestowed upon them in some other way is unclear for now. But as the Union and its newer members grapple with an ever-changing society and ideals, Jupiter’s Legacy could finally delve further into the backstory of the present day superheroes and how they got their powers.