Warning! Spoilers ahead for Jupiter’s Legacy season 1.

Adapted from the comic book series written by Mark Millar, Jupiter’s Legacy set up a multifaceted universe that saw Sheldon Sampson (a.k.a the Utopian) and his team of superheroes set up the Union of Justice (similar to DC Comics’ Justice League or Marvel’s Avengers). As the first and primary group of superheroes, the Union established a code other superheroes swore to live by should they choose to join, and be accepted into, the Union. It’s a strict moral code that encompasses rules many of the newer members find themselves in disagreement with quite often. 

Jupiter’s Legacy spans a hundred years and begins with Sheldon recruiting his friend George, brother Walter, journalist Grace, and Fitz, Sheldon’s father’s former employee, to join him on an adventure to a remote and mysterious island. After attaining their powers, they return to the U.S. to begin their superhero careers, coming up with a moral code that is hardcore, yet effective. Sheldon wants the founding members of the Union and all future superheroes to uphold the code because the alternative would take away the free will of the people to act without their involvement and control. It was also set up to avoid any of the members from using their powers for world domination or any other such catastrophe that might stem from their god-like abilities. 

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The first, and perhaps most crucial rule, is that no one in the Union is allowed to kill anyone else. Catching criminals and supervillains meant the Union members turned them into the authorities. The no murder rule is something that becomes an obvious issue when Brandon, the Utopian’s son, kills a villain. The Union’s goals, after all, are to save people and to work alongside elected officials and law enforcement — rather than against them or interfere in their work — and to uphold the very society they seek to protect. The rules are also what essentially separates them from the villains they have fought, who have no issues killing and causing general harm and mayhem. 

jupiter's legacy

Another one of the Union’s rules is that no superhero is to use their powers and abilities to seek personal fame. Their civilian identities were to remain private for their own safety and because the work they did was for the greater good, not for money or attention. This is something Sheldon and his daughter Chloe butt heads over on several occasions in Jupiter’s Legacy season 1, especially considering how she went from the poster child in Sheldon’s eyes to a superhero celebrity who completely negates her father’s worldviews. Sheldon's negative reaction towards breaking the rules makes sense since they were primarily established by him. He was the most stalwart (and perhaps most ideal) rule follower of the group. Some of his teammates, however, have long questioned whether their moral code is outdated, especially as the world continues to change. 

That said, the Union’s code was set to an ideal standard that, in many instances, prevented the superheroes from being who they were. But, as the John Dalberg-Acton quote maintains, “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” which is perhaps why the Utopian set up such specific and strict rules to be followed in Jupiter’s Legacy so that no one superhero steps out of line. How the Union’s code will play out in a potential season 2 remains to be seen, but the rules have caused a lot of turmoil already and will likely continue to do so for a lot longer.

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