Okay this has been on my mind since Christopher implied Baron Blade would have a hero deck, and I think others have brought it up:
Baron Blade tried to destroy the Earth by pulling the moon into it. This would have killed everyone, including him. Did he develop a newfound sense of self-preservation after that and his mad bombing run and his vengeance run? Why is he okay with destroying the Earth but not the multiverse?
I just want rampant speculation, and something to talk about. :)
I am guessing he found out the truth about his father.
That makes sense.
He's totally a villain in Tactics, right?
I think his Positive-Energy Field experience might have left a lasting impression on him. We know he is still evil (see Tactics) and all of that, but maybe his worldview was shifted a bit. I think early on he just wanted revenge against the Parsons at any cost and if he had to die to achieve his goal, then so be it. I think his attitude toward his own life is a lot stronger now than what it was.
Well his scars got healed as seen on Positive Energy Field so possibly that changed his outlook on the multiverse.
The name "Luminary" is a bit strange though don't you all think? Why not just go by Ivan instead of a totally different handle?
Because superheroes get jolly pirate nicknames.
Ivan, while a good strong name, has no superhero style. Nor supervillain.
There's always the "You can't destroy the Earth, I'm going to destroy it" attitude for a potential reason why as well.
Yeah, I'm not feeling the "Luminary" name either. My guess is that GtG thinks it's a good guy name but it's also a bit haughty so fits Blade's personality. I would prefer something more along the lines of "Champion Blade" or "Savior Blade" or something that keeps the "blade", especially since we know he goes back to his old name in Tactics.
It reminds me of "Illuminati." Comes from the same root.
I think Luminary is the kind of name Blade would choose. That or The Genius.
As for the destroy the earth or not thing - he is the kind of guy who, if another villain was about to kill Legacy, would save the hero. There are things that you want to do yourself, not let someone else do.
And there is also a big difference between doing a lot of potentially dangerous to yourself collateral damage while following your own goal, and letting something else endanger you and your goals with its collateral damage.
I'm with Spiff. I feel like a different name with either "blade" or a synomyn, but a more positive title, would have suited him more.
If I remember correctly, Christopher said Blade was hiding out in Atlantis when he was pulling the moon into the Earth, and he figured he was safe from the results, that he would rise from the ruins...
You know, mad scientist stuff.
I'm entertained by how it obliquely references Legacy's lantern...
He should have just called himself "Heritage" or something to one-up Legacy.
Oh man I loooooove Luminary as a name.
Maybe he has always been a nice sweet guy and was just misunderstood all this time?
This would nicely explain why Blade was in his huge armor suit right after the beam was destroyed because he had it on him to get to Atlantis in the first place.
Anyone else really curious what new nemesis icon he might get? In regards to the name I like it but I certainly expected he would have had Blade in the name.
I'm guessing he found out his father is alive, and was (in fact) saved from a fiery death by the elder Legacy... who Baron Blade then killed. Once he finds out the truth, he abandons the Baron Blade title (or turns it over to his father).
Luminary means a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere or it also means an artificial light. So maybe he has this name because he is influencing the other villians to save the world?