It's not the kid, it's the power (though I'm sure the kid is a part of it). The powers are passed down through the first born, Paula's death stops the legacy of powers, hence him heading down the Iron Fisted path to cleanse the world of evil while there is still a 'Legacy' to do so.
This came up before...and sort of mutated into a discussion of "What if a Legacy has twins/triplets etc?" :D.
That would be interesting, what could be the explanation for a genetic mutation that only passed on to the first born?
Either way I would think Paternal/Maternal Twins would have a chance to both have the powers, since they share DNA.
We know it is genetic based because Baron Blade's serum counters Legacy's Genetics.
Who's to say it's "genetic mutation" and not more akin to magic and Blade's serum isn't a magic potion?
Baron Blade in the annual says it reacts to Legacy's genetics, he might not be trustworthy.
Do you mean fraternal/identical twins?
As far as my university-level genetics knowledge goes, I can't think of a way that a genetic trait could specifically be passed on to only the firstborn*. But maybe since the superpowered portion of the Parsons line is relatively short, it could well be that the firstborn in each case has got "lucky" and got the right genes by random chance and any subsequent children haven't, leading to a misinterpretation of the type of inheritance due to small sample size and a bit of luck.
Do we know if all the Legacies before Young Legacy were all male? If it wasn't for YL I'd suggest that maybe the trait is dominant and Y-linked and the firstborns all happened to be male and thus inherited the super Y chromosome from their father, and that they were either an only child or al subsequent children were either female, or illegitimate (i.e. with a different father which is not at all uncommon), or both. But of course Baby Legacy blows that theory out of the water, since she's female and doesn't have a Y chromosome but obviously has the superpower genes.
The most likely explanation is that it's comic book logic at work, which means that basically any old explanation works as long as you use words like "genetic" or "mutation" or "dilithium".
- I suppose it's possible for some weirdness to happen with the mother's firstborn. Mechanisms do exist that can make certain spermatazoa less likely to fertilise ova, and it's not inconceivable (see what I did there!) that pregnancy could maybe affect the woman's body in such a way that she'd reject a subsequent super pregnancy. At least if we're using comic book logic that might work.
That means that it is keyed to Legacy and his family. Nothing more.
And Gloomweaver chuckles about when he gave Blade the recipe.
The most likely explanation is that it's comic book logic at work, which means that basically any old explanation works as long as you use words like "genetic" or "mutation" or "dilithium"
I think what it really means is that the Parson's are actually ridden with guilt over the Revolution, and are secretly longing for the Monarchy to return, thus only the oldest gets the genes.
That Pauline got it this time (for the only female Legacy, and only known female carrier of the genes) could have something to do with Elizabeth.
I think it is more than a Coincidence, and is likely a key insight into the >G guys really wishing they were British.
You'd think they'd've come up with at least one British character so far, then ;). But no, no English, no Scottish, no Welsh, no Irish...maybe there'll be one in a later expansion :D.
Seriously, we go through Shattered Timelines and get a cowboy and a robot, no Robin Hood or Knight of the round table with a jetpack. So wrong.
Doesn't everyone really wish they were British?
Apart from us British people, of course.
I'd definitely like to see a British hero or villain.
Yeah, that'd be cool :). And since >G are good enough to stay away from the boring stereotypes, we can be sure that an English character wouldn't be a moustache-twirling, top-hat-wearing villain or posh, monocled, tea-drinking hero, a Scottish character wouldn't be some crazy, claymore-wielding red-haired nutjob in a kilt, a Welsh character wouldn't be...closely attached to sheep, and an Irish character wouldn't be a red-haired idiot ;).
Chip is British.
Also, surely at least one member of the Ennead is British. To have a team of villainous archaeologists without at least one Englishman would be in defiance of the greatest Hollywood traditions.
Really? Where did you get that from? [Edit: the Chip bit, I mean.]
I suppose one measly minion's better than nothing, but not a substitute for an actual character.
Hey! La Capitan doesn’t have “measly minions”!
His flavour text.
Well, In GSF, one of the Techno-Dwarves is Grey Hammer.
That doesn't exactly scream British to me, to be honest.
There are no Americans named Chip. ;)