The Moral center of the Sentinels Universe

General GTG Sentinel Comics Lore
1

So, I was thinking about how, for DC comics, Superman is the moral center of that universe.  Or maybe Pa Kent, by way of Superman.

In Marvel, there's multiple moral centers, but they seem to be Captain America for the avengers, and Spiderman for most of the others (or perhaps Uncle Ben, by way of Spiderman).  Professor X serves as moral center for the mutants, except for when he's evil.

At first I assumed the Legacy was the moral center, but the more I read from the forums, the more I wonder if it's actually Haka.

So here's the question I have for the forum: who do you think is the moral paragon of the Sentinels universe?  Who's the one who helps the other heroes understand what's right and wrong when everything looks like shades of gray?

2

Has to be Legacy, IMO.  Haka may be moral, but he still has more cards about smashing than helping others understand morality.  Legacy is all about inspiration and acting as an empowered group for the greater good.

Before he went all evil, that is...

3

I think it's more like your Marvel scenario where different groups have moral centers. Legacy is definitely the moral center of the FV, especially since Haka probably isn't in too many issues of those comics. I could believe Haka being the moral center of the Prime Wardens since that's the team he's on.

4

It probably is Legacy.  That would also underscore why it is such a big deal, on a personality level, when he turns into a villain in a timeline.

 

5

No one sees Fanatic as fulfilling that role, huh?

6

I don't think anyone would've pegged Haka as a moral center before Christopher revealed more information about his personality. A moral center has to be able to relate to the people around him or her. It's unknown right now how well Fanatic relates to her team members. Right now, I see her more as a second in command of the Prime Wardens.

7

What about The Scholar?

8

or Argent Adept?

9

Or Tachy.

10

My thoughts on the Fanatic is that she's too Zealous in her morals, which would make her as morally gray as Expatriette.  She doesn't serve as a good moral center.

The Argent Adept is too green, I think, to really offer guidance.  He's one of the youngest hero decks we've seen.

 

The Scholar, on the other hand, is a really strong candidate.  Considering that a large number of his cards involve imparting wisdom. 

 

BTW, the roles people play in the Prime Wardens is sort of a tangent, but I picture Fanatic as the lose cannon of the team.  I see Tempest as the leader with Haka as second in command (with a bit of mentor or "team dad" going on).  Argent Adept and Glowing Fist Man round out the team.

11

I'm not sure I'd classify the Scholar as a moral center because he's not always around. He's wise and shows up when he's needed and then leaves when the job is done to chill on his houseboat. As for the Wardens, I don't see Tempest as a leader. He strikes me as more of the frontline soldier. I consider the Argent the leader simply because the team was put together to beat Akash, probably by him. I can agree on Fanatic being a loose cannon, but it is a common trope for a leader and his subordinate to be opposites of a sort. So where as the Argent is calm and collected and maybe even a little hesitant, Fanatic is bold and confident and freely speaks her mind, and that kind of a personality can easily make a decent second in command. I like the idea of Haka as a team dad.

12

Ah, yes.  The eternal questions raised by Haka secret actual personality which is barely hinted at in his cards.

But I think this one's still pretty clear.  Paul heads up the premier super-team.  Not only is he well-known to the public, but his family have been paragons of Amircaness since forever.  And he's the one who, should he falter, the entire world's balance of power falls apart.

Haka is just a centuries-old nice guy.  He might function as a mentor to Paul himself, but Paul is the lynchpin that holds things together.

The Scholar keeps to himself.  Fanatic cuts such an imposing figure, the other heroes call her "Fanatic" against her wishes.  Tachyon is awfully glib and big on the "for science" attitude, though she might grow into a more unifying (heh) figure in the future.  The Adept* does not have a single quote or piece of card art I can think of showing a "morality" outside of "fight bad guys, talk about cosmic stuff" - I don't think he's a bad person, but I don't think he's really thought about the "big picture" enough to much of a moral paragon.

Bunker and Tempest, however, both seem like guys I'd like to talk over tough issues with (Bunker as a small guy who excelled in the army, then stepped up to fight supervillains despite lacking powers, and Tempest as someone who keeps working to save two races, neither of which have treated him well).  They're not showy in the way that Legacy is, and they don't have the saintlike qualities Christopher talks about Haka - they would not fill such a grandiose title as "moral center," but for that very reason, they're the ones who I think would have the perspective to help with nuanced choices, while the bigger men are good for inspiring you to keep on going at all when all choices seem bleak.

Ironic

* As an aside, AA is older than Unity, Visionary, the Wraith, Expatriette, Nightmist, and maybe Fanatic - nearly a third of the other Hero decks.  He is - barely - the youngest male hero, but since SotM doesn't like a lot of overlap between male and female age ranges, that still only puts him in the middle of the pack overall.

13

I think I agree with all of this logic.  I'd add Mister Fixer to the list of moral counselors with Bunker and Tempest.  I'd maybe also add Horus of Two Horizons Ra (he seems to lack the overconfident glory hound angle that default Ra has). 

 

Oh, wow.  I hadn't noticed that the female heroes were actually younger on average - I thought they were just drawn with more youthful features because comic books usually give the women very youthful features.  Since AA was the youngest looking of the guys, I assumed he'd be younger than most of the women too.

14

 

Can anyone point me to where Christopher did this? Or at least give me a brief summary of what was said?

15

It was probably in the thread where it came out that he teaches nursery-aged children on the side, and bakes each of them a little, home-made pie to hand out when he meets a class for the first time. Plus there was mention of how many people's funerals he's been to, since obviously his age means he has a tendency to outlive...well, everyone. I think there was some other stuff too, but can't remember it off the top of my head. He's very intelligent/wise, and isn't the "Hulk SMASH!" character he tends to come across as in most of his card art. He also reads a lot (hence the library, in which his Eternal version is reading a book by T.S. Eliot).

16

https://greaterthangames.com/forum/topic/hero-personalities

And then Reckless's very good insight on what this means is here:

https://sentinelsofthemultiverse.com/forum/topic/mr-haka-the-experience-of-being-an-ageless-teacher-3793

17

Thank you!  I'm happy to hear that someone appreciated my perspective on Haka!

18

Thank you!  Hit me like a ton of bricks - but in a good way.

19

I'd go with Tachyon.  Legacy is the leader and definitely the moral front of the group, but the Moral center is the person who reminds him, and keeps him on the right course.

That's why I'd go Tachyon.  As a good scientist she has to have a pretty hard line moral fiber, and is in the best position to reign Legacy in when his patriotism and empathy starts to take him down the wrong path.  That his daughter's death sent him down such a nasty path shows he needs that.

Tachyon is kind of the Mr. Spock to Legacy's Captain Kirk.  I definitely could see Haka, but not the original Haka, the Eternal Haka comes from after everyone is gone and he's gained incredible amounts of wisdom.  Others might have a good moral center, and have the ability to fulfil the role, but Tach has the posistion, and the longevity to have that type of relationship with the team.

20

As a good scientist she has to have a pretty hard line moral fiber

That's an unsupported claim at best, sir.  Baron Blade's probably a pretty good scientist, no? ;)

Also, wasn't Dr. McCoy more of a moralist than Spock ever was?