'Jupiter's Legacy': Netflix mixes up the superhero genre with a thrilling new take

Watch a trailer for new Netflix superhero series Jupiter's Legacy

It’s the pop culture clash that sums up the 21st century: what happens if the kids of the most famous caped wonders in the world grew up famous like the Kardashians?

That's the brilliant comic book concept behind thrilling new Netflix series Jupiter’s Legacy (now streaming) – which sees a group of heroic heirs tested by more than just supervillains thanks to living life in the spotlight.

Created by Scottish comic giants Mark Millar (Kick-Ass, Wanted, Old Man Logan) and Frank Quitely (All Star Superman, The Authority), Jupiter’s Legacy tells the incredible story of a noble generation of heroes who earned their great powers and fame with great responsibility.

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While their kids have inherited it all freely, and don’t know what to do with it.

As the writer who previously helped lay the foundations for the MCU when he worked with Marvel — Millar's Ultimate Avengers first introduced Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury, and his Civil War storyline directly inspired the Captain America film of the same name — and gave Superman some of his most interesting adventures while working for DC (Superman: Red Son), Mark Millar switched to creating his own characters in 2004.

His books have been adapted into hit movies such as Wanted, Kick-Ass and Kingsman, but Jupiter’s Legacy is his first foray into high end TV since his company Millarworld was acquired by Netflix.

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If the new series is any indication, fans have a lot to look forward to from this partnership.

In addition to the comic book creators, there’s strong talent behind the camera too.

Steven S. DeKnight, who show-ran the first series of Daredevil and worked on Buffy, Angel and Smallville, directs and writes the pilot, while Walking Dead guru Greg Nicotero worked on make up and effects.

While a show like The Boys looked at hero culture through the lens of corporate corruption, Jupiter’s Legacy is all about the family.

Super powered A-listers Lady Liberty and The Utopian, played by Leslie Bibb and Josh Duhamel, might be the most beloved crime fighting icons of all time. But they struggle with their dysfunctional kids Brandon and Chloe.

One is flattened by the weight of his super inheritance, and the other drinks away her worries as a celeb party girl – imagine if Paris Hilton was born into the X-Men.

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While the heroic mums and dads ponder the impact of their actions, the juniors are busy rocking it up behind the velvet ropes in the VIP.

It’s a brilliant dynamic to bring to the genre, and the story spans 100 years of action and intrigue, flashing back decades earlier to the parents’ origin stories, and their own family crises and traumas.

Creator Mark Millar said: “This isn’t about catching bank robbers or fighting an evil scientist over three acts. This is about the kids who never asked for these powers wanting to go their own way.

“It’s about the parents looking at the world they were supposed to save and seeing it more of a mess than ever — and this brings a huge amount of conflict.

“This would have been impossible ten years ago, but audiences are so familiar with superhero tropes now that they’re ready to see a huge subversion.”

Jupiter's Legacy is great fun and really offers something different to a crowded marketplace. It's clever, smart and funny.

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The action, which there’s plenty of, is delivered expertly, offering real stakes and consequences, while the bad guys are well drawn, real and distinctive.

Jupiter's Legacy is now streaming on Netflix.

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