Adam Monroe

Adam Monroe
Portrayed by	David Anders
First appearance	Four Months Later...
In-story stats
Known ability	Rapid cell regeneration (lost)
Aliases	Takezo Kensei, Richard Sanders, Adam Monroe
Gender
Dates of marriage	1672 (Helene) (deceased), 1747 (Maria) (deceased), 1782 (Frederica) (deceased), 1784 (Yumi) (deceased), 1787 (Angelica) (deceased), 1864 (Maria) (deceased), 1901 (Diane) (deceased), 1926 (Louisa) (deceased), 1958 (Theresa) (deceased), 1977 (Trina) (deceased)
Date of death	Post-March 2007
Home	U.S., formerly Diedenshausen, Germany, formerly Milan, Italy, formerly Paris, France, formerly Atlanta, GA, formerly Montreal, Canada, formerly Japan, formerly England
Occupations	former soldier of U.S. Army, former plantation owner, former soldier in the Confederate Army, former British mercenary commander, former member of the "Queen's forces," former Ronin samurai swordsman
Significant others	Yaeko, Helene, Maria, Frederica, Yumi, Angelica, Maria, Diane, Louisa, Theresa, Trina
Children	Two sons, unnamed

Adam Monroe was an evolved human with the ability of rapid cell regeneration. His powers were so advanced that he was unable to age or die, making him near-immortal. He originally discovered this while living over 400 years ago in feudal Japan (as Takezo Kensei). Adam, with time, saw the world to be corrupt and in need of a massive cleansing of humanity. To aid him in his plans, Adam brought the Company's founders together, but in the end was betrayed, forcing Adam to rely upon himself to save the world. After the failure of his plans to "cleanse" the world, Adam was killed by Arthur Petrelli, who stole Adam's ability, rendering him mortal as he aged 400 years in a few seconds.

Character History

Season Two

For an episode-by-episode summary, see Adam Monroe: Season Two History.

Kensei learns he can heal.

After Hiro stops time to save a fake Kensei, the real Kensei emerges and argues with Hiro. The legendary swordsmith's daughter from Otsu takes Kensei's sword, stating that her father made the sword and blaming Kensei for allowing Otsu to burn. After Hiro disguises himself as Kensei in the Battle of Twelve Swords, Whitebeard and his men take revenge upon Kensei and shoot him with arrows. However, Hiro is shocked to see Kensei's wound heal right before his eyes. Kensei then ponders upon the possibilities of his new found powers and that it will make him "richer than the Pope". Hiro, still wanting Kensei to follow the stories that were read to him as a child, teleports them both to Whitebeard's Hidden Fortress, insisting he fights past the ninety angry ronin and claim the fire scroll. From there, Hiro pushes Kensei along the path of the legends told to him years ago, which includes Kensei's love for Yaeko. The three come upon Whitebeard's camp to save Yaeko's father, and find that Whitebeard is making guns. The four of them leave the tent and proceed away from Whitebeard's camp. On their leave, Yaeko gets shot at but Hiro teleports them away so she avoids getting hurt. Kensei goes to look for them, and finds them alone, kissing. Kensei betrays Hiro and Yaeko by helping Whitebeard. Hiro escapes and tries to destroy Whitebeard's arsenal, but Kensei finds him and tries to defeat him. Gunpowder kegs catch on fire, and Hiro escapes, leaving Kensei for dead.

In the present, Kaito Nakamura stays on the rooftop of the Deveaux Building after receiving a death threat. A mysterious hooded figure appears. The figure tackles Kaito and pushes him off the building, then disappears. When Hiro returns from the past, he teleports himself to the rooftop on the night of his father's death, and finds that the hooded figure is Kensei, who survived the hundreds of years.

Peter and Caitlin find a note (signed "Adam") in Montreal addressed to Peter, warning him about the Company. After Peter returns from the future, Adam greets Peter. Peter, having forgotten Adam, remembers what happened to him over the last four months, and his time spent with Adam. They go find Victoria Pratt, where Adam kills her. They find out the Shanti virus is held in Primatech Paper, and travel there. Hiro freezes time to kill Adam, but Peter stops him. The two travel to the vault, where Peter rips the door off. Peter and Adam are confronted by Hiro again, but Adam gets into the vault as Peter is distracted by Matt and Nathan. Inside the vault, Hiro tries to stop Adam, who has the vial containing the virus hidden behind his back. Adam tells him that God had the right idea in flooding the world, wiping out humanity and letting the few remaining people have a new start. Hiro grabs Adam's shoulder and the two teleport away, with Adam letting go of the vial with the virus. Later, Adam is seen screaming hysterically in an unmarked grave in the Aoyama Cemetery, where he has been buried alive.

Season Three

For an episode-by-episode summary, see Adam Monroe: Season Three History.

Adam dies as Arthur claims his ability

After Angela Petrelli has a dream about Adam, she tells Hiro and Ando to dig him up out of the ground. With Adam refusing to help Hiro, he keeps taunting Adam by putting him back inside the coffin. When he agrees to help, Hiro explains that they are after the formula. Adam, saying he has a plan, takes them to a "specials for hire" bar. When the bartender attacks Adam because he slept with his wife, Adam flees the bar making a clear get away. But Knox catches him and takes him to his boss at Pinehearst, Arthur Petrelli. After seeing Arthur, Adam tries to escape but Knox keeps him there until Arthur touches Adam. He takes his ability, leaving the 400 year old Adam to wither into dust.

Graphic Novel:Bloodlines, Part 1

Arnold time travels to Coyote Sands in 1961, before its construction was finished. Adam whacks him on the head with a shotgun, knocking him out. He says that he hasn't seen that "trick" in a long time.

Evolved Human Abilities

Adam possessed the ability of rapid cell regeneration. Like Claire, Adam was sometimes unable to regenerate if an object was inside of his body until that object is removed (Lizards). Adam initially appeared in 1671 as a man in his late twenties to early thirties, and was able to survive for hundreds of years without apparent aging, as he had a similar appearance while active in 2007.

According to Angela Petrelli, after a certain amount of regeneration, a person with this ability stops physically aging (Cautionary Tales).

The burns Adam received from a lightning bolt at the end of Out of Time healed much faster than any other example of rapid cell regeneration in the series, indicating that Adam's regenerative ability may have improved over time. Adam's incredible resilience was also demonstrated in Revolutionary War, Part 2, where he appeared unfazed despite being stabbed repeatedly in the chest and heart by multiple opponents. He also manages to survive without oxygen in a coffin he is buried in by Hiro as seen in I Am Become Death.

In Four Months Ago..., Adam revealed that introducing his blood into a wounded person's body will cause rapid healing of the injuries.

Without his powers, his body ages to dust as his powers apparently keep his advanced age back.

Memorable Quotes

"First you show me that I can be harmed by no weapon, and then you cut me deeper than any blade possibly could."

- Adam (as Kensei) (to Hiro) (The Line)

"As long as I have breath, anything you love I will lay to waste. I swear... You will suffer."

- Adam (as Kensei) (to Hiro) (Out of Time)

"Only gods have lived as I do!"

- Adam (to Evan) (Graphic Novel: Revolutionary War, Part 2)

"In defeat the truth raged at me. I was alone... while gods should have disciples."

- Adam (Graphic Novel: Revolutionary War, Part 2)

"I believe this is mine, Carp."

- Adam (to Hiro) (Powerless)

"I've lived for 400 years, who's to say I won't live 400 more?"

- Adam (to Hiro) (Powerless)

"Hiro, you son of a bi---"

- Adam (to Hiro) (I Am Become Death)

"You little Japanese Nazi!"

- Adam (to Hiro) (Angels and Monsters)

Notes

• Adam's birth name is unknown. He has taken on "a few dozen names" (The Ten Brides of Takezo Kensei), most notably Takezo Kensei and Adam Monroe. The name given to him at birth--whether one of these or something else entirely--remains unknown.
• In Heroes: The Mobile Game, Niki notes that Adam Monroe is one of the founders of the Company. She mentions his name alongside Daniel Linderman, Angela Petrelli, Arthur Petrelli, Kaito Nakamura, and Maury Parkman.
• Adam has demonstrated great skill with a sword as early as 1671.
• According to early spoilers, Adam was originally going to be known as "Kane", and he was going to have the ability to control hordes of insects.

Gallery

• 
  In Heroes: The Mobile Game, Niki mentions Adam as one of the founders of the Company.
• 
  Adam hid under a hood when he killed Kaito.
• 
  Bob carries a file titled "Adam Monroe".
• 
  Adam during his time as "Takezo Kensei".
• 
  Bob keeps files on Adam Monroe.
• 
  In 1777, Adam was a ruthless mercenary.
• 
  As soon as Arthur sucks his powers out...
• 
  ...Adam is aging quickly...
• 
  ...showing his age of 400 years.

See Also

• For other uses of Adam, see Adam (disambig).
• For articles related to Adam, see Related Articles:Adam.
• For images of Adam, see Images of Adam Monroe.
• For a list of his victims, see Adam's victims.

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Adam Monroe for fan-created theories and other speculation.