The Symbol

The Symbol
The Symbol
First appearance:	Don't Look Back

A frequently appearing symbol is somehow linked to evolved humans.

List of Appearances

The Symbol is found:

• On the cover of 9th Wonders! comic book, Issue #5, by Isaac Mendez.
• Twice on the cover of the 9th Wonders! comic book (Issue #14) that Hiro found when he teleported to New York City. (Don't Look Back)
• On a post-it note on Chandra Suresh's map. (Don't Look Back)
• Written on a textbook owned by Claire Bennet. (Don't Look Back)
• On a drawing done by Peter Petrelli. (Don't Look Back)
• On many future paintings by Isaac Mendez. (Don't Look Back)
• As a recurring shape shown in a genetic profiling program created by Chandra Suresh.(Don't Look Back)
• In the swimming pool at a crime scene that Matt Parkman was investigating. (Don't Look Back)
• On the front cover of Activating Evolution by Chandra Suresh. (One Giant Leap)
• Drawn on a newspaper clipping featuring Nathan, found in Sylar's apartment. (One Giant Leap)
• On the necklace of The Haitian who works with Mr. Bennet. (One Giant Leap)
• As a symbol on Future Hiro's katana. (Hiros)
• As a tattoo on Jessica's right shoulder blade. (Collision, Hiros, Fallout)
• In the underlayer of a painting that was thought to be of Niki Sanders, but revealed to be of her alter ego. (Better Halves)
• On a post-it note in Sanjog's file. (Seven Minutes to Midnight)
• On a "Greyhound Bus Stop" sign in Utah. (Homecoming)
• On the hilt of a sword displayed in the Museum of Natural History. (Godsend)
• As a wood formation in the tank of the lizard named Mohinder. (Godsend)
• In one of Claude's pickpocketing victim's pasta. (Godsend)

Gallery of Appearances

The Symbol is found:

• 
  On the cover of 9th Wonders!, Issue #5, by Isaac Mendez.
• 
  In a notebook on a desk at Chandra's apartment in Brooklyn (from an unaired scene of Genesis).
• 
  Twice on the cover of 9th Wonders!, Issue #14.
• 
  On Chandra's map, in his Brooklyn apartment.
• 
  Drawn on Claire Bennet's geometry textbook.
• 
  Portrayed on Peter Petrelli's precognitive picture.
• 
  On one of Isaac Mendez's many paintings.
• 
  As dashes, scrolling on the algorithm.
• 
  In the pool at the Walker murder scene.
• 
  On the cover of Activating Evolution, by Chandra Suresh.
• 
  Drawn on a newspaper clipping of Nathan Petrelli, found on the map in Sylar's apartment
• 
  On a pendant on the Haitian's necklace.
• 
  Designed on the hilt of Future Hiro's katana.
• 
  On Jessica's shoulder, as captured on video.
• 
  Uncovered on a prophetic painting of Niki's alter ego.
• 
  On a Post-it note in Sanjog's file.
• 
  At a Greyhound bus stop in Utah at which Micah was waiting.
• 
  On the hilt of the replica of Takezo Kensei's sword.
• 
  As a wood formation in the tank of the lizard named Mohinder.
• 
  In a plate of pasta being eaten by one of Claude's pickpocketing victims.

Ando's Explanation

When Hiro locates his katana in a New York City museum, Ando believes that the Symbol is actually a combination of two Japanese characters — sai (which translates to great talent or greatest gift) and yo (which translates to godsend). (Godsend)

• 
  Ando notices this character, yo, in a symbol on the hilt of Takezo Kensai's sword.
• 
  The Japanese kanji character yo translates to godsend.
• 
  The Japanese kanji character sai translates to great talent.
• 
  The two characters may combine to resemble the Symbol.

Notes

• An unaired scene of Genesis shows the symbol in a notebook on a desk at Chandra's apartment in Brooklyn.
• The Symbol strongly resembles a stylized RNA strand.
• The Symbol may be related to The Mark seen on Matt Parkman and Theodore Sprague's necks. The Mark could be two of the rungs of the symbol. However, the relationship between them, if any, is not yet clear.
• In an interview, writers Joe Pokaski and Aron Coleite call Isaac's paintings of the symbol "helix paintings".

Trivia

• When the shot zooms in on the symbol on the hilt of the replica sword in the Museum, the symbol is reversed.