Sylar

Sylar
Portrayed by	Zachary Quinto, Maurice LaMarche (voice for Sylar's message)
First appearance	One Giant Leap
In-story stats
Known abilities	Intuitive aptitude Known abilities gained: Telekinesis, Freezing, Enhanced memory, Melting, Enhanced hearing, Precognition, Induced radioactivity
Formal name	Gabriel Gray
Aliases	Gabriel Sylar, Drew O'Grady, Dr. Suresh, Zane Taylor, Isaac Mendez
Nicknames	Boogeyman, Brain man
Gender
Place of birth	Brooklyn, New York
Home	New York, NY
Residence	Sylar's apartment
Occupation	Timepiece restorer
Significant other	formerly Maya Herrera
Parents	Unnamed New York City watchmaker (father), Virginia Gray (deceased)

Sylar is a serial killer who sometimes removes the brains of his victims, primarily those he believes to be evolved humans. Chandra Suresh identified him as Patient Zero in his research. Before adopting the name Sylar, he was known as Gabriel Gray.

About

Born Gabriel Gray, the son of a watchmaker always dreamed of bigger things, of being "special". Adopting the name "Sylar," he becomes a serial murderer, targeting evolved humans with abilities, but doesn't discriminate against killing anybody who stands in his way. Having the power of intuitive aptitude, Sylar is able to see how things work and use that to take the special powers of others after killing them. The FBI has categorized Sylar as a suspected serial killer. His suspected victims are sometimes seen with their heads sliced open horizontally at the center of their skull and their brain removed. Other victims are pinned to walls, frozen, or beaten. Sylar is hunted by the FBI, but has successfully eluded and taunted them, growing stronger and more powerful with each victim.

Character History

Season One

For an episode-by-episode summary, see Sylar: Season One History.

Mohinder Suresh discovers that Sylar was involved in his father's death and research. Meanwhile, Sylar is on a quest to gain as many powers as he can--he kills the Walkers in their home, then murders Charlie Andrews at the Burnt Toast Diner. At Union Wells High School's Homecoming, Sylar fails to collect Claire Bennet's power of regeneration when Peter Petrelli interferes. After a long fall, he is captured by Eden and the Haitian from the company and is temporarily held captive at Primatech Paper Co. until he escapes, killing Hank and Eden McCain.

Six months prior, Chandra Suresh meets Gabriel Gray and helps him discover his potential by telling him about his research. When Chandra gives up on him Gabriel kills Brian Davis and takes his power of telekinesis. In the present, Sylar takes Zane Taylor's power of melting impersonating Mohinder Suresh. He impersonates Zane to gain Mohinder's help. Mohinder discovers Sylar's identity soon after Sylar kills Dale Smither and takes her enhanced hearing power. Mohinder tries to shoot Sylar, but fails. Sylar faces Peter, but Peter emerges victorious. Angry, Sylar sets out to find Isaac Mendez.

Sylar then kills Isaac at his apartment and gains Isaac's power of precognition. After seeing an explosion with his newly stolen power, he believes and fears that he will be the cause of the deaths of many innocent people. He visits his mother and tells her that she helped him realize that he could do anything, even become president if he wanted to. Their meeting, however, ends in a fight and Sylar accidentally stabs his mother in the heart. Sylar later kills Ted Sprague and takes his ability of induced radioactivity. He then confronts Peter Petrelli, Matt Parkman, Niki Sanders and Hiro Nakamura at Kirby Plaza. Hiro appears and seemingly kills Sylar by running him through with Ando's sword, Sylar's body disappears, leaving only a trail of blood that leads into a manhole.

Kindred

Sylar awakens on a beach with a redhead. She explains that she can cast illusions, and that he shouldn't move or he may tear his stitches from the operation on his stomach. She tells him that she "dragged" him away from Kirby Plaza and that the people that she works for fixed his wounds. Sylar asks to see what is really going on and "Michelle" reveals that they are in a shack. When he recovers enough to move, he tries to use his powers, but finds himself unable to. Candice tells him that she will help him gain new abilities "by making it easy," and demonstrates her ability. Intrigued, he interrupts her plan by striking her in the head with a mug. He proceeds to kill her and attempts to take her power, but cannot use it. He then leaves the building for the first time and discovers that he is in the middle of a Mexican jungle.

The Kindness of Strangers

In Mexico, Derek, Maya, and Alejandro discover Sylar lying in the middle of the road. They take him into the car, where he tells Maya and Alejandro that he knows Chandra Suresh. He introduces himself as Gabriel Gray.

At a newspaper stand, Derek shows Sylar a newspaper that proclaims Maya and Alejandro are wanted for murder. Sylar tells Derek to call the cops, but when Derek goes into the back room, Sylar picks up a brick and kills Derek.

Back in the car, he confronts Maya, showing her the newspaper. When she says it wasn't her fault, Sylar claims Derek is calling the police, causing Maya to begin crying, which activates her ability. Sylar's eyes begin to turn black but Alejandro reverses the effects. Sylar recovers and says he can relate to them as a person with power.

Graphic Novel:Molly's Dream

Sylar appears in Molly's nightmare; after Molly dropped down to the street by a giant cockroach, she runs from giant symbols that fall from the sky. She is then interrupted by Sylar himself, who wishes to take her brain. Molly realizes that Sylar isn't real, but after she tells him that, Sylar morphs into thousands of cockroaches.

The Line

Sylar, Maya, and Alejandro continue towards America. Sylar comments on her ability, but Maya tells him she has killed many people because of it. Sylar tells her of some of his previously working abilities, such as telekinesis and enhanced hearing, and claims he needs Dr. Suresh's help to get them back. When she asks why he wants his abilities, he tells her that he wants to be special.

When they finally get to the border, they find an opening. When the trio drive across the border, they are surrounded by a Citizen's Border Patrol. Sylar tells Maya they're "fake police" and she needs to drive around them. While the Border Patrol harasses the twins and Sylar, he and Alejandro begin to yell at Maya, which upsets her. Her eyes turn black and the men fall down as Sylar holds Alejandro back from using his ability. Sylar's eyes turn black as he yells for Maya to drive.

Sylar and Alejandro fight, and Maya separates the two. Maya argues with her brother, then tells Sylar she will get something for his bloody lip. When Maya leaves, Sylar, knowing Alejandro can't understand English, tells him that the only reason he is helping the twins is so that when his powers return he can kill them and steal their powers. He says that even if he cannot get his powers back, Maya is his new toy and she's all his.

Four Months Ago...

As Maya, Alejandro, and Sylar continue their journey through the American desert, Sylar leans over and brushes Maya's hair out of her face.

Truth & Consequences

Sylar and Maya sit by Cook Lake in Virginia. Sylar tries to get Maya to learn how to control her power. He starts to make Maya angry by telling her how much her brother, Alejandro, hates her because Maya killed Alejandro's wife and gave up his life for her. Even when Maya claims it was an accident, her ability begins to take effect on Sylar. He tells her she can control her power and no more innocent people have to die. Maya manages to take control of her ability.

When Alejandro informs Maya that Sylar killed his own mother, Sylar says that his mother betrayed and tried to kill him and when he was forced to defend himself against her he accidentally killed his mother. Maya and Sylar decide to go to New York together to find Dr. Suresh.

Sylar is later attacked by Alejandro; in their struggle, Sylar pins Alejandro to the floor and kills Alejandro with a knife. Maya shows up without knowing he had just killed her brother. She tells Sylar that he was right about everything and thanks him for helping them. They share a kiss as Sylar shuts the door on her dead brother. Later, Sylar calls Mohinder from Mohinder's apartment. As Sylar strokes a sleeping Molly's hair, he tells Mohinder that he has brought Maya to talk to the doctor.

Powerless

Upon returning home, Mohinder is greeted by Sylar, who says that he wants breakfast. Sylar introduces Mohinder to Maya, who needs Mohinder's help, and that Sylar has been her loyal companion since she was in South America. Mohinder tells Maya that Sylar is a killer, a monster. Maya admits that she has killed people as well, and describes her ability to Mohinder. Sylar tells Mohinder that he needs help too. He opened Mohinder's laptop and found lab work on a virus that takes away a person's abilities. He wants Mohinder to help him cure this virus. Suddenly, Mohinder grabs a knife and brandishes it at Sylar, but Sylar is quicker and points a gun at Mohinder's face. He then goes on to say that Mohinder's blood, mixed with a certain cheerleader's blood, can cure the virus. Maya becomes enraged that Sylar lied to her all this time, and starts to manifest her ability. Her eyes turn black, and so do Sylar's and Mohinder's. Sylar points his gun at Maya and tells her to stop, as she would kill the only person that could help her. Suddenly, a scream is heard from the bedroom, and Molly comes out with her hands over her eyes, which are also black. Sylar tells Maya that she would also kill an innocent girl in the process, and demands her to stop. Maya regains control of her ability, and her eyes turn clear, and so do everyone else's, as Mohinder rushes to Molly and checks if she is okay. Mohinder reluctantly agrees to help Sylar, but at his lab. Sylar tells Mohinder to lead the way.

At the loft, Sylar tells Maya and Molly to wait on the bed and try to stay calm. Sylar then leads Mohinder at gunpoint down the stairs, to the painting of the explosion. He brags that he killed Isaac Mendez right on this very spot. Mohinder then tells Sylar that he needs a sample of his blood; because Sylar is self-diagnosed, Mohinder needs to know what strain of the virus he has. If given the wrong remedy, Sylar would die. Sylar reluctantly agrees and Mohinder draws a sample of his blood.

Mohinder later informs Sylar that he has the same strain of the virus that Niki has, telling him that the Company injected him with it as well. Sylar tells Mohinder to test the cure on Maya first before using it on him. Mohinder agrees and injects Maya which causes her wound to heal and the bullet to be expelled from her body. As Sylar prepares for his injection, Elle arrives and shoots bolts at Sylar. He quickly grabs the medicinal case with the remedy and runs from her, getting struck in the back and falling through a pane of glass.

Later, Sylar sits against a building with the virus's antidote. He injects himself and the wounds inflicted from falling through glass start to heal. He extends his arm toward a can across the alley and attempts to use his telekinesis to move the can to his arm. The can shakes, then shoots toward him as he grabs it in his hand. Delighted, he says, "I'm back."

Graphic Novel:The Kill Squad, Part 2

When Sean Fallon is killing Lewis with all ammunitions available, he notes to himself that he is saving one bullet in his clip for Gabriel Gray.

Graphic Novel:The Kill Squad, Part 3

Sean Fallon notes that Lloyd Collins was imprisoned by the Company after he asked one too many questions when Sylar came to town and began cutting people's heads open. Sean also promises to tell Joseph Gallagher what really happened to his brother-in-law, Ted Sprague.

Heroes Evolutions

Gabriel Gray has a case file (password: GGeh81zu) at primatechpaper.com. The file contains his personal history:

Gray is the son of a watchmaker who carried on his father's trade for several years before being approached for study by Dr. Chandra Suresh, who termed Gray his "patient zero." Under Dr. Suresh's inadvertent tutelage, Gray realized he had more than one anomalistic ability; in fact, he came to understand that he could absorb the abilities of others. The specific mechanism of acquiring these powers remain unclear, but we understand that it requires the removal of the victim's brain matter. While under Company protection, study into this mechanism began, but Gray escaped before our scientists could determine Gray's precise manner of acquiring abilities from his victims' brain matter.

With the incorporation of new abilities into his genetic structure, Gray assumed the name Sylar and began killing individuals on Chandra Suresh's list of "specials."

We captured Gray after the Union Wells High School incident. FBI Agent Audrey Hanson and Matt Parkman's investigation led them to an unsuccessful raid on Primatech Paper while Sylar was in our custody. Under observation, Sylar proved uncooperative and an incident with Eden McCain/Sarah Ellis led to her death. Despite our best efforts, Sylar escaped from our custody before our study was completed. Gray's current location is unknown and death should not be presumed.

The case file also contains a psychological profile:

Gabiel Gray's overbearing mother pressed on him the notion that he was "special" and meant for more than his family's middle-class existence. When he failed to live up to expectations, he fell into the family trade as a watchmaker and grew increasingly frustrated with his life.

When he began manifesting abilities, he realized he could use them to fulfill his deep-seated desire to be "special" and thus prove his worth to his demanding mother. However, infusion of foreign DNA into Sylar's genome has corrupted his mind and moral compass. He began seeing himself as vastly superior to average people, which gave him--in his mind--the moral authority to kill at will. He became sociopath and singularly focused on gaining more abilities. If still alive with his powers intact, his desire to be increasingly "special" will surely compel him to seek out additional victims. Extreme caution must be exercised if encountering Sylar.

Cranial imaging

Evolved Human Abilities

Sylar's original ability is the power to determine exactly how things work. Sylar appears to have used his innate ability to discover how to take the abilities of other evolved humans. The exact mechanism by which Sylar gains these abilities is not at present known; however, he believes that Chandra Suresh is correct that the abilities are based in the brain, and several of Sylar's victims have had their skulls opened and brains removed.

According to his assignment tracker file at primatechpaper.com, Sylar's control index is 76%. His data analysis shows his biological level at 40, cerebral at 85, elemental at 45, and temporal/spatial at 20.

Acquired Abilities

With Sylar's ability enabling him to take the abilities of others, he has acquired many abilities.

Before he was infected with the Shanti virus (Kindred), he had acquired the following abilities (in chronological order):

• Telekinesis (One Giant Leap) from Brian Davis (Six Months Ago)
• Shattering from Trevor Zeitlan (Villains)
• Freezing (Don't Look Back) from James Walker (Behind the Eclipse)
• Melting from Zane Taylor (Run!)
• Enhanced hearing from Dale Smither (Unexpected)
• Precognition from Isaac Mendez (.07%)
• Induced radioactivity from Ted Sprague (Landslide)

Sylar originally stole enhanced memory from Charlie Andrews (Seven Minutes to Midnight). However, in Once Upon a Time in Texas, Hiro Nakamura went back in time, preventing the event from having happened. Thus, in the current timeline, Sylar never acquired the ability.

When he was infected, his intuitive aptitude and telekinesis were suppressed, and his other abilities were permanently lost.

He has since recovered from the virus (using a cure in Powerless), and subsequently demonstrated his original ability and telekinesis. Since that time, he has acquired the following additional powers:

• Rapid cellular regeneration from Claire Bennet (The Second Coming)
• Alchemy from Bob Bishop (The Butterfly Effect)
• Clairsentience from Bridget Bailey (One of Us, One of Them)
• Sound manipulation from Jesse Murphy (One of Us, One of Them)
• Electric manipulation from Elle Bishop (It's Coming)
• Lie detection from Sue Landers (Our Father)
• Imprinting from Joe Macon (Out of Town... On Business)
• Shape shifting from James Martin (Into Asylum)
• Disintegration from Tom Miller (I Am Sylar)
• Flight from Nathan Petrelli (An Invisible Thread)
• Empathy from Lydia (Let It Bleed)

During their conversation, Sylar and Mr. Bennet confirmed that Sylar has multiple abilities (Fallout); however, apart from telekinesis, the Company was unable to identify what these powers were (Godsend). Based on Mohinder's statement to the authorities (Fallout) that at least six people from his father's list have been murdered by Sylar (prior to Zane Taylor), it's likely that Sylar has at least ten acquired abilities: the six Mohinder mentions, plus those of Zane, Dale, Isaac, and Ted.

Sylar attempted to take an eleventh ability from Candice Wilmer, but he was unable to use it because he was affected by the Shanti virus; it was confirmed in an interview that Sylar did not acquire the ability and that he won't be able to use it even after curing himself.

It is unknown if Sylar took Alejandro's ability since Sylar was interrupted by Maya when she knocked on the door. It is unclear if he went back for it or just left him there.

Sylar has demonstrated the ability to use at least two of his acquired abilities at the same time. (The Hard Part)

Telekinesis is Sylar's most commonly observed acquired ability.

Memorable Quotes

"When I was a kid ... I used to wish some stranger would come and tell me my family wasn't really my family. They weren't bad people, they were just ... insignificant. And I wanted to be different. Special. I wanted to change. A new name, a new life. The watchmaker's son ... became a watchmaker. It is so futile, that I wanted to be ... important."

- Sylar (to Chandra Suresh) (Six Months Ago)

"That sound in your heart, what is it?"

"Murder."

- Dale, Sylar (Unexpected)

"This is usually the part where people start screaming."

- Sylar (to Isaac Mendez) (.07%)

"Mom -- Mom, don't. Don't, it's just... maybe I don't have to be special. That's okay to just be a normal watchmaker. Can't you just tell me that's enough?"

- Sylar (to Virginia) (The Hard Part)

"I know you don't understand me. But I want to tell you why I'm helping you. It's that delicious power. You see, when I get my ability back, I'm gonna kill you...and your sister. And I'm gonna take it all. And if I don't get my ability back, it's not a total loss. Maya's learning quickly. She's a shiny new toy, and she's all mine."

- Sylar (to Alejandro) (The Line)

Notes

• In an interview, Tim Kring responded to the question "Are Sylar and Claire's father connected?" by saying "There is a connection between the two, which will become clear in later episodes."
• Kristin Veitch of E! indicates that Sylar's character "is the opposite of what you'd think it would be."
• In an interview with Wizard Magazine, Tim Kring states "Sylar's storyline is much cleaner line than a lot of people think. He's literally just a character who wanted to be special and he gets kind of f--ked up and becomes a serial killer. That's all it is."
• When the apparently dead Sylar revives in The Fix and in "The Kindness of Strangers", the familiar "tick-tock" can be heard, perhaps implying he has used his power.
• The fact that Sylar survived being shot (by Matt and by Mr. Bennet) and that he walked away from a serious fall at Homecoming led to speculation that he possessed some kind of superhuman endurance. However, Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski stated in an interview that much of Sylar's apparent invulnerability is a product of his telekinesis. Sylar's resistance to bullets was specifically shown to be a specialized use of telekinesis in Parasite.
• Sylar seems able to levitate himself somehow. He seemingly did this to elude capture (One Giant Leap) and to approach Dale Smither without her hearing any sound of footsteps (Unexpected). He also escapes Virginia Beach police by propelling himself into a tree (Road Kill). Jason Badower stated that the script for Road Kill specifically states that Sylar uses telekinesis to escape the crashing Northeast Brewing Company truck. Whether or not the other instances are also a specialized use of his telekinesis is unclear.
• Sylar introduces himself to the trucker as "Drew O'Grady", apparently taking the alias from two headlines in a newspaper he had seen shortly before meeting the trucker. The headlines read, "President drew fire for welfare comments" and "O'Grady Farm to be purchased back..." (Road Kill). This is in keeping with the way he acquired the "Sylar" alias, taking the name from a watch as he meets Brian Davis (Six Months Ago).
• In an interview, Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski explain that, although unusual vocal effects were used for both Sylar (Distractions) and Peter Petrelli (Unexpected), both were for "coolness factor", and were not an indication that either was using persuasion. They later reiterated the point in reference to Sylar's voice in .07%.
• The address Mohinder discovers for Sylar in his father's journal is 1146 Trenton Place APT 1B, Queens, NY 11011. (One Giant Leap)
• In an interview, Zachary Quinto said he purposely chooses to take on the characteristics of Sylar's victims. "[Distractions] was the genesis and then it continued for me as an actor to draw on the characteristics of the other characters that I was killing. There were choices I made in scenes to bring echoes of those characters to what I was doing."

Trivia

• A photograph on NBC's Heroes site shows a birth announcement for a "Paul E. Sylar", dated June 11, 1962. The announcement appears to be pinned next to the map in Chandra Suresh's Brooklyn apartment. However, the casting of 29 year-old Zachary Quinto seems contrary to this information, as does the revelation that "Sylar" is an assumed name. In all likelihood, since the announcement only ever appeared clearly in promotional photos, the character concept has changed since the original announcement was designed and there is no "Paul E. Sylar." This is a remnant from the original cut of the pilot episode (In His Own Image). In that version, the conversation on the Sylar tape can be heard, but it is a conversation between Chandra and Paul E. Sylar.
• The role of Sylar was originally offered to Christopher Eccleston. He declined the role because he thought it was a cliché for European actors to play villains in American culture.
• In the first draft of the pilot, Sylar was supposed to appear in an Italian prison. According to Greg Beeman's blog, this version of Sylar was supposed to have long claw-like nails and sharp teeth. He was also supposed to be "way weirder and more monstrous — like Nosferatou."
• Ando tells Peter that Sylar is like okage which he translates as "boogeyman" (Homecoming). Molly Walker also refers to Sylar as "the boogeyman" (The Hard Part).
• Sylar taking his name from a watch mirrors one theory regarding the Zodiac Killer who killed several people in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 60s. One suspect was allegedly given a "Zodiac" brand watch that had the same logo (a crossed circle) that the killer used to sign his letters. Also of note, before one alleged victim died, she was followed by a suspicious man wearing horn-rimmed glasses.
• Before the airing of Six Months Ago, the theory that Sylar is Peter had become so stale at 9th Wonders, the semi-official Heroes fansite, that it has inspired a drinking game: whenever someone brings it up, drink.
• At the end of Powerless, when Sylar regains his powers, the first thing he grabs with telekinesis is a can of spinach. This is a joke by the writers relating to Popeye the Sailor, who gains his "ability", strength, after eating spinach. ^[1]
• According to his case file (password: GGeh81zu) at primatechpaper.com, Gabriel Gray weighs 150 pounds.

See Also

• For other uses of Sylar, see Sylar (disambig).
• For other uses of Gabriel, see Gabriel (disambig).
• For other uses of Gray, see Gray (disambig).
• For other uses of boogeyman, see boogeyman (disambig).
• For articles related to Sylar, see Related Articles:Sylar.
• For images of Sylar, see Images of Sylar.
• For Sylar as he appeared in the dark future, see Sylar (future).

External Links

• Sylar's Blog (Fan site)
• Sylar's Army (Fan Group)

Fan Theories

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