Theory:Adam Monroe

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The following fan theories are about Adam Monroe.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Yaeko eventually fell in love with Adam and the two married like in the Kensei legends.	The Kensei legends.	+ The legends of Takezo Kensei say that eventually he married the swordsmith's daughter. + The marriage part of the legend does not occur while Hiro is in feudal Japan, therefore it is likely that Yaeko (or whoever created the tapestries) wrote about later events, which are not attributable to Hiro. • As well, the part of the legends where Kensei receives half of Japan also does not occur while Hiro is in the past but it is stated that White Beard offered half of Japan to Adam.
Adam Monroe has the power of empathic mimicry.	None.	+ When Bob was showing Nathan the newspaper article talking about a snowstorm in Miami, he said it could have been a tsunami. This suggests Adam can manipulate the weather. - Bob was probably referring to Adam convincing twelve individuals to save the world; one member of the group of the twelve saved Miami with his/her power. + Claude reacted to Peter's empathic mimicry as "Oh, one of those", suggesting that there might be others. Claude worked for the Company and may have met Adam. - Adam has been locked up for 30 years, Claude seems to have only been with the company less than 20. So they didn't work for the company together, and it's unlikely Claude would have had any reason to talk to him in the cell. + Adam had no idea of his rapid cell regeneration until he was shot; it is likely he would have known of that gift from childhood. Empathic mimicry could explain both: the fake Kensei (How to Stop an Exploding Man) seems like he may have had rapid cell regeneration because he survived the initial chase of the horsemen. - The fake Kensei survived because Hiro teleported him out of there. The decoy even chickened out and ran off because he saw the job as too dangerous. He would not have acted this way if he had the ability to regenerate. + It is unlikely that rapid cell regeneration on its own would make Adam feel like a god, and Bob's line about changing weather (Out of Time) would be explained by this. - Bob was probably referring to Adam convincing twelve individuals to save the world; one member of the group of the twelve saved Miami with his/her power. - Adam is apparently immortal, has been alive for 400 years, and nothing can kill him. I think that's sufficient reason to start to feel like a god at that point. - As with Peter, it would be quite likely that early manifestations of abilities learned using empathic mimicry would happen in the presence of the original hero. When he first finds he can regenerate, he is only in the presence of Hiro and his actions suggest he truly did not know how the regeneration happened. - If Adam was an empath, he wouldn't need Peter to go back in time. + He never stated he needed Peter to go back in time, just that the two of them were to "change history". This may not be as literal as first assumed. + He may have gained Invisibility from Claude, and having a sense of humour, gone invisible for the photo, explaining why Arthur Petrelli is looking away. + If he was an empath, he would want to gather as many powers as possible, and therefore he would want to found a company who's sole purpose was to locate and track evolved humans. - If he were an empath, he would not need Peter to help escape from the company or Maury Parkman to kill the group of twelve. It is however possible that the company were supressing his power in the same way they did Peter's but this is never shown or talked about. Also if the company had given Adam the pills to block his power (which we have no absolute evidence that they work as they could possibly be a placebo as peter never trys to use his powers and this might be the key, him not trying, believing he cannot, not that he cannot use them.) it would have prevented his rapid cell regeneration, therefore his blood would not have healed Nathan. - There is no evidence to suggest that Peter's blood has the same healing effects as Adam's or Claire's. In fact, it is rather unlikely since Peter's ability does not seem to alter his DNA like Sylar's.
Adam Monroe took the photograph of the group of twelve.	None	+ While he is a "founder" of the company, he is not in the photograph. - Adam could've been imprisoned when the photo was taken.
Adam Monroe has more than one power.	None	+ Adam/Kensei already has rapid cell regeneration. (Out of Time). + It can explain why Adam thought he was some kind of god after he met many evolved humans. - He could think of himself as a god, due to his possible immortality/invincibility. - The show's creators have stated that no character has more than one power.
Adam Monroe, in Peter's storyline, is chronologically before Hiro's storyline.	None	+ Adam tells Peter than they're going to "change history". He could have been taken back in time by Peter, and left there. - He doesn't appear to have any memory of the future of anything when in Hiro's storyline. + The Haitian or Peter could have removed his memories. - Every time Peter's been near the Haitian, his powers have been repressed. So he probably hasn't absorbed the Haitian's ability. The only person that leaves is the Haitian, who hasn't associated with Adam at all that we've seen. - Other people know that Adam is about 400 years old. So, unless he is is brought back to the time period when he was originally born, then he is probably chronologically AFTER Hiro's storyline. If he is from BEFORE Hiro's storyline, then the big question would be where the Adam from Hiro's timeline is now.
Adam Monroe's primary motivation is still his anger toward Hiro Nakamura for stealing Yaeko's love from him.	He swore to Hiro Nakamura that he would, for as long as he drew breath, lay waste to everything he cared about. (Out of Time)	+ Heroes is a simple series; it uses and expands on popular and common comic book concepts and gimmicks to create entertaining and impactful storylines. The notion of a villain who, for all his power and vision, is mostly motivated by a petty need for vengeance over a failed romance is exactly the type of familiar simplicity it would bring into such an otherwise dark and complicated story. - Monroe's intentions extend far beyond Hiro. Bob has already explained that he envisions a world in which humanity has been "punished" with holocausts and plagues, and evolved humans have come into power over the rest of mankind. + Monroe may simply be intent on living up to his promise to stand against everything Hiro cherishes, interpreting that far more broadly than just killing his close friends and loved ones. When Monroe knew Hiro in 1671, Hiro made it very clear how important the ideal of heroism, the standard of compassion, and the use of power for causes of goodness were to him. Monroe may have become a true personification of evil, hoping to arbitrarily impose the opposites of those things onto the world as a grandiose means of achieving his revenge, even attempting to bring fellow evolved humans together and manipulate them into abusing their power. + Hiro also constantly made it clear how important the legend of Takezo Kensei was, both to the world as a part of its history and to himself personally. Because he believed Monroe was Takezo Kensei, it became very important to Hiro for Monroe himself to become a hero. Therefore, Monroe may consider it a part of his revenge against Hiro to deliberately live the life of a villain instead, betraying his own supposed destiny. + Adam Monroe has said to Peter Petrelli that the two of them "are going to change history." (Out of Time) This may very well entail going back in time with the intent to win back Yaeko's love, and therefore be his main intention. + Adam lets the Nakamura family in The Company and then chooses to be the one who kills Kaito.
Adam Monroe is the original hero and is the ancestor of all the heroes in the show.	None.	+ He is likely more than 400 years old. In that time he may have been with hundreds of women, many of whom would have had babies. We know that the powers are hereditary (in many cases), so it would be quite possible that he fathered many children throughout his lifetime. As those children grew up and reproduced, they would pass along his genes to their kids as well. + We know that he had traveled a lot even before meeting Hiro, he could easily had sexual relations with many women from around the world. + His facial features (blond hair, blue eyes and even white skin) are recessive, meaning that wouldn't show up in a child from a mother with dark hair, eyes and skin. + His name "Adam" is perfectly fitting for a character who is the original of a species. + The symbol for Kensei is embedded into the DNA of all known Heroes.
Adam Monroe can create copies of himself through his regenerative power.	None.	+ We see his charred body in Out of Time, yet he is seen in the future. - Given Adam/Kensei's penchant for using stand-ins, the corpse could easily be some unlucky disciple of White Beard - He could have also simply regenerated. + He was able to witness the kiss between Hiro and Yaeko, even through he should be still in Whitebeard's camp given the amount time that passed. - Hiro may have moved forward in time a couple minutes while he teleported. - Also, Hiro may not have teleported far away, considering he and Kensei would regroup after the attack. Not only that, Hiro kissed Yaeko a while after he used his power. • Low order organisms such as flat-worms can reproduction asexually through transverse fission.
Adam is attempting to spread the Shanti virus.	Adam tried to release the Virus (Truth and Consequences)	+ He mentions to Peter that they are "going to change history", (Out of Time) to change history would require something with a massive impact, and in the future the Shanti Virus has wiped out 93% of the human race. + Bob says that Adam was locked up because he began to talk about using "plagues and holocausts to punish humanity" (Out of Time). The devastation the Shanti Virus causes would therefore appeal to Adam in his goals. + Adam may be trying to get humanity to accept him as a god because his blood could stop the virus; he could try to sell his blood to amass unimaginable wealth. + Adam himself would be safe from the effects of the virus due to his ability to regenerate and Bob believes Claire's ability could be used to prevent the virus. + Adam says as much, and Hiro witnesses the aftermath of his attempt (theory confirmed?)
Linderman and Adam Monroe had similar ideals originally, but they had a disagreement of some sort.	None	+ Adam Monroe was held prisoner for 30 years by the Company. It was heavily implied that Linderman was the dominant figure in the Company up until his death. + Linderman might have realized that Adam wasn't actually interested in healing the world, but was interested in punishing the world. Linderman considers himself a healer and would not have accepted Adam's petty motivation of revenge. - Linderman was all for blowing up New York City. • There's a big difference between being willing to kill .07% of the human population, and happily wiping out 93% of the human population.
Peter can kill Adam by using phasing.	None.	+ Linderman was killed when D.L. phased his hand into his head and removed his brain. + Peter can, theoretically, remove Adam's entire brain from his body, which could prevent regeneration. • Although this theory may prove to be true, Linderman's power is not the same as Adam's power.
Adam is killing the members of the group of twelve because they are the cause of the virus. Adam really is trying to stop the virus from spreading. Hiro will get in Adam and Peter's way, and unknowingly prevent them from saving the world.	Adam is trying to release the virus (Truth and Consequences)	- The writers of Heroes would not allow the world to be unsaved. It goes against the theme of the show. + This season (before the writers strike) was going to be in 2 parts, Volume 2 and 3. Volume 2 may end with the world in dispair. Hiro, may have to fix things in volume 3. - Adam makes efforts towards releasing the virus (theory disproven?) • Adam's motives may have changed since 1977. He may be in Odessa to destroy the strain.
Adam has styled himself as the personification of evil, and his goal is to wipe out the human race, rather than to save it with a holocaust as he claims in Truth and Consequences.	None.	+ Adam tells Peter (after the latter is out of earshot) that if anyone survives, he'll be sure to tell them that he couldn't have done it without Peter. This suggests his ultimate goal is total extermination rather than population control. • Adam may simply have been trying to make a clever quip to himself. • Adam may have been talking to Victoria's corpse, referencing the fact without her research, they wouldn't even have the virus.