Century Baby is a title given to special individuals simultaneously born "with the century", on the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve of the new century, who develop to eventually display certain superhuman abilities and skills, as well as immortality. Due to their special powers, Century Babies often work alone or in teams of other superhuman beings to affect and change the world. Some Century Babies can work in conjunction with Planetary Shamans called "Doctors".
History
Century Babies are not human beings but in fact unliving, artificial constructs made for the purpose of preserving and advancing life on Earth and lack souls.[2] Occasionally, Century Babies are presented as techne, technology spirits, who were nearly as old as the line of the Doctors, with them being spirits of the mechanical arts and crafts instead of magic and mysticism.[3] Each was a living speculation of the technologies of their time, with them typically being deployed as a planetary defensive mechanism.
It has been theorized that they act as an immune system or anti-bodies for the Earth, their very existence protecting Earth from upcoming threats, and sometimes represent and personify a certain aspect of the century's culture into which they are born.
In the case of Jenny Sparks, this was to influence the 20th century and her moods were tied directly to the world's status. For example, she was suicidally depressed during the Great Depression and deliriously high during the Roaring Twenties. Century Babies can be incredibly influential to human culture, often spurring benevolent and malicious figures alike to chart out recorded history after short interactions.
Century Babies are assumed to have at least a 100 year lifespan, destined to live on as a spirit of their century until the next Century Baby is born. Such as the case with Jenny Sparks, some century babies have undergone repeated incarnations and live for only short ages before ascending to astral realms such as the Infinite City. However, the degree of lifespan between Century Babies can vary. When Jenny Sparks is about to die at the end of the century, another brings up that the idea of a Century Baby is inherently flawed since it is linked to the Gregorian calendar and defines the turn of the century in 1900 not 1901. Also not all "Century Babies" lived for a century, instead some lived for a specific era.
Miscellaneous
Representatives:
Wildstorm Universe
- 21st Century
- Jenny Quantum, Spirit of the 21st Century
- Gaia Rothstein
- River Baldwin
- Jenny Fractal
- 20th Century
- Jenny Sparks, Spirit of the 20th Century
- Addie Vochs, Voice of the 20th Century
- Axel Brass, Mind of the 20th Century
- Bret Leather, Justice of the 20th Century
- Elijah Snow, Ghost of the 20th Century
- Hark
- Kevin Sack
- Historical
- Jenny Revolution
- Jenny Inquisition
- Jenny Plague
- Jenny Ra
- Jenny Fire
- Jenny Stone
Earth 0/Prime Earth
- 21st Century
- Jenny Crisis, Spirit of the 21st Century
- Jenny Quantum, Spirit of the 21st Century (Status unknown)
- Jinny Hex
- Cameron Kim
- The Doctor/"Baby Sea Monster"
- 20th Century
- Jenny Sparks, Spirit of the 20th Century
- Historical
- Jenny Freedom/Jenny Steam, Spirit of the 19th Century
- Jenny Discovery
- Sister J, Spirit of the 14th Century
- Jenny Crusade/Countess Jeannie, Spirit of the 12th Century
- Princess Janeen, Spirit of the 11th Century
Alternate Timelines
- Jenny Soul, Spirit of the 21st Century
See Also
- Appearances of Century Babies
- Race Gallery: Century Babies
- Images of Century Babies
Links and References
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