Before Netflix's The Umbrella Academy premiered in 2019 there was Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba's comic book series of the same name -- a bizarre tale of a dysfunctional family of adopted siblings known as the Hargreeves children.
The field leader of this family of superheroes, Number One aka Luther Hargreeves aka Spaceboy, is played by Tom Hopper in the series, but the character on the silver screen isn't exactly the same as the one inspired by the printed page. Just how different are these two versions of Sir Reginald's heir? And was anything kept the same? Here are five things Netflix changed about Umbrella Academy's Luther... and five things it kept the same. Warning: The following article contains spoilers.
10 Same: Luther Is Still The Leader
In both the comics and Netflix's streaming show, Luther is portrayed as the leader of the Hargreeves children aka The Umbrella Academy. Luther is both the eldest and heir of Sir Reginald Hargreeves, taking on the mantle of head of house after their adoptive father's passing.
Strike this up as a similarity between the two expressions of Gerald Way and Gabriel ba's source story -- a tale of a superhero family that's even more messed up than the X-Men. And that takes a lot to achieve.
9 Different: The Way Luther Gets His Gorilla Body
One major difference between TV Luther and comic book Luther is how Spaceboy gets his signature gorilla body. In the comics, Luther's head is plucked from his dying form and transplanted to that of a Martian ape.
In the show, however, Sir Reginald's heir is given a serum that mutates his body into its current form. It's also something Luther is extremely self-conscious about, feeling like a freak of nature.
8 Same: Luther Still Has A Gorilla Body
No matter which way you slice it, Luther is still Luther. He still owns the strange form of a half-man, half-space simian. It's not all bad, of course, as Spaceboy enjoys a plethora of superhuman abilities that allow him to go above and beyond that of a normal human.
Something the leader of Umbrella Academy would sorely miss if it was suddenly taken away. Nonetheless, what would The Umbrella Academy be without Luther as fans know and love him.
7 Different: Netflix's Luther Is Kind
Another major difference between the print pages and the silver screen is the way Luther is portrayed in the comics. In the comics, Sir Reginald notes that Spaceboy is particularly ruthless, demonstrating all of the qualities of a natural, self-assured leader.
In the show, Luther is anything but this. He is actually more of a reluctant hero who often feels inept and unfit for the role of the Hargeeves' Cyclops. Nonetheless, Luther still manages to rise to the occasion when needed, stepping into the role he was born to fill.
6 Same: The Favorite Son
It's no secret Luther is the favorite son of Sir Reginald Hargreeves. Despite his portrayal in the series or his demeanor in the comic, Sir Reginald has plans for his adopted heir.
Like the other children, Luther was still treated like a science experiment. It should also be noted that in the TV show Sir Reginald is slightly more prickly towards his kids -- Spaceboy most of all.
5 Different: Luther Is A Twin (So Far)
This is something the television show hasn't quite tackled (yet?). Regardless, Luther is indeed a twin with Number Five. This factoid is revealed in the Dallas arc in the comics but has yet to enter the world of the streaming show.
So how can an adult Luther be twins with the adolescent Five? Two words: Time travel. Five's body is, in fact, possessed by Luther's aged brother from the future, the relationship between the Hargreeve's children even more complex. Will this tidbit ever come out in Netflix's hit show... or will it be axed completely? Time will tell.
4 Same: He Lived On The Moon
One of the major points in The Umbrella Academy is Spaceboy's four years spent living on the moon. Though Luther's tenure on the moon may slightly differ between the comic and show respectively, this is a character point that wasn't changed altogether.
Luther, the field leader of the Hargreeves children, spent a great deal of time on Earth's natural satellite. There, he kept a watchful eye for pending threats to humankind.
3 Different: The Reason He Lived On The Moon
This is where Luther's moon-dwelling departs between source and adaptation. While he may have lived on the moon for a time, the reason why is another matter entirely.
In the show, Luther was sent to the moon by his father. His mission? Watch for threats to Earth. In the comics, however, Spaceboy did this on his own, believing that he could best serve his father's cause on the crazy lunar surface.
2 Same: Luther's Powers
As mentioned above, Luther's body has been transformed into that of a Martian ape -- whether through serum or the physical transplanting of his head. Regardless, Luther enjoys a small cache of powers -- powers that remain the same throughout both series.
What are these powers? For starters, Luther is super strong (obviously). But he also enjoys the ability to withstand almost any attack. His thick skin is tough enough to make even Luke Cage jealous, proving Spaceboy to be particularly effective against firearms.
1 Different: His Appearance
This one is definitely the most obvious. In the comics, Luther sports white hair and an open-chested gorilla design which he proudly displays for the world. His head is also supported by a technical contraption that keeps him alive, is that his head was transferred to the body of a gorilla.
TV Luther's form, however, is much more grounded. Since he was injected with a super serum, his simian form is much more realistic. Not only is TV Luther much smaller in size, but he's also kept his natural hair color along with mild scruff in lieu of his clean-shaven comic book counterpart.