Origin

Rutherford Princeton served as a Canadian police officer during the 1920's. He had been sent "on loan" to Chicago to assist with Prohibition enforcement. During this time, Princeton had a romantic relationship with a woman named Amelia. Rutherford eventually returns to Canada and loses contact with her. The two later serve together as members of Alpha Flight, though Princeton is not aware that his teammate Nemesis is the same woman.

Creation

Centennial was created by Scott Lobdell and Clayton Henry and first appeared in Alpha Flight Vol.3 issue 1 (2004).

Major Story Arcs

New Alpha Flight

While researching veterans of the Canadian military, Dr. Walter Langkowski (aka Sasquatch) notices Princeton's unique bio-rhythmic signature. Later, when Langkowski is forming a strike force of Canadian super-powered beings to save his Alpha Flight teammates from an alien race, he remembers Princeton and successfully shocks him out of a twenty-year coma to join the team.

The revived 96-year-old Princeton has no desire to join Langkowski's strike force and prefers to live each day to its fullest instead. But when he discovers that living a normal life makes him feel empty, he changes his mind and decides to become a member of the new team--even staying on after the initial mission is completed and the original members of Alpha Flight leave earth on a quest of their own.

Ultimately, a glimpse into the future shows Princeton and his lost love Amelia buried side by side.

The Collective

Centennial leaves Alpha Flight when the original members return, so he is not present during the fight against The Collective, in which many of his former teammates die.

Powers

Centennial possesses superhuman strength and a high degree of durability. He can also fly and has the ability to project highly concentrated heat beams from his eyes.