Summary
- Ananatium could revive Handsome Jack through reality-shaping properties and dimensional connections.
- Bringing back Handsome Jack risks undermining his death and legacy as a compelling antagonist.
- Resurrecting Handsome Jack may overshadow new antagonists and diminish the series' narrative weight.
When it comes to villains in gaming, Borderlands 2's Handsome Jack is a household name. Even gamers who have never spent a second with a Borderlands game likely know who Handsome Jack is, and that alone says enough about his reputation as an antagonist. What has made Handsome Jack so beloved among fans and so recognized in the gaming industry is his charismatic villainy, summed up in his sharp wit, ruthless sarcasm, and dark humor. His constant commentary throughout Borderlands 2 is something to be both amused and appalled by, making him one of gaming's most compelling antagonists.
Since the death of Handsome Jack in Borderlands 2, a debate has persisted regarding whether the Borderlands series should revive him. He did return to the franchise for a brief period during Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, but his return there made sense, given the game's prequel status. However, the reason there is a debate in the first place about Handsome Jack's return is due to the impact he had on the series as a whole, with him being the main villain of what is widely considered to be the best Borderlands game. If the series were to bring back the iconic villain, though, it would need both a means and a justifiable reason for doing so. As it turns out, the means have already presented themselves, but should the series take the leap and revive Handsome Jack despite the risks?
Borderlands 4's New Villain Is Immediately More Interesting Than the Calypso Twins
The Timekeeper in Borderlands 4 already feels more compelling than the Calypso Twins, radiating mystery, depth, and a menace their antics lacked.
Should Borderlands Use Ananatium to Resurrect Handsome Jack?
Ananatium Could Be Used to Revive Handsome Jack
The means for reviving Handsome Jack may lie in Ananatium, which was introduced in New Tales From the Borderlands as a central part of its story. Ananatium is an incredibly rare substance in the Borderlands series that has the ability to interact with dimensional and vault energies. In short, Ananatium is a resource that is capable of bending reality, manipulating energy, and connecting dimensions, so there is reason to believe that it could be used to bring back Handsome Jack.
Firstly, Ananatium's reality-shaping properties might allow it to completely reconstruct Handsome Jack's physical form, effectively bringing him back from the dead. Secondly, in light of Ananatium's connection to the multiverse, it could retrieve another version of Handsome Jack from a different universe. Going this route, however, would potentially mean Handsome Jack is brought back into the series as an ally, which could lead to a compelling character arc. If not either of these routes, Ananatium could still likely be used to create a sentient version of Jack from psychic imprints, though that direction is less likely.
Handsome Jack Should Remain Dead to Preserve Narrative Weight
Despite the possibility Ananatium presents to bring back Handsome Jack in some way, the question remains of whether it would even be good for the series to do so. On the one hand, resurrecting Handsome Jack could appeal to longtime fans of the series while simultaneously offering any newcomers some quality time with one of the series' best characters. However, that might not be enough of an argument in support of bringing back Handsome Jack, as there are some severe downsides that would come with doing so.
Perhaps the biggest downside of bringing Handsome Jack is that it would ultimately undermine the narrative weight of his death. In retrospect, the ending to Borderlands 2, where Handsome Jack dies, would likely lose its impact if he were revived or brought back some other way. There's also Jack's legacy to consider, which is arguably stronger than his physical presence. Not only is Jack referenced in almost every Borderlands game, but the effects of his actions are both seen and felt throughout the series, which is something his physical presence alone is incapable of accomplishing.
In retrospect, the ending to Borderlands 2, where Handsome Jack dies, would likely lose its impact if he were revived or brought back some other way.
Furthermore, Handsome Jack has already been in two Borderlands games, and he is there in spirit in almost every other game. As such, bringing him back might be considered a bit overkill, thereby diminishing his reputation. And finally, resurrecting Handsome Jack ultimately leaves little room for new antagonists to enter the spotlight, like Borderlands 4's Timekeeper, for example, as Jack's presence would inevitably overshadow whoever he shares the stage with. All in all, regardless of what Ananatium is capable of, it shouldn't be used to bring back Handsome Jack. There are far too many cons to him being brought back, and the series is arguably better with him dead.
Borderlands 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- Borderlands
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
