Elixir (character)


Elixir is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily in association with the X-Men. Formerly a member of the Reavers, an anti-mutant criminal group, Elixir later reforms and joins the X-Men after learning that he is a mutant himself. During the Krakoan Age, Elixir joins the Five, using his healing abilities in combination with other mutants to resurrect the dead.

Publication history

Elixir first appeared in New Mutants #5, and was created by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, and Keron Grant.

Fictional character biography

Joshua Foley's powers first manifest during his time as a member of the anti-mutant group the Reavers. His powers initially go unnoticed by the other Reavers, and he uses them to save fellow mutant Laurie Collins. Outed as a mutant and thrown out of his house by his parents, Joshua reluctantly joins the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning and becomes Prodigy's roommate. His parents sign legal guardianship over to Danielle Moonstar.
A depowered Rahne Sinclair visits the X-Mansion. Joshua is instantly smitten by the new "wild child" Rahne, and sneaks out of the Institute at night to go to a bar where Rahne is playing pool. A connection is established between them as Joshua shows an immediate understanding of her inner struggle. As the two kiss, Joshua unconsciously restores Rahne's powers. She loses control and mortally wounds Joshua. With Archangel, the mansion's other healer, absent, the residents resort to electrically shocking Josh awake so that he can heal himself. As an unexpected side effect, Josh's skin and hair turn a reflective gold color. He is assigned to Danielle Moonstar's New Mutants squad and given the codename Elixir.
Rahne attempts to end her relationship with Elixir after she becomes a teacher at the school, but Elixir is persistent and they continue to see each other secretly. However, when Rahne witnesses him on a date with Laurie, she ends the relationship. Elixir is depressed at first, but eventually realizes that it was for the best and pursues a relationship with Laurie.

Decimation and Childhood's End

The events of "House of M" leave only 27 students with their powers, with Elixir being among them. Fearing their safety, Emma Frost orders the students and staff to leave the institute. However, many of the students are killed when William Stryker bombs a bus carrying them. Josh is unable to heal his dying classmates in time, and becomes severely depressed and loses confidence in his abilities. Elixir participates in a melee fight organized by Emma Frost to join her New X-Men and makes the team. After Stryker has Laurie Collins killed, Elixir uses his powers to kill him, which turns his skin black.
Before the other students are teleported to Limbo, the Stepford Cuckoos help Elixir learn advanced science by giving him information taken from Beast's mind. This increases his power exponentially, allowing him to heal otherwise fatal injures with a touch. He also masters his "black abilities" by being able to switch instantly from golden/healing to black/disease-causing.

X-Force

Due to Elixir being a "problem" to X-Force, X-23 contacts the Stepford Cuckoos to help Rahne and erase Elixir's memories of the team at his request. However, before his memories can be erased, X-Force is interrupted and sent on a mission. Elixir joins X-Force and receives a dark-colored uniform. He helps his new team capture Vanisher, creating a deadly tumor in Vanisher's brain. Elixir keeps X-23 from killing herself after she becomes infected with the Legacy Virus and manages to purge the virus from her body.
During the "Necrosha" storyline, Elixir faces off against Wither in a fight to the death. Elixir shifts to his black form, then reverses the effects of Wither's powers before turning him to dust. In the aftermath of Necrosha, Elixir quits X-Force, stating that he is having difficulty shifting out of his black form.

Death and resurrection

Elixir later resurfaces, having joined a church group to help find himself, when he is tracked down by Sabretooth and M. While there, the group is attacked by the Dark Riders and most of the church volunteers are killed. Elixir is shot and killed by Gauntlet, but manages to resurrect himself after being buried.
After Surge and Hellion contract the Legacy Virus, Elixir cures them, but falls into a coma as a result of the strain. He is later sought out by Hrimhari when Wolfsbane collapses after a battle with Frost Giants. Upon arriving on Utopia, Hrimhari makes a deal with Hela after learning that Rahne is pregnant with his child and may not survive childbirth. Unable to choose between his lover or his child to save, Hrimhari requests Hela heal Josh so that he can save Wolfsbane and their child. Elixir heals her by transferring some of her baby's strength to her to ensure that she can survive the pregnancy.
Elixir and Exodus are later approached by Magneto to help contain Mothervine, a biotech enhancement that triggers mutations and was released worldwide by Miss Sinister, Havok, Emma Frost, and Bastion. Elixir neutralizes all samples of the Mothervine serum, putting an end to the threat.

Krakoan Age

When Professor X establishes a mutant nation on Krakoa, Elixir is revealed to be part of a group known as "The Five". Besides Elixir, the Five is made up of Goldballs, Proteus, Tempus, and Hope Summers, who combine their abilities to resurrect deceased mutants.

Powers and abilities

Elixir is an Omega-level mutant with the ability to manipulate the structure of organic matter within his vicinity, including his own body. Besides healing, he is capable of boosting and restoring mutant abilities, and possesses a death touch that can swiftly kill others and temporarily turns his skin black. Elixir is capable of cleansing the effects of drugs and curing the Legacy Virus and M-Pox. He used his healing abilities to enable Wolfsbane to survive the birth of her and Hrimhari's child Tier. Elixir is virtually immortal due to his healing abilities enabling him to regenerate his body and resurrect himself if killed.
Elixir later develops the ability to resurrect others. Monet and Magneto speculate that he could do so to millions of people at once, but would lose his sanity in the process.

Other versions

  • When David Alleyne learns of a mental block within his head that prevents him from keeping the information he absorbs permanently, he asks for Emma Frost's aid in removing it. Frost and Danielle Moonstar show David a possible future where he lost his mental block and worked with Elixir to cure all disease. David achieves this by harvesting tissue from Elixir's body, which eventually kills him.
  • An alternate universe version of Joshua Foley from Earth-58163 appears in New X-Men #17. This version is an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

    Reception

  • CBR ranked Elixir 18th "The 20 Most Powerful Secondary Mutations".