First of all, I just want to say I really like the unique power set Elixir has. Sure, we've seen healing and death touches before, but when you couple that with unlimited potential to affect someone's genetics, you get something new.
While being omega sounds cool, it has serious drawbacks to the character. There is a clear link between character development and character presence when classed as omega. Let's consider the list of confirmed omega mutants:
- Absolom Mercator : Mr. M
- Gabriel Summers : Vulcan
- Robert Drake : Iceman
- Jean Grey : Jean Grey
- Joshua Foley : Elixir
- Franklin Richards : Franklin Richards
- Quentin Quire : Quentin Quire
- Rachel Summers : Marvel Girl
- David Charles Haller : Legion
- Nathan Grey : X-Man
There seems to be a trend with how to handle omegas. Keep them weak, make them evil, or remove their presence.
Weak:
Iceman: Underachiever who never pushed himself
Franklin Richards: Mental Blocks and hasn't aged.
Elixir: Passing out and only able to do healing/harming, nothing creative yet.
Jean Grey: Before the phoenix she showed limited abilities.
Evil:
Vulcan: Portrayed as an antagonist when first introduced.
Quentin Quire: Portrayed as a possible Magneto in terms of Mutant Rights extremist.
Legion: oh hi.
Nate Grey: Putting him in here because when he was first brought to 616, the way writers showed his strength was for him to school every team that came up against him. And the accidental destruction he caused.
Jean Grey: Red phoenix bad-assery
Removed:
Mr. M: Turned into butterflies.
Vulcan: He's too strong for him to be roaming about on Earth, so they sent him off to rule another planet where they can make characters that can contest with him.
Jean Grey: Oh you've reached your full power? Go live in a white, hot, room. NOW.
Quentin Quire: Turn into goo, NOW.
Marvel Girl: ? what's she up to?
Legion: Deceased?
Nate Grey: Sacrifices self to save the world. Recently brought back for an event, but how long can we expect that to last? No doubt once the crisis is over he'll fade away or fly off to space etc.
So, what does this mean for Elixir?
So far, he's been kept weak. Eg comas, only displaying healing or damaging.
There already have been hints at him being the next Magneto. Imagine him at full power, he wouldn't even need to do anything too creative. Imagine him with ranged ability. "You're dead, and you, oh and you over there too." Imagine him becoming creative... is he going to test out different genetic possibilities to give himself and others new powers? Would he test on himself, or would he become a Dark Beast type and experiment on people? Afterall, he does have 616 Beast's knowledge so there is a link there. The only thing that would stop him is the compassion the writers have emphasised in him. Such as when he attacked Stryfe, there was particular focus on how much Elixir was truly sorry he had to kill Stryfe. Imagine him without his compassion.
I like Elixir as a good guy, they could give him some interesting capabilities, with him having to show quick thinking and skill when against inorganic enemies and threats. But I can't help but feel that the only way to show him as powerful, is for him to be evil. Otherwise we'll be seeing a lot more comas and limitations for quite some time. If they made him powerful and kept him good... they will have to remove him, I.e: no-one would ever die, so to keep the feeling of danger and action, anytime the writers want that element of danger, "Elixir was busy" - "He was in a coma" - "We put him in the Black Cold Room so he could do... stuff"
What do you think? Is Elixir doomed to the fate of an Omega?
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