Elixir (character)

Template:Short description Template:Multiple issues Template:Infobox comics character Elixir (Joshua "Josh" Foley) 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 (vol. 2) #5, and was created by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, and Keron Grant.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name="Omega">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>New Mutants (vol. 2) #5-6 (November - December 2003)</ref> His parents sign legal guardianship over to Danielle Moonstar.<ref>New Mutants (vol. 2) #7 (January 2004)</ref>

A depowered Rahne Sinclair visits the X-Mansion. Joshua is instantly smitten by the new "wild child" Rahne,<ref>New Mutants (vol. 2) #9 (February 2004)</ref> 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. Joshua manages to heal himself, which turns his skin and hair a reflective gold color.<ref name="NM12" /> He is assigned to Danielle Moonstar's New Mutants squad and given the codename Elixir.<ref name="Omega"/>

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.<ref>New X-Men (vol. 2) #12-15 (June - August 2005)</ref>

Decimation and Childhood's End

The events of "House of M" leave only 27 students with their powers, with Elixir being among them.<ref name="Omega"/> Fearing their safety, Emma Frost orders the depowered students and staff to leave the institute.<ref>New X-Men (vol. 2) #20-22 (January - March 2006)</ref> However, many of the students are killed when William Stryker bombs a bus carrying them. Elixir participates in a melee fight organized by Emma Frost to join her New X-Men and makes the team.<ref>New X-Men (vol. 2) #23-24 (April - May 2006)</ref> After Stryker kills Laurie Collins, Elixir uses his powers to kill him, which turns his skin black.<ref>New X-Men (vol. 2) #25 (June 2006)</ref><ref name=":4">New X-Men (vol. 2) #27 (August 2006)</ref><ref name="Omega"/>

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.<ref>New X-Men (vol. 2) #38 (July 2007)</ref> 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.<ref>New X-Men (vol. 2) #37-41 (June - October 2007)</ref><ref name="Omega"/>

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 his 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.<ref name=":1" />

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,<ref>Uncanny X-Men (vol. 4) #2 (March 2016)</ref> but manages to resurrect himself after being buried.<ref name=":5">Uncanny X-Men Annual (vol. 4) #1 (January 2017)</ref><ref name="Times">Template:Cite web</ref>

Elixir and Exodus are later approached by Magneto to help contain Mothervine, a biotech enhancement that triggers secondary mutations and allows depowered mutants to regain their abilities. Elixir neutralizes all samples of the Mothervine serum and purges it from Jimmy Hudson's system, putting an end to the Mothervine threat.<ref>X-Men Blue #28 (July 2018)</ref>

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 (Fabio Medina), Proteus, Tempus, and Hope Summers, who combine their abilities to resurrect deceased mutants.<ref>House of X #1 (September 2019)</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Times"/><ref name="Omega"/>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="NM12">New Mutants (vol. 2) #12 (June 2004)</ref> Besides healing, he is capable of boosting and restoring mutant abilities,<ref name="NM10">New Mutants (vol. 2) #10 (May 2004)</ref> and possesses a death touch that can swiftly kill others and temporarily turns his skin black.<ref name=":4" /> Elixir is capable of cleansing the effects of drugs and curing the Legacy Virus and M-Pox.<ref name=":1">X-Force (vol. 3) #10 (February 2009)</ref><ref>X-Force (vol. 3) #3 (June 2008)</ref> He used his healing abilities to enable Wolfsbane to survive the birth of her and Hrimhari's child Tier.<ref>X-Factor #224 (August 2011)</ref> Elixir is virtually immortal due to his healing abilities enabling him to regenerate his body and resurrect himself if killed.<ref name=":5" />

Elixir later develops the ability to resurrect others.<ref name=":5" /> Monet and Magneto speculate that he could do so to millions of people at once, but would lose his sanity in the process.<ref name="Times"/>

Other versions

• An alternate universe variant of Joshua Foley from Earth-600123 appears in New X-Men #10. This version worked with Prodigy to develop cures for various diseases at the cost of his life.<ref name=":3">New X-Men (vol. 2) #10 (April 2005)</ref>
• An alternate universe variant of Joshua Foley from Earth-58163 appears in New X-Men #17. This version is an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.<ref>New X-Men (vol. 2) #17 (October 2005)</ref>

Reception

• CBR ranked Elixir 18th "The 20 Most Powerful Secondary Mutations".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Marvelwiki
• Template:Marveldatabase
• Elixir at Comic Vine