Layla Miller
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Layla Miller | |
 Layla Miller. Art by Pablo Raimondi. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | House of M #4 (Aug, 2005) |
| Created by | Brian Michael Bendis Oliver Coipel |
| In story information | |
| Full name | Layla Rose Miller |
| Place of origin | Earth |
| Team affiliations | X-Factor Investigations |
| Notable aliases | Butterfly |
| Abilities | Precognition, Awareness of changes to reality, Ability to restore the memories of individuals affected by changes to reality |
Layla Rose Miller is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in House of M #4, and was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Oliver Coipel. Peter David has developed the character, placing Layla at the center of the ensemble of mutant private detectives in his title X-Factor.
Contents |
[edit] Fictional character biography
[edit] Origin
Contradicting Dr. Strange's theory of her origin, Layla's life prior to the events of House of M has been described: she was a young mutant living in an orphanage where she was picked on by the other orphans. At the close of House of M, Layla lost her powers when the Scarlet Witch made her "no more mutants" statement. When asked, Layla has purported to understand how it is that she "knows things." However, she claims that if she were to tell anyone, she would be struck down and die on the spot. Since she has proven to be capable of manipulation, the veracity of her contention is in doubt.
[edit] House of M
Layla Miller is a young mutant girl who lives in Hell’s Kitchen. When she wakes up one morning she finds everything different and is one of a small number of unaffected characters. The Scarlet Witch warped reality and provided everyone with false memories of living in the new, mutant-dominant world, Layla was instrumental in bringing down the "House of M" by using her recently discovered ability to restore the memories of superheroes who rebelled and helped restore reality. Dr. Strange suggested that the Scarlet Witch had created Layla as a failsafe to help the heroes in case something went wrong. Contrary to her abilities during House of M, Layla's original mutant powers gave her horns, red scales, and the ability to breathe fire, though these were only explained after the events of House of M and only referenced off-panel.
[edit] X-Factor Investigations
After Layla joins X-Factor Investigations, she helps the other team members in various, indirect way. When an operative of Singularity Investigations tries to murder Rictor, Layla electrocutes him. She then sends his body back to Singularity Investigations with a note that says stay out of Mutant Town. After being taken back to an abusive orphanage, Jamie makes an arrangement that allows her to return at X-Factor where she would be safe. When Cyclops arrives to inform Siryn that her father, Banshee, has died; he pretends not to recognize Layla.
Layla has taken steps to deal with Singularity Investigations, a rival investigations firm. When X-Factor have their final showdown with Singularity Investigations, she helps uncover that Guido has been brainwashed by them at some point in his past and rescuing a client. Jamie organizes all X-Factor members to see Doc Samson for psychiatric evaluations, they play chess and she reveals she is willing to make sacrifices for the greater good and that she is expendable.
A group made up of ex-mutants by the name of X-Cell, who believes the government had depowered mutants, are hiding in Mutant Town. When Siryn and M return from France they bring an ex-mutant called Nicole, which shocks Layla because she didn’t know of her arrival. Layla visits Quicksilver who had restored most of X-Cell's powers. She reveals to Callisto and Marrow that it was he and Wanda Maximoff who caused the Decimation, the government did not depower them, and Pietro has lied. After a failed attempt on Layla's life, Nicole is tripped by Layla and falls in front of a train.
[edit] Silent War
When the Inhumans come looking for Quicksilver, Layla advises him that Black Bolt isn’t going to kill him during the confrontation and that he should take a small trip to the future to see the outcome of what happens to them. She and Jamie go to the meeting where she reveals to Jamie that she tried to kill Pietro but couldn’t because he escaped and that his actions are meant to happen.
[edit] Civil War
During the Marvel Civil War, Quicksilver makes repeated attempts to enter X-Factor Investigations Headquarters. Each time, however, he is thwarted by Layla, who considers herself his nemesis.
When the rest of the team are discussing their stance in the war, they eventually begin to talk about M-Day. Later it eventually comes to light that she knew the truth about why and how it happened.
[edit] Messiah Complex
Layla goes with one of Jamie's dupes to investigate an alternate future caused by the birth of the mutant messiah. While there, they discover that the mutants are living in internment camps. They learn from a child version of Bishop that the mutant messiah had caused this world. Layla then proceeds to kill the dupe, and send the information back to the original Jamie, leaving her alone and stranded in the future.
[edit] Future
Peter David, the current writer for X-Factor has said that a Layla Miller One-Shot will come out sometime later in 2008. Apparently it will deal with what happens to Layla in the future she is currently stuck in.[1]
[edit] Powers and abilities
During House of M she had the ability to "awaken" heroes and make them remember their former lives. By making eye contact and exhibiting an unexplained power, Layla restored the memories of victims of a combination of Scarlet Witch's reality manipulation and Charles Xavier's telepathy. She has not exhibited this ability recently.
After M-Day, she exhibits an ability to see paths of causality to their ultimate conclusion, allowing her to alter events to prevent or cause certain occurrences. However, a few times she has encountered blind spots: her abilities did not enable her to discern that her teammate Strong Guy was brainwashed, the machinations of Singularity CEO Damian Tryp or the robot named Nicole, created by Josef Huber
After the destruction of Singularity Industries, Damian Tryp reveals to Layla that her very existence had foiled his plans and that she is a force of chaos like he is. Tryp reveals that when he comes into conflict with Layla, terrible events occur as a result. Following her encounter with Tryp, Layla appears genuinely shocked for the first time: the glass of milk she is pouring unexpectedly overflows, spilling onto the floor.
[edit] References
- ^ Steve Ekstrom (03-16-2008). PETER DAVID ON... QUICKSILVER & LAYLA MILLER. news. Newsarama. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
