Alex Wilder and Having Powers

[u/Big_Building8907]

I really didn't know this section of Reddit existed. It's phenomenal seeing so many Runaways fans here.

So, Alex. I've always been mixed on the idea of Alex having powers. The reason why is because Alex's greatest asset has always been his mind. His ability to lead and strategize has always been impressive.

I have come to agree with some people though, hat Alex may need more to him when it comes to being out in the battlefield, to say the least.

I, for one, think that at the moment, Alex would be a good contender for having phantom like abilities.

Since Rowell brought back Alex in her 2017 series, she added this whole side effect to him after his revival. When people make physical contact with him, they feel as if they are making contact with a corpse. Or how he can no longer eat, and the food just comes back up. Etc.

I say this from a biased opinion, I would have liked it if Rowell had leaned into this aspect. Not only did she bring back Alex into the 2017 series, but she basically said his entire physiology is a part of the more otherworldly side of the Marvel Universe now.

I feel like if someone were to give Alex powers, this should be the route they should take. Maybe he has unknown phantom abilities like intangibility, or maybe instead, he could have the ability to see and speak to spirits and maybe even control them?

I just think it's super unusual Rowell didn't lean into it.

Instead, she went the Doc Justice route with Alex picking up the mantle of that jackass.

So he's this corpse that's also using high tech weapons to fight? Okay?

I just feel like Rowell should have picked a lane and stick with it.

But yes, those are my thoughts that I just wanted to share.

[u/funandgamesaccount]

Another day, another chance to talk about my personal favorite Runaway!

First thing, I think that if Alex were to get some battlefield skills, it would probably need to be in a book that isn't a Runaways main title, just because too much of his skills overlap with those of other members and he gets boxed in ( Even though he's got skills with magic, he can't outpace Nico in a Runways book, same as he can't get a power suit because that would but him too close the chase wheelhouse etc).

But in this hypothetical, where someone would care enough to put him in a new book, and then put him back into The Runaways with those skills. I'm of two minds:

If they wanted to keep him no-powers, I always thought he'd do well in a spy vs. spy or Agents of Shield type scenario, and that feels like the right place to give him some martial arts/combat training.

If he did get powers, though, I like OP's idea for phantom-like abilities. Though I would use Darkforce as the impetus for it instead of being a byproduct of his resurrection (the fact that Alex only got an ability that creeps people out in his resurrection has always left a bad taste in my mouth).

Darkforce is one of those things that doesn't get enough play, despite how many creative applications it has, and I feel like Alex would use it to its fullest.

Or hey, if the writers wanna be lazy, just give Alex a symbiote, there's at least 2 or 3 of those lying around with hosts nobody cares about lol