Layla Miller - Powers and Abilities

Powers and Abilities

Layla has the mutant power to resurrect someone from the dead, however at the cost of their souls. They retain their memories but experience a lack of empathy upon resurrection that is similar to sociopathy. Although this was first hinted at in the conclusion of X-Factor's initial story arc when Layla brought a butterfly back to life, it was not fully expanded upon and explained till much later when Layla resurrected Trevor Fitzroy knowing full well the murderous villain he would become due to her actions.

Layla's most notable ability, however, is to "know stuff". Layla, then, has extensive knowledge of past and future events; an effect which enables Layla to see paths of causality to their ultimate conclusion and allows her to alter certain events from occurring (referred to as "causality" in Secret Warriors #1). Initially, the reason for Layla "knowing stuff" was not explained and presented as a form of precognition. Layla herself, when questioned, would also remain evasive. However, Layla's knowledge was later revealed to be the result of her older self (time displaced and aged due to the events of X-Men: Messiah Complex) visiting herself as a child prior to the events of X-Factor vol. 3 #1 and uploading all her knowledge and memories into her younger self's brain. The sheer volume of knowledge was too much for a normal brain to take, however, and thus resulted in several gaps and blind spots (not knowing that Strong Guy was brainwashed, that Josef Huber's companion, Nicole, was a robot, or the machinations of Damian Tryp, for example). Layla's foreknowledge is also heavily dependent on what her future self experienced and read from her younger self's journals, and thus she does not know what effects straying from this source might have (as in the case of Madrox's death).

Layla has above normal scientific knowledge and advanced weaponry due to her partnership with and tutelage under Dr. Doom. One such device that Layla now regularly employs is a power gauntlet capable of various effects such as force fields, giant saws, and energy blasts. Additionally, her time with Dr. Doom has imparted on her a basic knowledge of magic and mysticism, and Layla has been shown to be capable of performing exorcisms and the working of basic spells.

During House of M Layla was immune to the memory alteration created by the Scarlet Witch and thus was aware that reality had been altered. Layla also had the ability to "awaken" heroes and allow them to remember their lives before the reality warp. This ability was also distinct enough that Rogue was able to absorb and utilize it similar to other superhuman abilities. Layla has not exhibited any of these ability since the House of M storyline.

Writer Peter David addressed this disparity with Layla's powers in the letter column of X-Factor vol. 3 #231: "Layla... We've seen her powers spelled out more in the past few issues than any other time in the past. I wouldn't get too hung up on HoM (House of M) if I were you since she's very different from what she was."