Who is the most underappreciated superhero?
Prepare to meet one of the biggest badasses in comics, a character whose intellect and strategic mind rival Batman's, someone Doctor Doom not only respects but considers a protege, and even the King of Hell owes her a favor. This powerhouse goes by the name of Layla Miller—a seemingly average young girl with a diabolical genius lurking beneath the surface.
While Layla Miller first appeared in House of M, a storyline that many would consider underwhelming, her true potential is revealed in X-Factor Vol. 3 by the legendary Peter David. In House of M, she was introduced as a plot device, and her powers were vague and unclear. But don’t let that version of her fool you. The real Layla Miller—the one who is truly a force to be reckoned with—shines in X-Factor Vol. 3.
The story begins with Jamie Madrox (Multiple Man) running a mutant detective agency, which includes Wolfsbane, Strong Guy, Monet St. Croix, Syrin, and Ricter. The team is going through their day-to-day routine when out of nowhere, Layla Miller walks in. Without hesitation, she starts working in the office as though it’s her job, and since no one is really in charge, they just let her be. When asked about her role, she simply answers, "I know stuff."
And she truly does. Layla has an uncanny ability to know things before they happen. She can predict when the phone will ring and even who’s calling. She knows which cases to take and which ones to avoid. She can expertly avoid any supervillain plans without breaking a sweat. The kicker? No one, not even the Sentinels, can figure out whether she’s a mutant or not. Her presence confuses them entirely.
The series’ primary antagonist, Damian Tryp, is a nearly immortal time traveler. He’s in a battle that spans hundreds of years into the future, and he believes the best way to win is to dismantle X-Factor. Tryp spends the beginning of the series trying to piece together the timeline, confident that everything will unfold according to his design. But his plans continuously fail—everything seems to go wrong. The reason? Layla Miller. She is, unbeknownst to him, subtly altering the course of events, keeping everything from happening as Tryp expects.
In a particularly memorable moment, Damian Tryp sends an assassin to kill Ricter, the newest member of X-Factor, believing he’s the one who’s been tampering with the timeline. What Tryp doesn’t know is that Layla is the one behind the disruptions.
One day, when Monet’s faucet starts leaking, Layla takes it upon herself to fix it. Later, while most of the team is away handling other cases, the assassin sneaks into the building, looking for Ricter. Instead, he encounters Layla in the kitchen. Layla casually informs the assassin that Ricter isn’t the one he’s looking for. She is.
Layla had intentionally unscrewed the faucet hours earlier, set up the chain of events, and waited in the kitchen. When the flooding bathroom caused the ceiling to collapse, the assassin was positioned directly under the electrical wires. Layla ensured the assassin’s death was both brutal and poetic—his demise was a result of her genius-level planning.
She then wrapped his body in bubble wrap and mailed it back to Tryp.
This all happens by the third issue of a series that ran for 112 issues. Layla Miller’s story is just one example of her genius, and she continues to surprise, shock, and impress throughout the series. The real brilliance of X-Factor Vol. 3 lies not only in Layla’s character but also in how every member of the team gets their time to shine.
The series is a masterpiece of storytelling, blending complex characters, sharp writing, and fascinating plots. I can’t recommend it enough. If you’ve yet to experience X-Factor Vol. 3, do yourself a favor and dive into one of the most underrated superhero books of all time. Layla Miller is a force to be reckoned with—and she’s far too underappreciated.
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