OUIJA

Real Name: Bill Astin

Identity/Class: Human (Canadian) mutate (see comments)

Occupation: Unrevealed; formerly Alpha trainee

Group Membership: Alpha Flight trainees (Flinch/Toby Wood, Ghost Girl/Lilli Stephens)

Affiliations: Mr. Gentry, Mr. Hames, Dr. Huxley (possibly Hull House caretakers, see comments)

Enemies: None

Known Relatives:  None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
                                   formerly Department H, Canada

First Appearance: Alpha Flight II#14 (September, 1998)

Powers/Abilities: Ouija's powers have not been revealed. He could levitate through undetermined ways. He seemed able to determine the future, literally spelling out answers. When he used his powers, a dark red glow surrounded his body (see comments).

Height: 5'4" (by approximation)
Weight: 110 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Green
Hair: Black

History:

(Alpha Flight II#14 (fb) - BTS) - Through unrevealed ways, young teenager Bill Astin ended up at Department H. Because of his powers, he was considered a potential Alpha Flight recruit and entered a training program with other young superpowered Canadians like Flinch and Ghost Girl. Their training was monitored by the unscrupulous Dr. Huxley who was free to experiment with the young children. Astin didn't care for the codename Ouija, feeling they must have run out of all the good ones. When Ghost Girl tried to escape, security around the residential wing was increased, making it impossible for all trainees to leave their cell like rooms.

(Alpha Flight II#12 - BTS) - Ouija and the other Alpha Flight trainees were locked in their residential wing while the Zodiac attacked Department H.

(Alpha Flight II#14) - Still locked away in his cell, Ouija immediately perked up when he spotted the newly appointed Department H director Gentry who was on a tour of the facilities. Sensing Gentry was able to improve his fate, Ouija talked with the director and his assistant Hames. He remarked that he had no complaints, except for being bored. He also mentioned disliking his codename, which prompted Gentry to make it a point to come up with a new codex for the trainee. Before he moved on to Flinch, Gentry told Ouija to pack his things because he'd be moving today.

(Alpha Flight II#14 - BTS) - A little while later, the excited Ghost Girl told Ouija she'd be moving to Alpha Flight's living quarterss.

Comments: Created by Steve Seagle (writer), Duncan Rouleau (pencils), Troy Hubbs (inks).

Very little is known about Ouija's origin or history before he ended up at Department H. Given the fact that most of Beta Flight's recruits came from the Hull House orphanage in Orloo, Ontario it's not unthinkable Ouija spent some time there as well. That would also mean he was "processed" in the same way his teammate Ghost Girl was, complete with identification barcode tattooed on his lower back.

As for his powers, apart from levitation, he didn't display any other superhuman abilities. His codename suggests he's able to talk to the deceased, who help and advise him. He was able to foretell that Mr. Gentry was able to improve his living conditions for instance. But whether or not this ability was a result of genetic mutation or magic is hard to tell.

Ouija's full name was revealed in the Canada entry in the Marvel Atlas#2.