Alex

Archetype: The Successor

A loyal lieutenant who inherits leadership and continues the founder's vision while adapting it to new circumstances

Alex embodies the successor archetype as the man who took over leadership of the Razorboys after Angel Lopez's death. His leadership represents both continuity with Angel's original vision and evolution as he develops his own relationship with Digital Jesus and adapts the gang's practices to changing circumstances in Horizon City.

Basic Information

• Full Name: Alex
• Aliases: Leader of the Razorboys, The Voice of Jesus
• Occupation: Razorboy Gang Leader, Religious Leader
• Status: Alive

Physical Description

Alex is a tall, muscular man adorned with religious tattoos and symbols similar to those worn by other Razorboys. He is combat-enhanced with cybernetic modifications that give him exceptional reflexes and fighting abilities. He is known to be an excellent marksman, capable of dual-wielding firearms with deadly precision. Unlike Angel, who was known for his hand-to-hand combat abilities, Alex relies more on ranged weapons and tactical thinking.

Story Appearances

• Ganger: Supporting character; Angel's lover and second-in-command who later takes over the Razorboys after Angel's death

Connections

• Angel Lopez: Former lover and partner; predecessor as leader of the Razorboys
• Digital Jesus: Religious figure who guides the Razorboys; Alex became his primary communicant after Angel's death
• Kitty: Fellow Razorboy gang member with a close but complicated relationship
• Tricia: Razorboy member who brought Kitty into the gang
• Benjiro Takahashi: Unknown to Alex, the true identity behind Digital Jesus who manipulates the Razorboys

Origin and Evolution

Alex's background before joining the Razorboys remains largely unknown. He first appears in the Ganger story as Angel's companion during the confrontation with the Sinners, where he demonstrates his combat skills and loyalty to Angel's cause. As Angel's lover and second-in-command, he was instrumental in establishing the Razorboys' territory and enforcing their moral code.

After Angel's reported death saving children from a car accident, Alex assumed leadership of the Razorboys. Under his guidance, the gang maintained their territorial control and religious identity, continuing the practice of crucifying those who violated their territory or moral code.

The most significant change under Alex's leadership was his relationship with Digital Jesus. While Angel had been the original recipient of Digital Jesus's messages, Alex became the primary communicant after Angel's death. This direct connection gave him significant authority within the Razorboys, as he could claim to speak directly for their divine leader.

Leadership Style

Alex's leadership of the Razorboys differs from Angel's in several key ways:

1. Gender Inclusion: While Angel had established the Razorboys as inclusive of both men and women, Alex expanded this inclusion, bringing in more female members like Tricia and Kitty.

2. Prophetic Evolution: Under Alex's leadership, the Razorboys' religious doctrine evolved. As Kitty revealed, Alex began receiving "new prophecies" from Digital Jesus, including predictions about the destruction of the Sinners and the arrival of Jesus "in the flesh."

3. Internal Purges: There are indications that Alex may have authorized or at least permitted internal purges within the Razorboys, as suggested by Kitty's actions against Jesse and her reference to a "culling of the herd" to better serve Digital Jesus's needs.

4. Continued Territorial Focus: Like Angel, Alex maintained the Razorboys' territorial claims and continued the practice of crucifying those who violated their territory, leading to ongoing conflict with the Sinners.

Relationship with Digital Jesus

Alex's relationship with Digital Jesus is central to his identity and authority as leader of the Razorboys. After Angel's death, Alex reportedly spent weeks in mourning before finally opening up to Digital Jesus, establishing a direct communication channel that gave him unique authority within the gang.

Unknown to Alex, Digital Jesus is actually a manifestation of Benjiro Takahashi, who continues to manipulate the Razorboys for his own purposes. Alex genuinely believes he is communicating with a divine entity and faithfully interprets and transmits the messages he receives to the rest of the Razorboys.

This relationship gives Alex both spiritual authority and practical power, as he can claim divine sanction for his decisions and actions. However, it also makes him vulnerable to manipulation by Benjiro, who can shape the Razorboys' actions through the messages he sends as Digital Jesus.

The Razorboys Under Alex

Under Alex's leadership, the Razorboys maintained their identity as a religious gang with a moral code, but with some significant evolutions:

1. Continued Religious Focus: The gang maintained its religious identity, with members adorned with religious iconography and regular communion with Digital Jesus.

2. Territorial Control: They continued to control the area from Sin to Fuller, from Knife to Razor, enforcing their rules within that territory.

3. Evolving Doctrine: The religious doctrine of the Razorboys evolved under Alex's leadership, with new prophecies and expectations.

4. Internal Hierarchy: The gang developed a more structured internal hierarchy, with Alex at the top as the primary communicant with Digital Jesus, and trusted lieutenants like Kitty in positions of authority.

5. Recruitment and Initiation: New members like Jesse continued to be brought into the gang, with a process of indoctrination into the Razorboys' religious beliefs and practices.

Legacy and Impact

Alex's leadership of the Razorboys represents the continuation and evolution of Angel's vision. While maintaining the core identity and territorial claims of the gang, he has adapted their practices and beliefs to changing circumstances and his own leadership style.

The true impact of Alex's leadership remains to be seen, particularly as the Razorboys continue to evolve under his guidance and the influence of Digital Jesus/Benjiro Takahashi. The prophecy of Jesus arriving "in the flesh" and the "culling of the herd" suggest significant changes may be coming to the Razorboys, potentially reshaping their role in the complex social and territorial dynamics of Horizon City.

As with Angel before him, Alex's genuine religious devotion makes him particularly susceptible to manipulation by Benjiro through the Digital Jesus construct. This manipulation continues to shape the Razorboys as a force in Horizon City, serving Benjiro's agenda while believing they are carrying out divine will.