Hudson's tenure with Alpha Flight, however, is short lived. Although seemingly killed when his battlesuit explodes (thanks to Jerry Jaxon), he is in fact transported to Jupiter's moon, Ganymede. There he meets an alien race known as the Qwrlln. In their attempts to heal Hudson, the Qwrlln integrate his battle suit into his body, fusing it to his biological and nervous systems.

Hudson eventually returns to Earth and takes the name Vindicator, leaving the title of Guardian (and position of leadership) with his wife, Heather. Again, Hudson's time with the team is cut short when the Qwrlln summon him (and a select group of heroes) to protect their planet against Galactus. As before, Hudson seemingly perishes when his suit detonates while transporting the heroes back home. However, during the explosion Hudson is transported to an alternate dimension. After some time, he eventually returns to Earth.

While again working for Department H, Jamie becomes caught up in the nefarious plans of its new director, General Jeremy Clarke. Scientists working for Clarke clone Jamie, steal his memories, and attempt to shoot his body into outer space. The plan does not succeed, though, as Hudson crash lands in Antarctica.

A seemingly de-aged Hudson reappears to the members of Alpha Flight. This is in fact the clone created by Department H. The original Jamie is eventually found by Sasquatch in Antarctica. After his return he once again becomes team leader while, the clone becomes leader of Beta Flight. Later, both Hudsons are captured by AIM, and the clone is killed in the escape.

Along with several other members of Alpha Flight, Hudson attempts to return a clutch of Plodex eggs to their homeworld. However, an accident brings temporal copies of most of the original Alpha Flight - from a time before Hudson's first "death" - to the present. This group, including James Hudson, takes up the role of Alpha Flight.