I admit – I’m not a big fan of the supernatural themed X-Men stories. I’ve never been a fan of Magik. Illyana’s history is confusing and she’s just not likable. There’s nothing redeeming about the demon sorceress/mutant teleporter with an evil persona – see what I mean – confusing, huh?
Brian Michael Bendis and Frazier Irving have changed my mind about supernatural stories and Magik in just one perfect issue. Uncanny X-Men #7 is a beautifully written and drawn story of sacrifice, identity and cry for help. Every hero has demons but Illyana’s are literal. Because of Magik the troubled kids at the new Xavier School learn how being a mutant can be hell – literally.
Magik’s power has disrupted the supernatural realms and the X-Men have incurred the wrath of Dormannu. The Dreaded Lord forced Illyana into her Darkchilde identity and he’s pulled her teammates into a war in Limbo that will cost the X-Men a new mutant. (You have to read it to see it.)
The story weaves between Magik confessing her sins in with “a very special guest star” and back to the battle with Dormannu where she pays a terrible price for saving the X-Men. After years of raising hell on Earth, torturing poor Colossus and suffering from multiple reinventions – Bendis makes Magik simple, sympathetic and beautiful by getting to the core of her character. Bendis and Irving use literal demons to tell a haunting story of coming to terms with real demons. This is a perfect issue.
By Editor
P.S. There’s is one supernatural X-Men story I do love! Nightcrawler’s Inferno from way back in Uncanny X-Men Annual #4 by Chris Claremont. Doctor Strange and the X-Men go on a Dante’s Inferno inspired journey to hell to rescue a “dead” Nightcrawler and learn a weird Wagner family secret! Go to your local comic shop to hunt for this one!