Illyana "Magik" Rasputin Appreciation

[244]

Its very clear that you have a very VERY different view of Illyana than the rest of the planet.
What is it like in your world? Does Emma still wear lingerie?

No no. Don't take my response seriously. I was just pulling your leg.

[Selphy]

Just had an awesome Free Comic Book Day and got a couple Illyana commissions done. I'm not the biggest fan, nor do I think I can consider myself a fan yet but this is probably a good start.



Commission by Peter Nguyen



The lost scene from AvX#3 which depicts what happened between Illyana and Strange by JJ Kirby. I know he took some artistic liberties but she looks positively cute.

[NielsVanEekelen]

That's awesome, Selphy! Makes my FCBD with "only" awesome free comics look positively disappointing.

And yes, that looks like an accurate description!

[yanapryde]

When asked on Formspring: Magik has been incredible useful so far, since fear itself she's been a great soldier showing iniciative and good strategies, will Cyclops see this someday?

Gillen responded: He appreciates Magik just fine. The problem is that he doesn't trust her.

This has been a tricky one to really get across - it's a case where the distant nature of a superhero universe separates us from the real meaning of a decision. The fact her plan worked and "destroy reality" seems distant hides the core ethical transgression. What Magik did was lie to her friends so she could be near a button which launched every nuke on earth... and then flipped a coin. If it was heads, she pressed it and if she was tails, she got a sweetie she wanted.

It was tails. We were very lucky. How could you *ever* trust someone who'd do something like that ever again? I wouldn't.

"But what about Magneto/Emma/Whatever?"... well, Magneto never risked blowing up reality for a selfish desire and lied to everyone to achieve it. Magneto's was a terrorist on earth, for a specific cause. Even if you hate and disagree with Magneto, he's a known quantity. He's easier to trust than Magik.

The fact that Magik flipped that coin, for someone who has to plan and trust, makes Magik incredibly tricky. That Magik seems fine with the situation is something else that also mitigates it a little. It may change eventually, but it really is a lot of trust she has to re-earn.

ALSO: Sadly, Gillen will not be writing a scene depicting Yana's defeat of Strange. He confirmed that on Formspring as well. That brilliant battle will only live in our imaginations, I'm guessing.

[jamgut]

When asked on Formspring: Magik has been incredible useful so far, since fear itself she's been a great soldier showing iniciative and good strategies, will Cyclops see this someday?

Gillen responded: He appreciates Magik just fine. The problem is that he doesn't trust her.

This has been a tricky one to really get across - it's a case where the distant nature of a superhero universe separates us from the real meaning of a decision. The fact her plan worked and "destroy reality" seems distant hides the core ethical transgression. What Magik did was lie to her friends so she could be near a button which launched every nuke on earth... and then flipped a coin. If it was heads, she pressed it and if she was tails, she got a sweetie she wanted.

It was tails. We were very lucky. How could you *ever* trust someone who'd do something like that ever again? I wouldn't.

"But what about Magneto/Emma/Whatever?"... well, Magneto never risked blowing up reality for a selfish desire and lied to everyone to achieve it. Magneto's was a terrorist on earth, for a specific cause. Even if you hate and disagree with Magneto, he's a known quantity. He's easier to trust than Magik.

The fact that Magik flipped that coin, for someone who has to plan and trust, makes Magik incredibly tricky. That Magik seems fine with the situation is something else that also mitigates it a little. It may change eventually, but it really is a lot of trust she has to re-earn.

ALSO: Sadly, Gillen will not be writing a scene depicting Yana's defeat of Strange. He confirmed that on Formspring as well. That brilliant battle will only live in our imaginations, I'm guessing.

...never risked blowing up reality for a selfish desire..." - the implication is that Illyana did; however, I thought Illyana traveled back and altered history in order to get rid of the Elder gods and save the X-Men/world at the same time. Was getting rid of the Elder gods selfish? Illyana learned that even a somewhat deranged US General was able to free them, so getting rid of the Elder gods seemed like a reasonable course of action to a demonically reincarnated soulless creature. Perhaps in one timeline she did tell the X-Men exactly what she wanted to do with Legion, but they said no we can handle it without the risk associated with Legion and yet the Elder gods still killed them.

[Darkchylde]

When asked on Formspring: Magik has been incredible useful so far, since fear itself she's been a great soldier showing iniciative and good strategies, will Cyclops see this someday?

Gillen responded: He appreciates Magik just fine. The problem is that he doesn't trust her.

This has been a tricky one to really get across - it's a case where the distant nature of a superhero universe separates us from the real meaning of a decision. The fact her plan worked and "destroy reality" seems distant hides the core ethical transgression. What Magik did was lie to her friends so she could be near a button which launched every nuke on earth... and then flipped a coin. If it was heads, she pressed it and if she was tails, she got a sweetie she wanted.

It was tails. We were very lucky. How could you *ever* trust someone who'd do something like that ever again? I wouldn't.

"But what about Magneto/Emma/Whatever?"... well, Magneto never risked blowing up reality for a selfish desire and lied to everyone to achieve it. Magneto's was a terrorist on earth, for a specific cause. Even if you hate and disagree with Magneto, he's a known quantity. He's easier to trust than Magik.

The fact that Magik flipped that coin, for someone who has to plan and trust, makes Magik incredibly tricky. That Magik seems fine with the situation is something else that also mitigates it a little. It may change eventually, but it really is a lot of trust she has to re-earn.

ALSO: Sadly, Gillen will not be writing a scene depicting Yana's defeat of Strange. He confirmed that on Formspring as well. That brilliant battle will only live in our imaginations, I'm guessing.

Excellent insight from Kieron Gillen and totally in line with Illyana's characterization during Wells' New Mutants run. The fact that Magik pragmatically (and flippantly, really) gambled all of reality to get some payback would naturally be a hard pill for a stiff like Cyclops to swallow. The irony, of course, is that despite their different methodology, both Scott and Illyana seem to operate from similar ends-justify-the-means principle, which probably makes them all the more alike than Cyclops can or will admit.

Of course, does this mean that in the present, Illyana would behave the same way, now that she has most of her soul? That's the question that everyone seems to be wondering. The thing about Illyana, though, is that demon or not - Darkchild or Magik - she always has been and likely always will be a wild card; an unknown quantity. Personally, I totally think Illyana would risk all of reality again if it suited her needs -- but at the very least, she'd feel bad about doing it. Just a little.

[murdershewrote]

Of course, does this mean that in the present, Illyana would behave the same way, now that she has most of her soul? That's the question that everyone seems to be wondering. The thing about Illyana, though, is that demon or not - Darkchild or Magik - she always has been and likely always will be a wild card; an unknown quantity. Personally, I totally think Illyana would risk all of reality again if it suited her needs -- but at the very least, she'd feel bad about doing it. Just a little.

Even lacking a soul, Illyana was capable of some baser form of sentimentality - as shown by her decision to A) tell Bobby about the nature of Amara's death, instead of allowing it to transpire as it should have and B) Jumping in to save Bobby when he went on his sacrificial run. She didn't have to do it, but she did. So, I think I definitely agree with you - she, like Cyclops and Wolverine before her - is willing to do whatever she deems it necessary. And she's good at what she does. And yes, it was rather superfluous to balance the universe on a thread for a grudge match - but in her eyes, it was positively necessary and therefore she was justified.

Interesting, isn't it, though? That she is most similar to the two leaders of Blue and Gold. Once she does the whole 'regaining trust' bit, which I assume she'll at least lay the groundwork for with AvX, they should totally give Magik her own X-team to lead. Make a book out of it. I would buy the shit out of that book - 2 copies ever issue.

Because, frankly, she's a much more efficient, pragmatic, and ruthless a leader than any of the 'big dogs'. She'd get stuff done, cleanly, with no mistakes. Sure, some of her colleagues may lose bits of their soul in the process, but...eh. They can suck it up, the pansies.

Yana must have cheated to beat Dr. Strange!! There is no way she could have beaten Strange in a fair fight on Earth

Outsmarting =/= cheating. You're right, she couldn't beat Strange (at pure sorcery, at least. I think even with just her tele powers, she'd be able to wile her way into putting up a fight) on earth. That's why she didn't fight him on earth - because she's not some brainless yuppie mutant. One of the chief principles of winning a battle is you dictate the terms, and that's what she did.

Strange was cocky and dumb enough to follow her, willingly, into Limbo. Ergo, it was as fair a fight as it can be. S'not her fault he's stupid.

[sunofdarkchild]

It seems everyone is intent on forgetting what actually happened. Illyana did not wake up one day and decide she wanted revenge. She found the Elder Gods already released and went back intime to stop them. She had two options, prevent their seal from being broken altogether, keeping the threat alive, or attempt to destroy them utterly at great risk to existence. Because of her desire for revenge she opted for the latter, but the universe would have been destroyed had she not acted at all.

[NielsVanEekelen]

...never risked blowing up reality for a selfish desire..." - the implication is that Illyana did; however, I thought Illyana traveled back and altered history in order to get rid of the Elder gods and save the X-Men/world at the same time. Was getting rid of the Elder gods selfish? Illyana learned that even a somewhat deranged US General was able to free them, so getting rid of the Elder gods seemed like a reasonable course of action to a demonically reincarnated soulless creature. Perhaps in one timeline she did tell the X-Men exactly what she wanted to do with Legion, but they said no we can handle it without the risk associated with Legion and yet the Elder gods still killed them.

Ha, practically word-for-word what I said when dicussing this with Yanapryde earlier.

I really wish we could see addressed the fact that Scott is taking almost the exact same risk with the Phoenix now. His future-warnings from Cable can even be seen as the equivalent of Illyana's knowledge of the future.

[yanapryde]

...never risked blowing up reality for a selfish desire..." - the implication is that Illyana did; however, I thought Illyana traveled back and altered history in order to get rid of the Elder gods and save the X-Men/world at the same time. .

2 things.
1) It can certainly be argued that defeating the Elder Gods and Saving the X-Men/world go hand in hand. Given the threat they pose. Defeating the Elder Gods = Win for Everyone. Unless of course defeating them means everyone dies with them.
2) Illyana said she came back to save the world. That's what she told Emma Frost. But...she DID do a whole lotta of lying along the way, so who can say if she was being honest during that specific exchange...?

Could Illyana have prevented the EG's from escaping? Possibly.
Does it seem she actively manipulated events in order for someone else to set them free? Yes..
The big issue is the stakes: Win: Kill the Elder Gods. Lose: Reality is torn apart.
And again: Could she have prevented their release and the risk to reality? The bigger question: Would she have?

[sunofdarkchild]

2 things.
1) It can certainly be argued that defeating the Elder Gods and Saving the X-Men/world go hand in hand. Given the threat they pose. Defeating the Elder Gods = Win for Everyone. Unless of course defeating them means everyone dies with them.
2) Illyana said she came back to save the world. That's what she told Emma Frost. But...she DID do a whole lotta of lying along the way, so who can say if she was being honest during that specific exchange...?

Could Illyana have prevented the EG's from escaping? Possibly.
Does it seem she actively manipulated events in order for someone else to set them free? Yes..
The big issue is the stakes: Win: Kill the Elder Gods. Lose: Reality is torn apart.
And again: Could she have prevented their release and the risk to reality? The bigger question: Would she have?

Past Illyana was all "who released the gods?! I'll find out even if it means genocide!" It's a stretch, but that suggests to me that she didn't know beforehand.

A big question is what was up with her loss to the Inferno babies and rescue by Karma. Did she plan to lose? That seems unlikely. And there's no way she could have planned Karma being able to save her. Was she trying? If so , what was the point of Legion other than being a backup plan?

[yanapryde]

Past Illyana was all "who released the gods?! I'll find out even if it means genocide!" It's a stretch, but that suggests to me that she didn't know beforehand.

A big question is what was up with her loss to the Inferno babies and rescue by Karma. Did she plan to lose? That seems unlikely. And there's no way she could have planned Karma being able to save her. Was she trying? If so , what was the point of Legion other than being a backup plan?

Past Illyana: True. She didn't know who set them free, because that Illyana was hunting down her bloodstones/soul, and wound up facing the ElderGods/X-Men battle. Their presence possibly refueled her hatred, motivating her time travel to the past to ensure their defeat. Its things like this that would really allow for a LOT of Illyana stories. Y'know? "Untold Tales" and what not. Man that would be sweet.

Loss to Babies: I'd think that part of her plan didn't go so well. I'd like to think the Inferno Babies are the wild cards thrown into her shaky house of cards she's trying to keep sturdy. And we can be pretty sure that since the Montanna rescue, Illyana had been prepping Karma to act as the linch pin of her Legion plan.
I think that may even be why Illyana abandoned the other X-Men, in favor of returning to Utopia with Karma. Given how important she is, Illyana needed to get her, both medical attention, and get her back to Legion. Otherwise I'd like to think she'd rescue Dani and the others, if for no other reason than to cause interference with the other baddies. I wish we could have seen/read further interaction between Yana and David just to see how they came to an agreement and how he knew what to do.

Illyana did not wake up one day and decide she wanted revenge. She found the Elder Gods already released and went back intime to stop them. She had two options, prevent their seal from being broken altogether, keeping the threat alive, or attempt to destroy them utterly at great risk to existence. Because of her desire for revenge she opted for the latter, but the universe would have been destroyed had she not acted at all.

Well said.

[sunofdarkchild]

Past Illyana: True. She didn't know who set them free, because that Illyana was hunting down her bloodstones/soul, and wound up facing the ElderGods/X-Men battle. Their presence possibly refueled her hatred, motivating her time travel to the past to ensure their defeat. Its things like this that would really allow for a LOT of Illyana stories. Y'know? "Untold Tales" and what not. Man that would be sweet.

Even in the old days there's a lot of room for 'untold stories.' AdvenTures/crisis in Limbo. Capers with other Lords of Hell like Mephisto or Hela, ect. Heck, I'd be surprised if they didn't hold a meeting with Illyana present to discuss the mutual threat posed by the Beyonder.

[yanapryde]

Even in the old days there's a lot of room for 'untold stories.' AdvenTures/crisis in Limbo. Capers with other Lords of Hell like Mephisto or Hela, ect. Heck, I'd be surprised if they didn't hold a meeting with Illyana present to discuss the mutual threat posed by the Beyonder.

She could be the answer for all sorts of "WTF" moments or dangling plot threads.
"Oh, Illyana went back in time. Solved it. Whatevs. You're welcome."

haha.

Q."Why was so-N-so in that scene?"
A. "Illyana jumped through time with them. To help. Or whatever."

haha

[NielsVanEekelen]

Even in the old days there's a lot of room for 'untold stories.' AdvenTures/crisis in Limbo. Capers with other Lords of Hell like Mephisto or Hela, ect. Heck, I'd be surprised if they didn't hold a meeting with Illyana present to discuss the mutual threat posed by the Beyonder.

If I can only become a bestselling writer and break into Marvel by the time Gillen finishes his planned run on Journey into Mystery so that I can take it over, that is exactly the kind of story I would like to do.

It never hurts to have ambition, right?