What's Magik/Illyana's Sexual Orientation?

[Jmacq1]

Her current incarnation seems pretty much asexual, which...honestly isn't surprising. Given her past experiences I would imagine the prospect of intimacy on any level is a daunting one for her, as it leaves her potentially vulnerable, and as the Demon-Queen of Limbo, the last thing she can afford is to be vulnerable. You could argue that even her deliberate tormenting of her brother served not only to teach him a valuable lesson but also served the dual purpose of pushing him out of her life (severing one more tie that could potentially be used against her).

My own personal belief is that if someone were able to break through the barriers, it wouldn't matter if they were male or female. The problem is that there probably isn't anyone alive that could pull that feat off. Maybe Kitty once upon a time, but that ship appears to have sailed.

Personally, I'm just glad that Illyana has been portrayed as anti-heroic without being overly sexualized. It makes for a far more interesting character than just the typical "bad girl" character.

All that having been said, I don't know that I could actually call it out of character if Illyana DID end up sharing somebody's bed, though I suspect it would almost certainly be a purely physical relationship.

[MuhollandDriver]

Her current incarnation seems pretty much asexual, which...honestly isn't surprising. Given her past experiences I would imagine the prospect of intimacy on any level is a daunting one for her, as it leaves her potentially vulnerable, and as the Demon-Queen of Limbo, the last thing she can afford is to be vulnerable. You could argue that even her deliberate tormenting of her brother served not only to teach him a valuable lesson but also served the dual purpose of pushing him out of her life (severing one more tie that could potentially be used against her).

My own personal belief is that if someone were able to break through the barriers, it wouldn't matter if they were male or female. The problem is that there probably isn't anyone alive that could pull that feat off. Maybe Kitty once upon a time, but that ship appears to have sailed.

Personally, I'm just glad that Illyana has been portrayed as anti-heroic without being overly sexualized. It makes for a far more interesting character than just the typical "bad girl" character.

All that having been said, I don't know that I could actually call it out of character if Illyana DID end up sharing somebody's bed, though I suspect it would almost certainly be a purely physical relationship.

Excellent points! Many female characters are sexualized, even if it is subtle. Even "wholesome" portrayals use sexuality in its own way. Illyana doesn't use her sexuality for her anti-heroism, and many see that as "asexual". Frank Castle and Daimon Hellstrom don't use their sexuality when they roam the gray area, but female characters are often put to different standards.

Male characters who use their sexuality for their agendas are fewer. Namor is probably the best example.

[cybrestrike]

Her current incarnation seems pretty much asexual, which...honestly isn't surprising. Given her past experiences I would imagine the prospect of intimacy on any level is a daunting one for her, as it leaves her potentially vulnerable, and as the Demon-Queen of Limbo, the last thing she can afford is to be vulnerable. You could argue that even her deliberate tormenting of her brother served not only to teach him a valuable lesson but also served the dual purpose of pushing him out of her life (severing one more tie that could potentially be used against her).

My own personal belief is that if someone were able to break through the barriers, it wouldn't matter if they were male or female. The problem is that there probably isn't anyone alive that could pull that feat off. Maybe Kitty once upon a time, but that ship appears to have sailed.

Personally, I'm just glad that Illyana has been portrayed as anti-heroic without being overly sexualized. It makes for a far more interesting character than just the typical "bad girl" character.

All that having been said, I don't know that I could actually call it out of character if Illyana DID end up sharing somebody's bed, though I suspect it would almost certainly be a purely physical relationship.

That's pretty much on point. I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment of Illyana Rasputin. I wonder if that's been by design by the writers (Claremont, Weezie, Wells, Gillen, etc) or did that never come up?

[Jmacq1]

That's pretty much on point. I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment of Illyana Rasputin. I wonder if that's been by design by the writers (Claremont, Weezie, Wells, Gillen, etc) or did that never come up?

I don't know if it's so much "by design" as the writers just having a basic understanding that someone with Illyana's background would almost certainly have major intimacy issues, and the more recent events (ie her "resurrection" and onward) would likely have only exacerbated that.

I mean, the girl was raised by demons and demon-corrupted versions of people she loved and respected (most/all of whom she ended up having to kill). In hindsight, it's amazing that pre-Inferno/Age-Regression Illyana was as well-adjusted as she was portrayed. Of course that would also be a testament to her willpower that the experience didn't turn her into a complete monster.