REVIEW: ‘Magik’ Issue 1

Magik Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Ashley Allen, art by Germán Peralta, colors by Arthur Hesli, and letters by Ariana Maher.

Magik sets off on her own to rescue mutants who are mysteriously vanishing. There, she finds a town tormented by demons and an entity waiting to be released.

Magik Issue 1 is the second solo series spun out of the main X-Men series. It is an extended edition, and the structure fits the added pages, making this opening chapter feel epic. Like with Psylocke, the comic begins at the factory. This connects it directly to Jed MacKay’s X-Men series and asserts that it fits with the canon. Magik’s abilities allow her to teleport between places, which avoids travel-based confusion.

At first, the series is a mystery, exploring a hurting town and trying to find answers. Allen wastes little time in bringing out the demons. That isn’t where the true mysteries lie; they come from something more profound. The demons are pilotfish for something bigger and more dangerous, with multiple escalation levels. The pacing in Magik Issue 1 is perfect, constantly moving forward with a speed that still provides time to take it all in. Many new elements appear simultaneously, and neither Magik nor the reader knows what’s happening. But people need saving.

The action scenes in Magik Issue 1 are terrific, filled with magic and mystical violence. Allen has a brave, ruthless streak. The kidnapped mutants may not come home, even if they are children. This adds unpredictability to the book, which means that Magik has to save the day, or something awful will be unleashed. By the end of the issue, the villain’s intentions are clear, opening up a race against time.

Allen explores many facets of Magik’s personality, especially parts often rarely utilized in X-Men comics. These are unveiled slowly. Early in Magik Issue 1, her unsociable, avoidant characteristics are brought into play during her birthday party. This is the most commonly known personality, highlighting how she has grown and her extremely troubled upbringing. When alone, she steps up and becomes a hero. She has a protective streak, especially when it comes to kids.

Against the villain, Illyana reveals much of her darker side in Magik Issue 1. There is a magnificent switch in Magik’s dialogue, going from gentle and sweet to the children she’s there to save to telling the villain that she will kill them in as few rods as possible. Magik also has a more demonic personality called Darkchild; when that persona takes over, so does a penchant for violence that is extreme and prominent.

Wrestling over control of Illyana’s body will become an essential theme in the series. Alongside her teleporting and Soulsword, Magik Issue 1 reveals her talent with magic, another aspect of the mutant that isn’t utilized enough.

The other characters are fantastic additions to the cast. It is like Magik walked into a battle that was already happening. A family of magic users is trying to stop a villain from unleashing his master. The villain is intriguing, with a power that deals brutal damage. Opposing him is a family of sorcerers led by their grandma. But this cast that Magik steps into may not be as large by the end of the comic. Their dialogue is filled with ominous warnings and pain.

The art is sensational and escalates along with the story’s drama. It’s a journey over time. After a dramatic dream sequence, Illyana wakes up in her bed. That transcends into her routine, iconic outfit. It’s hilarious to see the X-Men be happy at her birthday party when Magik’s reaction and the general surroundings at the factory do not match that enthusiasm. The start of the demonic battle brings out her Soulsword. The demons are shadowy and sinister henchmen for something darker.

Then Magik greets the villain, transforming before her eyes. The design is an incredible mashup of inspirations and ideas. Again, Magik and Darkchild swing the sword, and the sense of movement and weight is excellent. The brutality of the killings is brazen. It’s a battle that constantly involves implementing something exciting. The differences between Magik and Darkchild are subtle, meaning it doesn’t take much for Illyana to slip into her more dangerous form.

The colors are stunning within Magik Issue 1. They are crucial to the storytelling and the spellcasting in the fight scene. The magic looks gorgeous. The villain has a pink tinge to his spells and aura, while the family is cast in green. These tones are vibrant and dazzling while still being easy to understand. Then comes Magik, with her portals and Soulsword glowing orange. The most significant indicator that she has transformed into Darkchild is her eyes, which turn a solid red. As she experiments with spells of her own, different colors appear. The lettering helps denote which voices speak, especially when various personalities are within the same characters.

Magik Issue 1 shows the multiple layers within Illyana. This bumper-sized issue shows her as an incredibly complicated character. She’s a mutant and a sorceress, and the fight she finds herself in combines the two. Allen tells a dark story, willing to take whichever souls it wants, filling the book with severity and spectacular stakes. Magik is not one for many words; each has weight and meaning. The issue is also a visual masterpiece that has fun being physical or mystical.

Magik Issue 1 is available now wherever comics are sold.