Magik (2025-) #1

Magik (2025) (Single Issues)

by Ashley Allen, German Peralta (artist), J. Scott Campbell (cover_art)

THE MYSTIC MUTANT GOES DEMON HUNTING IN HER OWN NEW, ONGOING SERIES! The X-Man Ilyanna Rasputina strikes out on her own with new allies and dark powers arrayed against her. Something ancient has awakened beneath the Alaskan ice. Unfortunately for it, that's Magik's territory now! Written by rising star Ashley Allen ( BLOOD HUNT - MAGIK, MARVEL BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD) and illustrated by the incomparable Germán Peralta (LOKI, BLACK PANTHER), this is a stylish, high-octane demon-hunting adventure starring the fiercest X-Man of them all!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, X Men, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics

Kindle Edition

Published January 8, 2025

Reviews

[Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big ol' sucker for Magik and this is a pretty cool story arc for her. Not, like, definitive but pretty good. Probably one of the very few times that I liked the inside art better than the cover art. Sometimes the writing it tight and sometimes the characters seem to change motivations between frames in a way I don't understand. We get some cool new characters, some fairly cliche new characters, some sweet guest stars, and some ho-hum guest stars. I'll keep reading this series for sure just to see where it goes. It's a thumbs-up from me in the 'that is one adequate comic!' kind of way.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun issue. A lot of action and a little heart help set this up to be an engaging series. I also really enjoyed the art.

[Nightwing’s Thiccness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now we’re thinking with demon portals.

[cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - this volume was a little all over the place imo but she’s cool so i’ll give it a pass

[Bia · Rating 4 out of 5]

kinda of a messy start

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Ilyana. I guess she’s breaking out on her own now. And she has a cool looking magic gunfighter-y new villain. Not a lot here, honestly, but it’s a pretty good set up so far.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

five stars just for illyana sleeping in a “magneto was right” shirt

[Scratch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with a rating.

On the one hand, I grew up loving Magik. She died right at the time I started reading comics, in the 90s, so I learned to love her from reading back issues of 1980s New Mutants comics. I loved her aesthetic, I loved the premise that she grew up in a Hell dimension, I loved that she was fighting magic that naturally predisposed every spell she cast to have a demonic twist to it.

But, now I have to deal with the modern version of the character. Since around 2011, she is always in this terrible costume. Why is she wearing booty shorts? What are those stupid metal things in her hair? There was a brief scene in this comic where she is shown getting dressed, and I wish the artist had taken the time to show us exactly how she puts the metal things in her hair. Is it like a headband, or does she have to braid her hair into metal pieces?

The metal things seem to be a compromise. The artist needs a way to distinguish Illyana from other blonde women, like Emma Frost. But, the artist can't give Illyana her traditional horns, because her classic look with horns and cloven hooves is too threatening and Satanic for modern sensibilities. Sexualizing the character so that she wears booty shorts instead of pants? Fine. Letting an actual demonic character have horns? Big no-no. And, of course, modern fans expect her soulsword to look like some kind of ridiculous, oversized Anime sword. It's impossibly thick, and she would break her wrist if she tried to swing it. But, modern fans think that's what it's supposed to look like.

I like the idea of Magik having her own book. I like the idea of focusing on her history and personality. But, I am finding myself repulsed by the modern interpretation of the character. Even when someone tried to give her a better costume, with pants, a few years ago? Somehow, she returned back to this look. Again.

She is showing so much skin, when it's supposed to be part of her power set that she manifests soulsteel armor. I don't know why she keeps charging into battle, even in this particular issue, without summoning her soulsteel armor. She's fighting some new, crow-based villain who casts spells on the bullets that he fires at Illyana. Yet, she didn't feel the need to wear armor while she's getting shot at.

The artist made some odd choices. A mage character and her grandson were introduced in this issue. But, the artist kept drawing them out of focus, as small figures depicted in panels in group scenes. For some reason, we had almost no clear shots of their faces.

I actually love crows, so I am prepared to like this new villain. Hopefully, we'll get more backstory on him in future issues.

I hope that this book gives Illyana the chance to change her appearance, and maybe change her attitude. The modern take on her character repulses me, even though she's supposed to be one of my favorite characters. I'm hoping this book gives us the chance to course correct.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

En toda la ensalada de títulos desligados de la nueva era mutante, el que Magik consiga una cabecera propia no es que se de en la mejor de las circunstancias... ¿Pero vamos a renegar de poder disfrutar de la guerrera del Limbo desatada en situaciones puramente sobrenaturales?

Una serie de desapariciones mutantes en un pueblecito llevan a Magik a abandonar su propia celebración de cumpleaños para pasárselo mejor pudiendo dar sablazos con su Espada Alma a potenciales seres demoníacos. Pero parece que la amenaza es más peliaguda de lo esperado. Y la sempiterna naturaleza diabólica de "Darkchylde" oculta en Illyiana puede que logre predominar totalmente.

Ashley Allen, quien viene de debutar con el personaje en su tie in de Blood Hunt, sí que logra caracterizar bien a Illyana en su trauma recurrente del secuestro del demonio Velasco, la amenaza de Darkchylde y un impetu que le endiña una fama de mutante bruta que realmente oculta una personalidad más empática y frágil de la que Magik busca disfrazar con su armadura de batalla de los X-Men. Aunque es cierto que el empaquetar esta presentación en una primera gran batalla mágica parece ocultar un fondo argumental menos propostivio de lo que podría pedir un personaje con menos oportunidades de serie individual como Magik. Igualmente en la pretensión de compilar acción mágica y sobrenatural con una estética acorde a los tiempos por parte de German Peralta, esta cabecera se acoge de mejor forma que muchas subdivisivas del ahora hiper fragmentado corpus mutante.

[Sam Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just not really my thing, I like the Merle Alaska stuff but the magic guy plot is where it loses me. I don’t like his design and the entity he’s trying to release from its 500 year slumber being named “Liminal” is so fucking lame. Maybe if I didn’t use the internet I’d think it was cool, but it’s not. When this issue came out I read it and decided I’d wait until the first arc is done to read more so I could do it all in one sitting. I think that was the right choice

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an okay story. The motivation was easy to understand. Not having any backstory with the character, I enjoyed it.

[Flower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Amazing art and gripping story, I can hardly wait for more! Ashley Allen knocks it out of the park, Magic is so back.

[Andy Waldron · Rating 3 out of 5]

nothingburger

[Yasser Maniram · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art in this with epic scenes is enough to carry this first issue but the story is also well written and has interesting potential.

[Stavroula · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Elena Hect · Rating 2 out of 5]

sure was a comic

[Ashley Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is off to a great start! The writing is so true to Magik’s character and she’s desperately needed her story to be focused on. I’m so excited to see where Ashley Allen will take this story.

[Val’ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice colour work. I'm also liking the bloody and dark side of this one comic. Feels pretty retro! Looking forward to more of that girlboss' lore.

[Shazne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the strongest hook but good enough to peek my interest. It does a good job making it an easy jumping on point.

[maciemelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magik….. behold…. Darkchild….

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
This surprised. Magik's a cool character. When done well.

[Layla :D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg yessss one of my favs finally have a comic line 🤩🤩

[Oleksandr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story with enough references, good plotand enjoyable images.

[LUCAS FERNANDEZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

me encantó, Illyana cada día es más hija mia

[berit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know nothing about Magik except for what I've learnt through playing Marvel Rivals so I wanted to know more.

I'm not fully invested in the story as of this point but it is intriguing.

I absolutely love the art and colour work.

Magik is just so cool.