Magik Appreciation

[a0040pc]

My post in today's X-Men Read Through Blog (So Big that it needs three posts).

Issue Information
Title- Giant Size X-Men #1
Release Date- May 1975
Writer- Len Wein
Artist- Dave Cockrum

Major Notes
First appearances of Kurt Wagner aka Nightcrawler, Ororo Monroe aka Storm, Piotr Rasputin aka Colossus, Illyana Rasputin aka Magik, John Proudstar aka Thunderbird and Krakoa. Wolverine and Banshee join the X-Men along with others mentioned. Sunfire temporarily joins the X-Men. First X-Men comic drawn by the late Dave Cockrum.

Brief Summary

Second Genesis

The medieval village of Winzeldorf in Germany the villagers are chasing a young mutant named Kurt Wagner. He had come to the village to learn about humanity after leaving his circus. But he leaps onto a roof to get away from the angry mob who begin to throw torches at him. Kurt sees no other option but to jump down and try to fend off the villagers. But as he tries to fight back he is quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people and he believes that he will soon die. But suddenly all the villagers instantly freeze into place as if they were statues. When Kurt looks around he sees Professor Xavier wheel himself towards him and he introduces himself. He tells Kurt that he is from a school for mutants and that he can help him find his potential. Kurt asks Xavier if he can make him normal and as Xavier asks him who he truly wants to be he answers that he wants to be a whole Kurt Wagner and accepts his offer.

At a Canadian military facility in Quebec the mutant known as Wolverine enters the conference room and sees Xavier talking to his superior. Wolverine’s superior tells him that Xavier has some kind of offer for him although Wolverine isn’t impressed. Xavier tells Wolverine that he knows about his recent battle with the Hulk and that he is in desperate need of mutants. He offers Wolverine a chance to be a free agent and to learn more about his mutant abilities. Wolverine accepts the offer but his superior responds angrily, Wolverine responds by extending a single claw from his knuckle and slashing off his superior’s tie telling him that he is leaving. As the two mutants leave the only human in the room warns Wolverine that it is not the last that they’ll be hearing of them.

In Nashville Tennessee Xavier meets up with Banshee in a cinema. A short time later he has told the mutant of the situation at hand and he agrees to help him.

At the top of a mountain in Kenya a tribe has come to seek the help of a mutant that they see as a goddess. When the woman known as Ororo appears they ask for her to help them with a drought and that they will sacrifice sheep and chickens if she brings them rain. She tells them that there is no need for slaughter before she uses the winds to fly up into the air and with a flash of lightning from her hands causes it to rain. The tribes people cheer for her and when lands on the ground she is met by Xavier. He wishes to present an offer to her and when she calls herself a goddess he tells her that she is a mutant. He wishes to bring her to the real world and away from the fantasy that she is living. Ororo is impressed by Xavier and agrees to his offer.

In Osaka Japan Xavier is having some tea with Shiro Yashida aka Sunfire. At first the Japanese born mutant is not interested but as he thinks about it he knows that he must help Xavier with his predicament.

Lake Baikal in Siberia is home to a large farming community. Amongst these farmers is Piotr Rasputin and as he works in the fields a worker shouts that his sister is in trouble. As he looks towards his little sister he sees a runaway tractor heading straight towards her. In a split second his skin turns into metal and he reaches her just before the tractor hits. Piotr himself cannot get out of the way but the tractor smashes upon impact on him but he and his sister are safe. As he reverts to normal he hears a voice in his head and when he turns around he sees Xavier. After a few moments Piotr asks if his power should belong to the government but Xavier tells him that his power belongs to the world and that there are people who need him. After a heartfelt talk with his parents Piotr agrees to go with Xavier as his parents have told him to follow his heart. He promises to write to them and they tell him that they are already proud of him.

At Camp Verde Arizona an Apache named John Proudstar is chasing down a buffalo on the plains. He is ashamed what has become of his people thanks to the white man and he is able to catch up to the beast and grab its horns. With one mighty pull he is able to bring it down to the ground. But as soon as he finishes he turns around and sees Xavier sitting in his wheelchair. Xavier tells John that he is a mutant and that he wants to help him bring pride back to his people. But John throws the offer back into his face and begins to walk away. Xavier tells him that it seems that the rumours about the Apaches are right. Somewhat angered John replies that he is as good as any man, in fact better and he wants a chance to prove it. Although he has recruited Xavier he fears that they might be up to the task that lies ahead.

Later at the mansion the new team are in their costumes and while the new timers admire them Xavier tells them that they are made of unstable molecules and that they are designed to adjust to their bodies. He has also given them all the ability to speak English thanks to his telepathy. But Sunfire is not in the mood to wait around so Xavier introduces the new team to Cyclops. He tells them that the original X-Men have disappeared and that they are the team’s only hope of survival.

He leads the new team into the room containing Cerebro before telling them what has happened. His mind flashes back to a few days before when Cerebro detects a new and extremely powerful mutant in the South Pacific on an island called Krakoa. Xavier tells the original team of X-Men consisting of Cyclops, Iceman, Angel, Jean Grey, Lorna Dane and Havok that the mutant’s readings defy classification.
Immediately the team leave to fly to Krakoa but they are disappointed that fellow X-Man Beast is no longer with the team. It is not long before they land on the jungle like island of Krakoa. But when the team get off of the jet they are suddenly attacked by something and they have no time to defend themselves.

When Cyclops regains his consciousness the rest of the team are gone and his head is throbbing. His costume is in tatters and much to his horror his visor has come off but he is not firing optic beams. Not knowing fully what has happened Cyclops flies the jet back to the mansion where he finds Xavier still there. As he begins to explain what has happened his powers begin to return stronger than ever. They are so powerful that even he cannot control them.

As Cyclops’s mind reverts to the present he tells the team that Xavier was able to modify one of his old visors to handle his power and that they must return to Krakoa and free the X-Men from the mutant that defeated them. But Sunfire has no interest in such a task so the X-Men leave without him.

But as the team flies towards flies towards Krakoa Sunfire is flying outside. He has changed his mind and wants to come along. But he is not too friendly with the other X-Men especially with Kurt who now goes as Nightcrawler.

A couple of hours later the jet arrives at Krakoa and Cyclops splits the team up so that they can search the island. Ororo now going as Storm and Piotr now going as Colossus are dropped off on the North of the Island. Wolverine and Banshee head off to the East, Sunfire and Nightcrawler are dropped at the South while Cyclops and John who now goes as Thunderbird land on west.

When Cyclops lands the jet he and Thunderbird have a few choice words when they get off the jet. But when they turn around they are horrified to see that the jet is missing and yet they only stepped off it moments ago. They also notice a temple over the horizon that was not there when they first landed. They figure that it is the best place to begin their search but when they walk through the jungle they are attached by several vines. A combination of Thunderbird’s strength and Cyclops’s optic blasts make short work of the vines and they reach the temple itself a few minutes later.

To the North of Krakoa a few minutes earlier Storm and Colossus have also noticed the temple and walk towards it. But on their way they travel through a ravine an avalanche begins and Colossus shifts to his metal form to protect himself. Both mutants run but discover that the avalanche is following them as if it is homing in on them. Colossus uses a nearby tree to bat the rocks away and Storm uses her weather manipulation powers to send the boulders into the ocean. As soon as the threat is neutralised they continue onto the temple where they meet up with Cyclops and Thunderbird.

To the East Wolverine and Banshee are walking past the shore when a group of giant crabs exit the ocean and attack the pair. Wolverine’s claws make short work of the crabs while Banshee flies into the air and attacks them using his sonic voice. After the crabs have been defeated they too meet up with the others at the temple.

On the South side of Krakoa Nightcrawler and Sunfire are being attacked by a flock of giant birds. One tries to grab Nightcrawler with its talons but the young mutant teleports away in a puff of smoke and reappears nearby. Sunfire takes care of the rest of the birds with his heat blasts. The pair do not get along very well but they do eventually reach the temple and meet up with the rest of the team.

[a0040pc]

With the team reunited they break their way through the heavy stone doors of the temple and are horrified to see the original X-Men having their essences absorbed by what can only be described as tentacles. The new team quickly cut them down and take them out of the temple. Slowly the original team begin to regain consciousness but when Angel wakes up he tells the team in horror that it wanted them to come so it could trap them.
Suddenly the ground begins to shake as Angel reveals that the mutant is the island itself as the monstrosity that is Krakoa rises up from the ground.

Just before the giant figure of Krakoa attacks the X-Men he remembers the nuclear tests done in the South Pacific that created him. He had been a normal island but the nuclear radiation had given him intelligence and absolute power of the ecosystem on his island. He had trapped the original X-Men and began to feed on their mutant energy. But he wanted more so allowed Cyclops to escape so that he could bring more mutants. Cyclops is horrified that this has happened but Krakoa begins to attack both teams.

Even with the combined attacks of both teams they are doing very little damage to Krakoa. But Xavier who is still at the mansion projects an astral form for the teams to see. He has an idea on how to defeat Krakoa and that it would take team work. After explaining the plan Xavier concentrates on attacking Krakoa’s mind. With the great monster distracted Storm flies up into the air and creates a thunderstorm. Her lightning bolts strike Lorna who is being charged up by the lightning. Her limits are being exceeded but she tells them to keep going. Her lover Havok is concerned for her but his brother tells him that they have to do it.

Unfortunately Xavier cannot maintain his mental attacks on Krakoa and the monster sees what is happening. The remaining X-Men attack him to keep him distracted. When the time is right Cyclops and Havok also turn their powers onto Lorna who then uses her magnetic powers to surge an incredibly powerful magnetic force right down into the Earth’s core. Krakoa begins to weaken and the teams quickly evacuate before they are all killed. They eventually reach the shore and Iceman creates an ice raft for them and the combined powers of Cyclops and Havok propel them away from Krakoa. No sooner are they at a safe distance the entire island rockets directly into the air, out through the Earth’s atmosphere and begins to hurtle through space. The X-Men’s attack had driven it off of the surface of the Earth but the void in the ocean left by the island causes sudden tidal waves. But Iceman creates an ice dome that keeps them safe from the waters.

A couple of minutes later the ocean has calmed again and the X-Men blast their way out of the dome. When they look at the ocean they see their lost jet rise to the surface and each of them get in. But as they fly away Angel realises that there is not enough seats for everyone and mutters the infamous words ‘What are we going to do with thirteen X-Men?

My Thoughts

I don’t really know where to start with this issue so I think I’ll begin with the first thing you see when you pick up this comic which is the cover. There is no doubt that this is the most important X-Men comic ever produced. It came five years after the cancellation of the X-Men series and was the good kick up the arse that the series really needed. Rather than having an all American team of X-Men the roster has a very international feel of it since only one member of the new team is actually American but he is actually a Native American so that makes him more American than any other X-Man.

This comic is probably the most reprinted X-Men comic out there and there is very good reason for it. Not only was it a restart for the X-Men but also one of the greatest and well-loved stories in the franchise’s history. I personally absolutely loved the comic from start to finish with end to end excitement and with so much happening that if you miss a single panel you might miss something amazing.

Before I start about the actual story or characters I will speak about the cover itself. Barring the first issue of X-Men I think it is not only one of the most recognisable X-Men covers but general comic covers of all time. There have been so many tributes to this cover in both X-Men and none X-Men covers that there truly is no way to showcase them all. There would be an entire gallery dedicated to this tributes of the cover. I think originally it was only having the new team burst through the page but artist Dave Cockrum (May God rest his soul) decided to add the original X-Men in the background and it was a beautiful move. The cover shows that there is a new team of X-Men and that they are breaking through what remains of the old team. There is only one additional X-Men cover besides the first issue that is as recognisable as this one.

The most recognisable X-Man to have their first appearance in this comic book is Storm. I might not be her biggest fan but I respect the hell out of everything that she has accomplished over the years. Not only was she the first black person to join the X-Men but she is definitely one of the most associated characters to the team. She has a fan base that rivals even Wolverine and in my mind when people think of a Marvel superheroine they think of Storm. Her ability to control the weather makes her one of the most powerful mutants that the team has ever had and I can see why she was viewed as a Goddess in Africa. Originally her creators wanted to give her the ability to transform into any cat ranging from a normal housecat to the fabled Sabre tooth cats of a bygone age. I’m happy that they dropped that and gave her weather manipulation because it leaves room for a lot more power and character development. If she had of kept her original powers I don’t think she would have been as well remembered but her weather powers are a lot cooler and much more unique. Other characters might manipulate lightning but none of them have such control over the weather as the X-Men’s Storm.

[a0040pc]

My favourite X-Man introduced in this issue is the Amazing Nightcrawler. Sure he looks like a demon but nothing could be further from the truth. There is no doubt that the fun loving and extremely charismatic mutant has won himself fans all around the world. He is a classic example of the phrase ‘Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover’. One look at him and you would think that he was a demon but he is probably one of the kindest individuals that you could ever meet. Not only can he teleport (That unfortunately he only did once in this issue) he also has amazing acrobatic abilities. He is another X-Man with an incredibly large and dedicated fanbase and the only thing that disappoints me about the character is that he only appeared in one of the X-Men’s films (In my eyes the best one). Over the years his popularity has never faltered and he remains one of the most popular X-Men ever created. Originally Dave Cockrum wanted to use him in the Legion Of Superheroes as a member of that team who belonged to an alien race. But DC Comics turned him down and I am now so thankful for them for doing that. If he had of been with the Legion Of Superheroes he would have been nothing more than a B character who many people would quickly forget. But the fact that he has joined one of the most famous comic book teams in history has only cemented his legacy.

The next popular X-Man to be introduced in this issue was the large but lovable Russian known as Colossus. He is another X-Man who brings heart and soul to the team, it is fair to say that the only thing bigger than Colossus’s shoe size is his heart. He might be a big strong guy but there is no doubt that he is also one of the kindest individuals that one could hope to meet. The fact that the X-Men even had a member from Russia who at the time was a sworn enemy of the US only shows how diverse the team really was. He would sacrifice himself for the people that he loved and even did so to rid the world of the heinous Legacy Virus that had killed so many mutants around the world. Originally I think he was going to be his own solo hero but definitely having him as a member of the X-Men was definitely a much wiser move. He has been used to such great effect in the series that I don’t think he would have truly fit anywhere else. He has gone toe to toe with beings stronger than him but he doesn’t falter for a single moment. Piotr Rasputin is a man who was destined to be an X-Man.

Although only having a minor appearance in this issue Colossus’s sister Illyana will also become a great and twisted character of the X-Men. To not give too much away about her for the first few years of this new X-Men team Illyana will take almost no part in it and it isn’t until the early 80’s that she becomes an important character to the series. A series of unfortunate events will corrupt the soul of this innocent girl but if that didn’t happen we wouldn’t have the Illyana that we know and love and although she doesn’t play much part for now there is still much more to come for this little girl from Russia.

The last X-Man to be introduced in this issue is the tragic character of Thunderbird. Having a native American as the only American born X-Man introduced in the series was a risky move but one that truly paid off. He may be an obnoxious ass but through his bitterness and anger deep down he is a very good man and I only regret that we didn’t have more time with him before he was brutally taken away.

The X-Men who join the team who were not introduced in this issue is Wolverine, Sunfire and Banshee. Wolverine is definitely the most famous X-Man and this issue has him breaking away from the Canadian Government and joining the team. If he had not been made an X-Man he would most likely have faded into obscurity decades ago and he would have been long forgotten. He probably would have been one of those characters that appeared once every decade and it would have been a true loss for him. The issue also shows that his claws are retractable and part of his being rather than just in his gloves. The Canadians’ threat will soon be seen in a future issue but for now I think he is more than happy to leave their services.

For the story itself it was fantastic and a marvellous read from start to finish. There have been so many things written that takes place around this issue that again it is too numerous to list.
There have been a number of What If scenarios written about this issue along with something else that rocked the team to its core almost forty years after the release of this comic (cough Deadly Genesis LS). But there is no doubt that this is one of the best X-Men stories ever written, the script by Len Wein was beautifully drawn by Dave Cockrum and to see them working together like this shows just what a great partnership that they had. It is a partnership that we will sadly never see again. The fact that they had a mutant which was the entire island completely blew me away when I first read this comic a decade ago. To have a foe like Krakoa almost defies comprehension itself and since it was able to defeat the original X-Men with minimal effort only shows how much of a threat that he was. The fact that he hasn’t really been used since only keeps Krakoa in the category of great characters who have never been run through the ground or overused.

I also liked the fact that the New X-men didn’t really get along with each other at first and didn’t even know how to work together. It left room for all the necessary character development and team bonding which will turn them into one of the greatest teams that the comic book industry has ever seen. The Avengers have nothing on these new X-Men and the fact that they come from so many different backgrounds only shows that people from different cultures can work together. It further shows that Xavier’s dream of human/mutant relations is not just a silly fantasy but a possibility worth fighting for.

To finish off for this issue I didn’t actually read the original, or the reprint in Essential X-Men Volume 1, or Classic X-Men #1. Instead I used X-Men Special Edition which was released in the mid 80’s it has the story in colour and in its full glory since the Classic X-Men version did cut it down a little so that there was room. But there is a backup story to this comic which I will be reviewing at a later date.

In conclusion I’m giving the issue a perfect 10 out of 10. Not just for historical significance but also for the flawless story and the drama experienced by the characters. This is definitely one of the best X-Men comics ever produced.

Next Issue
X-Men (Volume 1) #94

[Rochedalaix]

My favourite X-Man introduced in this issue is the Amazing Nightcrawler. Sure he looks like a demon but nothing could be further from the truth. There is no doubt that the fun loving and extremely charismatic mutant has won himself fans all around the world. He is a classic example of the phrase ‘Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover’. One look at him and you would think that he was a demon but he is probably one of the kindest individuals that you could ever meet. Not only can he teleport (That unfortunately he only did once in this issue) he also has amazing acrobatic abilities. He is another X-Man with an incredibly large and dedicated fanbase and the only thing that disappoints me about the character is that he only appeared in one of the X-Men’s films (In my eyes the best one). Over the years his popularity has never faltered and he remains one of the most popular X-Men ever created. Originally Dave Cockrum wanted to use him in the Legion Of Superheroes as a member of that team who belonged to an alien race. But DC Comics turned him down and I am now so thankful for them for doing that. If he had of been with the Legion Of Superheroes he would have been nothing more than a B character who many people would quickly forget. But the fact that he has joined one of the most famous comic book teams in history has only cemented his legacy.

The next popular X-Man to be introduced in this issue was the large but lovable Russian known as Colossus. He is another X-Man who brings heart and soul to the team, it is fair to say that the only thing bigger than Colossus’s shoe size is his heart. He might be a big strong guy but there is no doubt that he is also one of the kindest individuals that one could hope to meet. The fact that the X-Men even had a member from Russia who at the time was a sworn enemy of the US only shows how diverse the team really was. He would sacrifice himself for the people that he loved and even did so to rid the world of the heinous Legacy Virus that had killed so many mutants around the world. Originally I think he was going to be his own solo hero but definitely having him as a member of the X-Men was definitely a much wiser move. He has been used to such great effect in the series that I don’t think he would have truly fit anywhere else. He has gone toe to toe with beings stronger than him but he doesn’t falter for a single moment. Piotr Rasputin is a man who was destined to be an X-Man.

Although only having a minor appearance in this issue Colossus’s sister Illyana will also become a great and twisted character of the X-Men. To not give too much away about her for the first few years of this new X-Men team Illyana will take almost no part in it and it isn’t until the early 80’s that she becomes an important character to the series. A series of unfortunate events will corrupt the soul of this innocent girl but if that didn’t happen we wouldn’t have the Illyana that we know and love and although she doesn’t play much part for now there is still much more to come for this little girl from Russia.

The last X-Man to be introduced in this issue is the tragic character of Thunderbird. Having a native American as the only American born X-Man introduced in the series was a risky move but one that truly paid off. He may be an obnoxious ass but through his bitterness and anger deep down he is a very good man and I only regret that we didn’t have more time with him before he was brutally taken away.

The X-Men who join the team who were not introduced in this issue is Wolverine, Sunfire and Banshee. Wolverine is definitely the most famous X-Man and this issue has him breaking away from the Canadian Government and joining the team. If he had not been made an X-Man he would most likely have faded into obscurity decades ago and he would have been long forgotten. He probably would have been one of those characters that appeared once every decade and it would have been a true loss for him. The issue also shows that his claws are retractable and part of his being rather than just in his gloves. The Canadians’ threat will soon be seen in a future issue but for now I think he is more than happy to leave their services.

For the story itself it was fantastic and a marvellous read from start to finish. There have been so many things written that takes place around this issue that again it is too numerous to list.
There have been a number of What If scenarios written about this issue along with something else that rocked the team to its core almost forty years after the release of this comic (cough Deadly Genesis LS). But there is no doubt that this is one of the best X-Men stories ever written, the script by Len Wein was beautifully drawn by Dave Cockrum and to see them working together like this shows just what a great partnership that they had. It is a partnership that we will sadly never see again. The fact that they had a mutant which was the entire island completely blew me away when I first read this comic a decade ago. To have a foe like Krakoa almost defies comprehension itself and since it was able to defeat the original X-Men with minimal effort only shows how much of a threat that he was. The fact that he hasn’t really been used since only keeps Krakoa in the category of great characters who have never been run through the ground or overused.

I also liked the fact that the New X-men didn’t really get along with each other at first and didn’t even know how to work together. It left room for all the necessary character development and team bonding which will turn them into one of the greatest teams that the comic book industry has ever seen. The Avengers have nothing on these new X-Men and the fact that they come from so many different backgrounds only shows that people from different cultures can work together. It further shows that Xavier’s dream of human/mutant relations is not just a silly fantasy but a possibility worth fighting for.

To finish off for this issue I didn’t actually read the original, or the reprint in Essential X-Men Volume 1, or Classic X-Men #1. Instead I used X-Men Special Edition which was released in the mid 80’s it has the story in colour and in its full glory since the Classic X-Men version did cut it down a little so that there was room. But there is a backup story to this comic which I will be reviewing at a later date.

In conclusion I’m giving the issue a perfect 10 out of 10. Not just for historical significance but also for the flawless story and the drama experienced by the characters. This is definitely one of the best X-Men comics ever produced.

Next Issue
X-Men (Volume 1) #94

I do not think this belongs in this thread.

[a0040pc]

I do not think this belongs in this thread.

Its the debut of Illyana I thought people might be interested.

[G0RM]

Its the debut of Illyana I thought people might be interested.

It's always interesting to me that Illyana was introduced as a legacy character in Giant Sized with the rest of the 'All New X-Men'.

Like pulling back Dr Nemesis from the 40's etc, when Claremont decided to bring her in from this brief scene in Giant Sized to recreate her in #160, it was just about the most convoluted storyline ever, as well as extraordinary: my favorite character origin of all time. Illyana really earned her position and Omega powerset: not a coincidental radioactive spider bite and dead uncle level brief trauma, but relentless years of perseverence and courage, surviving half her life in Hell to eventually triumph, all starting with this tractor accident in Giant Sized.

[Andru]

Well now that Original Sin is essentially over, I am a little disappointed there wasn't any sort of secret revelation of what Magik did to Dormmamu. I guess the variant cover of her standing in front of all the mindless ones gave me false hope.

Now that AXIS seems to be all the crossover rage, anyone think Magik will play a role? I haven't seen her in any of the promotional images, but that doesn't automatically rule her out. I read there was going to be a new Sorceress Supreme? But with all the focus on Wanda in Uncanny Avengers, I am assuming that title will go to her.

Illyana had such a prominent role in AVX, I guess I have just come to expect she will continue that trend.

[Beatrixpendent]

Well now that Original Sin is essentially over, I am a little disappointed there wasn't any sort of secret revelation of what Magik did to Dormmamu. I guess the variant cover of her standing in front of all the mindless ones gave me false hope.

Now that AXIS seems to be all the crossover rage, anyone think Magik will play a role? I haven't seen her in any of the promotional images, but that doesn't automatically rule her out. I read there was going to be a new Sorceress Supreme? But with all the focus on Wanda in Uncanny Avengers, I am assuming that title will go to her.

Illyana had such a prominent role in AVX, I guess I have just come to expect she will continue that trend.

we already discussed and i think the whole thread will agree that illyana doesnt need an event or the mantle to have good development, the beauty of beign an side B is that she can have good development because the writer doesnt have to worrie about other people using her in their stories, i dont mind her apearing in the wanda book but she does not need title even tough shes the best candidate.

[Daymare]

Well now that Original Sin is essentially over, I am a little disappointed there wasn't any sort of secret revelation of what Magik did to Dormmamu. I guess the variant cover of her standing in front of all the mindless ones gave me false hope.

Now that AXIS seems to be all the crossover rage, anyone think Magik will play a role? I haven't seen her in any of the promotional images, but that doesn't automatically rule her out. I read there was going to be a new Sorceress Supreme? But with all the focus on Wanda in Uncanny Avengers, I am assuming that title will go to her.

Illyana had such a prominent role in AVX, I guess I have just come to expect she will continue that trend.

I think it is doubtful she will be in AXIS. It sounds like it is going to use Wolverine's X-men and Cyclops. If what Bendis says holds and the AXIS will not affect his books or cast, then I can only assume Cyclops will be leaving the Uncanny title at least for a while. This may give the ladies a more prominent role but not part of AXIS. It would be a shame with all the momentum Magik has been given to roll her off the hill of obscurity at this point. She has become one of my favorite X-men.
I also think it is safe to assume that if a new SS is chosen it will not be from the X line and will most likely be from the Avengers side of the Marvel U.

[Andru]

we already discussed and i think the whole thread will agree that illyana doesnt need an event to have good development, the beauty of beign an side B is that she an writer can actualy have an decent development, i dont mid her apearing in the wanda book but she does not need title even tough shes the best candidate

The exposure wouldn't hurt. Hell, the only reason I know who Illyana is, is due to AVX. I was intrigued by the character & decided to go back and read her entire history.

Writers shouldn't rely on crossover events to develop their characters. They should be taking care of that in their own books. However, that doesn't mean those characters shouldn't be used in a crossover event if they have something to add to the story. Obviously it's too early to tell if Illyana would fit into the event. But if she does, to not include her because "she doesn't need an event to have good development" seems ridiculous.

The only reason I bring up Magik as a candidate for the Sorceress Supreme is because of her depiction in ANXM#25. It is, or was, a possible future for her if Beast didn't alter the time stream.

[Project Initiative Cascada]

Its the debut of Illyana I thought people might be interested.

Random question but is Illyana technically considered a Len Wein or Claremont creation? I can't quite recall if she was even named in that issue other than being called "the little sister."

[Andru]

Random question but is Illyana technically considered a Len Wein or Claremont creation? I can't quite recall if she was even named in that issue other than being called "the little sister."

IIRC she was not named. I would credit Claremont with her creation.

[JackalsIII]

I paid around forty dollars for a 'readable' copy of Giant Size X-Men just for Illyana's appearance. It was pretty awesome. I thought it was going to cost so much more and it was more than just readable.

[Project Initiative Cascada]

I paid around forty dollars for a 'readable' copy of Giant Size X-Men just for Illyana's appearance. It was pretty awesome. I thought it was going to cost so much more and it was more than just readable.

IIRC she was not named. I would credit Claremont with her creation.

Yeah that makes sense. Still, it's so funny to know that Illyana made her debut in the same comic that Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler made their debuts in too.

[Enigmatic Undead]