The first issue of Magik and Colossus was one of the must fully assured debut issues I’ve read this year, and balanced being the next stage in Ashley Allen and German Peralta’s somewhat ongoing adventures for Illyana Rasputin while also being a great jumping on point for new fans. Expertly weaving the decades-long continuity between Illyana and her brother Piotr (aka Colossus), the issue got the core of the two’s dynamic as siblings without feeling like a rundown of character traits. Piotr is overly protective of his sister, while Illyana wants her brother to confront his past deeds and come to terms with them. The years and years of trauma they both have endured makes both of them great cyphers for the types of struggles we lowly humans face, and their respective coping mechanisms are relatable. That sibling dynamic and response to trauma takes a bigger part of the spotlight in Magik and Colossus #2, yet also reminds us that there’s monsters from Russian folklore out and about that need to be dealt with.
After defeating Lady Midday and learning of her mysterious master, Magik and Colossus make their way to St. Petersburg with the help of a tracking spell. Once they arrive, the two quickly realize that they are definitely on this mysterious master’s radar when they are attacked by the Rusalkas, dangerous sirens from Russian myth. As Magik takes the battle to the monsters underwater, Colossus works his best to get as many innocent people out of harm’s way as he can. Once the sirens are dispatched, the two notice a Bannik, a small dwarf-like creature that gives them some valuable information on Midday and her master. Known only as the “The Immortal”, he’s promised the various mythical creatures the ability to walk our plane of existence again. But the Banniks have the ability to see the future, and this one in particular has seen a future that is under complete and total control by the Immortal, which means the clock is ticking even faster for Illyana and her brother to track him and Lady Midday down!
Like the previous issue, Magik and Colossus is an excellent showcase for Ashley Allen’s characterizations of Illyana and Piotr. A good amount of the narrative real estate in this issue is devoted to the two of them discussing the events of the previous issue and their shared history, and it’s just as engaging as the big fight scenes later in the book. The Rasputin siblings have such a strong yet strained bond that you are desperate for the two of them to just connect again. Allen’s dialogue between the two is shockingly realistic and relatable to anyone who’s tried connecting with someone who keeps shutting them out, and yet Allen makes sure to present both Illyana and Piotr’s side in the ways they are dealing with their respective issues. The flashback framing device from the previous issue is here again too, adding a deeper level to the conversations that the Rasputin siblings are trying to have.
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German Peralta’s art is able to convey those quiet moments beautifully, with some really excellent panel layouts to get the sibling tension across. The body language for both Illyana and Piotr is so well crafted that you would be able to see how the conversation is going (or not) even without the word balloons. But the book isn’t content to just let Peralta do a conversation for 25 pages, and when the action hits, it hits HARD. The Rusalka designs are instantly recognizable but also unique enough for them to feel like they are part of Russian folklore, and Peralta’s art depicts them as true menaces for Magik and Colossus to take down. The use of magic is also really well done here, with Magik’s final spell to take them out being depicted in an extremely unique and artistic way that can only be done in comics.
While Magik & Colossus #2 isn’t the slam dunk that the first issue was, the cool down for the narrative delivered some truly wonderful character moments for Magik and Colossus, which was much needed to make the final page of the issue hit as hard as it does. This still remains one of, if not the best, of the X-Men spinoffs that are currently being published, and at only two issues in, is a great entry point for people interested in the Rasputin siblings.
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