Warning! Spoilers for X-Men #5 ahead!
Sixty years after his debut, Cyclops remains the centerpiece of the Magik is a major Marvel powerhouse, and a character on the verge of finally breaking out and becoming a star.
Magik #5, written by Ashley Allen, with art by Germán Peralta, features a conversation between Ilyana Rasputin and Scott Summers toward the end of the issue, after a climactic battle in Limbo, Marvel's dark realm, which Magik is all-too-familiar with.
"I truly can't imagine a team without you," Scott tells her, emphasizing the tight bond the two characters share, which might have flown under the radar for more casual X-Men fans, while also reiterating Magik's central role in the franchise moving forward.
Cyclops Says He "Can't Imagine" The X-Men Without Magik, As Marvel Continues To Elevate The Hero
Magik #5 Written By Ashley Allen; Art By Germán Peralta; Color By Arthur Hesli; Lettering By Ariana Maher
Magik has been a Marvel hero for over forty years, yet while her early tenure in the 1980s set the foundation for her fan-favorite status today, she was sidelined for a too-long interval of X-Men history, and in a way, is only now just fully recovering, as Marvel finally embraces her full potential. For many years, Magik was relegated to mutant-targeting Legacy Virus. This is why it is noteworthy that Magik #5 has Scott Summers affirm her vital role in the franchise, from an in-universe perspective.
For...newer fans who might have just jumped on board with this Magik solo series, this is an important point to reiterate, making it clear that Magik is deeply enmeshed in the life of arguably the X-franchise's most pivotal character.
"You've always had my back," Cyclops tells Magik in the issue, "pushed me to be a better leader and grow into the person I am today." For Marvel readers, especially newer fans who might have just jumped on board with this Magik solo series, this is an important point to reiterate, making it clear that Magik is deeply enmeshed in the life of arguably the X-franchise's most pivotal character. It is an effective character moment for the hero, while also serving as the exact pep talk she needed after a harrowing battle earlier in the issue.
Marvel Has Made A Concentrated Effort To Push Magik To The Top Of The X-Men's Power Rankings
Where Fans Agree She Deserves To Be
Magik was killed off by Marvel in 1993, and it wasn't until 2007 that the character returned to life in Marvel canon. Though the character has appeared fairly frequently over the past eighteen years, popping up and playing a key role in a number of X-Men titles, it is fair to say that her best era is possibly just beginning. The current Magik series is her first solo ongoing book, while her inclusion as a playable Marvel Rivals has exposed her to an entirely new audience.
X-Men Combines Every Magik Costume in Epic Celebration of Illyana Rasputin
Magik is one of the most popular of the X-Men, and now a new cover by Russell Dauterman brings her most iconic looks together.
Moreover, with her current comic appearances, Marvel has made a concentrated effort to portray Magik as one of X-Men's most powerful heroes, and one of the team's most badass fighters. In other words, the publisher has recognized that Magik is a character worth investing in, and pushing to the forefront of the franchise. So far, this has been successful, building on fans' existing appreciation for the character by delivering some of her most exciting moments yet. Assuming Marvel commits to letting the Magik series flourish long-term, this process of making her essential to X-Men is likely to continue in earnest.
Cyclops' Vote Of Confidence For Magik Is An Extension of Marvel's Faith In The Character
Magik Is Finally Becoming The Hero She Was Meant To Be
One of the highlights of the current era of X-Men comics is that Magik has finally taken on the role of a core player in the franchise's mythos, something she always had the potential for, but was set back from becoming for years. Magik #5 effectively makes it clear that despite her turbulent publication backstory, in X-Men lore, Magik is a key member of the team, one Cyclops considers invaluable, meaning fans should expect more of her upward trajectory in X-Men franchise prominence.
Magik #5 is available now from Marvel Comics.
- Movie(s)
- X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- First Film
- X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
- X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men '97 (2024)
- Video Game(s)
- X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine's Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- Character(s)
- Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Comic Release Date
- 213035,212968
