Magik

Early life

Illyana Rasputina was born in the Ust-Ordynski Collective farm, near Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union to Nikolai Rasputin and his wife Alexandra Rasputina. The 2006 comic mini-series Colossus: Bloodline established that the family was descended from Grigori Rasputin and a Romani woman named Elena.^[19] Illyana's two older brothers, Mikhail Rasputin and Colossus (Piotr Rasputin) are also mutants. Colossus' superhuman powers manifest while saving Illyana from a runaway tractor.^[20]

At six years old, Illyana is abducted and brought to the United States by Arcade, who uses her and several other hostages to coerce the X-Men into opposing Doctor Doom. She is rescued and brought back to the X-Mansion.^[21]

Limbo

Shortly thereafter, Illyana is called to the Limbo dimension by Belasco, who seeks to bring forth the Elder Gods to rule Earth.^[22] She is raised there, frequently bullied and tormented by Belasco's underling S'ym.^[23] To free himself, Belasco needs to fill the Beatrix Medallion with five bloodstones. The bloodstones are created by corrupting Illyana's soul, with a new stone appearing as her corruption deepens. She is rescued and tutored in the practice of white magic by that dimension's version of Storm, who turned to magic when her mutant powers waned.^[24] Finding the use of magic abhorrent, Limbo's version of Shadowcat, known as Cat, kidnaps and trains Illyana in hand to hand and sword combat. Cat, along with Illyana, storms Belasco's citadel. They are overwhelmed by Belasco, who further transforms Cat into a demonic feline creature.^[25] With Illyana back under his control, Belasco instructs her in the art of black magic in the hopes that it will further corrupt her soul. However, Illyana plots Belasco's defeat and continues to resist the dark influence on her soul.^[26]

Belasco succeeds in creating three parts of Illyana's bloodstone pendant. Illyana creates the Soulsword and takes over Limbo as its new ruler. While wielding the Soulsword, she manifests horns, a tail and fangs. She banishes Belasco from Limbo and claims S'ym as her servant.^[27] She then returns to Earth a decade older, although no time has passed on Earth since her kidnapping.^[22] She subsequently joins the New Mutants.^[13]

A strange armor begins to appear on her body each time she wields the Soulsword. The armor appears only on one of her shoulders and arms at first,^[28] but appears on more of her body each time that she wields the sword.^[29] A routine trip through Limbo goes awry, leaving the New Mutants stuck in Limbo. To open an escape route for her teammates, Illyana embraces her demonic nature and opens a colossal teleportation disc between Earth and Limbo, which N'astirh uses to facilitate an invasion of Earth by demons from Limbo.^[30] Ashamed of herself, Magik flees into Limbo and decides to end the demonic invasion by assuming rule of Limbo. However, her teammate Rahne Sinclair persuades her against this, and she instead gives up her demonic powers by creating a massive stepping disc that banishes the demons back to Limbo. Afterwards, the New Mutants find a seven-year-old Illyana inside the husk of her eldritch armor. She still possesses the bloodstone locket.^[31]

Illyana returns to Russia, where she lives with her parents for some months until they are murdered by the Russian government to secure Illyana's abilities to defeat a psionic being known as the Soul Skinner. Illyana then returns to the X-Mansion to live with her brother and the other X-Men.^[32] Not long afterwards, Illyana contracts the Legacy Virus, and dies in the X-Mansion, despite all efforts to save her made by Charles Xavier and Moira MacTaggert.^[33] Colossus sacrifices himself to disperse the cure for the Legacy Virus.^[34]

Belasco eventually deposes Amanda Sefton and, after seeing Illyana reappear during "House of M" and realizing he carries a torch for her, creates a powerful spell to return her to him. The spell pulls forth the remaining essence of Illyana still held within Limbo's dimension, taking shape as Darkchilde, the semi-demonic version of Illyana corrupted and transformed by dark magic. Belasco is not satisfied with his creation, claiming that it is not the true Illyana due to lacking a soul, and banishes her to the outer parts of Limbo.^[35]

Illyana, now with her Darkchilde persona, discovers some of the teenage New X-Men being attacked by a horde of demons. After aiding the mutants against the demons, she uses a spell to immobilize them and steal a portion of Pixie's soul, in the hopes of creating both a bloodstone and a new Soulsword, as Illyana felt Pixie had the most innocent of souls present. Anole breaks free from Illyana's confinement and dispatches her. Pixie's soul extraction is partially successful, creating one part of a bloodstone pendant and a soul dagger. Illyana attempts to complete the process and destroy those who wished to interfere, but Rockslide thwarts her, and causes Illyana's human memories of her friends and life among the X-Men to return to her.^[36]

Illyana succumbs to her Darkchilde persona and announces her desire to create several more bloodstones to become god-like in power. She is interrupted by the arrival of Colossus, investigating Illyana's apparent return to life. A pained Illyana rejects her brother's offers of help, and sends everyone back to Earth, before reclaiming Limbo's throne and informing S'ym and N'astirh, now once more her servants, that her next move is to reclaim her soul.^[35] Motivated by her friendship with Shadowcat and love for Colossus, Illyana tries to reclaim her soul through love and teleports to the Xavier Institute, only to find it destroyed and abandoned.^[37]

While in Limbo, Illyana attacks various demons in her search for the Bloodstone amulet. Belasco's daughter, Witchfire appears during the meeting and reveals she is the current owner of Illyana's Bloodstone amulet and vows to take her father's place as ruler of Limbo. Back at the X-Men's base in San Francisco, Pixie accidentally discovers Magik's Soulsword is hidden inside Nightcrawler. Sensing its presence, Illyana teleports in and reclaims her sword, transforming from the Darkchilde into her Magik persona.^[38] She strikes Colossus when he enters the Danger Room and calls out to her, realizing that something is wrong when she does not feel any emotions, and returns to Limbo. Witchfire has conquered Limbo and Magik's armies during her absence.^[39] Claiming everything that Belasco ever owned, Witchfire captures Magik, takes her bloodstone and adds it to the amulet.

The X-Men arrive at the castle; Nightcrawler finds Illyana chained to a pillar. At her direction, he stabs her with Pixie's soul dagger, re-releasing the Soulsword inside of her. Witchfire completes the set of Bloodstones via another portion of Pixie's soul and releases the Elder Gods.^[40] Illyana and the other mutants hold back Witchfire and the Elder Gods. Using a combination of magic and the powers of the Soulsword and Souldagger, Illyana and Pixie remove one of Pixie's bloodstones. The Elder Gods are swept back to their dimension, along with Witchfire and the remaining bloodstones. Pixie's Souldagger merges with the bloodstone that was pried loose by Illyana. Saddened by the loss of her and Pixie's remaining bloodstones, Illyana teleports the mutants back to the X-Base, and they convince her to stay with them.^[41]

Return to X-Men/New Mutants

When Hope Summers and Cable return to the present during the 2010 "X-Men: Second Coming" storyline, Bastion begins eliminating all mutant teleporters to trap the mutant population on Utopia. While trying to bring Hope and Cable to Utopia, Illyana is fired upon by one of the Purifiers with a supernatural weapon that opens a portal to Limbo that she cannot control; she is drawn into the portal by a cluster of demonic tentacles.^[42] She is eventually freed from her restraints by Pixie, and Illyana and her rescue team return to Earth.^[43]

In a reversal of fortune, Pixie is kidnapped by Project Purgatory, and Magik returns to Limbo with the New Mutants to rescue her.^[44] While in Limbo, the New Mutants encounter the Inferno Babies - mutants who were taken as infants by the government and raised and trained in Limbo.^[45] This now-adult team attacks and overwhelms the New Mutants. While the rest of the team is captured, Magik escapes to Earth with Karma and Pixie. After hiding the Soulsword inside Karma, Magik teleports the rest of the X-Men to Portal Epsilon, Project Purgatory's gateway to Limbo, for what the X-Men believe to be a rescue mission. They arrive just as Limbo's Elder Gods breach the gateway to Earth.^[46] Karma releases Legion's mind with the Soulsword, freeing him to use his powers to destroy the Elder Gods and return the bloodstones belonging to Magik and Pixie, thus restoring their souls.^[47]

Confronted by Cyclops afterward, Magik admits to putting the world in danger and manipulating the X-Men for the sake of a personal vendetta against the Elder Gods. Cyclops decides that she must be restrained. While she remains unrepentant, she accepts his decision.^[48] Magik is placed in the X-Brig 2, a newly constructed, ultra-high security prison 500 ft. below sea level. She is controlled by devices that detect and prevent the use of teleportation and magic.^[49]

Following the events of Schism, Magik is selected to be a member of Cyclops' "Extinction Team."^[50] Despite this status, she remains a prisoner. She is only released from the X-Brig for missions, and while in the field, her suit contains lethal failsafes that prevent her escape.^[51]

In Avengers vs. X-Men, Illyana is chosen as one of the "Phoenix Five", a group of X-Men granted additional powers by the Phoenix Force.^[52] After Ms. Marvel is defeated by Rogue, Magik appears and gags the Avenger before teleporting her into Limbo, trapping her and terrifying Rogue.^[53] Following the defeat of Cyclops, Magik and the other former members of the Phoenix Five are reported to have fled.^[54] The Phoenix apparently has damaged Magik's powers, like it apparently did to the other five; Illyana initially thinks her ability to channel increased energies from Limbo is a power upgrade,^[55] but Dormammu pulls her into Limbo, and demonstrates that her newfound ability to effortlessly summon Limbo energies is destroying Limbo.^[56] Dormammu later pulls the entire Uncanny team into Limbo, intending to kill them in front of Magik before he kills her. They fight back and Illyana absorbs all of Limbo's mystic energy, causing it and its creatures to disappear. She sends the X-Men back to Earth, and travels back through time to become the protégé of a past version of Doctor Strange.^[57]

Magik is employed by Karma to lead a new New Mutants team along with Wolfsbane, Rictor, Strong Guy, Prodigy, and Boom-Boom.^[58]

Dawn of X

After the formation of the mutant sovereign state of Krakoa, Magik is granted the rank of Captain in the Quiet Council.^[59] She joins Sunspot and the other New Mutants in travelling to Shi'ar space to locate Cannonball. Magik and the rest of the New Mutants are arrested once the Starjammers arrive at a space station to rob a highly valued object, having been believed to be behind the attempted thievery.^[60] The New Mutants are quickly bailed out by Cannonball's wife, Smasher, under the order that they are to protect Deathbird in transit to the Shi'ar homeworld to instruct her niece in the way of rule.^[61] The team was attacked by the Death Commandos who Oracle had ordered to keep Xandra of the throne, Magik excitedly defeated several of them all knowing she was not human and therefore was not violating Krakoa's laws. With Deathbird's help they defeated them all and took control of their ship. Once they arrived on Chandilar they ambushed Oracle for trying to have them killed leading to a fight between the New Mutants and the Imperial Guard. Xandra put a stop to the fight by announcing that Oracle and Deathbird will both be her mentors and the New Mutants return to Krakoa. Sunspot stays behind to spend more time with Cannonball.^[62]

After this she went on many more missions with the New Mutants to bring more Mutants to Krakoa,^[63] and developed a fondness for teaching and mentoring, training the islands youth at the Akadamos Habitat,^[64] teaching Magic at Strange Academy,^[65] and forming her own version of the Dark Riders.^[66]

Teleportation

Illyana Rasputina possesses the mutant ability to teleport herself and others through time and space from one location to another.^[74] She initially did this by summoning what she calls "stepping discs," which were part of a dimension known as Limbo.^[75] When she calls for a stepping disc she has to use Limbo as a midway point before she can teleport to an alternate location. Rasputina has succeeded in teleporting herself across continents, from one continent to another, and even interplanetary and intergalactic distances on occasion.^[76] Unlike most teleporters in the Marvel Universe, she can teleport through time as well as space.^[77][78] After Rasputina absorbed all of Limbo, the stepping discs ceased to exist; now when she teleports, hellish images of ghosts, dragons, or other supernatural creatures appear.^[79]

Sorcery

Illyana Rasputina is the sorceress supreme of her Limbo dimension.^[80] In Limbo, she is able to cast any magic spell that Belasco could, having had access to his store of sorcerous knowledge. Her sorcery is a unique mix of black magic and white magic.^[81] Belasco taught her Black magic, while she learned white magic from Ororo Munroe.^[82]

On Earth, Rasputina demonstrates astral projection, sensing mystical presences, scrying, and casting very simple spells.^[83] She uses magic of a seemingly greater strength than she could previously use in Earth's dimension.^[39] Since absorbing Limbo and becoming Doctor Strange's disciple, her magic on Earth has been considerably stronger, such as when she used spells she learned from Doctor Strange to destroy advanced Sentinels.^[84]

The more Rasputina uses her magical power, the more mystical armor appears on her body, in addition to demonic features such as horns and hooves. The armor deflects or limits attacks, both physical and magical.^[85] Her armor also provides protection from the Transmode Virus.^[31] The armor also provides Rasputina with superhuman strength, which she displayed by being able to toss the giant demon S'ym off of her several feet.^[31]

Rasputina created the Soulsword during her imprisonment in Limbo. She magically caused her own life force energy to manifest before her.^[86] Once this happened she cast her hand into a pool of eldritch energy and imagined a weapon in her mind. When she withdrew her hand she was holding the Soulsword, created from her own soul.^[27] A simple looking blade upon its origin, it develops intricate designs and forms upon itself the more Illyana uses it, becoming more powerful with each use.^[87][88]

Her Soulsword disrupts magical energies, constructs, and creatures. It also augments the power level of any magic user who holds it.^[89] The Soulsword generally has no physical effect, but disrupts even the most powerful magic as it passes through. Since Rasputina's resurrection, the Soulsword seems to affect psychic beings like Legion's personalities,^[90][91] whereas in the past the sword only affected magical creatures and spells. The only exception to this has been Kitty Pryde, who can still be cut by the Soulsword even when Pryde is using her phasing power to become intangible.^[92] Rasputina can make her Soulsword appear and vanish at will.^[90] After Avengers vs. X-Men, she has used her Soulsword against physical beings, including a Sentinel.^[93]

Other abilities

Illyana Rasputina displays formidable psionic shields, which block anyone from reading her mind, even such powerful telepaths as Professor X,^[94] the Shadow King,^[95] and Rachel Summers.^[96] Since her revival, Rasputina is able to lower her psionic shields.^[97] Due to Belasco creating the magical bloodstones with their souls, Rasputina has a psychic bond with X-Man Kitty Pryde.^[96] Because of this, a similar connection could be considered between Rasputina and Storm.^[25]

Critical response

Alex Schlesinger of Screen Rant said that Illyana Rasputina has "not only seen a meteoric rise to fame over the past decade, but also has the best long-term character arc of any hero in Marvel Comics," writing, "Magik's story powerfully shows that trauma is not necessary for growth or empowerment, but one can also not undo the trauma of their past. Instead, the path forward is to reconcile your past with your present and gain strength from the freedom you have desperately fought for. Magik's story of heroic redemption, escape from abuse, and acceptance of one's identity has given this X-Men fan-favorite the best character arc in Marvel Comics."^[98] Deirdre Kaye of Scary Mommy called Illyana Rasputina a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.^[99] Sara Century of Syfy referred to Illyana Rasputina as one of the X-Men's most "surprisingly popular characters," saying that Rasputina is a "brave, dynamic character whose hope was crushed out of her by a much older man when she was only a child. The trauma she underwent is extreme, even by X-Men standards. Though she finds her ability to hope has been crushed, Illyana's saving grace is that she does everything in her power to keep her friends safe from harm. No longer trusting herself, she surrounds herself with good people and puts her faith in them, instead. For anyone who has been made to feel like a lesser person for the abuse they've undergone, Illyana is a surprisingly poignant character. Her continuous struggle against her evil impulses might not always work out to everyone's advantage, but the fact that she continues to try even when all hope seems to be lost is still inspirational."^[100] David Harth of Comic Book Resources stated, "She looks great, with her anime-inspired costume and giant swords making her a memorable visual. The magic side of Marvel is pretty much just her, Doctor Strange, and Scarlet Witch, and she's a more fun character than either of them. Magik has got it all: she's powerful, entertaining, looks cool, and can handle herself in battles against supervillains, demons, and dark gods."^[101]

Popularity and impact

Kofi Outlaw of ComicBook.com stated, "The character has been gaining more and more mainstream appeal in recent years – and even though the New Mutants movie adaptation became an infamous quagmire, the meteoric rise of actress Anya Taylor-Joy (who played Magik in the film) has helped make the character famous on a mainstream stage."^[102] Drew Swanson of Game Rant asserted that the tragic backstory of Illyana Rasputina in Marvel's Midnight Suns turned her into a "standout character" who would become a "fan-favorite addition" to Insomniac Games' X-Men games.^[103] Multiple fans have cosplayed Illyana Rasputina through time.^{[104][105][106][107]} In 2022, American influencer Olivia Pierson cosplayed as Illyana Rasputina for Halloween alongside Kim Kardashian as Mystique and Natalie Halcro as Selene.^{[108][109][110]}

Age of Apocalypse

In Age of Apocalypse, Illyana Rasputina was captured and taken to the Core, a prison that provides energy for Apocalypse's empire.^[111]

Excalibur

In the Excalibur storyline "Cross-Time Caper", an alternate version of Illyana runs an organized crime cartel in partnership with Shadowcat.^[112]

Exiles

The Illyana of Earth-4210 is a member of the Exiles, having been recruited to replace Blink. Illyana is killed by Hyperion, who intends to test the Timebroker's process of replacing Exiles members.^{[volume and issue needed]}

Ultimate Marvel

In "House of M", Illyana is a member of a S.H.I.E.L.D. squadron of mutants called the Hellions.^[113]

Ultimate Universe

In the Ultimate Universe imprint, Illyana is a member of the Rasputin family who are the leaders of the Eurasian Republic and a member of Maker's Council.^[114] She is later killed by Wolverine.^[115]

Television

• Illyana Rasputina appears in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode "Red Dawn", voiced by Tara Strong.^[116][117]
  • Illyana Rasputina / Magik appears in X-Men '97, voiced by Courtenay Taylor.^[117] This version was killed during the destruction of Genosha.^[118]
• Illyana Rasputina / Magik was intended to appear in Wolverine and the X-Men before the series was cancelled.^[119]

Film

Illyana Rasputin / Magik appears in The New Mutants, portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy as a young adult and Colbi Gannett as a child.^[120] This version was sold into child slavery, is at odds with terrifying creatures called the Smiling Men, did not like Danielle Moonstar at first, and is accompanied by a puppet of Lockheed. Halfway through the movie, Magik develops a relationship with Roberto da Costa.

Video games

• Illyana Rasputina appears as a non-playable character in X-Men Legends, voiced by Jeannie Elias.^[117]
• Illyana Rasputina / Magik appears as an unlockable character in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.^[121]
• Illyana Rasputina / Magik appears as a playable character in Marvel Heroes,^[122] voiced by Tara Strong.^[123]
• Illyana Rasputina / Magik appears as a playable character in Marvel Contest of Champions.^[124]
• Illyana Rasputina / Magik appears as a playable character in Marvel Future Fight.^[125]
• Illyana Rasputina / Magik appears as a playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest.^[126]
• Illyana Rasputin / Magik appears as a playable character in Marvel Future Revolution.^[127]
• Illyana Rasputina / Magik appears as a playable character in Marvel's Midnight Suns,^[128] voiced by Laura Bailey.^[129][117] This version is a graduate of the Xavier Academy, former member of the X-Men, the ruler of Limbo, and a member of the titular Midnight Suns.
• Illyana Rasputina / Magik appears in Marvel Snap.^[130]
• Illyana Rasputina / Magik appears as a playable character in Marvel Rivals,^[131] voiced by Abby Trott.^[132]
• Illyana Rasputina / Magik appears as a playable character in Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, voiced by Jesse Vilinsky in English and by Fairouz Ai in Japanese.^[133]

Merchandise

In 2024, Hasbro released an Illyana Rasputina / Magik action figure as part of the Marvel Legends action figure line.^[134]