![]() ![]() His punishment is exile, imposed by himself in light of the fact that his beloved fellow Thebans will no longer greet him. This issue’s opening epigraph is from Euripides’ drama Heracles, from the aftermath of his twelfth labor-which involved the titular half-god hero being driven mad and killing his own family. And the infernal context for supporting player Madelyne Pryor is also clarified as the story moves along-though obviously everyone should read “Inferno,” the original 1989 crossover event that featured both characters on separate but parallel journeys, making them the two mutants intrinsically bound to Limbo. New Mutants #25įor all the complexity of Magik’s backstory, Vita really does give readers everything they need to know here in this issue, the opening chapter of the much-anticipated Magik-centric arc, “The Labors of Magik,” a title explicitly echoing the mythic labors of Heracles (Hercules). I just think it’s cool that fans who were left hankering for such a sequel or follow-up (over 30 years later!) are now getting this treat. ![]() ![]() It’s clear that “The Labors of Magik” will be the “Inferno 2.0” that Hickman’s excellent miniseries (and dramatic envoi) of the same name was never meant to be. What’s clear, though, is that in its art and script “The Labors of Magik” features many clear resonances with “Inferno.” That’s obvious, but what’s delightful is that with so many explicit connections, subtler ones also begin to come to the fore for the attentive reader, and I think that lends Vita Ayala and Rod Reis’ story even more poignancy and readerly interest. The connection here is probably unintentional, and after all we see only two versions of Magik here-one with demon horns and the other fully armored, both from 1989’s “Inferno” event-which quickly built from the initial S’ym/Maddie meeting in Uncanny X-Men #234 a year before (discussed in a bit more detail below). Of the stunning Leinil Yu covers so far, the second is more suggestive and actually resonates subtly with S’ym’s original offer to Maddie of her heart’s desire-out of five choices, each a potential version of herself as seen in the figuratively reflective surface of one of his sharp fingernails. ![]() “The Labors of Magik” thus promises to be one of a small handful of all-time classic New Mutants stories. There are of course still moments of wild, savage action, where the wildness of Reis’ crisp linework bursts from the elegant restraint on display elsewhere, which creates this magical balance between his sense for classically beautiful form and the intense, sharp-angled energy that animates his storytelling with a dangerous, propulsive vitality. Support CBH on Patreon for exclusive rewards, or Donate here! Thank you for reading! When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a qualifying affiliate commission.Ĭomic Book Herald’s reading orders and guides are also made possible by reader support on Patreon, and generous reader donations.Īny size contribution will help keep CBH alive and full of new comics guides and content. Reis is instead the perfect artist for high fantasies and quest narratives, and that his work is even reminiscent of classic New Mutants visionary Bill Sienkiewicz makes his presence here even more of a treat.Ĭomic Book Herald is reader-supported. As much as I love the art of Pepe Larraz, Stefano Caselli, Lucas Werneck, Bob Quinn and fresh discovery Eleonora Carlini, it’s Reis’ work that’s my definite favorite in the X line and by quite a lot-not just because he’s skilled at both drawing and coloring his artistry is simply so unique and not based in the conventions of superhero or straightforward action/adventure stories. The interiors by Rod Reis are absolutely stunning. The setup, which really began with New Mutants #24, was something of a slow build, and by the end of issue #25 and throughout the next issue we’re seeing the story’s momentum take off and promising to carry our heroines and their fans in unpredictable but fascinating directions-like issue #26’s journey through a Limbo yet to be, in a future where Krakoa has fallen. Two issues into Vita Ayala and Rod Reis’ “The Labors of Magik” have made clear that this story arc will be essential reading for fans of our two most infernally/Limbo-themed mutants, Illyana Rasputina and Madelyne Pryor. ![]()
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