Warning: contains spoilers for Magik #1What would make a Marvel symbiote even more terrifying than they already are?Well, make it demonic! In many ways, that is the premise of Magik’s newestX-Menera, as the beloved mutant hero delves back into the mystical as she is forced to confront her inner demons.The Darkchylde is coming… and it is just as persuasive as Venom at his worst.
Illyana Rasputina’s Darkchylde form first fully manifested during the infamousInfernocataclysm in New York City. Since then, the powerful young mutant has been forced to confront her trauma head-on, over and over again.
Magik#1, from writer Ashley Allen and artist Germán Peralta, seesMagik facing off against a deadly new foe, the Crow Demon, whose magical bullets harm Illyana, and cause the Darkchylde to begin to emerge. In an interview withAIPT, series writer Allen says that in many ways the Darkchylde persona is like a mix betweena symbiote and the Hulk, where the entity emerges when Magik is in danger, but is close to uncontrollable:
AIPT: X-Fan Lewis was wondering how the new iteration of Darkchylde will work. Is it more like the Hulk appearing unexpectedly during stressful moments? Is it like a symbiote taking over her mind? Or is it something else?
Ashley: You’ll just have to read the series… just kidding, I wouldn’t do that to you guys! I think you’re onto someone comparing it to the Hulk/a symbiote. I would say it’s a combination of the two. Ultimately, Darkchylde is part of Illyana. It is a response triggered when she is stressed or finds herself in danger (like the Hulk appearing). However, at this moment, it is also something that is all-consuming and makes her lose control (like a symbiote taking over her mind).
Therefore, like most things with Illyana, Darkchylde operates in a muddy ground. Previously, Darkchylde has been Illyana’s darker self. However, ultimately, it is up to Illyana to decide and define what Darkchylde is to her. In the past, that decision has been taken away from her, but in our first few issues, we change that.
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Magik’s Dark Persona Is Slowly Taking Over Her Mind
The Darkchylde is manipulating Illyana just like a symbiote
When Illyana was only 6 years old, the demonic ruler of Limbo Belasco kidnapped her and brought her to his domain, where he slowly tortured and corrupted the young girl,stealing her soul and creating her Darkchylde persona. Magik was able to manifest her Soulsword and escape from Limbo, but ever since then, she has been haunted by her darker half. Illyana has had “control” over her monstrous Darkchylde persona for years now, seemingly pushed down by her defeat of her jailer Belasco and relinquishing the crown of Limbo, but after the fall of Krakoa her dark side is emerging again.
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When Magik’s Darkchylde form first began to emerge, it was very much like a symbiote, except instead of spreading black goo across her body, she manifested growing eldritch armor, signaling her descent into demonic energy. Just like Ashley Allen says in her interview, the Darkchylde form has often emerged at times of great stress and danger for Illyana, and that remains true in her new solo series.Magik#1 sees the Darkchylde speaking in Magik’s head, either as an auditory hallucination or an actual demonic entity. The dark persona sounds incredibly similar to early Venom stories, or contemporary Carnage tales, wherethe symbiote whispers sweet nothing into its host’s ears, controlling the person from inside.
Will Illyana find a way to control the Darkchylde before it consumes her?
Magik has been disconnected from Limbo for some time
Magik has been very focused on her mutant life since the Krakoan Era started, separating herself quite literally from the realm of Limbo by passing the title of ruler along to Madelyne Pryor. Now, Illyana’s new solo series will see Magik recentering her mystical abilities while away from her Alaskan X-Men team, meaningshe is going to finally need to confront her Darkchylde persona directly. Only time will tell if the “symbiote” demon will be able to fully take over Magik, or if Illyana will be able to fight off her inner demons.
Magik will always have a deep and traumatic connection to the realm of Limbo and the demonic energy it has given her, yet hopefully the iconicX-Menlegend will find a way to get her demonic symbiote under control, before it tears her apart…
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