Marvel Explores New Symbiote Concepts with Assistance from the X-Men

Enter the Realm of Demons: Magik’s New Journey

The latest era of X-Men features Magik, who is diving deep into the mystical world as she confronts her own darkest fears. The emergence of the Darkchylde heralds an incredible transformation for Illyana Rasputina, putting her in a battle akin to facing Venom at his most formidable.

Unpacking the Darkchylde’s Origins

Illyana’s Darkchylde identity first came to light during the catastrophic Inferno event in New York City. From that moment, the young mutant has grappled with her trauma repeatedly, forcing her to confront the darkness within herself.

Magik #1: A Showdown with New Threats

In Magik #1, penned by Ashley Allen and illustrated by Germán Peralta, Illyana faces a formidable adversary: the Crow Demon. This creature wields magical bullets that inflict harm upon her, triggering the resurgence of her Darkchylde form. In a recent discussion with AIPT, Allen described the relationship between Magik and her Darkchylde persona, comparing it to the unpredictable nature of the Hulk and the invasive characteristics of a symbiote:

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 something 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.

The Struggle With the Darkchylde’s Influence

Illyana’s harrowing experiences began when she was only six years old, kidnapped by Belasco, the demonic ruler of Limbo. During her time in Limbo, he tortured her and crafted her Darkchylde persona by stealing pieces of her soul. Though she eventually managed to escape, wielding her Soulsword and reclaiming her freedom, the lingering effects of her dark past continue to haunt her.

As Illyana attempts to suppress her Darkchylde identity, it has increasingly surfaced during times of extreme stress, reminiscent of the symbiote dynamics seen with characters like Venom. In this new series, the Darkchylde’s voice resonates within Magik’s mind, acting as a possible harbinger of her descent into chaos—a theme that resonates with earlier portrayals of symbiote characters.

Will Magik Master Her Inner Demons?

Having distanced herself from Limbo throughout the Krakoan Era and relinquishing her title to Madelyne Pryor, Illyana is now poised to confront her Darkchylde persona in her upcoming solo series. The question looming over her journey is whether she can regain control before this “symbiote”darkness overwhelms her.

Magik’s bond with Limbo and its sinister energy will forever shape her narrative. Fans are left to speculate whether this iconic X-Men figure can harness her destructive inner force before it leads her to ruin.

Magik #1 from Marvel Comics is now available in stores.

Source: AIPT | Source & Images