Review: Magik #2

The hunt for the Lumia Seal takes Magik and Cal deep into the heart of Tokyo. But who is watching from the shadows? And has Cal teamed up with Earth’s saviour or its prophesied destroyer? 

Magik #1 set this standalone series off in spectacular fashion. A series of events has caused Ilya to be thrown into a grand mystery that started with a demon-killing a mutant. With investigating this death, Ilya is now part of a wider conspiracy that centres on the demonic entity Luminal and its attempt to invade Earth by destroying the five seals that are keeping it at bay. With one seal being destroyed at the end of the opening issue, Ilya has now teamed up with the mage - and seal protector - Cal to stop Lumia from wreaking havoc. Now the duo forms themselves deep in the underground of Tokyo, and well let’s just say their journey is about to get a lot tougher. 

Needing time to figure out where the next seal is, Magik #2 opens to Ilya and Cal in a cat café weighing up their options. Cal is frustrated with their lack of progress as he attempts to fulfil his mission as the seals' protector while understanding why his grandmother has placed this mission into his hands. In a way to protect the newbie mage from harm, Ilya attempts to persuade Cal to stay at the cafe while she tackles whatever harm Luminal throws their way. As Cal reminiscences about his grandmother and what she would make of their current predicament, the cafe’s waitress mentions an upcoming concert that could be connected to the recent disappearances that are happening in the area. With her interests now piqued, Ilya heads off to the concert with Cal and the waitress in tow. 

The issue then shifts to the concert as the trip attempts to track down the next seal and figure out how it’s connected to the ongoing concert. These questions aren’t left unanswered for long as Ren makes her way to the stage and then all hell breaks loose. And for those who’ve read the previous issue, you’ll know that Ren was previously murdered by Luminal. 

With Magik #1 kicking the series off to such a strong start, it was always going to be interesting to see if writer Ashley Allen kept the tempo flowing into the following issues. And without going into spoilers, this second issue is a worthy follow-up to the series. The story remains a dark and broody affair, but it’s filled with deep character work and a believable pairing of its two main characters. Ilya’s experience and Cal’s relative inexperience bound off each other well. This relationship is also a mirror of Ilya’s relationship with her brother - and fellow X-Men (X-Man?) - Colossus. The story also keeps the mystery at bay whilst entwining with Magik’s past, as well as possibly affecting her future. I won’t spoil the ending but Allen gives us a conclusion that plays into Ilya’s internal conflict which then sets up where the series is moving toward. 

Germán Peralta delivers yet more great line work that adds depth to Allen’s script. Even though we’re dealing with magic, demons, and other monstrosities, everything has a gothic feel to it, yet it’s also grounded within the real world. The concert scenes are particularly strong with the impending battle feeling straight out of a heavy metal music video. There are electrifying guitar riffs, spawning demons, and plenty of carnage that’ll make Ozzy Osbourne blush. The ending is also quite a stark contrast to the cosy atmosphere that kicked the comic off as Ilya goes from a peaceful cat cafe to the realm that Luminal calls home. 

It all calls back to the concert as Arthur Hesli delivers the vibrant energy of the conflict as it juxtaposes against the cooler tones of the invading demons. I was also reminded of the most recent Dazzler strip as Hesli does a great job in using his chosen colours to make sound a literal weapon as Ilya and Ren clash. 

Overall Magik #2 continues the tempo seen in the first issue, to then turn it up a notch. Ashley Allen and the rest of the creative team are crafting a truly compelling narrative that’s not only tapping into the past of Ilya Rasputin, it’s also shaping the character for years to come. With the wider mystery now close to being revealed, could Magik #3 be the issue where everything changes? 

Rating 8/10 

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