Magik Battles Russian Myth in X-Men: Blood Hunt Edition

Step into the mystical world of Magik, a formidable member of the X-Men. Illyana Rasputin, as she’s known, has honed her sorcery skills and teleportation powers to ascend to the throne as the Queen of Limbo. Her vast knowledge of legends and myths, coupled with her magical prowess, makes her a formidable force against a vampire invasion. But even Magik’s powers are put to the test when she encounters one of Russia’s greatest heroes in the X-Men Blood Hunt special.

Penned by Ashley Allen and brought to life by artist Jesús Hervás, X-Men: Blood Hunt – Magik #1 sees Illyana returning to her roots. Captured by vampires, she cleverly disguises herself as a mere mortal, allowing her to infiltrate her childhood village and devise a plan to combat the vampire threat.

To Magik’s astonishment, the vampire leader is not as ruthless as his followers. He chastises them for their reckless bloodlust, advocating for a more hunter-like existence rather than monstrous behavior. The leader, named Ilya, and his ancient armor, lead Magik to a startling realization about his true identity.

Magik squares off against her namesake, a vampire

Upon questioning, the vampire leader reveals himself to be Ilya Muromets, a legendary Russian folk hero. The tale of Ilya Muromets, a sickly child who was miraculously healed by two pilgrims and went on to become a powerful defender of his nation, was Illyana Rasputin’s favorite childhood story. The similarity in their names only added to her fascination.

But there’s a twist in the tale. The pilgrims were actually vampires who bestowed their dark gift upon Ilya Muromets. He did defend Russia, but his motives were not as noble as the legend suggests. He eliminated monsters and invading armies to eliminate competition, leaving Magik to face off against a literal legend to save her hometown.

X-Men: Blood Hunt – Magik #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere. Grab your copy today!