Release: May 2026 | Writer: Ashley Allen | Artist: Germán Peralta | Colorist: Arthur Hesli | Letterer: Ariana Maher
On the search for Baba Yaga, Magik and Colossus were shown her brute force. Can they make it through her and hopefully find a way to get through the hell that Korschei is putting them through?
*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!*
Family Matters
A young Magik and Colossus face a task that seems to trouble Magik. Facing her parents after all the horrible things she experienced with the demon Belasco.
Upon seeing her, her parents doubt that its really her, almost scaring her away into the woods, causing Colossus to chase after her and take care of her like we've seen the past 3 issues.
In the woods at Baba Yaga's house they try to battle this iconic folklore creature. Throwing everything from strength and magic at her to no avail. Even Colossus tries to use his brains instead of brawn to take her down.
Even that is to no avail as Kaoz needs to step in. After trapping Colossus and Magik, Baba Yaga questions Kaoz as to why he still calls her this even after knowing her intimately. He tells her that its the name he met her as, and it means a lot to him, She looks him in the face and tells him that Koschei sent Kaoz to capture her. He tells her that he came because he wanted to find you, not because Koschei sent him.
She gives him five minutes to plead his case.
Colossus talks to Magik one on one. During the battle she became frustrated with Colossus because he wasn't following an idea that her and Cyclops came up with and this doesn't sit well with Colossus. There's a hint of jealousy that she trusts and feels for Cyclops in a way that's stronger than she feels towards him, her own brother. She tells Colossus that Cyclops is her best friend, her took her in but he never pushed her to be more than what she is.
Colossus pushes her to be better. Blood is thicker than water and at the end of the day she knows that even though there have been some hiccups in their lives, at the end of the day they're family and they love each other.
During their embrace Baba Yaga comes out and explains her broken past with Magik's kidnapper from last issue, Koschei. Baba Yaga knows him very well as he is her brother and they do not get along.
Growing up they were close, they worked together to become stronger. Like Magik and Colossus they protected each other. But at some point, Koschei became greedy. Wanted all the power for himself and it scared Baba Yaga. Koschei can feed off of others magic to keep his strength growing and she knew she needed something in her back pocket to protect her just in case.
Upon learning Koschei was placing pieces of his soul around Russia, she took a piece of his soul and placed it in her necklace. This was done in order to keep him from reaching his max strength and controlling all of Russia's magic single-handedly.
And now the team is off to find him and stop him with Baba Yaga at their side. But not before Colossus begins thinking about how life could've been. A life without mutant powers, without magic or all this danger that they are constantly in. A life where they are normal.
Magik hates this though.
She tells Colossus that thinking about what ifs is pointless. At the end of the day, they are mutants. They have magic and they are in constant danger. Their life isn't normal but it's their lives whether they like it or not. When Colossus tries to tell her that he didn't mean to upset her, Koschei shows up, disguised as Kaoz and takes Baba Yaga's necklace.
Taking the final piece he needed to become the sole handler of magic in Russia. Leading to him taking the soul of his sister and setting up his final battle with Magik and Colossus.
Conclusion
Family drama!
This issue seemingly is bringing everyone to their breaking point. Magik just wants to end this whole thing, but Colosssus' obsession with protecting her may be hurting them in the long run. The conversations all flow together really well throughout this issue. You can feel the annoyance in Magik's voice when Colossus doesn't trust her judgement. These same way you can feel the pain in Colossus' voice when he speaks to Magik about what their lives could have been.
While an other worldly threat is going on, the melodrama stops for nobody and thats what I love about X-Titles like this one. While Magik and Colossus bicker, the result of this upcoming finale could be interesting if they don't get on the same page.
Ashley Allen has been hitting a homerun every month with this run and leaves me wanting more every time I read a new issue. She writes heartache, like was shown in the opening pages of this issue, just as well as she can frame fight scenes. A gem of a story that looks to have it's big conclusion next month!