Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Art Kris Anka
Color Art Antonio Fabela
Lettering & Production VC’s Joe Caramagna
I know I jokingly keep track of the Top Ten Best Comics of 2015, but only until I’ve read eleven comics for the year (we all enjoy it – I hope) but this issue, right here – is by far my favorite issue of the year. I can’t imagine too many will surpass it. Well, if we get another comic that has Kitty and Illyana, on every single page, but with Lockheed – even if he is on the one page – that comic, would surpass this one. I can’t recommend this issue enough! Go seek it out!
This issue takes place moments after the last issue’s flashback sequence. Scott told the team that he is dissolving the school and Magik grabbed Kitty and off they went. Kitty, against her will.
Kitty grabs Illyana’s . . .. shirt? top? Yeah, top, and Illyana states, simply, “touching” and that signals to Kitty to let go.
I like Kitty asking Illyana “what is wrong with you?”and without missing a beat, she states that she “was raised in a hellish dimension by a demon.” She was in Limbo for seven years, that isn’t something that one gets over, if ever.
Kitty wants to know where she is, she guesses the Savage Land. Though, I’m not aware of any bad times Kitty has had in the Savage Land. She was there in Uncanny Annual 7, but she had a decent time there.
Magik and Shadowcat are at . . . Monster Island! That is way cool! So, we now know that this isn’t the hinted at, Demon Hunters storyline, teased in All New X-Men 25 – like I thought it was going to be. This is still great but these two characters (with Lockheed) need a buddy book! I could make it last 50 issues, just give me a chance! I just need a decent short story concept that I can write, to give me some of that sweet credibility.
Illyana starts fighting the monsters, while Kitty isn’t engaging. They are simple creatures, giant creatures but they are reacting to Illyana’s aggressive actions. I do enjoy seeing Magik hold her own against creatures.
Kitty guesses that the reason why they are there is either there is an In-N-Out Burger or a record store. I like Kitty still holding onto vinyl. Also, I miss In-N-Out Burger, I didn’t appreciate them while I was in Yuma but they are a higher quality cheese burger. I had to finally stop getting animal style as I enjoyed the burgers more.
Illyana finally gets around to the real reason, there is a mutant for them to engage with.
Illyana is trying to get the monsters respect, until the thunder happens.
The thunder chases the monsters away, so Kitty was right – as usual. Illyana wants Kitty to follow her, Kitty states that she doesn’t like her anymore and Illyana states that she is lying. I miss these two so much!
Illyana shows off her portal Cerebro.
We get them finally talking about the tension in their friendship. Kitty says that Illyana didn’t have to bring her all the way out here to kill her. Illyana states that she could kill Kitty anywhere, super scary! Kitty tells Illyana that it is only funny when Kitty jokes about how crazy and mysterious Illyana is.
Illyana, in a real moment, tells Kitty that it isn’t funny when Kitty makes those jokes, it actually hurts Illyan’s feelings.
That last panel is such a real moment, with Kitty reflecting on all the times that she has made such jokes and the regret that now exists.
Illyana reveals that, whenever there is in-fighting with the X-Men, she leaves to go find a new mutant. I want an ongoing of this, so much! She doesn’t even need a special school. Just saving new mutants, being a positive influence and moving on. Kitty jokes that this has to be a full time job for Illyana, as that is all the X-Men do, these days.
Kitty is all about that mission and would have loved to be invited for those missions. They finally get to the cave where the new mutant is hiding.
There is an ad for A-Force, that I’m hoping that Shadowcat gets some play in, if not her, then Magik has to be involved! I suspect that Rogue is the mutant representative, though at this point, she is more an Avenger. This is part of a pull out ad. Of those advertised, I am getting Secret Wars 2015, Ultimate End, Master of Kung-Fu and Inferno. Maybes are only – Battleword and Journal with Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars.
A voice tells them not to approach. Kitty tries to get the person to reveal themselves. Who is comforted with being told that the X-Men are outside of the cave that you are hiding in?
We meet sweet little, Bo. Bo speaks broken English but like Kitty says, she is pretty good with the language. Bo likes that Shadowcat’s name is “Kitty cat” it is a pleasant name. Bo is very hungry. Kitty offers to take Bo to food and safety.
I’m not sure why Illyana opts for her hero name but Bo likes it. Magic and Kitty cat, not a great name for a title but I do enjoy it.
Kitty keeps asking about how many days she has been out here. Magik rephases it “how many sleeps” and this question, has stuck with me and I have kept working it into conversations, as there is something about it that I can’t shake.
This is heart breaking, Bo ha been out there for seven nights. Worst, her father abandoned her out there.
Poor poor Bo, and I’m sure it is because I have a sixteen month old that makes me so sensitive to this but poor Bo woke up here. She knows it was her father’s doing. Bo starts crying and I want to find her father and punch him to his dumb face. In a story that we will never get and I’m not sure is actually necessary, Bo hurt her mother. Hopefully she isn’t dead, but she must be as no matter the injury, I would like to think a mother wouldn’t allow her husband to abandon their daughter on an island full of monsters – where she will mostly die. That is what is happening here, she is not meant to survive this experience. She didn’t have a week’s worth of food.
A monster, that I imagine has been protecting Bo (or treating her as a pet), wakes up.
Bo’s powers kick in, harshly.
Kitty wakes up, first. Bo has been watching the sunset. Bo is still freaking out.
Kitty tries to assure Bo that everything is okay, no one is hurt. Kitty offers to take Bo to the Jean Grey School, as she has powers that make her special. Bo asks if she is like the Mighty Thor – which is awesome. Kitty is amused, as well.
Monsters start coming at them, and Magik teleports them away. How sad is it that Bo finally realizes that her father left her to die? So horrible!
I sort of adore how much this is common for Storm and Nightcrawler. Storm is so used to walking the grounds and seeing sudden teleportations.
Bo’s strings can hurt Kitty, while she is in her phased state. Bo’s powers may be that she can paralyze folks. Kurt greets Bo, all smiles but Bo is a tad terrified.
Is that second to last panel, the best Storm panel in ten years? Such a fun exchange. Bo finds Storm to be so beautiful and now she is Storm’s favorite student.
Bo coming back for that last hug? So fantastic! I love this issue so much!
Magik attempts to say the famous “Welcome to the X-Men, I hope you survive the experience” but she doesn’t want to scare Bo.
Those last three panels, I love them so much! Illyana misses their friendship, Kitty tells her she doesn’t and that Illyana is a goofball. Illyana is also missing her brother, so she must still be recovering from her injuries.
Kitty wants to help Illyana reconnect with Colossus, so now we know what some pages of Uncanny X-Men’s 600’s forty pages are going to be made up of. Let’s hope that they get at least ten pages!
Shadow and Flame with Magik 