Marvel Super-Heroes Spring Special # 1
NOTE: This review focuses on one particular story in the issue, entitled "Who Wants To Live Forever?”, an untold tale of Magik, featuring Illyana Rasputin of The New Mutants.
Writer Sue Flaxman and artist Rodney Ramos treat readers with a profound, albeit brief, exploration into the world of Illyana Rasputin that introduces a previously unknown disciple of Belasco named Maire O'Connell. Five hundred years ago, while still the demon sorcerer's student, O'Connell became arrogant, and Belasco cursed the girl with immortality as punishment. He cast O'Connell out of Limbo, and she went into hiding for generations Maire seeks out Magik to help her end the curse Belasco placed on her, and the story chronicles their adventure in the inter-dimensional splinter realm of Limbo to restore O'Connell's mortality.
"Who Wants To Live Forever?" is a clever entry. Flaxman's introduction of the previously unknown Maire O'Connell is subtle in a most profound way. She writes Illyana's interaction with O'Connell reminiscent to her relationship to Kitty Pryde, but unlike Pryde, O'Connell shares something in common with Rasputin that Pryde does not. The reader empathizes with the girls, and especially Illyana, being that the teenage demon sorceress already has so few she can trust, or rely upon. It makes the tale that much more bittersweet, and remains true to the heart of Magik's history in the Marvel Universe. Magik has never had a happy ending, and this story is no exception.
Randy Ramos' pencil work is great. I love his interpretation of Illyana as the armor-clad Darkchilde, complete with cloven hooves, and prehensile tail. He draws Magik as the formidable opponent that she is, and in several panels, Mr. Ramos depicts Illyana as possessing superhuman strength during her brawl in Limbo. Flaxman's story is given life by the artist's hand, as evident in the very first page of the story. It works. The coloring by Linda Ryan is a bit garish, and inker Pat Redding could have benefited from softer line work, but as a whole it is still a well-done artistic endeavor.
I give "Who Wants To Live Forever?" three out of five stars. It expands upon the Limbo mythos without being too maudlin, and the descriptive narrative is both quick, and vital to the storyline without becoming too descriptive.
Writer Sue Flaxman and artist Rodney Ramos treat readers with a profound, albeit brief, exploration into the world of Illyana Rasputin that introduces a previously unknown disciple of Belasco named Maire O'Connell. Five hundred years ago, while still the demon sorcerer's student, O'Connell became arrogant, and Belasco cursed the girl with immortality as punishment. He cast O'Connell out of Limbo, and she went into hiding for generations Maire seeks out Magik to help her end the curse Belasco placed on her, and the story chronicles their adventure in the inter-dimensional splinter realm of Limbo to restore O'Connell's mortality.
"Who Wants To Live Forever?" is a clever entry. Flaxman's introduction of the previously unknown Maire O'Connell is subtle in a most profound way. She writes Illyana's interaction with O'Connell reminiscent to her relationship to Kitty Pryde, but unlike Pryde, O'Connell shares something in common with Rasputin that Pryde does not. The reader empathizes with the girls, and especially Illyana, being that the teenage demon sorceress already has so few she can trust, or rely upon. It makes the tale that much more bittersweet, and remains true to the heart of Magik's history in the Marvel Universe. Magik has never had a happy ending, and this story is no exception.
Randy Ramos' pencil work is great. I love his interpretation of Illyana as the armor-clad Darkchilde, complete with cloven hooves, and prehensile tail. He draws Magik as the formidable opponent that she is, and in several panels, Mr. Ramos depicts Illyana as possessing superhuman strength during her brawl in Limbo. Flaxman's story is given life by the artist's hand, as evident in the very first page of the story. It works. The coloring by Linda Ryan is a bit garish, and inker Pat Redding could have benefited from softer line work, but as a whole it is still a well-done artistic endeavor.
I give "Who Wants To Live Forever?" three out of five stars. It expands upon the Limbo mythos without being too maudlin, and the descriptive narrative is both quick, and vital to the storyline without becoming too descriptive.