As the X-Men’s longest-serving team leader, Cyclops finally has a reliable second-in-command to back him up in Marvel’s X of Swords crossover.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for New Mutants #13, by Ed Brisson, Rod Reis and VC’s Travis Lanham, and Cable #5, by Gerry Duggan, Phil Noto and VC’s Joe Sabino, on sale now.
Cyclops is the X-Men’s most reliable field leader, boasting years of fighting experience and excellent tactical skills. While there have been several other important mutant leaders, including Storm and Havok, no one has ever truly replaced him as the team’s default field commander.
Despite the many mutant leaders around him, Cyclops has never really found a true second-in-command either, until now. However, Marvel’s X of Swords event has made it abundantly clear that Illyana Rasputin, the New Mutants’ Magik, is more than able to be Cyclops’ most trusted lieutenant.
In New Mutants #13, by Ed Brisson and Rod Reis, Magik updates Cyclops on the upcoming tournament between Krakoa’s mutant champions and the champions of Arakko, before the two share a moment of hidden strategy. Indeed, Cyclops and Magik basically speak in the same coded language, working in simpatico to figure out contingency plans from behind the scenes.
Later, while Cyclops is in space, Magik takes it upon herself to train Cypher for the upcoming tournament. Not only does Magik prepare Cypher physically, but she also gets him mentally ready for war, much like Cyclops would if he were present. Illyana’s intense training sessions echo Cyclops’ danger room sessions with the rest of the X-Men, showing their similar, military-like mindsets.
Related: X-Men Sends a Quiet Council Leader on a Doomed X of Swords Mission
In Cable #5, by Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto, Cyclops returns from space, entrusting Magik to look after Cable in Otherworld. This task is a fairly big deal, considering Scott didn’t even want his son to fight in the tournament, further highlighting his trust in Illyana by having her watch over his only son in a battle where he could die for real.
While she was initially just Colossus, little sister, Illyana became such a battle-hardened, skilled fighter due to her time in Limbo. As a child, Illyana was abducted by the demon Belasco, essentially growing up in Limbo until she was 13. While there, Illyana met an alternate future version of Kitty Pryde, who taught her how to fight. Illyana became particularly skilled with axes and swords, constantly battling demons and some alternate versions of the X-Men. In this intense environment, Illyana eventually forged the Soulsword out of her own life force energy, which she carries with her to this day.