Magik and Colossus #3 – Anything to Protect Our Own

After returning home to Russia, Magik and Colossus encountered ancient demons from Russian folklore. Traveling to Saint Petersburg to attempt to find the Immortal that has triggered the demons, Magik and Colossus have become separated. A mystical artifact that can lead them to the Immortal within their grasp, Illyana is kidnapped by a sorcerer, and now Piotr is on the trail of who kidnapped his sister.

This review is brought to you by Megan and Shawn of the Nerd Initiative team!

Creative Team

Writer: Ashley Allen
Artist: Germán Peralta
Color Artist: Arthur Hesli
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Cover Artist: David Nakayama

Writing

Megan: Ashley Allen continues to knock it out of the park with the third issue of Magik and Colossus. In the second issue, Magik had a plan that Colossus wasn’t privy to, and he absolutely hated that. Magik was kidnapped, and it was up to Colossus to find his sister. In this issue, we see that nothing will stop Colossus from finding her, even if it means lying to a bartender to find the people responsible for her kidnapping. Meanwhile, Magik is being put through a trial of fights that are designed to tire her out and make her use her magic. The problem with her magic is that there’s a draining spell active, and if Magik uses her magic, she will be drained.

In Magik and Colossus #3, we see the brother and sister come together open-heartedly, saying exactly the right things the other needs to hear. Ashley Allen has such a talent when writing these magical characters, but her true talent shows in the heart she gives these characters.

Shawn: This series is shaping up to be one of the best things Ashley Allen has ever written. The ability to combine serious action with heartfelt moments is just an amazing bit of narration. I was sold on this series as soon as I saw it because I saw what Allen did with the Magik series, but this series is so much more. Allen has built on what she started in her Magik run and now includes a more dimensional, deeper version of Colossus than we are used to seeing.

Allen truly makes readers feel the weight that Piotr has carried around. You feel like, despite all that he has learned from both his brother and Illyana, that Piotr still feels like he hasn’t done enough to take care of her. If writers for a generation have crafted Doctor Strange as a victim of his own hubris, Allen shows us the opposite side of the coin in Piotr, a man who can’t take pride in his own accomplishments.

Art

Megan: Germán Peralta gives us some downright beautiful panels in the comic, which isn’t a surprise given how incredibly talented he is. Alongside him is Arthur Hesli and Ariana Maher, who both add to the gorgeous artwork that’s from start to finish when reading Magik and Colossus #3. Arthur Heslie is one of the best in the coloring business, and he shows this time and time again. With his coloring and Peralta’s drawings, you see a mystical adventure that keeps your eyes locked into the page. Ariana Maher provides her fantastic lettering that illustrates the tone of the comic perfectly, while giving sound effects that put the reader right into the middle of the story.

Shawn: Just when I think the team of Germán Peralta and Arthur Hesli can’t get any better, they do. This is a gorgeous issue. I’m continuously blown away by the attention to detail both give to even the backgrounds of each panel.

Baby Illyana is perhaps just the most adorable thing I’ve seen in this series so far, and you can feel Magik’s relationship with Colossus through the art. That is perhaps the best praise I can give the visual team on this series.

Every issue, every panel is so full of emotion that even if Ariana Maher wasn’t doing some of the best work in lettering she’s done, you could feel the emotion. The art alone creates a genuine connection between the Rasputin siblings, and it’s perfect.

Final Thoughts

Megan: 10/10. Ashley Allen does it again and continues the incredible story of the brother and sister duo who can only depend on each other. This story has action, it has a fantastic plot, and a whole lot of heart.

Shawn: 10/10. This is one of my absolute favorite series out right now. I love the relationship that we see between these two. Colossus’s metal skin feels both literal and metaphorical. The story is delightful and at times heartwarming. The plot twist at the end was a great one.

Overall Grade 10/10

Are you enjoying Magik and Colossus? Let Megan and Shawn know in the comments below