The Soulsword in Nightcrawlers #2
“A Soulsword.” Sure, Sinister. A timelost version of the only true one, perhaps. That, or a cheap knock-off. But I’d been wondering about Rasputin’s sword, and now we know.
Funny how the Soulsword works so well with Kate’s genes, isn’t it? Whyever could that be…
Rod Reis gifts you with a magical girl makeover, and the first thing you do when relaunching the X-books is revert to (something very much like) the old costume and surfboard-sword?
Have you no taste?
Oh, sorry, the second thing. First mutants have to be made more feared and hated than ever. Of course.
Guys, fair warning, in the past I've often been optimistic with relaunches, but I can't seem to hold back the snarkiness for this one.
(If the teams in this image line up with the logos, Illyana would be in Jed MacKay's book. On a positive note, would love to see that leading to her mingling with Strange in the MacKay-verse.)
The sword in the stone! The... soul in the stump?
This new era, man, where it feels like everything has meaning and makes you wonder. So if Illyana is in space during this and wielding her sword-sized Soulsword, does this mean the Soulsword is really split in two? Is there a reason it is stuck in the ground on Krakoa, like it once remained stuck in the ground in Limbo to keep bad things at bay? ...Or did it just look nice for decoration to put it in this panel?
From New Mutants #3 by Jonathan Hickman & Flaviano
Well dang, that’s some solid reprinting action!
TRUE BELIEVERS: X-MEN - SOULSWORD #1 Reprinting: Uncanny X-Men (1981) #171 32 pages, $1.
TRUE BELIEVERS: X-MEN - MAGIK #1 Reprinting: Magik (1983) #1 32 pages, $1.
I have these, both in the original and in collections, but it’s still tempting to order them just because.
Even better, these True Believer issues tend to get chosen because they’re relevant to new books coming out. The Soulsword one is probably because of X of Swords, and the Magik one may be because our girl is just that prominent in the X-ranks these days (Cypher is getting one too!) but who knows, they might point to more good things coming our way...
Wh... why would they do an event (I guess is what it is?) tailored to appeal specifically to me? What have I done to deserve such a wonderful boon?
Edit: Oh, here’s a much better look, now added above.
Edit 2: Also, press release:
The crossover will “affect the entire X-Men line,” which by then will include Cable, Children of the Atom, Excalibur, Hellions, Marauders, New Mutants, Wolverine, X-Factor, X-Force, and X-Men.
[...]
But in X of Swords, that society will be threatened “by powerful forces from the unknown,” according to a Marvel press release, and “ten mutants will rise up to defend their home. Arming themselves with legendary blades, both new and familiar ones from Marvel history, mutantkind will finally meet its mystical destiny.”
Hickman will writing the “tentpoles” of the series alongside Exalibur scribe Tini Howard. Excalibur being both the current X-Men line’s magic-focused book, and the name of a legendary sword.
And yes, X of Swords is pronounced “Ten of Swords.”
I’m not saying that’s Krakoan for “Soulsword,” but it better be Krakoan for “Soulsword.”
(Text at the bottom says “July,” teasing the upcoming announcement of the X-event starting then. Panel at C2E2 tomorrow.)
Does that look like a Soulsword to you?
(The good thing about Limbo is that the Soulsword possibly being far in the past doesn’t set off retcon alerts. Suck it, linear time!)
The Soulsword is Illyana’s alone to wield, but she originally created it to take revenge, and it still has a soft spot for wronged people trying to get their own back.
From Uncanny X-Men #632/13, by Matthew Rosenberg, Salvador Larroca & Guru-eFX
Rasputin (the mutant formerly known as Fakeyana) is here! And she brought with her a variant with Illyana and the New Mutants in the margin to make sure I post about her.
I’ve read Powers of X #1, and it explains where Rasputin gets all her different mutant powers from. I actually like her, I have to say. She’s no Illyana, but she doesn’t shame the Rasputin name at all. Oh, and like I said, #1 explains her mutant powers--not why she has the Soulsword. That I’m dying to learn.
Variant cover for Powers of X #1 by Philip Tan
Eh, it looks more manageable than this design of Soulsword usually does, but it’s still pretty big so not really my fave.
This and other designs officially labeled as “new characters,” I’m glad of that. As I’ve said multiple times before, I have high hopes for Hickman, but he better not touch the perfection that is Illyana with his radical shake-ups.
Character design for Powers of X by R.B. Silva
Someone: We can’t win this, flee!
Illyana: Hold my beer/witch’s brew.
From Uncanny X-Men #632/13, by Matthew Rosenberg, Salvador Larroca & Guru-eFX
Black and white as snow Artist: Ryan Stegman Source: New Mutants: Dead Souls #2
Interesting. Looks like Ryan Stegman drastically cut down the size of that sword, probably after seeing interiors or those being pointed out by an editor?
While You Were Being Heterosexual, I Studied The Blade
Down to the bottom of her soul.
Josh Boone and some of the cast are at a con in Brazil right now, making all our dreams come true.
I am clinging to her words already. (Is that guilt masquerading as bad-assery, perhaps? That sounds like our girl.)
Boy, that’s probably a dated reference by now.
Check my Patreon out if you’d like to support the comic, even a little bit helps. Or just to check out the reward tiers, I tried to make them fun: https://www.patreon.com/waitingforthet
Surfboardsword explained!
Mirror, mirror on my Sword... Storytellers: Jeff Lemire & Eric Koda Source: Extraordinary X-Men #19
...who’s the coolest in the wor(l)d?
Well, obviously Storytellers: Jeff Lemire & Eric Koda Source: Extraordinary X-Men #19
We’ve missed you too, Sapna. Stick with Illyana.
