Illyana Rasputin's Daily Damnation

In the department of “I can’t believe this was still unposted in my drafts”...

I’m very conflicted about this scene. On the one hand, it’s a lovely mutant besties moment--kicking ass together, talking about their feelings, a hug thrown in, all in lovely Bandini art.

Then Kitty calls Illyana her sister. Which normally wouldn’t bother me, I know not everyone ships these two, nobody has to, and regardless they’re close enough for a label like that.

But this is Marc “I’ve read all Kitty’s appearances and there’s never been anything remotely bi about her, she’s the straightest ever!” Guggenheim. Considering his relationship with certain parts of the fandom, I can’t help but feel like this is a dig--he didn’t get to marry Kitty and Piotr, so he’s gonna explicitly state that Kitty wouldn’t be romantically interested in the other Rasputin either before he’s out.

From X-Men Gold #34 by Marc Guggenheim & Michele Bandini

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! Storytellers: Marc Guggenheim & Pere Pérez Source: X-Men Gold #36

One last sales trick just for me on the last page of Gold. (I wonder if we’ll see Pyro 2 or Ink gain.) Fin!

In Soviet Russia, something something, maid of honor instead of groom! Storytellers: Marc Guggenheim & David Marquez Source: X-Men Gold #30

Kitty and Illyana, sitting in a treefighting a bunch of Mandroids, K-I... Storytellers: Marc Guggenheim & Michele Bandini Source: X-Men Gold #34 preview

Place your bets!

Illyana telling Kitty she feels bad about wreckingfixing the wedding: 2 to 1 odds Illyana telling Kitty to get back together with Piotr: 4 to 1 odds Illyana telling Kitty her motives weren’t pure during the rooftop conversation: 10 to 1 odds Illyana skipping the talking and just kissing Kitty: 500 to 1 odds General disappointment inflicted on our shippers’ hearts: 1.0000001 to 1 odds

The Thrilling Adventures of Illyana Rasputin Storytellers: Marc Guggenheim & Pere Pérez Source: X-Men Gold #32

So is there more Illyana in today’s issue of Gold after the preview pages? Apparently yes, but appearing in this series is such a chore for her that she promptly faints. Either that, or she’s overwhelmed by how close she came to coming out to Ororo.

Illyana is the best there is at what she does, and what she does is take the blame Storytellers: Marc Guggenheim & Pere Pérez Source: X-Men Gold #32

Can’t you read between the lines, Ororo? Her own intentions are exactly what she’s worrying about--Illyana thinks she meant what she told Kitty, but how can she be sure she said it because she wants what’s best for Kitty when she knows she has ulterior motives for not wanting Kitty to be married?

Illyana’s resting face is self-recrimination Storytellers: Marc Guggenheim & David Marquez Source: X-Men Gold #30

Rogue actually ships it Storytellers: Marc Guggenheim & David Marquez Source: X-Men Gold #30

Dialogue-free, make-your--own-Katyana-conversation pages! Artist: David Marquez Source: X-Men Gold #30

If you have the monies, you can even buy originals from this issue here.

Who knew Illyana got so background-expressive at wedding stuff? Storytellers: Marc Guggenheim & David Marquez Source: X-Men Gold #30

Rooftop confessions Storytellers: Marc Guggenheim (with a push from Marvel Editorial, apparently) and David Marquez Source: X-Men Gold #30

Mutant besties always tell each other when they have concerns about the other’s life choices. It’s about looking after each other.

(Between this and New Mutants: Dead Souls #4, my headcanon that Illyana never drinks--because the ruler of Limbo can’t afford to lose control--has fallen.)

This is slander, CBR. A good best friend makes sure her best friend thinks through big life choices before there’s no going back. There is no blame. Except self-blame, but that’s just because Illyana is so good at that.

...But you’re forgiven because you added this, which is not something the major sites tend to acknowledge:

(Side-note: I think I was the first to put those two instances of phasing-through-the-bed together, many years ago on the old CBR forum--I’ve kept seeing the same image with the caption I erased when people brought it up later. If this is my contribution to the X-fandom’s group mind, I am pleased.)

(Side-note 2: Seriously, CBR, there’s no way Guggenheim was originally going to let Illyana admit romantic feelings to Kitty before Marvel nixed the wedding. He’s run away from anything gay coming anywhere close to Kitty.)

If ever a couple of pages have demanded me to rewrite the dialogue on them, it’s Kitty’s conversation with Illyana in today’s X-Men Gold. Details but no pics yet under a spoiler cut.

Kitty’s wedding has driven Illyana to booze Storytellers: Marc Guggenheim & David Marquez Source: X-Men Gold #30 preview

Happy to see Lockheed! (Worried about whether his random developments will be remembered/followed up on.)

This is definitely not-happy-to-see-Kitty-marry-someone-else Illyana watching Ororo part the clouds.

Rogue must be telling Illyana about how she talked Kitty out of getting cold feet and suddenly realizing that Illyana is not congratulating her and also why.

So I think this must be Illyana on David Marquez’s Instagram? She does not look thrilled to be at this wedding.

Wedding jitters for X-Men Monday Artist: David Marquez Source: X-Men Gold #30 Bad form of Storm to so clearly outshine the bride on her wedding day. But more importantly--is that Illyana in the black dress?