By Marc Strom
While the X-Men have gone to Hell and back a few times in the past, it never gets any easier. A full scale war with Bastion's anti-mutant legions doesn't help matters, either, but the currently less than merry mutants will have to dive deep into Limbo in order to save their teammate, Magik, in X-MEN: HELLBOUND #1 on May 5 from the creative team of writer Chris Yost and artist Harvey Talibao.
"In NEW MUTANTS #12, a.k.a. chapter three of X-Men: Second Coming, the Purifiers target the X-Men's teleporters during a fight and unleash a weaponized spell on Magik just as she's about to get to Hope and teleport her out," recounts Yost of the circumstances leading to HELLBOUND. "A portal opens and scary things pull her into Limbo, taking her out of the fight. And she doesn't come back."
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| X-MEN: HELLBOUND #1 preview art by Harvey Talibao |
"HELLBOUND is the story of a squad of X-Men going to get Illyana back, and the bad, bad things that happen when they try," he explains. "The first issue is concurrent with Second Coming chapter six [in UNCANNY X-MEN #524]. They share a scene or two. But, if for some insane reason you're not reading Second Coming but really want to jump on board for this; the first issue is relatively new reader friendly. But it is mutant unfriendly. So be warned."
The mystical attack Yost refers to sent Illyana back to Limbo, a realm she once ruled.
"The Purifiers' weapon really messed Illyana up," remarks the writer. "She's in bad shape, and there are forces in Limbo that are really happy about that, and they're going to do everything they can to make things worse for her. It's a golden opportunity that was dropped in their lap."
Despite the threats currently facing the X-Men, Cyclops still feels they must divert manpower to rescuing Illyana for a number of reasons.
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| X-MEN: HELLBOUND #1 preview art by Harvey Talibao |
The group going into Limbo will consist of an array of X-Men, each chosen for a very specific reason.
"Cannonball assembles the team, not only of people Cyclops is willing to spare, but the right people for this particular job," says Yost. "It's like a mantra for Cyke and Sam: get in, get the girl, and get out. They know that Bastion is coming for them, and they've got no time to spare. They need speed, they need recon ability, [so they bring] Northstar and Trance. They need power in case of trouble-Dazzler. They need someone to keep their eye on the prize, no matter what-Gambit.
"And they need a way to get into Limbo, [so they choose] Pixie. But Pixie doesn't have the best relationship with Illyana Rasputin. There was a little incident where Magik tore out a piece of Pixie's soul. Little things like that make Pixie not so eager to help. So Pixie needs some moral support
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| X-MEN: HELLBOUND #1 preview art by Harvey Talibao |
Compound that with the run-of-the-day dangers hiding in Limbo, and you literally have the rescue mission from Hell. Or, if you can believe Yost, the X-Men won't have any troubles along the say.
"This is a cake walk," jokes the writer. "There are no hordes of demons, angry sorcerers, multiple betrayals within the team, corruption of souls and murder to contend with at all. At. All. I swear."
Yost, who previously collaborated with artist Harvey Talibao on the recently-concluded X-MEN: PSYLOCKE limited series, loves what his co-creator brings to the table for this series as they put their motley crew of mutants through the wringer.
"His Limbo is amazing to look at. It's an odd team, but I think a pretty fun dynamic, and as horrible as the threat in Limbo is, it's nothing compared to the darkness that explodes once they get there. And as if that weren't enough, there's a different kind of hell on Earth waiting for them back on Utopia if they survive this."
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