I first noticed Magik when she totally wrecked me in 0.2 seconds in Rivals before I even really knew who she was. At first it was basic: big sword, demon mode, torn tights, Queen of Limbo. Super dope character design.

So I started digging.

What got me hooked wasn't just that she had a tough past. It was who she became after all that. Illyana is sassy, tough, wild.com, and doesn't care about making herself more understandable to others. She carries all this darkness but doesn't hide from it. Yet, she still chooses to show she cares and still looks out for people while standing up for something. Can't beat that mix of qualities and that drew me in. She doesn't need to be softer to be a good person. She doesn't have to fit into anyone's idea of what a hero should be like. So I wanted this piece to capture that side of her: rough around the edges, brave, a bit risky, and totally authentic while straight up slaying it.

Basically, she's just super tuff. And that makes her worth stanning for.