277: New X-Men V2 # 32-43 (Mercury Falling, Magik)
- Matt Campbell
- Jul 20
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 23
What’s Covered?
New X-Men V2 # 32-43
Roster Watch
Synopsis
New X-Men V2 # 32 - 36: Mercury Falling
Writer - Craig Kyle
Pencils - Christopher Yost, Mike Norton, Paco Medina
Issue # 32 is technically not a part of the Mercury Falling story, but I'll lump it in for kicks! Wither (Kevin) is in exile, tormented by Laurie’s death. Rahne quietly checks up on him as he begins caring for a sick, powerless Selene. When cops move in, he violently defends Selene—and kills them. In return, she seduces him into joining her. Although I don't know how much seducing was going on as he seemed pretty into it. Who wouldn't want to hook up with a century old hottie, am I right!? Meanwhile, Kitty delivers a heartfelt eulogy at the funeral for the fallen.
Laura, who seems to be interested in Julian, tries to provide support as his power grows unruly. Emma worries about the toxin’s effects (the magic toxin that makes Laura kill anyone near her, which was featured in the X-23:Target story) and advises Laura to leave—a suggestion Cessily resents. Scott confesses regret for blowing off the students (as part of the Nimrod storyline), and fleeing to Dallas. Surge retains leadership. Kimura attempts to abduct Laura, but it turns out Cessily was the target all along.
Cessily is abducted by the mysterious facility. Julian intervenes, freeing Laura from the mansion so they can go rescue Cessily. After Laura brutally murders an informant, Julian tells her to back down (kind of like John Connor with the Terminator in T2.) Meanwhile, military experiments create a monstrous creature, Predator X, which kills Mammomax. Oh Mammamoax, we barely got to know you. They are experimenting on Mercury to give his skin to the creature.
In an aside, Kitty gives a pep talk to Surge and calls her the "X-Babies,"a clear nod to when she inappropriately said this to the New Mutants. We also get our first appearance of Megan Guinn as Pixie, a character we'll see more and more.
Reverend Striker is unveiled as the mastermind behind the experimentation on mutants, a project he commissioned before he was killed. Laura and Julian (later joined by the X-Men) rescue Cessily.
In the epilogue, Emma finds Kimura targeting Laura with a sniper. To teacher her a lessons, she erases Kimura’s memory of her grandmother (the only woman who was ever kind to her) and dispatches her to kill the scientists.
New X-Men V2 # 37 - 41: The Quest for Magik
Writer - Craig Kyle
Pencils - Christopher Yost, Skottie Young
Blindfold recounts Magik’s history. Belasco reemerges, attacking Amanda Sefton and reclaiming Limbo.
Beast’s knowledge is transferred into Elixir by the Cucko's, power-upping him significantly. We also get a hint about Illyana, as Belasco thinks M Day may have resurrected her (Magik.)
Belasco captures the new mutants (or the second volume of X-Men, whatever they are called now), seeking Illyana. We're formally introduced to new students: Match, Loa, Wolf Cub, Gentle, Anole, Pixie. Demon mangles Anole; Illyana arrives. David’s heart is ripped from his chest; Laura is drained to skeletal remains.
Elixir restores David’s heart. Illyana is aided by N’Astirh. Fear spreads among the kids—Cessily and Dust especially. Pixie allows Illyana to draw on her soul to create a new Soulsword, leaving Pixie with some sorcerous powers, such as teleportation. (I suspect that Craig Kyle may have incorrectly assumed that Magik can teleport due to her Magik, when in reality that is just her mutant power. Get it right Kyle!)
Illyana overreaches by attempting to absorb Pixie’s entire soul; Amiko intervenes. Rockslide confronts Magik. Pixie, now part-dark, forges her own Soulsword and learns to tap into Limbo. Pixie’s purity grants her magic. Belasco is defeated. Illyana reclaims Limbo, leaving the team behind. Anole and Pixie are formall welcomed onto the (New) X-Men roster.
New X-Men V2 # 42 - 43: Children of X-Men
Writer - Craig Kyle
Pencils - Christopher Yost
Santo is joking with Anole that he should let Laura cut off his other arm and legs because Beast says they’ll grow back stronger like the one arm (which is now massive and strong, kind of like the Winter Soldier.) Cyclops is praising the new mutants and saying that they are his priority moving forward. Uh huh, sure Cyke!
Pixie can teleport, make soul daggers, and will learn more magic when she turns 18. Beast figures out that Rockslide is basically a psychic entity that can reconstitute his body from any substance and control it like a Golem. Neat.
My Connections and Creators
Boring or Great?
This arc is pretty strong. I really like this team, although I don't know what to call them. Are they the New Mutants? Newer Mutants? Academy X? New X-Men? I'm honestly not sure. For all intents and purposes, this is the end of the series, which makes me sad. There will be a few more during Messiah Complex (coming up soon, just finished reading it for the first time last night,) but then it's all done. I did see that some of the characters will be in a series called Young X-Men, which I had never heard of before today, so I'll check that out.
At first I didn't really like Kyle and Yost's version of the team. It was a little darker and I couldn't forgive them for killing so many of the original team off. Plus, I really liked what DeFilippis and Weir we're doing. Howver, Yost's art is amazing and I ended up loving Mercury, Rockslide, and some of the newer characters like Pixey and Anole.
Thoughts on Art
The artwork across New X-Men vol. 2 #32–43 shifts dramatically in tone and texture, mirroring the narrative’s evolution from grief-stricken realism to dark fantasy. Mike Norton and Paco Medina anchor the early issues with expressive, energetic line work that captures emotional tension and explosive action—Medina especially excels in conveying dynamic movement and youthful intensity. As the series transitions into the Limbo arc, Skottie Young’s stylized, surreal visuals transform the book. His exaggerated anatomy and haunting creature designs heighten the otherworldly horror, giving the “Quest for Magik” arc a fever dream quality that perfectly complements its themes of corruption, trauma, and identity. The result is a visually striking arc that reflects the team's psychological and magical descent.
Larger Impacts and things to keep an eye on
Is Magik like legit alive again!?
Will we ever see more between Selene and Wither or will that plot line die with this comic cancellation?
Julian/Hellion seems too big to fade into irrelevancy. Let me look up if he lands on a new comic. Hmm, looks like he'll be in a few arcs of the new X-Force but won't is mostly making random appearances. That's too bad.
Will Pixie continue having magic or will that stop with this run?
Will Sophia ever make an appearance again?
Characters
Surge
She never really held my attention. I don't think she had enough charisma to be team leader, and I think the creative team realized that by this point because she was barely featured in these last few arcs.
Prodigy
How many ways are we going to get around the House of M de-powering?! Cable uses technology to get his powers back. Quicksilver is running around using terrigen mists. Xavier just needed to step inside the M'Kraan Crystal. I digress, the Cucko's give Prodigy all of the knowledge he once lost (which he used to only have temporarily,) making him a Super hero again. I was never really sure if he was part of the team or not. They kept saying he was leaving, but then he didn't. Now he's definitely staying the comic, or would have if it didn't end. Speaking of ending, his relationship with Nori/Surge seems to be over.
Hellion
Him and Laura/X-23 are one badass pair. It was fun watching him struggle to keep her in line. He liked being a bully and pulling pranks. She straight up murders people without a moment's hesitation.
X-23
She's definitely growing on me as a character. The less homicidal she gets the better! You just know she's the one character from this series that isn't going anywhere.
Rockslide
Bro cracks me up. Apparently, he's just a psychic entity too who can wear different materials like a golem. neat!
Mercury
She was just started to heat up. I like this character and I hope we see more of her. She was starting to get overpowered too.
Elixir
You can tell the creative team is getting less interested in him. However, he did have the Cucko's transfer Beast's medical knowledge into him and now we can go black and kill demons like Belasco with a touch. No more need for Wither!?
Dust
I still love her, but she's barely features.
Pixie
Too early to vote MVP? There's something about this girl that I like. She's kind of a ditz. A really good character, in fact the only one pure enough to create a soul sword for Illyana. Now she has magic and can teleport. I'm invested in her future for sure.
Anole
He seems aight. He was just warming up. His power is a little Winter Soldiery now though.