Honestly, I didn't really think that Bendis was capable of writing something as emotionally complex as this issue. But, much to my pleasant surprise, he recalls an Illyana that we haven't seen in a long, long time.
It's been pretty clear since this series started that Illyana's sudden strength was going to be revealed to be part of the same post-Phoenix phenomenon that broke Cyclops, Emma, and Magneto's powers. Bendis confirms that here, revealing that Illyana now exerts less control over Limbo than she previously did. Although Bendis doesn't give us the specifics, his reasoning for not doing so is sound: Illyana herself doesn't know. I thought this part of Bendis' exploration of Illyana was the most fascinating thing that Bendis has done in this series, revealing that she doesn't understand Limbo as well as she could and that this lack of knowledge makes her susceptible to the attack from Dormammu that we see here. It fits with the way that her character has been portrayed over the years, since you're left wondering why she's only now willing to approach Dr. Strange and learn more about her powers. The fact that her weakness now threatens the entire Brotherhood makes you wonder how many of the new recruits are going to be keen on the New Xavier School after they spend some time in Hell itself.
All in all, it's yet another solid issue. On some level, it makes me realize how desperate Scott is, since he's been forced to rely on Magik these last few weeks and now has to start paying the consequences of that here. I'm really intrigued by what Bendis is going to make those consequences be.
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