WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Devil's Reign: X-Men #3, now on sale from Marvel Comics
After years of relative isolation from the greater Marvel Universe, the X-Men have become further entangled with the other corners of the Marvel Universe -- including a series of revelations about Emma Frost and her connections to Elektra and Kingpin. Along the way, a new character has been introduced to the universe who promises to have an interesting future.
The grown Isabelle Donovan from Devil's Reign: X-Men #3 by Gerry Duggan, Phil Noto, and VC's Cory Petit proves to be a very entertaining character in her first modern-day appearance -- and has enough potential to justify plenty of future appearances.
At the heart of Devil's Reign: X-Men has been the fate of Isabelle. A young girl who'd witnessed Elektra carrying out a murder for the Kingpin years ago, Emma Frost and Elektra worked together to save the girl from Kingpin's wrath. Accused of kidnapping and killing the child, Emma Frost has been forced to confront the serious charge while contending with the likes of Union Jack. Luckily, she receives some help in Britain from Isabella herself. Now a grown woman who spent years with a happy British foster family thanks to Emma, Isabella has developed a snarky attitude that allows her to develop a fun give-and-take friendship with Emma. While it's clear she still cares for Emma and is grateful for the life given to her by the mutant, she's developed the same sarcasm Emma brings to most conversations.
Isabella was also seemingly visited by Elektra at one point, revealing to Emma that the ninja ended up training Isabella in how to fight. Although Elektra eventually disappeared, this means the nominally human Isabella is a surprisingly capable fighter in her own right. She holds her own against Union Jack in a one-on-one fight, highlighting her abilities. But she also has a ruthless side that would make both of her unlikely mentors proud -- as Isabelle opts to simply wound one of Union Jack's allies and use the opening of the hero saving his life to make her escape. Isabella ends the issue visiting Krakoa, deciding she's a city girl at heart and would not fit in on the mutant nation before venturing out across the world with a large trust fund to her name.
In just one formal appearance in her modern form, Isabella proves to be a potentially engaging new wildcard in the Marvel Universe. Traveling the world under the protection of Emma Frost is an interesting premise for the character, potentially allowing her to appear in practically any title. Her unique status as a student of Elektra means she could easily be dragged into any overarching storylines involving the Hand -- while her connection to Emma means she could easily appear as an agent and ally of the White Queen in future X-Men storylines. Her youth makes her an ideal contrast to characters like Kate Bishop or Nadia Pym, while her general attitude likely keeps her from becoming a pure villain -- although her ruthless nature could allow her to play well against characters like Deadpool or Domino.
The Marvel Universe is a vast place, and it's easy for exciting characters to simply fade into the background. But Isabella is too interesting of an idea to suffer such a fate. Her potential as a globe-trotting human ally for Krakoa sets her up to play a role in any number of X-Men stories, and she offers a direct connection between the X-Men and Daredevil-centric corners of the Marvel Universe. Considering the Hand and the Hell Bride might soon come up against the X-Men, this connection could be crucial -- making Isabella a potentially pivotal player. She could become an unpredictable member of the new heroic generation. Isabella not even having a codename might even benefit her, setting her up as a down-to-earth and pragmatic contrast to typical Marvel characters. She is a good idea and should return sooner than later.
Source: Trendz OH
No comments:
Post a Comment