Illyana Rasputin (born Illyana Nikolievna Rasputina) was born in the Ust-Ordynski Collective farm, near Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union to Nikolai Rasputin and his wife Alexandra Natalya Rasputina. Illyana’s two older brothers, Mikhail Nikolaievitch Rasputin and Colossus (Piotr “Peter” Nikolaievitch Rasputin) are also mutants. Colossus’ superhuman powers manifest while saving Illyana from a runaway tractor.

Illyana is called to the Limbo dimension by Belasco, who seeks to bring forth the Elder Gods to rule Earth.  She is raised there, frequently bullied and tormented by Belasco’s underling S’ym.  In order to free himself, Belasco needs to fill the Beatrix Medallion with five bloodstones. The bloodstones are created by corrupting Illyana’s soul, with a new stone appearing as her corruption deepens. She is rescued and tutored in the practice of white magic by that dimension’s version of Storm (who turned to magic when her mutant powers waned).

Continue reading →