The depth of Magneto knows no bounds. Once a major X-Men villain, Marvel continued to complicate him into a multi-layered character overtime. By now, it’s not easy to place him in a hero-villain alignment, but that’s exactly what makes Magneto such a captivating character. It’s that he can’t be placed so easily into a box or archetype.
Magneto continues to challenge the notion of what a hero or villain can be and, truly, what a character within the Marvel Universe can be. He’s a prime example of how characters at Marvel aren’t all black and white, but live in complex shades of gray. He’s offered hope as often as he’s committed atrocities, and Magneto was right as frequently as he’s been wrong. For better or worse, love him or hate him, Magneto pushed Marvel to the limit. Here are Magneto’s most definitive moments which have defined his legacy at Marvel.
10
The Debut of Magneto Etched Him in Marvel History
X-Men #1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Readers couldn’t possibly talk about Magneto’s most definitive moments without pointing to his first appearance, as it set the tone for how he’d be written for years to come. The first time that Magneto is seen on-panel is a sharp contrast from the pages that came before that focused on Professor X and his X-Men.
Moments after Charles Xavier tells his students the importance of protecting mankind from evil mutants, Magneto is plotting from a secret lab near Cape Citadel on how mutantkind can finally take dominion over humanity. The first issue quickly establishes the complexity of Magneto and his rivalry with the X-Men. Both he and Xavier want what’s best for the mutant population, but unlike the heroes, this supervillain wants to take it by force. Instantly, Magneto seemed even more intriguing than the protagonists.
9
Magneto’s Origin Story Establishes Him as a Holocaust Survivor
X-Men #150 by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Josef Rubinstein, and Bob Wiacek
18 years after Magneto’s debut, Chris Claremont was the first to establish what has become the character’s most essential attribute: the fact that he experienced the concentration camps firsthand. Magneto has his first confrontation with new recruit Kitty Pryde that turns deadly when she phases through him as he shoots an energy blast. Fearing he’s killed a child, he says:
She – she is a child! Why did you resist? Why did you not understand?! Magda – my beloved wife – did not understand. When she saw me use my powers, she ran from me in terror. It did not matter that I was defending her … that I was defending our murdered daughter. I swore then that I would not rest ’til I had created a world where my kind – mutants – could live free and safe and unafraid. Where such as you, little one, could be happy. I remember my own childhood – the gas chambers as Auschwitz, the guards joking as they herded my family to their death. As our lives were nothing to them, so human lives became nothing to me. As a boy, I believed. As a boy, I turned my back on God forever.
Future storylines would delve deeper into Magneto’s backstory and show actual flashbacks of his past. Here, though, one monologue is enough to transform Magneto into a tragic, sympathetic character more than ever before. From a readership perspective, Magneto didn’t just have a sad background, but one that connects to one of the worst horrors in human history. Suddenly, this supposed tyrant became relatable, setting the stage for Magneto to start being portrayed in a more positive, forgiving light.
8
The Trial of Magneto Changes Him Forever
X-Men #200 by Chris Claremont, John Romita, Jr., and Dan Green
50 issues after revealing his tragic backstory, Chris Claremont sets the stage for Magneto to atone for his sins. Magneto is put on trial in Paris, France in front of a special tribunal of the International Court of Justice, charged with crimes against humanity. Ironically, Magneto is called “the epitome of evil, the greatest fiend since Adolf Hitler.”
Adolf Hitler has featured as a character in both Marvel and DC Comics. Most infamously, Captain America punches Hitler in the face for his first appearance. As for DC, click here to learn how the company resurrected the dictator.
By the end of the story, Magneto shows what was once believed to be an uncharacteristically good side of himself to the judges, the X-Men, and especially Professor X, who is dying. Xavier’s final wish is for Magneto to lead the Xavier Institute and his team of mutants in his absence, which Magneto accepts. This marks a new beginning for Magneto, making the full-switch from villain to hero. The issue begins with him being viewed to be as diabolical as Hitler, and in its conclusion, he’s the heroic face of one of Marvel’s greatest super-teams.
7
A Powerful Feat Against Wolverine Has Dire Consequences for Magneto
X-Men #25 by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert
One of the most shocking and brutal feats of prowess that Magneto has ever unleashed occurs when he rips the adamantium from Wolverine’s body. Particularly after the moment was adapted for X-Men ’97, most Marvel fans are aware of this transpiring, but not enough discussion is had about its franchise-shifting aftermath.
For the first time, Magneto forces Xavier to break his moral code, and the rest of the universe is forced to pay the consequences.
As Magneto has flung off the deep end again, Professor X has determined that Magneto has become too dangerous and must be stopped to a permanent end. Therefore, he uses his powers to shut Magneto’s mind down, demoting him to a vegetative state. This produces a horrible domino effect as Xavier absorbs Magneto’s essence, and from that combination gives birth to a chaotic psionic entity called Onslaught. For the first time, Magneto forces Xavier to break his moral code, and the rest of the universe is forced to pay the consequences.
6
Taking Leadership of Genosha Opens the Door for Krakoa
The Magneto War Event, Chronicled Best in Magneto: Dark Seduction, Magneto Rex, and Other X-Books
Magneto has flipped between hero and villain several times at this point in his opposition to the X-Men. He comes to the conclusion that, rather than conflict with the X-Men’s efforts, he should become the founder of his own nation of mutantkind. Magneto claims Genosha, a utopia for mutant paradise, one which the United Nations grants sovereignty to.
This doesn’t just re-shape Magneto as a character, but largely starts to re-shape the X-Men franchise as it’s a couple of decades away from re-shaping itself into a new era. Magneto’s mutant paradise doesn’t last long, as the fury of Xavier’s evil twin, Cassandra Nova, compels her to massacre the island and its inhabitants in New X-Men #115. Still, though, it sets the stage for Magneto to collaborate with Charles and Moira MacTaggert to perfect his past failures through Krakoa.
5
Magneto’s Dream Becomes a Nightmare Thanks to the Scarlet Witch
House of M #1-8 by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel
For years, as both a villain and a hero, Magneto pledged his desire to see mutants become the superior race in a perfect world. Thanks to the reality-bending powers of his daughter, the Scarlet Witch, Magneto lives that dream to its fullest potential. Quicksilver urges his twin sister to revamp the world in their image.
As a result, mutants become the majority race and humans become minorities while Magneto and his family rule the world. It’s his ideal paradise until everything is uncovered. Then, Wanda Maximoff undoes her deed, with one caveat: “No more mutants.” With more than 90% of mutantkind having lost their powers, Magneto’s greatest hope becomes his greatest fear. He dedicated his life’s mission to prolonging and preserving the advancement of mutants, but in one fell swoop, he contributes to their downfall.
4
Magneto: Testament Becomes His Vital Origin Story
X-Men: Magneto Testament #1-5 by Greg Pak and Carmine DI Giandomenico
By 2008, it had long been established that Magneto is a Holocaust survivor, but this five-part limited series is the first time that readers get to see that journey unfold. Not only are Magneto’s gruesome experiences in the concentration camps seen in graphic detail for the first time, but this is the first story to establish Max Eisenhardt as Magneto’s true identity.
For years, Erik Lehnsherr was the name given for Magneto’s secret identity, but this miniseries establishes that his birth name is Max, while Erik is a false name he stuck by to hide his past. The past in question is harrowing to witness as the story focuses less on ideas thematic to superheroes or powers and more so about the horrors of the Holocaust and the importance of remembering history to ensure horrors like this never take place again. Changing Magneto’s name also represents a deeper understanding of Jewish heritage.
3
The Founding of Krakoa and The Quiet Council
House of X and Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman and Pepe Larraz
In founding Krakoa together, Magneto and Professor X are united closer than ever before. Krakoa is their effort to unite mutantkind as a whole, not only as a community, but in peace. Establishing the Krakoan Quiet Council is a way their attempt at policing and prioritizing efforts of law-abiding peace.
Related
A Complete Ranking of X-Men’s Omega Level Mutants From Weakest to Strongest
Meet every single Omega-level character in X-Men lore, in Screen Rant’s definitive guide to Marvel’s most powerful mutants of all time.
Magneto had always prided himself on taking things by force, and his attempts at championing mutantkind had usually been by either using such force or creating a wave of destruction to ensure peace for mutantkind. On the Quiet Council, Magneto focuses on peace without waging war for once in his life. The Krakoa Era depicts Magneto as a much wiser, muted version of Magneto who would rather achieve success through philosophical and civilized discussion, only resorting to violence when all other options have been expended.
2
Magneto Sacrifices His Life in the Name of Arakko’s Honor
X-Men: Red #7 by Al Ewing and Stefano Caselli
During the “A.X.E.: Judgment Day” event, Storm and Magneto were forced to contend with Uranos, the grandfather of Thanos. In the heat of the battle of Arakko, they managed to defeat Uranos, but at a great cost. Magneto’s death gives the heroes time to regroup before mounting a final winning assault on Uranos the Undying.
Magneto’s death can also be seen in A.X.E.: Judgment Day #5 by Kieron Gillen and Valerio Schiti.
One selfless act really re-shapes how Magneto has been viewed in the grand scheme of the Marvel Universe. Magneto was always selfless, making it clear that he was willing to die for mutantkind, but at this moment, he puts his money where his mouth is by proving it. Even better, he urges Storm not to use Krakoa’s resurrection pools, living up to his word in trying to co-lead its sister nation of Arakko free of Krakoa’s compromises. In more ways than one, Magneto dies as a matyr, and is commended for his sacrifice.
1
The Resurrection of Magneto Challenges His Character
The Resurrection of Magneto #1-4 by Al Ewing and Luciano Vecchio
As is the case with virtually every hero or villain in Marvel’s history, resurrection was inevitable for Magneto. However, rather than simply bring him back to life, Marvel takes the opportunity to use this miniseries to challenge who the character is and his legacy. Mutant forces are dismantled in the fall of Krakoa, thanks to Krakoa.
Related
The Resurrection of Magneto Reveals The 1 Thing That Defines His Entire Life
As Storm attempts to bring Magneto back in the fight against Orchis, she finds him facing the one thing that has followed him his entire life.
As the mutant community’s defenses are diminished in the rise of the anti-mutant extremist hate group, Storm has no choice but to revive reinforcements in the form of Magneto. The series challenges the role that Magneto has served for the X-Men since his debut, as well as redefining his purpose within the context of the X-Men franchise. The sheer existence of Magneto is enough to constantly challenge classic story conventions within the Marvel Universe, but for once, it’s Marvel who challenges the character himself.
