Magneto is one of the most recognizable figures in comic book history, but he's changed significantly since his days as the X-Men's primary antagonist. While the Master of Magnetism still fights for mutant survival, he's expanded his umbrella of protection to include all who suffer under oppressors – whether the victims are mutant, human, or something else entirely. Magneto has a new purpose in life, and the world's disenfranchised should celebrate.
In Avengers #21 – written by Jed MacKay, with art by Valerio Schiti – Scott Summers and Carol Danvers bring the Avengers and X-Men together for a friendly game of baseball, reaffirming their alliance, during which Vision questions Magneto about his new convictions after Max mentions that his recent resurrection granted him clarity.
While the mutant leader has always been driven forward by his personal beliefs, he admits that he's realized the true struggle was never between mutants and humans, but between "the oppressor and the oppressed." Magneto's new outlook is simultaneously changed and perfectly in character.
Avengers #21 – Written By Jed MacKay; Art By Valerio Schiti; Color By Federico Blee; Lettering By Cory Petit
Mutantkind's battle for safety and freedom never ends. Any ground they gain is eventually taken from them, and the struggle to survive is ceaseless. No one knows that better than Magneto, whose life is dedicated to protecting his people. From founding the mutant nation of Genosha to being instrumental in the creation of Krakoa, he's done everything within his power (and often beyond it) to make a difference, only for mutants to end up with nothing but strife yet again. Now, after possibly the worst loss in mutant history, he's not refusing to give up – he's extending his reach.
Magneto's conversation with Vision in Avengers #21 marks his biggest departure ever from his original goal, and this call for solidarity embodies the hero he's become.
Magneto's newfound conviction is a far cry from his earliest days. While he's always been focused on oppression, he spent decades fighting the obvious disparity between humans and mutants. It led him to found the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, commit acts of terrorism and violence across the globe, and strive to place mutantkind above humans. Max's anger drove him to fight for mutant superiority, rather than equality, and many were hurt or killed along the way. Magneto's conversation with Vision in Avengers #21 marks his biggest departure ever from his original goal, and this call for solidarity embodies the hero he's become.
Magneto’s Evolution Has Played Out Over The Course Of Decades
A Sometimes Uneven Redemption Arc
Despite how much he's changed over the last several years, many still remember Magneto as a mutant terrorist. It's a well-earned reputation, after creating a supervillain team and committing multiple public acts of violence. Yet, as heinous as some of his actions have been, they were rooted in unimaginable pain and anger and not necessarily indicative of the man beneath them. After losing his entire family in the Holocaust and watching his beloved daughter, Anya, die while humans prevented him from rescuing her, the only thing Max Eisenhardt had left was his rage and guilt. It proved difficult to shed.
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Though he allied with the X-Men on and off and seemingly turned over a new leaf, Magneto still fell victim to those old feelings during certain moments, like murdering Red Skull and inadvertently unleashing Red Onslaught during Marvel’s AXIS event. Max's road to heroism hasn't been smooth, but by the time he died on Arakko, he was hailed as a true hero for mutants. Essentially, Magneto has grown from being the X-Men’s primary antagonist to someone toeing the line between villainy and heroism, and finally, one of the most respected figures in mutant history. Max Eisenhardt never stops evolving.
Part of the reason that the process of Magneto's rehabilitation as a heroic figure has been so protracted is that it needed to be well-earned; more than just the most famous villain in X-history, he is the most infamous, meaning that he among the most dangerous. The other reason is that different generations of Marvel writers and editors have disagreed on the decision, leading to backtracking and undoing of progress from some creative teams. Now, though, Marvel is all in on Magneto as a hero, and it is the right decision.
Returning From The Afterlife Forced Magneto To Truly Re-Evaluate How To Fight For Everyone
Resurrection of Magneto (Four Issue Series) – Written By Al Ewing; Art By Luciano Vecchio; Available Now From Marvel Comics
Although Magneto is gearing up to fight for all disenfranchised people, that evolution was a painful process. Death was not the end of Max's fight, and he spent his time in the afterlife essentially crafting a hell for himself. When Storm found her friend, he was surrounded by walls stamped with hundreds upon hundreds of names, each representing a person he associated with regret. Some were killed by his followers, while others were from Max's personal life, but all left him with an unshakeable weight. By choosing resurrection, he simultaneously chose not to repeat the mistakes that carved those names.
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Magneto has been the X-Men's greatest villain for over 60 years, including some extreme redesigns that reinvented the mutant antihero.
Storm sought to resurrect Magneto to battle Orchis, but the fight didn't end there. Not only did A.I. turn on humanity, but humans are now direct victims of experimentation, as Cassandra Nova and her group are forcibly activating X-Genes in homo sapiens. Aside from targeted attacks, society itself has many layers of built-in oppression designed to keep all manner of humans, mutants, synthezoids, and others from truly thriving. Orchis is defeated, but the struggle against those who abuse their power and resources is beginning anew. Magneto returned intending to make a difference; his resurrection was always meant to be impactful.
With Mutantkind Rejoining Human Society, The World Needs Magneto As Its Defender More Than Ever
Magneto is currently in the throes of R-LDS (Resurrection-Linked Degenerative Sickness), the disease currently causing some mutants to lose control of their abilities. At a time when people need someone to fight for them, he's unable to tap into his gifts, but Magneto certainly has more to offer than just his magnetism. For better or for worse, he's always been an inspiring man. People are willing to act in his name, to uphold what he believes even when he's not present, and he can still make an enormous impact by openly embracing all the oppressed peoples of the world.
By rallying humans, mutants, and anyone who has "power inflicted upon them" together, Magneto can start a new kind of revolution – even with his mutant powers out of reach.
During his harrowing time in the afterlife, Max Eisenhardt wrapped himself in guilt and regret for all those hurt either by his hand or in his name. The Brotherhood lived on without him, and those who held tight to his earliest edicts continued to engage in violence, and he carried the weight of each of them. Magneto speaks, and people listen. Now, he has the unique opportunity to use that for something extraordinarily good. By rallying humans, mutants, and anyone who has "power inflicted upon them" together, Magneto can start a new kind of revolution – even with his mutant powers out of reach.
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The oldest and best-known adversary of the X-Men, Magneto has been a part of Marvel Comics since the mutant team was introduced. Bearing powers over magnetic fields, he views mutants as superior to normal humans, and aims to build a world where humans are dominant. The only thing stopping him is Professor X and his team of heroes.
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