Hulk vs X-Men Finally Makes Magneto a Badass Again

3 weeks ago 17

jim lee comic art of x-men's magneto and cyclops

Published May 3, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT

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It is always a bad idea to mess with Magneto. Since day one, Marvel Comics has been clear when it comes to the X-Men villain: Magneto is always ready to throw hands. For decades, fans have watched Magneto take on threats from across the multiverse as everyone from the X-Men to the Avengers and more have tested his nerves. In the wake of From the Ashes, Magneto has been a bit more reserved as Marvel contends with the change to his powers, but that doesn't mean the man is out for the count. Thanks to the impending Hulk War, Magneto is now getting the chance to come out of his shell at long last.

As you can see above, the preview for Infernal Hulk #7 shows Magneto facing off with the beast with a bit of help. Despite wielding diminished powers, Magneto is able to summon a literal Sentinel with his abilities to fight the infernal foe. As Cyclops and Beast fight the Infernal Hulk's lackeys with Magik and the others, Magneto brings the fight straight to the main foe. This showdown proves Magneto still has it in him to throw down, and the Infernal Hulk will learn that lesson the hard way.

The Hulk and Magneto Go Way, Way Back

While Magneto's feud with Infernal Hulk is rather recent, there is no denying the X-Men villain goes way back with The Hulk. The two characters occupy different spaces in the Marvel Universe, but they have interacted their fair share. Despite having fought numerous times, Magneto has a soft spot for The Hulk as he has seen the persecution laid upon the green giant. While The Hulk may not be a mutant per se, his gamma-fueled powers make the beast an outcast. Magneto has attempted to sway The Hulk to his team by appealing to their shared status as outcasts, but in the end, The Hulk (thanks to Bruce Banner) never fails to snub the villain.

Given the pair's history, it comes as no surprise that Marvel has pitted the pair against one another often. In 1984, Secret Wars kickstarted the two's tumultuous relationship as they were forced to work together on Battleworld despite their conflicting personalities. This strained relationship was transferred to Marvel's Ultimate timeline, while the mainline universe has given the two a more nuanced relationship. Barring the World War Hulk event, Marvel's angriest giant and Magneto are mostly indifferent to one another unless they're forced to fight. Infernal Hulk has now sparked one such conflict, giving Marvel an opportunity to tap into Magneto's badass side after a long wait.

Of course, fans will have to wait and see how this impending showdown pans out. Infernal Hulk #7 will hit shelves on May 27, and its writer promised fans Infernal Hulk's plans for the X-Men will rock the entire Marvel Universe, not just Magneto. "The X-Men are some of my favorite characters in the Marvel Universe, and they’ll have a big role in Infernal Hulk going forward," Johnson told AIPT, setting up the epic conflict. "Hulk’s plans for mutants come into focus in this issue. It’s not good, and the X-Men have something to say about it."