Rogue x Magneto Confused Many in X-Men '97, So Marvel Is Preparing to Revisit the Controversial Couple

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Rogue: The Savage Land #1!The animated X-Men ‘97 series reintroduced fans to one of the most controversial romances in X-Men history, the brief love affair between Rogue and Magneto while stranded in the Savage Land. Now, Marvel is set to revisit Rogue’s time in the Savage Land but with a new spin on her journey and her polarizing romance with the Master of Magnetism.

Rogue: The Savage Land #1 – written by Tim Seeley, with art by Zulema Scotto Lavina – re-examines Rogue’s adventure in the Savage Land, bringing a fresh twist to the classic tale of Rogue surviving in the Savage Land without her powers. While only previously hinted at, X-Men ‘97 took Rogue and Magneto's tumultuous romance to a new level, sowing massive discourse between the fandom in the process.

Seeley and Lavina’s revival of the storyline offers a bridge between the two iterations that both expands and enhances the beloved but polarizing classic, especially regarding Rogue and Magneto’s romance.

X-Men ‘97 Expanded Upon the Controversial Rogue & Magneto Romance, But Rogue: The Savage Land Brings It Into Whole New Light

Rogue: The Savage Land #1 – Written by Tim Seeley; Art By Zulema Scotto Lavina; Color By Rachelle Rosenberg; Lettering By Ariana Meher; Cover Art By Haare Andrews

As many long-time fans know, Rogue and Magneto’s romance was briefly touched upon in 1990's Uncanny X-Men #269-257, which featured Rogue teleporting into the Savage Land without her powers. Rogue has a run-in with Magneto and the two team up as well as form a brief attraction as they fight the Savage Land Sorceress, Zaladane. The story undoubtedly implies a romance brewing between the two but Rogue’s feelings are squashed when Magneto executes Zaladale to Rogue’s immense disappointment. The pairing was ultimately deemed controversial due to Rogue and Magneto’s unmistakable age gap.

Like various other X-Men storylines, X-Men ‘97 takes the subtlety of Chris Cleramont’s original story, changing Rogue and Magneto’s attraction to a very tangible relationship that drives a wedge between Rogue and Gambit’s relationship. Where Savage Land’s Rogue lost her powers, the TV series brings back the problem of Rogue’s absorbing touch, with Magneto being able to touch her due to his ability to create a magnetic field around his person. Rogue: The Savage Land #1 expands on the loneliness surrounding her powers but redefines Rogue’s inability to touch others in an interesting way.

Rogue: The Savage Land Sets Out To Develop & Deepen Rogue’s Most Contentious Storyline

Magneto & Rogue’s Romance, First Introduced in Uncanny X-Men #269-257 – Written by Chris Claremont & Art by Jim Lee

For the longest time, Rogue’s inability to touch others was an intriguing part of her character that allowed her to grow as a hero and was also part of why her long-time relationship with fellow X-Men teammate Gambit was so compelling. The reason many were put off by Rogue’s connection to Magneto was not only due to their uncomfortable age gap but also due to the tension it created between one of the most beloved X-Men couples. While this new limited series does allude to the pairing, it looks at Rogue and Magneto’s relationship from a much-needed alternate perspective.

This new series promises a retelling of Rogue’s dynamic with Magneto while also expanding upon her as a strong, well-written character. Rogue: The Savage Land #1 highlights Rogue as a persevering survivor as she reflects on how her powers have created a striking loneliness, but being alone in the merciless Savage Land reveals a new level of loneliness that has her yearning for her X-Men. When she is reunited with her enemy, Magneto, instead of animosity, she feels an unexpected relief knowing she is no longer alone, changing the relationship from a taboo attraction to a deeper look at Rogue’s character.

Rogue Gets Some Much-Deserved Respect, As She Revisits Her Perilous Journey Into The Savage Land

Redefining Rogue’s Connection To X-Men’s Most Famous Villain

Rogue and Magneto’s murky relationship throughout X-Men history has always sparked debate among fans, especially with its concrete revival in X-Men ‘97. Despite the relationship's brief existence, there have been other X-Men timelines that take their relationship furtherm such as during “The Age of Apocalypse” event, where Rogue and Magneto have a son, showcasing the persistent yet problematic appeal the couple have. As the Savage Land storyline is revisited, it provides an opportunity to explore more than just Rogue’s relationship and give her a greatly deserved solo story that showcases Rogue’s most compelling qualities.

Rogue: The Savage Land introduces Rogue’s struggle with her power-absorbing touch similarly to X-Men ‘97, but paints her relationship to Magneto in a refreshing light, focusing more on Rogue’s tenacious spirit and will to survive. The series shows great promise as a comprehensive, self-contained saga that provides a renewed outlook on Rogue while honoring a classic story. Rogue and Magneto are some of the most complex characters within X-Men comics, and their unlikely dynamic deserves to be revisited from a new perspective to shed light on the infamous couple.

Rogue: The Savage Land #1 is available now from Marvel Comics!