Magneto (character)
Magneto is a prominent character in the Marvel Comics universe, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, who made his first appearance in 1963 in "The X-Men." Known for his complex nature, Magneto, whose real name is Max Eisenhardt, is a mutant possessing the ability to control magnetic fields and manipulate metals, as well as exert control over various forms of electromagnetic energy. His powers first emerged during his traumatic experiences as a child at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II, where he witnessed horrific acts and lost his family.
Magneto is often portrayed in opposition to Charles Xavier, the founder of the X-Men, with their contrasting ideologies representing different approaches to human-mutant coexistence. While Xavier advocates for harmony between humans and mutants, Magneto believes in the superiority of mutants and often takes a more aggressive stance. This ideological conflict mirrors real-world civil rights struggles, earning comparisons to figures like Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., although creators have clarified that these parallels were not intentional.
Beyond his comic book origins, Magneto has appeared in various media, including animated television series and feature films, with notable portrayals by Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender. He is also the leader of the Brotherhood of Mutants, a group of mutants who share his worldview, often focusing on themes of prejudice and retaliation against humanity. Magneto remains a central figure in ongoing X-Men stories, reflecting both the struggles and complexities of identity and power in the superhero genre.
On this Page
Magneto (character)
Appearing in numerous Marvel Comics series, Magneto is a character created by writer Stan Lee and realized by artist Jack Kirby. Lee is also the creative force behind several other highly successful Marvel Comics superheroes, including Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, and Daredevil. Magneto made his first comic book appearance in 1963, and he later became a member of the X-Men superhero team.
A popular and complex character, Magneto has been portrayed as both a villain and a hero. The character's real name is Max Eisenhardt, and he is a mutant. In the context of the Marvel universe, a mutant is a human born with superhuman abilities. Magneto's superpowers first manifested while he was incarcerated at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.
Magneto's point of view on how humans and mutants can coexist on Earth differs drastically from that of his former best friend, X-Men leader Charles Xavier, also known as Professor Xavier. While Xavier believes the two races can live in harmony, Magneto is convinced that mutants are superior. This clash of ideologies, along with other social issues, have long been explored in comics featuring the X-Men.
Background
Magneto debuted in the first issue of The X-Men, which was published in 1963. The X-Men ran for ninety-three issues, though issues #67 to #93 contained reprinted material. The series was effectively cancelled with the release of issue #66 in 1970. In 1975, the X-Men experienced a resurgence in popularity after the release of the special issue Giant-Size X-Men #1, and The X-Men was relaunched, picking up at issue #94. This marked the beginning of a sixteen-year run for the series, with Magneto remaining a major character.
According to Magneto's backstory, Eisenhardt was held prisoner at Auschwitz as a child, where he witnessed the murder of his family. He was then forced to help his Nazi captors operate gas chambers and ovens. His mutant superpowers likely manifested early, but Eisenhardt did not actively attempt to use them until many years later, when he faced a situation in which his wife and daughter were trapped in a burning house. Unable to save his daughter, partially due to mob interference, Magneto lashed out in a rage, killing everyone who had obstructed him. He then took on an alias, Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, and later met Charles Xavier, a mutant telepath. Eisenhardt and Professor Xavier became friends, often debating on how mutants and humans could live together. While Professor Xavier took the peaceful and harmonious position, Magneto believed in mutant aggression and dominance despite having carefully considered the peaceful alternative.
Magneto and Professor Xavier have been compared to Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., though creator Stan Lee maintains they were not originally inspired by these real-life civil rights figures. The comic debuted during the height of the American civil rights movement, and Lee realized that the X-Men comics made an excellent vehicle to discuss social issues.
Overview
Magneto's key superpower is the ability to control magnetic fields. He can manipulate these fields to suit his will, and he often uses them to control and shape metals. According to the original comic books, there does not seem to be an upper limit to Magneto's command over magnetism, and his ability extends to both natural and artificial magnetic fields.
However, Magneto's mutant powers are not limited to magnetism. He can also exert control over energy found in the electromagnetic spectrum, including gamma rays, ultraviolet light, and X-rays. These energies are more difficult for him to manipulate, so Magneto tends to use his power over magnetic fields whenever possible. Magneto can also create a strong, protective magnetic force field around himself to shield him from attackers. Physical injury often determines how effective Magneto's powers are. If he is wounded, then attempting to manipulate magnetic fields puts a great deal of stress on his body.
Beyond his mutant abilities, Magneto also excels at genetic manipulation. While mutants in the Marvel universe are born with their powers and abilities, Magneto has shown an ability to mutate humans artificially, awakening the so-called "X-gene." This power extends to clones and artificial life forms, which he has also learned to create.
One notable feature of Magneto's costume is his helmet. Once Magneto and Professor Xavier found themselves on opposing sides, Magneto designed his helmet to repel any possible intrusion from Xavier, who is the most powerful telepathic psychic on Earth in the X-Men world.
Other characters in the Marvel universe have chosen to join Magneto, sharing his worldview when it comes to the affairs of humans and mutants. This group of like-minded individuals was called the Brotherhood of Mutants, which first appeared in 1964 in X-Men #4. There have been several versions of this brotherhood over the years, with different leaders. The group is often populated with mutant characters who have suffered prejudice or violence and wish to retaliate by enslaving humanity or destroying it altogether.
In addition to Marvel comic books, Magneto has appeared in video games, television shows, and motion pictures. Magneto is featured as the end boss in several video game titles, such as the X-Men arcade game and the fighting game X-Men: Children of the Atom. He later returned as a playable character in subsequent fighting games such as X-Men vs. Street Fighter and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. The character has appeared in three animated television programs: 1992's X-Men: The Animated Series, 2000's X-Men: Evolution, and 2006's Wolverine and the X-Men.
Magneto's feature film appearances include turns in X-Men (2000), X2 (2004), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men: First Class (2011), and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), with actors Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender portraying the character at different stages of life. The X-Men movie franchise continues to generate new stories and adaptations, and numerous future titles are in various stages of development and production.
Bibliography
Barraclough, Leo. "Bryan Singer Shows Off 'X-Men' Tattoo, Talks about Franchise's Birth and Future." Variety, 25 Aug. 2016, global/bryan-singer-peter-rice-x-men-franchise-1201844961/" variety.com/2016/film/global/bryan-singer-peter-rice-x-men-franchise-1201844961/. Accessed 22 Dec. 2016.
"Brotherhood of Mutants." Marvel Universe, 2016, HYPERLINK "http://marvel.com/universe/Brotherhood‗of‗Mutants" marvel.com/universe/Brotherhood‗of‗Mutants. Accessed 22 Dec. 2016.
Casey, Dan. 100 Things Avengers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. Triumph Books, 2015.
Edidin, Rachel. "Catch Up on 50 Years of the X-Men with These 10 Key Stories." Wired, 11 Sept. 2013, www.wired.com/2013/09/x-men-50th-essential-stories/. Accessed 22 Dec. 2016.
Hanks, Henry. "The Secret to 'X-Men's' Success." CNN, 3 June 2011, www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/03/xmen.legacy.go/. Accessed 22 Dec. 2016.
Hiatt, Brian. "The True Origins of 'X-Men.'" Rolling Stone, 26 May 2014, www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/the-true-origins-of-x-men-20140526. Accessed 22 Dec. 2016.
"Magneto (Character)." IMDb, www.imdb.com/character/ch0001128/?ref‗=fn‗al‗ch‗1. Accessed 22 Dec. 2016.
"Magneto (Max Eisenhardt)." Marvel Universe, 2016, HYPERLINK "http://marvel.com/universe/Magneto‗(Max‗Eisenhardt)" marvel.com/universe/Magneto‗(Max‗Eisenhardt). Accessed 22 Dec. 2016.