Know him, love (or hate) him, but many can never get enough of him. One of the most powerful mutants to ever live, Magneto has been a fan favorite from his inception and is still considered one of the best-written villains in history.
These are some of his most powerful versions over the years, from the heroic to the villainous, to the tragic to the heroic. He is quite the character across his different versions, each one similar but different in their own way.
10Ruins Magneto
The Most Tragic Magneto Of Them All
The world ofMarvel: Ruinsis a parody ofthe regular Marvel universe, where things always go wrong for everyone, heroes and villains alike. Magneto, in this instance, instead of being the master of magnetism, is a demonstrator protesting the corrupt regime of President Charles Xavier.
He has no control over his abilities and is constantly forced to wear a dampening harness on his body. This usually keeps others safe around him, but when his harness is damaged, he ends up destroying an airport and, in the process, kills himself.
9Enrique, Marvel 1602
The Grand Inquisitor of the Church
In theMarvel 1602universe, Enrique is the Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition. This version of Magneto uses his magnetic powers to torture and execute those accused of witchcraft or heresy.
Enrique’s zealous devotion to his cause reflects the intense conviction of the Magneto we are all used to, but fans view this version through the lens of 17th-century religious fanaticism. He is still a powerful mutant in his own right, although he is called a “witchbreed” in this universe.
8Amalgam Universe Magneto
A True Hero
This version of Magneto is one of the few that was a hero through and through. In the amalgam universe, he is the defender of the meta mutants, an amalgamation of DC’s metahumans and Marvel’s mutants.
As leader of the Brotherhood, he uses his resources to save as many mutants as possible. His dream doesn’t last long enough, as his brother slaughters his brotherhood, leaving him alone and with only one choice: to recreate his fallen comrades with metal.
7Live Action Magneto
A Perfect Adaptation
Notable actors, includingIan McKellenand Michael Fassbender, have portrayed Magneto in live-action adaptations. These versions generally maintain Magneto’s core characteristics: his tragic past as a Holocaust survivor, his powerful magnetic abilities, and his belief in mutant superiority.
They also show his constant struggle between good and evil, trying to keep his darker sides buried for the good of mutantkind.
6Zombie Magneto
Went out with a bang
Magneto is one of the few survivors initially resisting the zombie plague in theMarvelZombiesuniverse. He uses his powers to create a haven for uninfected humans and mutants. However, he eventually succumbs to the virus and becomes a zombie after fighting the undead hordes to make sure his comrades get away safely.
However, he goes down in a blaze of glory, taking as many of the zombies as he can with him.
5Days of Future Past Magneto
A Villain, But One Everyone Loves
In the “Days of Future Past” storyline, Magneto is one of the few mutant survivors in a dystopian future where Sentinels hunt and imprison mutants. He works alongside the remainingX-Mento return Kate Pryde’s consciousness and prevent this dark future.
Now stuck in a wheelchair, this older Magneto has set aside his previous conflicts with the X-Men. His experiences in this bleak timeline have tempered his extremism, though his powers remain formidable. However, after the sentinels catch them up, he stays behind to fight them and is killed.
4Mutant X Magneto
A Corrupted Leader
This version of Magneto is from Earth 1298, where he and Charles Xavier became friends and founded the X-Men together. Charles is taken over bythe Shadow King, forcing Magneto to take the helm of the X-Men and become its leader.
However, as time went on, the members of the X-Men began to see that he was straying from Charles’s visions and decided to leave the X-Men, forming the group known as The Six.
3Earth X Magneto
A Powerful Mutant In His Own Right
OnEarth-X, Magneto rules the nation of Sentinel City, a society where mutants live in relative peace. Magneto destroys all the sentinels and, using his powers, turns them into a city. This version of Magneto has achieved its goal of creating a haven for mutants.
However, he soon loses his powers, as the vibranium on earth is suddenly removed, causing all his powers to be transferred to his subordinate, Toad, who subjects him to humiliation until his powers are returned.
2Ultimate Magneto
The Most Extreme Of Ideals Crystallized
The Ultimate Universe version of Magneto is more ruthless and extremist than his 616 counterpart. He believes mutants are the next stage of human evolution and seeks to eradicate humanity. This Magneto has caused massive destruction, including devastating New York City and causing widespread death.
He’s portrayed as a terrorist leader, willing to use extreme violence to achieve his goals. His relationship with his children, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch is even more dysfunctional in this universe than in the regular universe. He is eventually killed off by Cyclops, who decides not to forgive him for all the evil he’s carried out.
1Age of Apocalypse Magneto
The Reluctant Hero
In the Age of Apocalypse timeline, Magneto is a hero and leader of the X-Men. Following Charles Xavier’s death, Magneto adopts his friend’s dream of peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants.
He leads the resistance against Apocalypse’s authoritarian rule, becoming a symbol of hope in a dystopian world. This Magneto ismarried to Rogue and has a son named Charles, who is named after his late friend. He eventually brings down Apocalypse with his powers of magnetism, ripping him apart.
