Warning: contains spoilers for X-Force #10!
Marvel is finally done ignoring one of its most underrated villains, one so powerful not even a black hole can stop him. Marvel boasts some of the best and most powerful villains in comics, like Doctor Doom and Kingpin. Yet for every Doom, there are other villains, just as cool, who fly under the radar, and one of them makes a terrifying return in X-Force #10.
X-Force #10 is also the 300th issue featuring the team.
“The X-Equation,” appearing in X-Force #10, was written by Geoffrey Thorne and drawn by Marcus To. X-Force is fighting the evil alchemist La Diabla, who has enslaved Colossus and Rampage, and seeks Forge for his machinesmith abilities. La Diabla’s end game is eventually revealed: she is bringing Moses Magnum back to Earth. As Magnum steps out of the portal, X-Force is shocked and horrified, and Sage is in awe of Magnum. She reveals that volcanoes and black holes cannot seemingly kill Magnum, and he fought the Avengers and the X-Men to “a standstill.”
Who is Moses Magnum? Powers and Origins Explained
Moses Magnum Has Massive Villain Potential
Moses Magnum may not be a household name on par with Thanos, but he is no less lethal. Hailing from Ethiopia, Magnum began life as a weapons dealer. First appearing in 1975’s Giant Size Spider-Man #4, Magnum’s ghoulish weapons attracted the attention of the Wall Crawler and the Punisher, who formed a reluctant alliance to take him down. In the years since, Magnum has gained superpowers, including the ability to create earthquakes. As noted in X-Force #10, Moses Magnum has been enhanced by both Apocalypse and the Celestial technology, a terrifying combination for someone so evil.
In Moses Magnum's original backstory, he sided with fascist dictator Mussolini when he invaded Ethiopia in the Second World War.
All of this might indicate Moses Magnum could easily reside in the upper echelons of Marvel’s villains, but he remains relatively obscure. He is a technological genius, directing his considerable intellect into making horrifying weapons. In his first appearance, he created a gas that melted the flesh off people’s bones, and tested it on captives, including children. Later, Magnum tried to conquer the nation of Japan, and even went as far as to destroy a port city to make a point. The X-Men, including the Japanese mutant Sunfire, were able to stop him.
Moses Magnum Holds His Own in the Marvel Universe
Moses Magnum Now Seeks Human/Mutant Unification
In a universe full of gods and extremely powerful aliens, Moses Magnum has been able to not only hold his own, but thrive.
In a universe full of gods and extremely powerful aliens, Moses Magnum has been able to not only hold his own, but thrive. He rose from humble beginnings in Ethiopia to become one of the world’s foremost engineers and weapons designers, making fools out of the X-Men and the Avengers in the process. This is no easy feat, one worthy of Doctor Doom or Thanos, but Magnum was able to pull it off. Magnum has also fought other Marvel heroes, ranging from the Hulk to Luke Cage to Black Panther.
The Avengers Officially Recruit 6 of Marvel's Greatest Villains to Defeat an Unbeatable Enemy
With Doctor Doom ruling the world, Earth's Mightiest Heroes must make the tough decision to invite some dangerous Marvel villains into their ranks.
In X-Force #10, Magnum’s latest plan might be his most ambitious to date: he wants to unleash a horde of extradimensional monsters on an unsuspecting population. Magnum, who is now seemingly devoted to the cause of human/mutant unification, sees his plan as a way to bring the two groups together. In a sense, this puts Magnum in league with the MCU version of Thanos, who used extreme methods to do what he thought was right for the universe. Many villains do not see themselves as evil, and Magnum falls into that category.
When Will Moses Magnum Become a Top Marvel Villain?
Moses Magnum is Too Good a Villain to Waste
While X-Force is successful in stopping Magnum, and he disappears at the end, his latest plan positions him as one of Marvel’s top villains. Sage rattling off Magnum’s powers, friends and enemies helped build the hype for his return, and it did not disappoint. Moses Magnum is one of the finest scientific and technical minds in the Marvel Universe, even if it is directed towards evil. Magnum’s combination of scientific know-how, ruthlessness and powers make him a dire threat to Marvel’s heroes, and it is time for him to rise up and take his place beside Doctor Doom and Red Skull.
X-Force #10 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!
