Warning: Spoilers ahead for X-Men Red #11Even though he is already one of Marvel's most complex characters, Magneto and his relationship with the X-Men is still reaching new heights in the modern era. In X-Men Red #11, the former villain and co-architect of the current status quo for the X-Men is proving to be one of mutantkind's wisest leaders, even after his death. During the AXE: Judgment Day event, Magneto sacrificed himself defending his fellow mutants—a sacrifice those closest to him are still grappling with.
Throughout X-Men Red, the Brotherhood of Mutants led by Magneto and Storm has been working alongside the ancient mutant inhabitants of Arakko—formerly known as the planet Mars. During the Judgment Day crossover event that saw a faction of the Eternals seek to destroy the mutants for mastering the ability to resurrect themselves, Magneto was killed defending the mutants on Arakko. After revealing that he wouldn't be resurrected after his death, Magneto, having reclaimed his birth name of Max Eisenhardt, leaves Storm with a final warning to beware of Charles Xavier's willingness to stop at nothing to prove their value to humanity. The two men's opposing ideologies have been a consistent struggle throughout the X-Men's history, making the warning a powerful reminder of how vulnerable the mutants are with Xavier as their primary leader.
Magneto's Ominous Warning Calls Back to Years of History
In X-Men Red #11 by Al Ewing, Jacopo Camagni, and Federico Blee, Storm is called back to Earth from Arakko by Professor X, where he confides in her his grief around Magneto's shocking death. Xavier is shocked when she refuses to share Magneto's last words with him, leading to a tense exchange where Xavier refers to Magneto as "Erik" before Storm corrects him. While Xavier apologizes for the mistake, he its that Max is a side of Magneto that he never let Charles fully know, giving even more insight into his struggle to fully understand his decision to opt out of resurrection at such a pivotal point for the mutant population. In a desperate moment, Xavier attempts to take Max's final words from Storm's mind himself, making the warning that Professor Xavier will stop at nothing to achieve his goals all the more poignant.
Since the beginning of the Krakoan era of the X-Men, Magneto and Professor Xavier have been among the most pivotal characters in shaping the status quo of the X-Men and the rest of the mutants in the Marvel Universe. However, as the franchise enters the next phase of storytelling with the Fall of X chapter beginning this summer, seeds have been planted that could mean serious trouble for Krakoa, Arakko, and everyone who inhabits them under Xavier's leadership. Storm's refusal to show Magneto's private final moments to Professor Xavier, and more importantly his response, prove Magneto right that Xavier will quickly be blinded by his greater mission. With decades of history fighting both alongside and against each other, Max proves that he understands Xavier unlike anyone else. This signals to fans that, without Magneto around to balance Xavier out, the Fall of X era could be detrimental to the mutants.
As the X-Men head toward the Fall of X this summer, the years-long reign of mutants in the Marvel Universe could be up against its greatest threat yet. While there's been little revealed about what's ahead, creative teams throughout the X-Men related stories in recent years have made it clear that whatever ultimate threat the X-Men are going to face, mutants all over the galaxy may never be the same without Magneto by their side.
X-Men Red #11 is available now from Marvel Comics!
