Since the first issue of Uncanny X-Men, Magneto has always been the X-Men's number one foe. (X-Men #1) Having lost his wife during the Holocaust and having been feared for being a mutant, Magneto has learned to hate humans. He believes that the only form of peace between humans and mutants is for mutants to rule-- the direct opposite of Professor Charles Xavier's dream of a world where the two co-exist.

Eventually, Magneto would establish a space station (Asteroid M) for mutants, as a haven from the mutant-hating people of Earth. (X-Men (2) #1) Over time, more and more mutants decided to join Magneto in his beliefs-his "Acolytes". (X-Men (2) #1-#3) In fact, after the death of his sister, X-Man Colossus joined Magneto's followers. Soon, the governments of the world feared that Magneto would attack from his orbiting outpost. The X-Men traveled to Asteroid M in an attempt to stop Magneto.

As the battle between the X-Men and Magneto became more fierce, Magneto used his magnetic powers to rip the adamantium from Wolverine's skeleton! In retaliation, Xavier used his own metal powers to reduce Magneto to a vegetative mental state. (X-Men (2) #25) It was also at this time that a "evil parasite" lept from Magneto to Xavier, which would cause Xavier to become Onslaught. Wolverine would survive the battle, but Magneto was mentally destroyed.

When "The Age of Apocalypse" arrived, Magneto was now the leader of the Astonishing X-Men, a band of rebels leading attacks against Apocalypse. (X-Men Alpha) With the help of Bishop, Magneto realized that his reality was not the "correct" one at all! After defeating Apocalypse, the reality-shaping M'Krann crystal was repaired and the proper reality was restored. (X-Men Omega)

As reality returned to normal, a young man by the name of Joseph came to the attention of the X-Men. (X-Men Unlimited #11) This young man had very strong magnetic powers, but no memory of who he was. Is this man really Magneto, altered by the reality-shifting?

Magneto's abilities include a genius level intellect for strategy and leadership. His mutant ability is magnetism, which he controls with great precision: from levitating himself and others to lifting space stations into orbit to manipulating iron cells in a person's blood stream.

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