Cortez traps Magneto and leaves him to die as he jettisons him to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere - when the X-Men hear a distress call from him, he accuses them of killing Magneto. The mutant mob are enraged and turn on the X-Men, forcing them to flee with the astronauts and return to Earth while Gambit stays behind to hold them off. Meanwhile on Asteroid M, Cortez assumes leadership and galvanizes the mutant army to exact vengeance on the human race for the "death" of their liberator.
Tropes:
- Amicable Exes: Amelia is uninterested in helping Xavier achieve his dream, as she feels she needs to find her own path in life, but she parts on good terms with him and even gives him a kiss on the cheek.
- Armor-Piercing Question: By this point, Amelia is already aware that Cortez is making things worse for Asteroid M, but this is what gets her to realize just how bad it is.Amelia: But what happened to Magneto?
Gambit: Ever wonder how Cortez got to Magneto's chamber so fast when his room is on the other side of the asteroid? - Ax-Crazy: Cortez is deranged enough to launch hundreds of nuclear missiles and wipe out humanity as revenge for mutant oppression.
- Bittersweet Ending: Magneto prevents Cortez's plan of genocide, but his sanctuary for mutants is destroyed.
- The Cameo: Black Panther and Mjnari appear after the touchdown in Africa.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Cortez muses in private that he'll be getting rid of Amelia next, due to what he perceives as a lack of proper respect.
- Due to the Dead: Xavier holds a small memorial service for Magneto and eulogizes him. Wolverine, Beast, and Rogue attend.
- First Law of Resurrection: Magneto survives the assassination attempt because the Earth's magnetic field healed him, restoring him to his former glory. This, in spite of the fact by Cortez's words "could barely hold his own molecules together." Cortez himself survives the destruction of Asteroid M, but only because Apocalypse was passing through and rescued him for a future task.
- Freudian Excuse: While eulogizing him, Xavier talks about Magneto's traumatic past and how it led him down a dark path.
- Friendly Enemy: At the memorial service, Xavier refers to Magneto as both the team's biggest opponent and his friend. He also offered to save Magneto in the end because they're friends first.
- I Choose to Stay: As Asteroid M is about to enter the atmosphere, Xavier offers Magneto the chance to leave on the Blackbird with them. Magneto refuses, saying he has to see his dream through to the bitter end.
- No Man Left Behind: Subverted: Professor X and Beast are forced to leave Gambit behind on Asteroid M when a mob tries to hunt them down. Played straight later when they return to strike at Cortez. Rogue is insistent on bringing him back alive.
- Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: Despite talking about fighting for mutants, Cortez attempts to fire an arsenal of nuclear missiles at Earth, killing mutants and humans alike.
- Not Quite Dead:
- When escaping Asteroid M, Xavier briefly senses Magneto's mind, but he's certain his old friend is soon dead. The chamber later crashes on Earth, and Magneto proclaims that he still lives.
- Cortez is left trapped by Magneto so that he'll die when the asteroid experiences reentry, but Apocalypse saves him.
- Omnicidal Maniac: Cortez launches 210 nuclear missiles at Earth, which Byron figures would kill almost everyone
- Pay Evil unto Evil: As punishment for his betrayal, Magneto leaves Cortez to die on Asteroid M as it crashes. Cortez only survives thanks to a last minute rescue by Apocalypse.
- Revenge Before Reason / Roaring Rampage of Revenge: And how! Magneto is very displeased with Cortez's betrayal, and his revenge destroys the very asteroid base he worked so hard to build.
- Sanity Slippage: Cortez has gotten so far off his rocker that even Uniscione comments on it.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Gambit and Amelia are escorting Cortez when Magneto bursts in. Gambit considers this a cue to leave without him.
- Tactical Withdrawal: Vastly outnumbered and blamed for what happened to Magneto, Xavier, Beast, and Gambit book it.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Beast, when the remaining missiles are launched all at once.
- Torches and Pitchforks: Cortez accuses the X-Men of killing Magneto and presents no evidence - but his word and reputation. This is in spite of the fact that the X-Men only arrived to the call when everyone else did, and while they were opponents to Magneto, they have little motivation to kill him. A superpowered mob chases them off Asteroid M anyway.
- Undying Loyalty: The other Acolytes and Asteroid M residents were genuinely loyal to Magneto. The second they learn Cortez betrayed him, they fully intend to make him pay.
- The Usurper: Cortez to Magento. He's even more strident than the Master of Magnetism and rules through deception, violence, and appeals to their basest desires, rather than the respect Magneto offered them.
- Villains Want Mercy: When Magneto catches up to him, Cortez begs for mercy. Magneto responds by wrapping him up in metal and leaving him to die for when the asteroid goes through reentry.
- Villainous Rescue: Well, if you still consider Magneto a villain, then him destroying the remaining missiles before they hit Earth is this.
- Wham Line:Cortez: Where am I?
Apocalypse: With your true savior. - Wham Shot: In the final scene, Apocalypse has returned and has a new ally in Deathbird.
- Who Are You?: Cortez asks who it was that saved him. Apocalypse responds with an Evil Laugh.
- Women Are Wiser: Amelia and Uniscione are the only members of the Acolytes to point out how odd Cortez is acting and how it puts everyone on the asteroid at risk. Chrome outright ignores Uniscione's concerns, and Delgado doesn't appear to have any qualms.
