History Characters / MarvelComicsMagneto

* AffablyEvil: In some portrayals, DependingOnTheWriter, he is a gentleman in his pursuit of mutant freedom and is genuinely cordial and polite, even to enemies, and sincerely sees Charles as a friend. Being played by the charming Sir Creator/IanMcKellen and very charismatic Creator/MichaelFassbender in the movies highlights this aspect of himself.

* AdaptationalVillainy: ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'' completely sacrificed any and all of his mainstream counterpart's moral ambiguity to become nothing more than a mutant supremacist and genocidal maniac.

** The Ultimate Marvel version is not a Jewish Holocaust survivor, he's the son of two Canadian Weapon X Agents. He's also a psychotic racist who murders Prosimian, the genetically engineered ape who helped him, because he sees him as an UpliftedAnimal and so untermenschen to Homo Superior, which is merely a small part of why everyone wants his head on a pike (the larger part being Ultimatum and his very thorough attempt to wipe out humanity)[[note]]And come the end of ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}} they get it, albeit what's left of it when Ult!Cyclops blasts it with his Optic Vision[[/note]].

* BigBad:
** Formerly, the chief antagonist of the X-Men. They have since found more common ground.
** His ComicBook/UltimateMarvel counterpart was the BigBad of that entire universe, up until his death in ''ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}''.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: That Magneto had been a Holocaust survivor wasn't part of his backstory until Creator/ChrisClaremont wrote him in the '80s, a good couple of decades after his debut. In the early Creator/StanLee-Creator/JackKirby run, [[https://graphicpolicy.com/2016/03/03/peoples-history-of-the-marvel-universe-week-6-this-man-magneto/ Magneto was more or less a mustache-twirling villain without any benevolent attributes]], {{Gaslighting}} his own subordinates, exploiting his own children as pawns, and as a kind of PoorMansSubstitute for Dr. Doom (i.e. Central European tyrant), with retroactively out-of-character moments such as leading a Nazi-styled invasion of San Marco. In fact, Ultimate Magneto in terms of narrative fidelity is TruerToTheText than the benevolent TragicVillain mantle Magneto got under Claremont's run.

* FatalFlaw: '''Arrogance''', or rather a tossup between '''[[CycleOfRevenge Wrath]]''' and '''{{Pride}}''', depending on who's writing him that day. His actual evil quotient is very variable, but a constant in almost all his appearances and incarnations is his deep-seated rage at the human race. Most of the time this rage comes from the very valid place of his traumatic childhood, but even at his most tragic the human race as a whole isn't to blame for what happened to him, yet decades later he still cannot bring himself to forgive a race of billions for the sins of thousands (almost all of whom are long dead). For those [[ComicBook/UltimateXMen few incarnations]] that ''don't'' give him his usual traumatic backstory, or in [[ComicBook/XMen2019 storylines]] where he's backed off from wanting to PutThemAllOutOfMyMisery, Magneto's pride rises to the fore. This is when he's most likely to declare AGodAmI (which has 'evolved' to "[[SuperSupremacist Gods Are We]]") and surrender his reason completely to his ego. Whether it's Wrath or Pride pulling the trigger, the end result is him shooting himself in the foot at the finish line of getting what he wants, over and over and over again.

* FreudianExcuse:
** Back in his day, it was called the Holocaust. [[DoubleSubverted ...But no, that's not quite right. That wraps things up too nicely.]] The Holocaust happened, and he survived, even attempting to not let such an event shape him negatively. [[TraumaCongaLine Then his daughter was killed]], and he discovered and unleashed his powers to deal some righteous judgement... and, regrettably, his beloved Magda left him in fear soon after he had unleashed his wrath upon the culprits responsible.
** Perhaps what truly makes his ComicBook/UltimateMarvel counterpart so disgusting is that he has no reason to be a mutant supremacist. He was not a victim of the Nazis or even of prejudice in general that we know of, instead being born to an affluent and high society family. Yet he chose to take up the cause of mutant supremacy to a level even his mainstream counterpart at his worst would shudder at.

* AGodAmI: During the 90s he wholeheartedly embraced the role of a wrathful, [[Literature/TheBible Old Testament]]-styled deity to inspire awe and devotion in his new followers, the Acolytes. It is not clear if he truly believed himself to be a deity during this time or if he simply played a role already expected from him — in introspection years later, he would say only that he "raised himself above them as a messiah". However, at his very worst he has outright called himself a god to lord over humanity, having done so in the Ultimate Marvel Verse and now currently doing so in the ''House of X'' storyline (though in the latter case, he extends it to mutantkind as a whole).

* ImAHumanitarian: Not '''him''', of course; for all of his contempt towards humanity, he would never condone so repugnant an action in response. However, his [[AdaptationalVillainy reprehensible counterpart]] in the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel universe quite blatantly states he has eaten human flesh in the past, and then goes so far as to threaten to turn humanity into literal livestock for mutantkind as part of his build up to executing the President of America.

** Early Magneto, pre-Claremont (who was the first to characterize him as a Holocaust survivor) was pretty much envisioned as one by Creator/JackKirby and the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel incarnation as well as Grant Morrison's ''Planet X'' returns to this (Planet X was very swiftly retconned as being Xorn posing as Magneto). Unlike his more well known mainstream and cinematic/animated versions, these versions of Magneto actively encourage mutants to kill and terrorize humans as part of his "mutant supremacy" creed. Ultimate Magneto has taken separation from humanity to the extreme, attempting to create a new mutant culture to the extent of devising new "mutant commandmants" (probably the one thing similar to what his mainstream counterpart would do), very similar to Himmler and Hitler's efforts at building up their new "Aryan culture"... and also denigrating humanity to levels of the worst form of Untermensch. Filth that they were, even the ''Nazis'' did not consider cannibalism as an appropriate "use" for their undesirables, whilst this twisted mutant once threatened on live television to keep surviving humans as literal ''livestock'' for the new mutant civilization. He eventually was killed by that universe's Cyclops in retaliation for [[ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}} the cataclysm he caused]].

* AdaptationalVillainy:
** Likewise, his film counterpart, while charismatic, and certainly true in every regard about mankind's treatment of mutants, is still an utter self-serving bastard - though in ''First Class'', prior to his FaceHeelTurn, and in ''Days of Future Past'', after his HeelFaceTurn (his situation at the end of ''Apocalypse'' is somewhat ambiguous), it becomes AdaptationalHeroism.
** ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'' completely sacrificed any and all of his mainstream counterpart's moral ambiguity to become nothing more than a mutant supremacist and genocidal maniac.

** While he may renounce ''Homo sapiens''[='=] labels of morality, his counterpart in ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009'' was willing to allow Sentinels free reign of Genosha, killing fellow mutants en masse, simply so that the remainder would be more willing to wage war, something that goes against everything pretty much every other incarnation has ever struggled for.

* HeWhoFightsMonsters:
** The "monsters" in this case being for him the [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters vile, disgusting, bloodthirsty racist genocidal humans]] and, prior to that, the madmen of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany and their [[ThoseWackyNazis inconceivable horrors]]. Charles would pinpoint towards some Freudian theory about this reflecting on Magneto's own destiny, but...
** [[spoiler:His incarnation in ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009'' is certainly this trope. In the approaching conflict with the anti-mutant faction in America, when warned that the war would lead to a BadFuture [[ItMakesSenseInContext where civilization is destroyed by the Phoenix Force and the Sentinels reign supreme]] with humans and mutants alike trampled underfoot, he crossed the line by using Sentinels to attack Genosha to provoke the war, feeling it would be best if he controlled both sides, even though he killed numerous innocent mutants in the process.]]

* AdaptationalHeroism: In the 90s ''X-Men'' cartoon, because the show was basing its stories on what was current in the comics and at the time he wasn't an antagonist, he actually was an ally to the X-Men in most of his appearances.

* ''VideoGame/XMen1992'' (Of "[[MemeticMutation Welcome To Die!]]" fame)

* VillainHasAPoint: Part of what makes Magneto such a compelling villain is that he's not entirely wrong in his beliefs. He's correct in his assessment that humanity is often hateful of things they don't understand and those that are "different"; after all, he lived through one of the most infamous historical instances of human hatred leading to the persecution and genocide of other peoples, and there's countless other RealLife examples that could be cited too. He's also often shown to be correct in his assertion that for all the good the X-Men have done, humans will turn on them eventually and mutants run the very real risk of being exterminated if that happens -- being that this is comic books, StatusQuoIsGod and mutant-human relations rarely undergo any significant lasting change for the better, however much the X-Men try to win humanity's acceptance with their heroism. He's also correct that Charles' idealism, while admirable, is partially due to the fact that he simply hasn't experienced the same horrors Magneto has due to his wealth and privilege, so he has no real understand of the kind of prejudice and hatred that mutants face daily, but Magneto certainly does and this is why he is able to gain support among mutants time and again. Not for nothing is the phrase "Magneto was right" a popular slogan among his fans.

* FatalFlaw: A tossup between [[CycleOfRevenge Wrath]] and {{Pride}}, depending on who's writing him that day. His actual evil quotient is very variable, but a constant in almost all his appearances and incarnations is his deep-seated rage at the human race. Most of the time this rage comes from the very valid place of his traumatic childhood, but even at his most tragic the human race as a whole isn't to blame for what happened to him, yet decades later he still cannot bring himself to forgive a race of billions for the sins of thousands (almost all of whom are long dead). For those [[ComicBook/UltimateXMen few incarnations]] that ''don't'' give him his usual traumatic backstory, or in [[ComicBook/XMen2019 storylines]] where he's backed off from wanting to PutThemAllOutOfMyMisery, Magneto's pride rises to the fore. This is when he's most likely to declare AGodAmI (which has 'evolved' to "[[SuperSupremacist Gods Are We]]") and surrender his reason completely to his ego. Whether it's Wrath or Pride pulling the trigger, the end result is him shooting himself in the foot at the finish line of getting what he wants, over and over and over again.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Along with his LackOfEmpathy for his followers, this tends to be his greatest flaw -- although his motives are good, perhaps even noble, they're tainted by his distinct conviction that only '''he''' can lead mutantkind to a better future. In recent years, he's been willing to step back and let the likes of Scott and Hope Summers lead, or share power as part of the Quiet Council, even abdicating and moving to the mutant Planet Arrako (formerly Mars), where he ends up taking the Seat of Loss on the Arrakki 'Great Ring' by squashing the skull of its previous owner. Given that a) KlingonPromotion via trial by combat is traditional among the Arrakki, b) the previous holder was Tarn the Uncaring who made Sinister look like humanitarian of the year.

* RoguesGalleryTransplant: It doesn't happen too often, but many readers first came to know Magneto through his appearances in crossover with ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' and an {{Expy}} called Matto Magneto (who looks nothing like him but isn't so far from '60s Magneto in terms of personality) appeared in ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends''. He also appeared in a prominent story in Creator/StanLee's newspaper Spider-Man strip, which allowed Peter to show off his scientist smarts by using his knowledge of magnetism against the Master.

* BroughtDownToBadass: There have been times where he had to make do without his powers, for one reason or another. They do nothing to slow his effectiveness, however, as Joanna Cargill (and her eyes) can attest, as he is still extremely intelligent and charismatic in addition to being ripped as hell and a very skilled combatant.

* EvilGenius: He is amongst the many geniuses of the world, specializing in Magnetism (obviously) and Physics in general as well as having a keen knowledge of Genetic Engineering, Engineering in itself, Geology, and other sciences, with some of his technology being compared favourably to the work of Tony Stark and Reed Richards. He's also very much multilingual, even being able to decipher a long-lost language and having reconstructed advanced computer devices from memory. As expected from his leadership, he is also a talented strategist, a requirement in his war on humanity. [[CulturedBadass He is also quite the connoisseur of the fine arts and finest literature]], admitting that ''Homo sapiens'' have made at least some worthwhile contributions to life. [[ManipulativeBastard To others, his ability to manipulate the lessers amongst mankind is paramount.]]

* GlassCannon: His powers are typically highly destructive, even if all the writers can think of is manipulating metal, but at the same time he's no more durable than any non-powered man - though by physically human standards, he's MadeOfIron and capable of taking a beating as well as being ripped as hell and more than able to hold his own in a straight fight. Those force fields he creates aren't just for fun.

* VillainHasAPoint: Part of what makes Magneto such a compelling villain is that he's not entirely wrong in his beliefs. He's correct in his assessment that humanity is often hateful of things they don't understand and those that are "different"; after all, he lived through one of the most infamous historical instances of human hatred leading to the persecution and genocide of other peoples, and there's countless other RealLife examples that could be cited too. He's also often shown to be correct in his assertion that for all the good the X-Men have done, humans will turn on them eventually and mutants must make the first strike or be exterminated -- being that this is comic books, StatusQuoIsGod and mutant-human relations rarely undergo any significant lasting change for the better, however much the X-Men try to win humanity's acceptance with their heroism. He's also correct that Charles' idealism, while admirable, is partially due to the fact that he simply hasn't experienced the same horrors Magneto has due to his wealth and privilege, so he has no real understand of the kind of prejudice and hatred that mutants face daily, but Magneto certainly does and this is why he is able to gain support among mutants time and again. Not for nothing is the phrase "Magneto was right" a popular slogan among his fans.

** His status as a Holocaust survivor is integral to his character and backstory, but ''which'' of the peoples persecuted he belonged to was not always openly stated. Even once he was specified as culturally Jewish, on a few occasions he is shown to still believe in God, but it's never made clear if he is a practicing Jew. Whenever he references scripture, it is usually the gospels - though that could just be a case of his being widely read and using more familiar (and to his mind, ironic) quotations. He shaves, though no one knows how. And in ''ComicBook/XMen2019'', he eats steak and bacon.

** When he was de-aged by Alpha, Charles and Moira [=MacTaggert=] did this to him. As it transpired, it hadn't actually worked. At all.

** His status as a Holocaust survivor is integral to his character and backstory, but ''which'' of the peoples persecuted he belonged to was not always openly stated. Even once he was specified as cultural Jewish, on a few occasions he is shown to still believe in God, but it's never made clear if he is a practicing Jew. Whenever he references scripture, it is usually the gospels - though that could just be a case of his being widely read and using more familiar (and to his mind, ironic) quotations. He shaves, though no one knows how. And in ''ComicBook/XMen2019'', he eats steak and bacon.

** He is Jewish by birth, and his status as a Holocaust survivor is integral to his character and backstory, but this aspect of his character is not always openly stated. In addition to more specific examples, on a few occasions he is shown to still believe in God, but it's never made clear if he is a practicing Jew. Whenever he references scripture, it is usually the gospels - though that could just be a case of his being widely read and using more familiar (and to his mind, ironic) quotations. He shaves, though no one knows how. And in ''ComicBook/XMen2019'', he eats steak and bacon.

* LoveFatherLoveSpouse: Platonic example, but Magneto's father was very similar to Xavier.

** The Franchise/XMen in general; Charles Xavier in particular... although he [[FriendlyEnemy doesn't take it personally]].

* RoguesGalleryTransplant: It doesn't happen too often, but many readers first came to know Magneto through his appearances in crossover with ''Franchise/{{Spiderman}}'' and an {{Expy}} called Matto Magneto (who looks nothing like him but isn't so far from '60s Magneto in terms of personality) appeared in ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends''. He also appeared in a prominent story in Creator/StanLee's newspaper Spider-Man strip, which allowed Peter to show off his scientist smarts by using his knowledge of magnetism against the Master.

* NotQuiteFlight: Controlling [[ArtisticLicensePhysics magnetic lines of force]] enables him to levitate. It is also a likely explanation for how he can move things lacking ferrous metal.

He saw once and for all that Charles' views and his were incompatible once they were drawn into battle with the NebulousEvilOrganization known as [[ComicBook/{{Hydra}} HYDRA]], who had abducted their friend Gabrielle Haller because she knew the location of a hoard of NaziGold. They both revealed their powers that day and overpowered the HYDRA agents, Xavier with his boundless telepathic might and Erik with his ever-growing mastery over the forces of magnetism. Following the battle, Erik, realizing that his and Xavier's views were incompatible, took the gold for himself and left.

!!!'''Nationality:''' German

** He's far more moral than the likes of Sebastian Shaw, Apocalypse, or William Stryker. He works for a cause. They work only for themselves.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4937ec80_01a3_4c4e_a9dc_284904ec0127.jpeg]]

* BadassBaritone:
** In ''VideoGame/XMenLegends'', due to being voiced by Creator/TonyJay.
** In the 1990s animated series, David Hemblem gave the proper gravitas and weight to his words.
** There's also Richard Green from the second ''X-Men: Legends'' and the first ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance'' game.
** Similarly, Creator/FredTatasciore gave this to him in ''VideoGame/XMenNextDimension'', ''X2: Wolverine's Revenge'', and the second ''Marvel Ultimate Alliance'' game.
** Creator/TomKane lent his talents to him in ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen2009'', ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'' and ''VideoGame/{{Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3|The Black Order}}''.
** Bill Graves also gave him the proper weight in ''VideoGame/XMenDestiny''.
** In ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'' he was voiced by Creator/ChristopherJudge.
** Creator/NolanNorth even gave him this kind of voice in ''VideoGame/LegoMarvelSuperHeroes''.
** The live-action Fox films also have him portrayed by Creator/IanMcKellen and Creator/MichaelFassbender who both possess very deep voices, albeit McKellen's more commanding and powerful while Fassbender's is smoother.