Magneto in the MC2

 

With the new X-Men: The Animated Series continuation X-Men ’97 in full swing, I wanted to take a brief look at one of the shows’ antagonist turned protagonist, the mutant master of magnetism himself through the lens of the MC2. This is Magneto in the MC2.

 

First, the basics: Magneto first appeared in 1963’s X-Men #1, but we don’t get a ‘real’ name for the character for quite some time. The first instance is in the classic Days of Future Past story from X-Men #141 wherein the Earth-811 Magneto is referred to as ‘Magnus’. Magneto of Earth-616 or the Main Marvel Universe is also confirmed to use Magnus as a first name in Uncanny X-Men #161. However, X-Men Unlimited #2 tells us Magneto’s full name is ‘Erik Magnus Lehnsherr’, rendering Magnus a middle name instead.

 

This would seem to have resolved the matter until the adjectiveless X-Men (vol.2) #72 revealed the entire name was an alias. For those playing at home, this issue was published in late 1997 making it potentially past the point of divergence for the MC2’s own timeline, but possibly the last relevant comic to address Magneto’s real name. Finally, while it’s not necessarily canon to the MC2, X-Men readers would see ‘Max Eisenhardt’ firmly established as Magneto’s real name in 2008’s X-Men: Magneto Testament #1. This remains the official real name within the Main Marvel Universe at the time of writing. Is it any wonder I rarely cover X-Men characters?

 

Moving on to the MC2 proper now, I’m going to jump right in and admit we never see Magneto in the flesh anywhere. However, we do get several mentions and a few second-generation successors. Let’s begin, shall we?

In the pages of J2 #6 we get both when Zane Yama aka J2 meets ‘Magneta, the most power of the new generation of heroes’ who controls the power of magnetism and idolizes Magneto, believing he was merely the victim of poor press management. Declaring her intention to recruit a group of proactive superheroes, she puts the junior Juggernaut through a test trial before fleeing when the new Avengers arrive.

 

While on an apparent rescue mission in Madripoor with Wolverine, Zane Yama asks the Canadian former X-Man when he got his adamantium back, referring to the fact Magneto ripped the adamantium from Logan’s skeleton in X-Men (vol. 2) #25. Amusingly, the MC2 predicted and pre-dated the restoration of Wolverine’s adamantium-coated skeleton, which didn’t occur until Wolverine (vol. 2) #145, published several months later (J2 #10).

In yet another J2 story, Zane Yama recounts that his father, the original Juggernaut aka Cain Marko, was a major threat as a villain but was never in the same league as Magneto (Wild Thing #5).

 

Various reserve members including Spider-Girl, Blacklight, Earth Sentry and Coal Tiger are called upon to join the Avengers team due to a large number of their ranks having being sidelined following the events of Last Hero Standing. They are briefed about the possible return of the mutant master of magnetism Magneto, who hasn’t been seen in years and is believed by some to be dead. Spider-Girl and trainee member of the X-People known as Push would ultimately apprehend and unmask the tech-using imposter, a man named Charlie Philips (Spider-Girl #92).

 

Wanda Maximoff aka the Scarlet Witch serves as an active member of the depleted Avengers team during the events of Last Planet Standing. During a conflict with the villainous Revengers team led by Hope Pym aka the Red Queen, Wanda tells the now-villainous Magneta that she is offended by her choice of costume and declares that she has no right to call herself ‘Magneta’. Naturally, Magneta responds that she chose her nom de costume and appearance in honour of Wanda’s father. What’s notable about this interaction is that it confirms the familial relationship between Magneto and Wanda in the MC2 (Last Planet Standing #1).

 

Despite all these references and even inspiring a new generation of metal manipulators, we still do not know the ultimate fate of one of Marvel’s greatest characters in the MC2. Perhaps someday, we’ll get an X-People series if I wish really, really hard. Special thanks to the indefatigable arias-98105 for assistance with this and so many other posts!

 

Until I become the mutant master of chess, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

 

What's the Deal with Deacon's Den?

 

Every now and then I like to shine a light on some of the more obscure MC2 characters. In that tradition, today’s post we will be taking a look at the mysterious and magical mentor of Doc Magus, the man known only as Deacon.

 

First appearing alongside the young Sorcerer Supreme, Doc Magus in A-Next #3, Deacon is the one to suggest Doc Magus aka Dormagus recruits the recently reassembled new team of Avengers to counter Doctor Strange and his Defenders team comprised of the Incredible Hulk aka Bruce Banner and Namor the Sub-Mariner. While it’s not identified in this issue, we can presume this location is Dormagus’ ‘Sanctum Sanctorum’.

 

The following month over in the pages of J2’s own title, we learn that Deacon too possesses magical ability when he aids Doc Magus by casting Zane Yama aka J2’s astral form into a strange nightmare dimension. He is relieved when the pair of heroes return unscathed, having seen their unconscious bodies spasm while they were in peril (J2 #4).

 

It’s not until J2 #12 we learn that the Doc Magus operates out of his ‘Sanctum Sanctorum’ which is really just the back room of Deacon’s Den, a comic book store owned and operated by Deacon. When J2 and Doc Magus ignore Doctor Stange’s warning and journey into a pocket dimension via the Crossroads of Infinity to rescue Cain Marko aka The Juggernaut they discover it’s a trap too late and become trapped when their gateway back to Earth is destroyed by Nemesus. Notably, the energy backlash from this is shown to surround Deacon and his eyes glow red as he senses what has happened.

 

Found and assisted by Zane’s curious school associates, Deacon reveals he instinctively raised a protective shield around the gateway. With the help of the highschooler’s they manage to create a trail for the heroes to follow home…using Dormagus’ comic book collection. The bizarre events are explained away by Cain Marko as a temporal anomaly, and we learn via Zane’s closing monologue that Deacon’s Den closed down within a week and was replaced by a dry cleaner business (J2 #12).

 

While Zane believes Deacon’s Den to have closed down, it’s possible it makes an off-panel appearance as a target of Mr. Abnormal’s crime-spree. The super stretchy criminal notably steals a complete collection of Police Comics from a comic shop, so perhaps it was Deacon’s Den? Either way, Mr. Abnormal is defeated by the combined efforts of Speedball and Spider-Girl (Spider-Girl #15).

 

Deacon’s Den is definitely open and running again by the time the events of Spider-Girl #71 take place, with a ‘New’ sign and different appearance. Deacon is seen working the counter when J2 and Spider-Girl come seeking Doc Magus, who is once again using the store’s back room as his Sanctum Sanctorum. The three heroes thwart an invasion of invisible Darklings sent by Nemesus, though Deacon, sadly, isn’t an active participant in events this time around.

 

A little while later, during the events of Last Hero Standing, we get a confirmation that Deacon’s Den is located in Manhattan when Doctor Strange unsuccessfully attempts to recruit his son Doc Magus to his Defenders team so they can find the growing number of missing heroes. Deacon tells Dormagus he shouldn’t have turned down the assistance but gives up when the young Sorcerer Supreme brushes him off too. Shortly afterwards, Doc Magus is captured by the mastermind behind the plot, the Asgardian god of mischief Loki, leaving behind nothing but a smoking crater in the ground for the intestinally distressed Deacon to discover (Last Hero Standing #2).

 

When up and coming comic creators Jimmy Yama and Reynard ‘Wes’ Westin approach Deacon in the hope he’ll stock their Spider-Girl comic in his store, he initially declines but is convinced when Jimmy promises an appearance from the super heroine (Amazing Spider-Girl #4).

 

Of course, Jimmy asks his girlfriend Heather Noble to dress up as the fictional version of Spider-Girl from the comic he and Wes developed together. The promotional event at Deacon’s Den is advertised in the newspaper which draws the attention of the villainous Hobgoblin (Amazing Spider-Girl #5).

 

Sure enough, with Heather in costume as Spider-Girl, the Hobgoblin descends on Deacon’s Den (which also stocks MC2 comics, dontcha know) and kidnaps her. The Hobgoblin uses Heather as bait to draw out the one, true Spider-Girl. While the promotion had a good turn out, Deacon picks the perfect moment to ask if Jimmy and Wes obtained Spider-Girl’s permission to use her in their comic which, of course, they did not. Spider-Girl manages to save Heather and fight off the Hobgoblin with some unexpected assistance (Amazing Spider-Girl #6).

 

This next one isn’t an appearance of either Deacon or his Den but I’ve included it for the sake of completeness. Wes is seen with a newly bought comic (complete with carry bag) heading for a bus stop before a surprise encounter with April Parker. Does Wes frequent Deacon’s Den and why does he fold his precious comics? (Spectacular Spider-Girl vol. 1 #4/Amazing Spider-Man Family #8).

 

We get our last glimpse of Deacon in a fleeting cameo many overlooked in the MC2 story published as a back-up feature in the Secret Wars: Spider-Island mini-series. Yes, that’s Deacon carrying a sign decrying this Battleworld of Doctor Doom’s as a lie. So, once again, Deacon can see things beyond those of normal men. Thanks to Ron Frenz for confirming this appearance! (Secret Wars: Spider-Island #1)

 

Deacon is something of an enigma, he appears to live a mundane existence as a lowly comic book store owner, while displaying mystic abilities and being involved with events that are far more bizarre. Perhaps we’ll learn more about him someday? Thank you to arias-98105 for help with this post!

 

Until I buy a comic book store rather than buy from them, I remain

 

frogoat