Magneto: How Secret Wars Made the Marvel Villain Reach His Most Powerful Form

Magneto is an Omega-Level mutant who has demonstrated tremendous power on countless occasions. Although he has lived through more hardship and endured a much longer lifespan than almost any other mutant, Magneto continues to perform immense feats of strength.

Either with or against the X-Men, Magneto has fought some formidable opponents, including Thor, whose enchanted hammer can be deflected with ease. Few enemies have ever stifled Magneto's overwhelming abilities. There has rarely been an obstacle that Magneto's mutant powers and willful determination have been unable to overcome over the course of his publication.

One of Magneto's first serious feats took place in Uncanny X-Men #150, by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum. In this issue, Magneto took it upon himself to take control of the world's governments and end the nuclear arms race. After easily destroying the Leningrad submarine, Magneto spontaneously created a volcano in the Soviet city of Varykino. Even the X-Men could not stop the master of magnetism, who only relented after nearly killing a young Kitty Pryde.

Years later, in X-Men #25, by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert, Magneto performed one of his most infamous feats. In the climax of the "Fatal Attractions" storyline, Magneto fought off the X-Men aboard his orbiting asteroid base, Avalon. When Wolverine viciously wounded Magneto, the Omega-Level mutant responded by ripping the adamantium from Logan's skeleton. The consequences of this act would be felt by Wolverine for years to come.

Magneto vs Wolverine from Marvel Comics' X-Men #25, where Wolverine loses his adamantium

One of Magneto's most impressive displays of power took place in Uncanny X-Men #522, by Matt Fraction and Whilce Portacio. In an attempt to earn the X-Men's trust, the master of magnetism spent several days meditating on the island-nation of Utopia. During this time, Magneto slowly drew a giant bullet from space, containing Kitty Pryde, back to Earth. Finally retrieving the massive bullet, Magneto was rendered comatose from the physical strain.

Magneto's most powerful moments, however, came in Magneto #18-21, by Cullen Bunn, Paul Davidson and Gabriel Hernandez Walta. As part of the "Last Days" storyline, leading into 2015's Secret Wars, Magneto and his daughter Polaris were present during the final, impending collision between the main 616 Universe and the Ultimate Universe.

During these issues, it's revealed that Namor, the Sub-Mariner, previously tasked Magneto with stopping the incursions between parallel Earths. As a result, Magneto resolved to become strong enough to prevent the death of their world. Initially, when the Ultimate Earth approached, Magneto siphoned off energy from both his world and the Ultimate Earth in order to stop the two worlds from colliding.

Harnessing this power, Magneto was also able to simultaneously fight off a fleet of Nimrod Sentinels, sent over from the Ultimate Earth. While Magneto did everything he could to prevent the two Earths from colliding, he eventually decided that he needed more power. Finally, in a moment of deception, Magneto revealed that he called Polaris over so that he could steal his daughter's power.

Channeling both his magnetic powers and those of Polaris, Magneto then made one last, monumental effort to halt the collision. For a few glorious moments, the master of magnetism was able to stand between the collision of two Earths. Ultimately, however, the power proved too much for Magneto's system, disintegrating the master of magnetism. Although Magneto wasn't successful, it's quite impressive that he could hold so much power, even momentarily, in order to stall two planets from colliding.

The raw power which Magneto holds is awe-inspiring and terrifying at the same time. It's the legendary mutant's will and perseverance which invoke such immense displays of power.

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