WARNING: This article contains spoilers for X-Men Blue #33 by Cullen Bunn, Marcus To, Matt Milla and VC's Joe Caramagna, on sale now.
The last few issues of X-Men Blue have shown Magneto undergo a pretty intensive character progression, starting with his killing of innocent mutants infected with the Mothervine virus. The Master of Magnetism has worked alongside the X-Men over the last couple of years, but his recent killing spree has pushed him over the edge and closer to the global threat the world normally sees him as.
In fact, X-Men Blue #28 dropped the first seeds for Magneto's turn back to villainy with an epilogue image of him speaking the phrase, "To me, my Brotherhood," referencing the mutant terrorist group that he used to lead, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The reformation of the team is yet another sign that Magneto has changed his tune and is returning to his evil roots.
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After a two-part storyline that saw Magneto seek revenge against Emma Frost for her connection to the Mothervine mutant deaths, X-Men Blue is going back in time to show what really happened when Magneto used his time platform to travel to the future. Coincidentally, the future Magneto visits is the same as the one depicted in the Extermination post-credits scenes. It's here where we get our first look at the eventual members of Magneto's new Brotherhood.
Mutant Messiah
The future Magneto arrives at looks eerily familiar to him. There isn't anything that immediately sticks out to the reader, but the city ruins are littered with Sentinel parts. Perhaps it is as simple as Magneto recognizing his handiwork when it comes to taking apart the mutant-hunting machines.
A run-in with a gang of Reavers allows Magneto to show a rare moment of mercy, which of course the Reavers refuse to take advantage of. Once the gang is quickly disposed of, a local mutant emerges, believing Magneto has returned as a savior. If Magneto was skeptical, the revelation of a statue erected in his honor probably changed his mind.
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More of the refugee mutants come out of the shadows, praising Magneto's return and more or less treating him like a holy figure. It is here where the young Bamf begins to tell the tale of how Magneto and his Brotherhood saved the mutants from the deadly Reaver virus.
An All-New Brotherhood
We learn when the Reaver virus first broke out, Magneto had not been seen in years. With the world believing Magneto was dead, it was up to the Avengers and X-Men to stop the Reaver infection from spreading. The downside to the virus was in order to kill it, the hosts had to die too.
The Bamf goes on to give Magneto and his Brotherhood the credit for holding back the extermination of every mutant on Earth. There are some familiar faces on the Brotherhood, most notably Toad and Blob, who have been members in the past. Newer additions include Exodus, Magik, Unuscione and Sabretooth.
Somehow, Magneto becomes a very key figure in shaping what will become the Extermination future. The flashback (flashforward?) scenes are enough to make us wonder if Magneto's presence could either prevent Extermination from happening, or if he somehow helps push events along, thereby making it come true. Remember the Bamf's statement from above: "They would have exterminated all of us..." with an emphasis on "extermination." The wordplay choice is too much of a coincidence to be brushed aside.
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It remains to be seen whether Magneto forms this exact Brotherhood in the present. Magik is a current member of the X-Men, so what would cause her to break from her friends and join Magneto? There are many lingering questions, but the second part of "Surviving the Experience" in X-Men Blue #34 should provide some answers.