The 5 Most Evil Things Magneto Has Ever Done, Ranked

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Among the formidable villains in the X-Men universe, none has outshone the others quite like Magneto. This complex character is one of the most intriguing antagonists in comic book history. Magneto’s life story begins with his imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp along with his family during World War II. The horrific loss of his loved ones shattered his faith in humanity, giving rise to the early stirrings of Magneto’s character. His friendship with Charles Xavier and the subsequent fallout, as well as the death of his daughter Anya, further fueled this transformation, leaving Magneto marked by the flames of anger and sorrow.

Over time, Magneto has undergone significant changes, shifting from a villain determined to enslave and annihilate humanity, to one who prioritizes saving mutants over harming humans. Throughout his journey, Magneto has straddled the line between hero and villain multiple times, a duality that has resonated deeply with fans. Many viewers sympathize with Magneto’s actions, believing they may have been justified under the circumstances. However, it is essential to acknowledge that Magneto has also committed heinous acts as the master of magnetism.

I’ve followed Magneto for quite some time now, and while it’s understandable why he harbors resentment towards humanity, I can’t deny that his behavior has been downright sinister at times. His pragmatism and harrowing past have led him to walk a path shrouded in darkness, and there are deeds of his that defy justification. Through the years, Magneto has committed some truly monstrous acts, and these five stand as his most heinous.

5) His Treatment of Toad

In the initial phase of his villainous journey, Magneto emulated Charles Xavier’s approach by assembling a group of mutants, which he initially called the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (later renamed to Brotherhood of Mutants). Unlike Xavier, Magneto was blunt and unsubtle in his pursuit, choosing a fellow mutant named Toad as his right-hand man. Magneto didn’t pick Toad for his powers or trustworthiness; rather, he exploited Toad’s vulnerabilities to manipulate him.

Magneto subjected Toad to harsh treatment, frequently belittling and physically abusing him. This cruel behavior was a reflection of Magneto’s malevolent nature. Toad endured this abuse, forming a harmful codependent relationship with Magneto. In an act of self-preservation, Toad falsely claimed responsibility for the death of Scarlet Witch, who Magneto had killed during the Krakoa Era to establish a mutant afterlife, thereby avoiding consequences.

In essence, Magneto significantly damaged Toad, both emotionally and physically. Although this act didn’t result in mass casualties or extensive damage, it underscores the depth of Magneto’s monstrous nature.

4) The Way He Treats Quicksilver and Polaris

Magneto’s behavior towards Toad and other members, particularly Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, within the Brotherhood of Mutants was downright malicious. He subjected them to mental and physical abuse, treating Quicksilver with contempt and showing favoritism towards Scarlet Witch, often to the point of ridicule. It’s also worth mentioning that there were hints he manipulated some men into staying with the Brotherhood by using his daughter as a lure, though this is less confirmed.

Later, Magneto discovered that Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch were his children, which somewhat altered his treatment of Scarlet Witch but not Quicksilver. His relationship with Polaris, another child, was even more abusive. Though he didn’t physically harm her, he consistently treated her as an insignificant afterthought, exploiting her powers and belittling her as a person and a hero.

Magneto’s flawed fatherhood played a significant role in the actions of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch during the House of M event, which came dangerously close to exterminating the mutant race. In essence, Magneto’s ill-treatment of his children was deeply evil.

3) Sinking a Russian Sub

In my perspective, it wasn’t just the X-Men who were determined to thwart Magneto’s malevolent plans; the entire world found itself on the brink of danger due to his power-hungry ambitions. Magneto audaciously demanded political control over Earth, issuing an ultimatum to the human nations. Unsurprisingly, this wasn’t a request taken lightly by the global powers. The Russians, in particular, decided to act. They deployed their nuclear submarine, the Leningrad, aiming to strike Magneto’s island refuge.

However, this mission was doomed from the start, given that the submarine was composed of metal—a fact Magneto exploited ruthlessly. With a mere flick of his powers, he sank the sub, tragically taking the lives of everyone aboard to emphasize his serious intentions. This reckless action could have spiraled out of control, potentially leading to a nuclear exchange between the Russians and other world powers, with catastrophic consequences for our planet.

Later, Magneto would resurface the submarine from its watery grave, appropriating its nuclear warheads for his own nefarious purposes—ultimately using them as leverage against the world in years to come. Magneto’s nonchalance towards the prospect of a nuclear holocaust is undoubtedly a chilling reminder of the depths of his wickedness.

2) Magneto’s Actions During X-Men (Vol. 2) #25

Magneto, who once threatened the world with nuclear weapons from the Leningrad, was believed dead following a SHIELD satellite’s destruction of Asteroid M. However, his death was merely feigned as his followers, the Acolytes, sacrificed themselves to ensure his escape. After keeping a low profile, Magneto resurfaced in contact with Graymalkin, Cable’s secret space station. Seizing control, he renamed it Avalon and formed a new team of Acolytes. The objective was to recruit more mutants for his space-based utopia on Earth. However, the reasoning behind this would be unveiled in X-Men (Vol. 2) #25. Magneto had decided that it was time to act decisively against humanity and the planet itself. He executed a mass abduction of mutants he deemed worthy, then descended to Earth with an electromagnetic pulse that crippled the planet’s infrastructure. The X-Men, in response, launched an attack on Avalon, nearly killing Magneto. Wolverine had an opportunity but was disarmed by Magneto, who extracted his adamantium skeleton.

Magneto’s electromagnetic pulse caused widespread devastation across the world. People dependent on technology for survival perished, planes plummeted from the sky, and cars’ electrical systems malfunctioned in traffic. While the exact number of fatalities was never specified by Marvel, it is estimated to have been in the thousands, with a more likely figure being in the millions. Although Magneto’s actions against Wolverine were self-defense, given that Logan was attempting to kill him, they still underscored the ruthless nature of Magneto when push came to shove.

1) Ultimate Magneto’s Actions During Ultimatum

In the Ultimate Universe, Magneto was a distinctly different character compared to his counterpart in the 616 universe. He was significantly more brutal, with rumors suggesting he had consumed human flesh in the past. Unlike Earth-616’s Magneto, he lacked nobility. However, he showed a softer side towards Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, who eventually departed from his service to join the Ultimates. Tragically, Ultron killed Scarlet Witch, prompting Quicksilver to return to Magneto, only to be gravely injured. Magneto’s grief over Scarlet Witch’s death pushed him to the brink, vowing to make the world suffer.

He initiated a series of catastrophic events, starting by snapping Xavier’s neck, leading to his death. He then unleashed his full magnetic powers, causing a tsunami in New York City, worldwide EMPs that crippled the electrical infrastructure, and even the demise of Doctor Doom, believed responsible for Scarlet Witch’s death. His Brotherhood wreaked havoc on the survivors. The heroes intervened, but Magneto managed to kill Wolverine before being defeated. Cyclops ultimately ended his life by disintegrating his head with an optic blast. This act of destruction far surpasses any previous evil deeds Magneto has committed. His actions led to the devastation of the planet, causing countless deaths, and shattering the superhero community. The aftermath of these events gave rise to the Maker, a villainous version of Reed Richards in the Ultimate Universe, who would play a significant role in the Marvel Multiverse in the future.

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2025-06-25 16:41