Here is the second installment, folks. -- Greenstool THE HUNT FOR Magneto: Part 2 *Uncanny X-Men 62 (November 1969) TITLE: "Strangers in a Savage Land" CREDITS: Roy Thomas, story; Neal Adams, penciler; Tom Palmer, inker. STORY: Angel follows the X-Men to Tierra del Fuego, in pursuit of Karl Lykos (Sauron). He is attacked by a flock of Pteradons and is knocked out. The unconscious hero falls from the sky, plunges through an entrance to the Savage Land and smashes to earth. The seemingly dead Angel is discovered by the mysterious "Creator" and his companion Amphibius. The Creator revives Angel with elaborate high-tech equipment, including a cryogenic chamber. He persuades Angel that Ka-Zar and the X-Men endanger his vital research, and the grateful Angel agrees to help him. When Angel leaves, the Creator gloats that Angel will delay his enemies while he finishes his plans of conquest. He tells Amphibius that Angel wouldn't recognize him because the X-Men have never seen him "except in my all-conquering colors! Perhaps it is true what they say...Perhaps clothes do make the man!" The final panel shows Magneto's helmet. REVELATION: First appearance of Magneto without his helmet. NOTE: Magneto must use mechanical attachments to help him move his arms in this issue. In the next issue, the true reason for the attachments is revealed. First appearance of Magneto's Savage Land base. First appearance of Savage Land Mutates. COMMENTS: Despite Magneto's high-tech equipment, the plot strains credulity when Angel suffers no serious or lasting injuries from his fall. REPRINTED IN: X-Men Classics (limited series) 2-3; X-Men Visionaries 2; as well as a second printing (i.e., a facsimile edition) of UXM 62 released in 1994 as a special retail promotion through J.C. Penney. *Uncanny X-Men 63 (Dec. 1969) TITLE: "War in the World Below" CREDITS: Roy Thomas, story; Neal Adams, penciler; Tom Palmer, inker. STORY: Returning to Magneto's base, Angel overhears "The Creator" discussing his plans with Brain-Child. The Angel confronts him, and the Creator reveals his true identity. When the remaining X- Men burst in, Magneto's newest mutate, Lorelei, subdues them with her power. During the battle, Magneto reveals he cannot use his powers because it would upset his delicate equipment, and that the attachments on his arms actually siphon off his magnetism. At the climax of the battle, the collapsing machinery falls on Magneto, apparently crushing him to death. Ironically, he cannot protect himself because of his power-siphoning equipment. The Mutates (including Lorelei) revert to normal once the equipment is destroyed. CHARACTER EXPOSITION: In one scene, Ka-Zar comments on the pure evil radiating from Magneto. This theme is repeated in other appearances, such Defenders 16. In one of his more callous moments, Magneto attempts to shoot Marvel Girl in cold blood. COMMENTS: Why the Mutates reverted to normal is never explained, nor is it revealed how they turned back into mutates without his assistance in subsequent appearances. The specifics of Magneto's power siphoner are not revealed; it may be an early version of the generic power dampeners Magneto used many times in his subsequent career, or it may be specifically attuned to his magnetism. The next appearance of a power dampening device can be seen in Amazing Adventures 9. REPRINTED IN: X-Men Classics (limited series) 3; X-Men Visionaries 2; as well as a second printing of UXM 63 released in 1994 through J.C. Penney. *Fantastic Four 102 (Sept. 1970) TITLE: "The Strength of the Sub-Mariner." CREDITS: Stan Lee, co-plotter, scripter; Jack Kirby, co-plotter and penciler; Joe Sinnott, inker. STORY: Magneto vs. Submariner. Namor traces strange magnetic activity to the Savage Land, where he finds Magneto near death, following his previous encounter with the X-Men. Namor takes Magneto to Atlantis to recover. Magneto proposes they join forces against the human race. Namor's interest is piqued, but he desires peace. Magneto tricks him into believing that the Fantastic Four are attacking Atlantis. (Magneto had directed a long-distance magnetic attack against the Baxter Building, prompting the Thing to fire a missile at the source of the attack.) The Sub-Mariner gathers a war fleet to attack the surface world. CHARACTER EXPOSITION: Magneto is portrayed as raving mad, driven by a hatred for the human race. He is extremely arrogant toward Namor and the Atlanteans, telling them he, too, was born to command. Magneto muses that humanity's "foolish pride--their anger--and their fears--drive them to war--even as they long for peace! The fools! The blind, unwitting fools!" NOTES: The design of Magneto's helmet is different, revealing more of his face. Magneto marvels at the technology in Atlantis, imagining that it could magnify his magnetic powers a hundredfold. ERRATUM: Neither Magneto nor Submariner indicate that they have met one another before, in UXM 6. It seems unlikely they would fail to recognize one another, considering they battled during their first encounter. REPRINTED IN: Marvel's Greatest Comics 82. *Fantastic Four 103 (Oct. 1970) TITLE: "At War with Atlantis!" CREDITS: Stan Lee, writer; John Romita, penciler; John Verpoorten, inker. STORY: Magneto urges the Submariner to attack the Fantastic Four, but Namor will not be bullied into hasty action. The impatient Magneto triggers one of Namor's missiles, but Reed disables it before it can hit the Fantasti-Car. While Namor and the Thing slug it out, Magneto wrests control of the Atlantean flagship. Meanwhile, Invisible Woman arrives to help the team, but Magneto forces her ship to crash and captures her. The fight between Namor and the FF is interrupted when the combatants learn of Magneto's treachery. Magneto announces that he will kill Invisible Woman and Lady Dorma (the Submariner's paramour) unless Namor and the FF surrender. NOTE: Magneto refers to himself as the ruler of all mutants on Earth. REPRINTED IN: Marvel's Greatest Comics 83. *Fantastic Four 104 (Nov. 1970) TITLE: "Our World--Enslaved!" CREDITS: Stan Lee, writer; John Romita, penciler; John Verpoorten, inker. STORY: With Sue and Dorma captive, the heroes are powerless to attack Magneto. He easily conquers New York City with the aid of Namor's army, then proclaims himself overlord of the Earth. Namor pretends to side with Magneto to buy time, while Reed whips up one of his handy devices: an "energy converter" that amplifies Magneto's power and uses it against him. Magneto is imprisoned in a cone of magnetic energy. CHARACTER EXPOSITION: Throughout this issue, Magneto is portrayed as a clumsy, blustering incompetent, except for his display of power in subjugating America's military forces. He gloats over his victory, boasting, "Do you hear those cheers? They are for me! They are for your master--for the master of all mankind!" NOTES: Magneto uses Atlantean technology to magnify his own powers. He detects the Invisible Woman by causing metal fragments to cling to her body, revealing her outline. REPRINTED IN: Marvel's Greatest Comics 84. *Amazing Adventures (vol. 1) 9 (November 1971) TITLE: "...And the Madness of Magneto!" CREDITS: Gerry Conway, writer; Mike Sekowsky, penciler; Bill Everett, inker. STORY: Magneto vs. the Inhumans. Black Bolt, suffering from amnesia, is kidnapped by Magneto. When Medusa, Gorgon, and Karnak arrive to free him, they too are captured. FLASHBACK (NEW): Magneto explains how he escaped from Reed Richard's cell: after months of practicing yoga and Zen meditation, he taps into his mutant energy and turns his body into a living projectile. CHARACTER EXPOSITION: Magneto refers to his henchmen as "his pets." More Magneto the Arrogant, with quotes like, "Taste defeat at the hands of your fitting and final master!" NOTES: During Magneto's imprisonment, he not only perfected the means of his escape, but plotted his next scheme for world conquest as well. Magneto's current base is located underneath the streets of San Francisco. He wears a slightly different costume. His helmet is the same, but like the Fantastic Four version, it reveals more of his face. Magneto believes Black Bolt and the Inhumans are mutants. Magneto employs a group of several dozen mutant henchmen, some of whom are named. They include Mooneye (a clairvoyant), Obar (who can cause some type of physical changes in others), and Krystar (power unknown). The henchmen are similar in appearance (short, misshapen, with large heads and yellow-orange skin), wear para-military uniforms, and carry weapons. As he does with others on subsequent occasions, Magneto devises clever restraints geared to counteract the talents of his super-powered captives. ERRATUM: Magneto is shown without his helmet; he has long brown hair. COMMENTS: Given their misshapen appearance, it is reasonable to assume Magneto's henchmen are mutates created by him. Their true nature is not revealed, nor do we ever see them outside this story arc. Notice again that Magneto often assumes super-powered beings are mutants. Here he does so with the Inhumans, but he has made the same mistake with Spider-Man, Thor, the Stranger, and others. This may be a result of his single-minded obsession with the mutant cause. The "yoga" escape seems pretty hokey, but it serves to illustrate Magneto's strength of will. *Amazing Adventures (vol. 1) 10 (January 1972) TITLE: "In His Hand...The World!" CREDITS: Gerry Conway, writer; Mike Sekowsky, penciler; Frank Giacoia, inker. STORY: Magneto uses his "Universe Machine" to transform one of his mutant minions into a gigantic brute with powerful mind-controlling powers. He directs the creature to control Black Bolt's mind. Magneto uses Black Bolt's power to attack a military base in Washington state which is guarding an alien energy device. He needs Black Bolt because he cannot use his own magnetic powers amid such delicate machinery. Magneto hopes to use the device to enhance the power of his Universe Machine. Instead, Black Bolt resists Magneto's influence and kills the mutant monster. The other Inhumans escape, and Karnak defeats Magneto easily. Karnak then destroys Magneto's mutant-making equipment. While the heroes are distracted, Magneto grabs the alien device and flees, raving madly all the while. The device detonates and appears to kill Magneto. CHARACTER EXPOSITION: Magneto is depicted as being insane in both issues, and the word "madness" is used several times. NOTES: Magneto refers to his machine as a "maker of monsters." COMMENT: The Universe Machine may have been Magneto's first attempt at developing the technology that he later used to create Mutant Alpha. *Amazing Adventures (vol. 1) 17 (March 1973) TITLE: "Birth of the Beast!" CREDITS: Steve Englehart, writer; Jim Starling, penciler; Mike Esposito, inker. Reprint pages by Arnold Drake (writer), Werner Roth (penciler), John Verpoorten and John Tartaglione (inkers). FLASHBACK (OLD): CAMEO. Shows Magneto battling the original X- Men, as part of a retold version of the Beast's origin story. NOTE: The majority of this issue reprints the origin story which appeared as backup stories in UXM 49-53. The final page, containing the Magneto cameo, is original work by Starling and Esposito. *Avengers 110 (April 1973) TITLE: "...And Now Magneto!" CREDITS: Steve Englehart, writer; Don Heck, penciler; Frank Giacoia and Mike Esposito, inkers. STORY: The Avengers answer a distress call at Xavier's mansion, only to find the X-Men defeated by an unseen foe whom Wanda suspects is Magneto. After the team fends off flying boulders and an attack by Savage Land dinosaurs, Magneto reveals himself, wearing the Angel's costume. The villain then uses newly acquired (but unexplained) mental powers to defeat the Avengers as well. He captures Iron Man, Wanda, and Captain America and flies away with them and the unconscious X-Men. NOTES: The Avengers comment on the extensive damage done to the X- Mansion; T'Challa says, "Somebody really didn't like these people." *Avengers 111 (May 1973) TITLE: "With Two Beside Them!" CREDITS: Steve Englehart, writer; Don Heck, penciler; Mike Esposito, inker. STORY: The remaining Avengers recruit Daredevil and the Black Widow to help them fight Magneto. Meanwhile, Magneto controls the X-Men and the Avengers, forcing them to do his bidding. Magneto uses the mind-controlled heroes to capture a group of government officials (most likely from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission). The Vision defeats Magneto by possessing the body of Piper, the Savage Land Mutate. REVELATIONS: Magneto describes how he studied at length to use his magnetic powers to control the flow of blood to the brain and control others' minds. FLASHBACK (NEW): Magneto recounts his previous encounter with the Inhumans and how he was "badly injured" in the resulting nuclear explosion. He also explains how the costume he had given Angel in the Savage Land was designed to siphon the Angel's powers, which Magneto then used to strengthen himself and be healed from his injuries. CHARACTER EXPOSITION: Magneto is depicted in his familiar insane ranting mode, spewing comments such as, "I, gentlemen, was born to rule--to make others grovel at my feet," and "Followers are the staff of life itself to me." He forces Wanda to dance for his amusement. He reveals that he has wanted to gain control over others' minds from the moment he discovered his mutant abilities. Magneto escapes from the remaining Avengers by threatening to hurl the mind-controlled captives to their deaths. He plans to gain control over all U.S. nuclear energy plants so that he can unleash their deadly radiation on the world. He computes that 92% of the population will be killed, but the remainder will become mutants. NOTES: Magneto is wearing the open-faced helmet seen so often during this period, though it is not as open as in earlier appearances. At one point, he utilizes "octo-fumes" to create a smoke screen for his escape. COMMENTS: Although Magneto has not hesitated to employ nuclear weapons against humanity in the past, this scheme seems over the top even by his standards. We may accept this episode as strong proof of Moira's theory that Magneto's tremendous power is more than his nervous system can handle, resulting in bouts of insanity. As for siphoning Angel's powers--Uh huh, sure thing. The idea of incorporating a power-siphoning device in an opponent's costume is ingenious, and totally consistent with Magneto's capabilities at the time. However, as an explanation for healing from the effects of a nuclear detonation, this is ridiculous. *Captain America 173 (May 1974) TITLE: "The Sins of the Secret Empire!" CREDITS: Steve Englehart, writer; Sal Buscema, penciler; Vince Colletta, inker. STORY: Professor X, Cyclops, and Marvel Girl seek the aid of Captain America and Falcon. Several super-powered mutants, including members of the X-Men have been captured by members of the Secret Empire. FLASHBACK (OLD): CAMEO. Professor X recounts how Iceman, Angel, Beast, Havok, and Polaris disappeared after the Avengers' battle with Magneto. Magneto (wearing Angel's costume) is shown in a single panel. NOTE: Magneto shown in flashback only. *Captain America 174 (June 1974) TITLE: "It's Always Darkest...!" CREDITS: Steve Englehart, writer; Sal Buscema, penciler; Vince Colletta, inker. STORY: Captain America and his allies rescue the captured mutants. FLASHBACK (OLD): CAMEO. When the Angel is rescued, Professor X probes his mind to discover what happened. Events from Avengers 111 are depicted. A single panel shows Magneto overpowering the Angel. NOTE: Magneto shown in flashback only. *Defenders 15 (September 1974) TITLE: "Panic Beneath the Earth!" CREDITS: Len Wein, writer; Sal Buscema, penciler; Klaus Janson, inker. STORY: Professor X asks the Defenders for assistance while the X- Men are away (they are fighting the Secret Empire with Captain America, as depicted in CA 172-175). The Defenders join him at Carlsbad Caverns, where they are attacked by Magneto and the next incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Mastermind, Blob, Unus, and Lorelei). Magneto imprisons the heroes in a magnetic force field. After listening to Magneto's tale, Professor X harnesses the mental energies of the Defenders to shatter Magneto's trap. They proceed to defeat the BOEM, but not before Magneto completes his plan and awakens the "ultimate mutant" which he has created with the "alien" technology. FLASHBACK (NEW): Magneto relates how the Avengers imprisoned him at the Earth's core, where the planet's magnetic field was in such perfect balance that his powers were nullified. Months later, the passing of Comet Kohoutek subtly shifted that balance, allowing him to escape. He blasted his way to the surface, but en route, encountered a cavern containing alien technology. He remained in the cavern, translating books in the library and learning the technology, after which he returned to the surface to reactivate the BOEM. NOTES: At this point in his career, Magneto is using Carlsbad Caverns (in New Mexico) as his headquarters. OHOTMUDE revealed that the "alien" technology actually belonged to Maelstrom, the enemy of the Inhumans. Furthermore, Maelstrom intended Magneto to find the technology, hoping he would use it to further his own genetic research. COMMENTS: For those too young to remember, the Comet Kohoutek captured the public's imagination during the early 1970s, and like the O.J. Simpson trial in the 1990s, seemed to be in the media constantly. Go figure. The Maelstrom connection actually makes sense, considering that Magneto used cruder genetic technology in his earlier battle with the Inhumans. It is likely that Maelstrom was monitoring the Inhumans' activities and was impressed by Magneto's genius in the field of genetics. *Defenders 16 (October 1974) TITLE: "Alpha, the Ultimate Mutant!" CREDITS: Len Wein, writer; Sal Buscema, penciler; Mike Esposito, inker. STORY: Alpha, the Ultimate Mutant stands revealed as a hulking, humanoid brute. Alpha exudes a powerful force field which defies both Dr. Strange and the Hulk. Magneto, chortling that Xavier must live to witness the villain's triumph, traps them in the cavern with a magnetically induced cave-in. He then orders Alpha to teleport himself and the Brotherhood away. Magneto confronts the United Nations with his demands. He proclaims the "birthright" of all mutants by stating, "We want the world, and we want it now!" The delegates call him a mutant freak, at which point he orders Alpha (who is continuously evolving into a more developed being) to demonstrate his power. Alpha tears the U.N. Building from the ground and levitates it high into the air. The Defenders arrive to continue their fight, but they are outmatched by Alpha's increasing power. Through the battle, Alpha grows more human-like at first, but then his cranium grows to enormous size, and he develops the power to speak and to reason. Alpha tells Magneto he will not kill his enemies, but Magneto convinces the being that Xavier and the others are evil. In the end, Xavier asks Alpha to judge them on his own, at which point Alpha realizes Magneto has been lying. Alpha immobilizes the villains, puts everything aright, and flies into space to seek his destiny. In the last panel, we see he has turned Magneto and each member of the Brotherhood into infants. Dr. Strange comments that the villains have been granted a second chance at life. CHARACTER EXPOSITION: While trying to persuade Alpha of the worthiness of his cause, Magneto states that he has been forced into his actions by the persecution of humanity. When Xavier seeks Magneto's location telepathically, he is able to locate him because the villain's mind is so evil it stands out among all the people in the United States. *Uncanny X-Men 103 (Feb. 1977) TITLE: "The Fall of the Tower." CREDITS: Chris Claremont, story; Dave Cockrum, penciler; Sam Grainger, inker. BEHIND-THE-SCENES: Final panels show Eric the Red communicating with Emperor D'Ken. The Shi'ar agent informs his master that he has found the perfect weapon to defeat the X-Men. Magneto's image is shown on a video screen. NOTE: No new pages related to Magneto in XMC 11. REPRINTED IN: Classic X-Men 11 and Marvel Masterworks 12. *Uncanny X-Men 104 (April 1977) TITLE: "The Gentleman's Name Is Magneto." CREDITS: Chris Claremont, story; Dave Cockrum, penciler; Sam Grainger, inker. STORY: As the X-Men ferry to Muir Island, their hovercraft is attacked by an unseen power which takes control of all metal objects. On the island, the X-Men confront a powerful force field, then the ground beneath them is thrown into the air. Banshee recognizes the power being used against them, but before he can explain, Magneto appears. Meanwhile Cyclops and Moira land on Muir to discover an unconscious Jamie Madrox. Jamie explains that Eric the Red, with Havok and Polaris, took over the installation, and somehow restored the infant Magneto to adulthood, at the peak of his power. He also says that Magneto was enraged to learn he had been an infant in Xavier's care. Magneto defeats the new team handily, using his powers in myriad ways, including the fusion of ferrous particles in the air to cover Banshee. Cyclops arrives, temporarily stunning Magneto. Cyclops realizes that Eric the Red is using Magneto as a diversion in his attack on Xavier, so Cyclops orders the team to retreat and head back to the U.S. Magneto revels in his victory, then takes his leave from Muir Isle. CHARACTER EXPOSITION: Magneto is supremely confidant here, realizing his powers are greater than ever. He is depicted as arrogant and boastful, calling his antagonists "bumbling oafs," and declaring he can smash them with ease. In his first confrontation with Wolverine, Magneto goads his opponent, calling him "a little man," and ridiculing his "all-consuming arrogance." NOTES: As a child, Magneto is shown with white hair. Eric the Red has provided Magneto with background information on the new X-Men to help him fight them more effectively. When Nightcrawler tries to teleport, Magneto's power inhibits him from doing so. Later, it becomes apparent that Magneto can sense Nightcrawler's 'ports as "disruptions along the magnetic lines of force." The three pages of new material which appear in XMC 12 include one page of Magneto character exposition. For details, see entry for XMC 12. COMMENTS: Magneto's goading of Wolverine may be an attempt to anger his opponent, knowing the Canadian X-Man is susceptible to berserker rages. However, in the "Wolverine Saga," Peter Sanderson states that Magneto holds Wolverine's boastfulness in genuine contempt, which is an interesting and telling interpretation. It is not clear how Banshee recognizes Magneto's power signature, since (as far as the readers know), the two have never fought. Two explanations come to mind: a. as an older, more experienced team member, Banshee may have studied Xavier's files on Magneto, or b. it refers to the hints dropped many years later (in Generation X 10), that Banshee encountered Magneto during his Interpol days. REPRINTED IN: Classic X-Men 12 and Marvel Masterworks 12. *Super-Villain Team-Up 14 (Oct. 1977) TITLE: "A World for the Winning!" CREDITS: Bill Mantlo, writer; Bob Hall, penciler; Don Perlin and Duffy Vohland, inkers. STORY: Magneto travels to Latveria to make a deal with Dr. Doom. Magneto says he has the power to crush the world, but not subjugate it. He suggests that Doom team up with him for world conquest. Doom contemptuously tells him that he has already conquered the world via his "neuro-cannisters," which have dispelled a powerful hypnotic gas throughout the world. Under the gas's influence, Magneto is forced to kneel before Doom. But Doom is bored with his victory, so he frees Magneto from the gas and challenges him to thwart his plans. Magneto seeks the Avengers' aid, but they end up fighting, of course. Magneto's powers hold Iron Man's armor, Captain America's shield, and Thor's hammer helpless. Just as Magneto finally convinces the heroes of Doom's plot, a holographic projection of Doom appears, and the villain bends the Avengers to his will. Doom tells Magneto that he will allow him to pick one hero as an ally. Magneto chooses the Beast, and using his magnetic ability to control minds, he frees the Beast from Doom's thrall. Because the Fantastic Four and the X-Men are both off-planet, the reluctant allies travel to Los Angeles to recruit the Champions. FLASHBACK (OLD): During Magneto's first meeting with Dr. Doom, Doom asks how Magneto was transformed back to adulthood. Magneto is surprised that Doom knows such details of his past, but briefly retells the story of Mutant Alpha and his rejuvenation at the hands of Erik the Red. CHARACTER EXPOSITION: Magneto is in his insufferable megalomaniac mode here, with such dialogue as, "You pompous, prattling fool! Do you know to whom you speak?" and, "You toadying, servile mediocrities!" NOTES: First meeting of Doom and Magneto. Once again, Magneto uses his ability to control the flow of blood to an enemy's brain. *Champions 16 (November 1977) TITLE: "A World Lost!" CREDITS: Bill Mantlo, writer; Bob Hall, penciler; Mike Esposito, inker. STORY: The Champions attack Magneto and Beast, after being warned of their supposed evil intent by the Avengers. During the battle, Magneto becomes enraged and forgets his true mission, wishing instead to humble Hercules and the Champions. But when he hears a news program describing Doom's triumphant arrival in Washington, he feels that Doom is "belittling" their conflict. He rushes off to the nation's capital to fight Doom head to head. Doom recruits the Hulk to deter Magneto. When the Champions join in the fray, Magneto tells them they are pawns, to be used as he and Doom please. As proof, he tricks the Hulk into fighting Hercules. As Doom and Magneto fight, they realize their powers are evenly matched. Doom's armor, however, turns Magneto's powers against him. Ghost Rider, who is not under Doom's influence, blasts the villain's face mask. Doom must remove the super-heated mask from his face, and in so doing, succumbs to his own gas. The threat is ended. Magneto rejoices in his "victory" over Doom. Before fleeing, he reminds the heroes that world conquest is a prize he still covets. *Captain America Annual 4 (1978) TITLE: "The Great Mutant Massacre." CREDITS: Jack Kirby, writer, penciler. STORY: Magneto and Captain America are surprised to learn they have both answered the same mysterious newspaper ad. The ad, seeking a responsible home for an unnamed mutant, was placed by a lowly truck driver named Joe Keegan. It seems Keegan discovered two seemingly helpless mutants and took them into his home. The first, who he calls Mister One, is an insect-sized, mute telepath. The second, Mister Two, is a gigantic grey-skinned powerhouse. Cap and Magneto fight over custody of the pair, but when Magneto threatens to harm the diminutive Mister One, Mister Two lashes out and flings the villain far from the premises. Captain America then takes the two mutants to SHIELD for care and study. It turns out that Magneto needs the tiny mutant to help him explore a miniature spaceship which the villain had stolen. Magneto stages a diversion using his completely reorganized Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Magneto captures Mister One in the confusion, after which Cap and Mister Two stage a rescue. Meanwhile, Captain America deduces that Mister One and Mister Two represent one mind which shares two bodies. During the fight, Number Two is killed by Burner. (To protect himself against Burner's flames, Mister Two closes all his pores, and accidentally suffocates!) With his other body dead, Mister One realizes he hasn't long to live, so he detonates a self- destruct mechanism on the alien craft. Cap and Magneto escape, but Mister One and all the new members of the Brotherhood appear to be killed in the blast. CHARACTER EXPOSITION: Magneto is depicted as somewhat clumsy, boastful, greedy, and impatient, but certainly powerful. NOTES: The mutant Shocker is different from the Spider-Man villain of the same name. Magneto's newest BOEM is a murderous band of dimwit mutant thugs consisting of the following new characters: Slither, a snake creature with constricting powers; Peeper, a being with fantastic telescopic sight, who can also shoot energy beams from his eyes; Lifter, a misshapen strongman who can increase his body's density and reduce the gravity of objects he touches; Burner, a powerful pyrokinetic; and Shocker, who can discharge electrical current through his claws, but must be touching an opponent to harm them. These mutants did not, in fact die. They made about a dozen subsequent appearances-- in the Defenders, the New Defenders, and Captain America. According to a caption in Defenders 79, Magneto abandoned them after the fiasco with Mister One, considering them ineffectual. At first, the orphaned group took the name Mutant Force, and worked for The Mandrill. After being captured, the U.S. government hired them as a prototype version of Freedom Force. They went on to battle the Hulk briefly and unsuccessfully for the government, and according to OHOTMUDE, the program was abandoned for budgetary reasons. Mutant Force subsequently worked for Professor Power and his version of the Secret Society. Slither also worked for Viper and the Serpent Society. Although the team was always depicted as fairly dim, they usually held their own against such enemies as the Defenders and Captain America. The Mutant Force ultimately reorganized as the Resistants, complete with new names and uniforms. Slither kept his old name, but the others were revamped as follows: Peeper (became Occult), Lifter (Meteorite, so named because he flew the team around on a big chunk of de-gravitized rock), Shocker (Paralyzer), and Burner (Crucible). On a more ironic note, the mission of the Resistants was to actively combat the Mutant Registration Act, which they did by freeing mutants who were arrested under that law. COMMENTS: A bizarre story-- plotted, scripted, and penciled by Jack Kirby. This is definitely not one of Magneto's finer performances. This is the second time Magneto has tried to steal top secret alien technology from the government (the first was in Amazing Adventures 9-10). These incidents suggest that Magneto employs technology to monitor government/military activities or that he has highly-placed paid informants.