Written by: Cullen Bunn
Art by: Gabriel H. Walta & Javier Fernandez
Publisher: Marvel
It has been written many times before, but I will reiterate it here: Cullen Bunn is becoming the go-to guy for writing sympathetic yet highly dangerous and unpredictable villains. His recent credits include: Magneto, Sinestro, Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, and his much beloved series at Oni, The Sixth Gun.
Magneto’s vulnerability on display…
Magneto #10 continues this impressive streak. After the latest visit from the Phoenix, Magneto is a husk of who he used to be. His path from a god among mutants, to Cyclops’ sidekick, to a vengeful loner has been deftly written by Bunn (and Bendis as well) over the past year or so. Each decision made, each civilian killed or saved, feels like a conscientious choice and one that will weigh heavily on Erik’s soul moving forward. Speaking of Magneto’s soul, this issue does a great job of reminding the reader of his dark history—beginning with the concentration camps of Auschwitz and never letting up from there. By reminding the reader of these past failures and nightmares, Bunn continues to shed light on Magneto’s true motivations: to not only fight for those who cannot, but in classic villain style, he also wants to gain back all of his lost power using any means necessary. If you have read Pak’s amazing Magneto Testament, then you know that even before possessing great power, Magneto’s greatest gift has always been his resilience in the face of oppression.
Walta and Fernandez do an admirable job in this issue of playing off of one another artistically, though I would prefer that in the future each issue would be just one artist. The transitions between Magneto’s visions and memories are never extreme, but perhaps just subtle enough to look out of place. I have enjoyed Walta’s work since the beginning of this series, but if you haven’t been a fan of his before now, this issue won’t do anything to change your mind. His pencil work is a bit looser than most and his facial expressions remind me a bit of Salvador Larroca’s work, which is to say that characters can seem a tad too stoic at times. When Magneto does get to let loose though, the results are appropriately terrifying and exhilarating:
…and Magneto sans vulnerability
The end of this issue does offer up one unwanted surprise—“The March to AXIS” is actually a crossover before AXIS even begins, meaning that this issue’s plot will be continued in Uncanny Avengers #24. While I am currently reading both books, I wish that Magneto’s story would continue to be self contained for now, because underpowered or not, I have loved seeing this new side of Magneto. Weakened. Alone. Angry. On a mission with nothing to lose. Is that a bit cliche? Absolutely. Has this still been a great run thus far? You better believe it.
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