Claremont Reinvigorates The Plight of Magneto – X-Men Black: Magneto #1 Review
by Josh Davison
Magneto visits a café in San Fernando, California. A detention center built specifically to house mutants has just opened and has interned its first influx of mutant children. Erik intends to shut it down, but, at the café, he meets a young girl named Kate. She is young, innocent, and optimistic, and she reminds Magneto of so many young women he has met and let down throughout his life. Will she stop Erik before his rampage even begins?
In the backup story, Apocalypse readies the body that will become his new vessel. It is a shapeshifter, but the transference goes drastically and inexplicably wrong.
X-Men Black: Magneto #1 finds the Master of Magnetism on the cusp of his new crusade, and it is appropriately thoughtful and sincere in its depiction of Erik and those around him.
Chris Claremont represents the classic villain perfectly. He is not malicious, crazed, or perpetually furious. Instead, Erik is ponderous, compassionate, and forthright. The scene in the café with young Kate is endearing and honest. The showdown which follows is compelling, and you know where each side stands.
The first part of the Apocalypse story within is interesting as well, and it dives a little into the often-obfuscated mind of En Sabah Nur.
Dalibor Talajic’s artwork in the Magneto story feels appropriately classical, jiving well with the writing of the legendary Claremont. Magneto is not a looming figure but instead a slight and soft-looking elderly man. He looks welcoming, but this changes when the time comes for a fight. Erik’s posture and presentation changes drastically. Roberto Poggi and Belardino Brabo ink the story well, and Dono Sanchez-Almara colors it all brightly and appealingly.
Geraldo Borges and Rachelle Rosenberg make the Apocalypse story look great too, giving the villain the imposing appearance he deserves and surrounding him with lively color.
X-Men Black: Magneto #1 is an excellent read for any X-Men fan, especially one with a healthy appreciation of their greatest villain like myself. Magneto is as compelling as ever in his story, and Apocalypse’s backstory is interesting in its own right. This one is worthy of a recommendation, and I suggest giving it a read.
This comic comes courtesy of writers Chris Claremont, Zac Thompson, and Lonnie Nadler, artists Dalibor Talajic and Geraldo Borges, inkers Roberto Poggi, Belardino Brabo, and Geraldo Borges, color artists Dono Sanchez-Almara and Rachelle Rosenberg, letterers VC’s Joe Caramagna and Cory Petit, cover artists J. Scott Campbell and Sabine Rich, and variant cover artists Salvador Larroca and Guru-eFX.
