A new 'Trial of Magneto' event has been announced by Marvel, so I figured it'd be a good chance to take a look back at the original TRIAL OF MAGNETO story from the mid-1980s. Magneto had already allied himself with the X-Men during the SECRET WARS and found himself joining forces with them once again when the Beyonder arrived on Earth at the start of SECRET WARS II. The self-styled 'Master of Magnetism' had been the X-Men's fiercest foe for years, believing mutants should rule humanity rather than live together with them in peace. This story gives Magneto a shot at redemption, referring back to his his battle with the Defenders that ended with him being reduced to infancy by Alpha the Ultimate Mutant. Having been restored to adulthood soon after, Magneto has been (arguably) more measured and less maniacal. Could he really be a changed man? Does he deserve a shot at redemption?
Also, around this time, Cyclops has left the X-Men to start a new life with his new wife, Jean Grey lookalike Madelyne Pryor. But the call to fight with the X-Men in the ASGARDIAN WARS (taking place during this story) reminds him of what he's missed and threatens his marriage. Maddie's about to give birth, which generates anxiety for Rachel Summers who comes from an alternate future as the daughter of Cyclops and Phoenix. With Jean Grey dead in this reality, will Rachel ever be born? And can she tell Cyclops she's kind of his daughter?
MCG Note: 'Sir Jim Jaspers' appears in this story, but can't possibly the same Jim Jaspers who battles Captain Britain in the JASPERS' WARP story; it's possible he's a duplicate created by Roma.
- SECRET WARS - The X-Men & Magneto become allies on Battleworld
- WRAITH WAR - Storm loses her powers
- SECRET WARS II - Magneto allies with the X-Men again when the Beyonder comes to Earth
- Uncanny X-Men #199-200
- New Mutants #35
- Uncanny X-Men #201
Uncanny X-Men #200
Angry crowds gather outside the International Court of Justice in Paris where Magneto is due to stand trial. The Fenris twins monitor the news closely, planning their revenge on Magneto his defense counsel Gabrielle Haller and her assistant Charles Xavier. The X-Men and New Mutants are teleported to Paris by Loki, following their adventure in Asgard (during ASGARDIAN WARS). Days later, a band of armoured mercenaries start carrying out attacks on European military installations, demanding the release of Magneto and signing off as the X-Men. The court proceedings begin with Sir Jim Jaspers standing for the prosecution as things begin to heat up in court and well as outside with people believing the X-Men are terrorists and Magneto should face the death penalty. Haller convinces the court to only judge Magneto's actions from the period since his 'rebirth' when he was de-aged by Alpha the Ultimate Mutant. At the Xavier School, Cyclops' wife Madelyne Pryor goes into labor. The X-Men defeat the armoured terrorists, but fear the public won't be able to tell who the good guys were. Fenris interrupt attack the court directly, revealing themselves to be the twin children of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker who was once defeated by Xavier and Magneto (see THE BROOD SAGA). Magneto tries to defeat Fenris without killing them, but they almost drown themselves by flooding the court with the Seine. Magneto gets the dying Xavier to safety who asks Magneto to become Headmaster of the school. Xavier is teleported away by Lilandra Neramani and Corsair of the Starjammers who hope to use alien Shi'ar technology to save his life, leaving Magneto to wonder if he can live up to the task Xavier has set him...
New Mutants #35
Having opted to prove himself by his actions rather than completing his trial, Magneto returns to America and introduces himself to the New Mutants as their new Headmaster, which they largely don't take kindly to. Magneto attempts to settle any disputes by giving them a chance to subdue him in the Danger Room, sidelining Cypher because of his powers. He defeats them easily, resolving very little. Later, Mirage is attack by frat guys on her way home from local bar Harry's Hideaway. She's saved by her Asgardian winged horse Brightwind who senses her in peril. Magneto decide to confront the three young men, tearing their frat house down around them. All of this is witnessed by the New Mutants who managed to sneak out to watch and now have a sense of respect for their new Headmaster.
Uncanny X-Men #201
The X-Men arrive back at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngers to find Maddie has given birth to a baby boy, though she has concerns that Cyclops is distant and seems more interested in remaining with the X-Men. Rachel Summers meets her 'brother' for the first time. Aboard the Starjammer, Xavier has been healed, but damage to the ship and the ship and the risk of attackers from the Shi'ar Empire force them to head deeper into space. The X-Men, though, only have Magneto's word that Xavier was taken by the Starjammers and aren't convinced he should be taking over the school. Maddie tries to convince Cyclops to come back home with her and the baby, but he opts to fight Storm for the right to leadership in the Danger Room. Despite having lost her powers, Storm defeats Cyclops and he agrees to go home with Maddie. She's aware that it's because he lost and not because he chose his family first. Later, Rachel Summers returns to John & Elaine Grey's home and adds a piece of her life essence to the Shi'ar holo-matrix, observed by Uatu the Watcher.
Longshot #5-6 (1986)
Spiral returns to her mission to recapture Longshot for Mojo.
Marvel Fanfare #33 (1987)
Magneto is briefly reunited with Lee Forrester.
Fantastic Four #286 (1986)
The Fantastic Four discover Jean Grey is alive and that the Phoenix who joined the X-Men was actually the Phoenix Force in Jean Grey's form during THIRD GENESIS.
Uncanny X-Men #202 (1986)
Now imbued with the power of the Phoenix Force, Rachel Summers tries to kill the Beyonder, but he forces her to focus on saving the X-Men during SECRET WARS II.
X-Factor #1 (1986)
Cyclops learns Jean Grey is alive and immediately leaves his wife in child in Alaska in favour of founding the mutant search & rescue group X-Factor (posing as the mutant-hunting X-Terminators) during THIRD GENESIS.
New Mutants #37 (1986)
The New Mutants are killed by the Beyonder during SECRET WARS II.
Uncanny X-Men #203 (1986)
Phoenix tries to kill the Beyonder again but finds she's not able to end another life; Phoenix's actions make Magneto reconsider killing his enemies for the 'greater good' during SECRET WARS II.
Secret Wars II #9 (1986)
Phoenix and the rest of the X-Men are present for the final battle with the Beyonder; the Beyonder resurrects the New Mutants; the Molecule Man is the one who ends his threat during SECRET WARS II.
New Mutants #38-40 (1986)
Magneto turns to Emma Frost for help the New Mutants with their trauma; Empath coerces Magneto into enrolling the New Mutants at Frost's Massachusetts Academy; the Avengers attack Magneto, believing he's trying to kidnap the New Mutants; the restored New Mutants return home to the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.
X-Factor #8-9 (1986)
Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter) joins Freedom Force; Freedom Force's next mission pits them against the X-Men again.
Uncanny X-Men #210 (1986)
Magneto is offered a place among the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle in the hope of building a truce between them and the X-Men; Magneto learns X-Factor are actually the original X-Men, including a resurrected Jean Grey during MUTANT MASSACRE.
X-Factor #13 (1987)
Cyclops returns to Alaska to find his wife and son, but they appear to have left.
Fallen Angels #1 (1987)
Sunspot's issues with Magneto finally come to a head and he leaves the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, taking Warlock along with him during FALLEN ANGELS.
Uncanny X-Men #215 (1987)
Madelyne Pryor wakes up in hospital recovering from a gunshot wound following an attempt on her life by the Marauders.
New Mutants #54 (1987)
Karma leaves the New Mutants in favour of finding her missing siblings.
Uncanny X-Men #219 (1987)
Encouraged by Storm, Magneto accepts the offer of membership in the Hellfire Club.
X-Men vs the Avengers #1-4 (1987)
Magneto begins wearing his old helmet again, raising concerns that he may be going back to his old ways; Magneto's intention was to use the circuitry in his helmet to remove all prejudice from humanity; the Avengers take Magneto in when he agrees to stand trial again; Gabrielle Haller stands in his defense, while 'Sir Jim Jaspers' stands for the prosecution; Magneto uses the helmet on one of the judges to make him acquit Magneto of his crimes
Uncanny X-Men #220-224 (1987)
The Marauders are sent to kill Madelyne Pryor again, but she's rescued by the X-Men and is unaware of her son's wherabouts; Maddie accompanies the X-Men to Dallas; Crimson Commando, Stonewall & Super Sabre all join Freedom Force during THE FALL OF THE MUTANTS.
New Mutants #60 (1988)
Cypher is shot dead when he takes a bullet from the Ani-Mator that was meant for Wolfsbane during THE FALL OF THE MUTANTS.
Uncanny X-Men #226-227 (1988)
Forge restores Storm's powers; Madelyne Pryor is believed to have died alongside the X-Men while battling the Adversary; Maddie and the X-Men are transported to Australia where they continue to allow the world to believe they're dead during THE FALL OF THE MUTANTS.
New Mutants #64 (1988)
Magneto blames himself for Cypher's death and his anger begins to grow; Magneto tries to ground the New Mutants to prevent them from facing similar danger, but this only damages his relationship with them further.
New Mutants Annual #4 (1988)
The New Mutants' trust in Magneto is shaken further when they learn he had specific plans for Magma during THE EVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Uncanny X-Men #240-242 (1989)
Madelyne Pryor is revealed to be a clone of Jean Grey created by Mister Sinister; it's revealed that a spark of the Phoenix Force jumped to her when the Dark Phoenix died; Maddie becomes the Goblin Queen; Maddie almost sacrifices her own son to open a portal to Limbo during INFERNO.
Uncanny X-Men #240-242 (1989)
Madelyne Pryor is revealed to be a clone of Jean Grey created by Mister Sinister; it's revealed that a spark of the Phoenix Force jumped to her when the Dark Phoenix died; Maddie becomes the Goblin Queen; Maddie almost sacrifices her own son to open a portal to Limbo during INFERNO.
X-Factor #38 (1989)
Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) and the Goblin Queen (Madelyne Pryor) fight to the death; Marvel Girl wins and absorbs Maddie's part of the Phoenix Force along with her memories and personality traits during INFERNO.
Uncanny X-Men #243 (1989)
The Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters is destroyed by Mister Sinister during INFERNO.
The Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters is destroyed by Mister Sinister during INFERNO.
New Mutants #74-75 (1989)
Magneto battles Sebastian Shaw for control of the Hellfire Club and wins, becoming the sole male member of the Inner Circle as the Grey King; Magneto learns Magik has been reduced to a child following her clash with N'Astirh; stood among the ruins of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, Magneto allows the New Mutants to go find their own path but warns them they will one day have to choose a side, officially ending his role as their Headmaster.
X-Factor #40 (1989)
Cyclops gets his son back.
New Mutants #85 (1990)
Mirage leaves the New Mutants, opting to stay in Asgard to learn how to use her Valkyrie abilities during ACTS OF VENGEANCE.
New Mutants #87 (1990)
First appearance of Cable during HOME!
Uncanny X-Men #253 (1989)
Magneto decides to play the part of the villain once again to so that world would focus on him as the biggest mutant target and less on the remaining mutants during DISSOLUTION & REBIRTH.
X-Factor Annual #5 (1990)
Rachel Summers finally tells both Cyclops and Marvel Girl that she's the daughter of Cyclops and Phoenix of Earth-811; they're initially shocked and disappointed that she kept this a secret for so long, but find a way to come to terms this revelation during DAYS OF FUTURE PRESENT.
Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #20-23 (1991)
When Werner von Strucker, the son of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, proves to be an unworthy successor to his father and fails as leader of Hydra, the Red Skull sends agents to resurrect Baron Strucker using the Death Spore Virus.
Uncanny X-Men #274-277 (1991)
Lilandra Neramani is revealed to have reclaimed the Shi'ar throne, but is in the thrall of War Skrulls; the X-Men defeat the War Skrulls and restore Lilandra to her rightful place as Empress.
X-Factor Annual #6 (1991)
Freedom Force's deadly mission in Kuwait leaves Crimson Commando incapacitated, Super Sabre dead and Blob & Pyro captured by the enemy; Freedom Force are effectively neutered during THE KILLING STROKE.
X-Factor #65-68 (1991)
Apocalypse infects the infant Nathan Christopher Summers is infected with a Techno-Organic Virus and is taken into the future by Sister Askani of Earth-4935 to be healed; Askani is unable to return the infant, so Cyclops has to give up his son in order to save his life.
Uncanny X-Men #278 (1991)
Professor X returns to Earth with the X-Men during THE MUIR ISLAND SAGA.
X-Factor #70 (1991)
Val Cooper announces that Freedom Force are officially disbanded and is working on a replacement team; X-Factor unofficially disband during THE MUIR ISLAND SAGA.
X-Factor #71-73 (1991)
Val Cooper forms a new, government-sanctioned mutant team called X-Factor during MUTANT GENESIS.
X-Men #1-3 (1991)
Magneto discovers Moira MacTaggert tried to tamper with his genetic structure while he was reduced to the state of an infant in the hope he'd grow into a more stable adult during MUTANT GENESIS.
Daredevil #308-309 (1992)
Fenris meet Werner von Strucker, the sibling they never knew existed; Werner is murdered by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker as he once again works his way up Hydra's ranks during DEAD MAN'S HAND.
X-Force #18 (1993)
It's heavily implied that the mutant terrorist Stryfe is the son of Cyclops having returned to the present after growing up in the future (Earth-4935) during X-CUTIONER'S SONG.
Excalibur #66-67 (1993)
Phoenix (Rachel Summers) returns to her own future with her Excalibur teammates to finally end the threat of Ahab and the Sentinels in that timeline.
Cable #6-10 (1993-1994)
Cable is revealed to be Nathan Christopher Summers, the true son of Cyclops and Maddie Pryor; Stryfe is revealed to be Cable's clone.
Cable is revealed to be Nathan Christopher Summers, the true son of Cyclops and Maddie Pryor; Stryfe is revealed to be Cable's clone.
Uncanny X-Men #310 (1994)
Cable and Cyclops make their peace during THE WEDDING OF CYCLOPS AND PHOENIX.
X-Men #30 (1994)
Rachel Summers attends Jean Grey and Scott Summers' wedding, validating her own existence during THE WEDDING OF CYCLOPS AND PHOENIX.
X-51 (1999)
Mystique rejoins the Brotherhood of Mutants alongside her old Freedom Force teammates.
Magneto: Dark Seduction #1-2 (2000)
Michelle Deveraux is called in as part of a committee to oversee the United Nations agreement to hand control of Genosha over to Magneto during X-MEN REVOLUTION.
Citizen V and the V-Battalion #1-3 (2001)
Fenris finally get to work with their father, Baron Wolfgang von Strucker; Andrea von Strucker is murdered by Citizen V/Baron Zemo during LIFE SENTENCES.
Uncanny X-Men #462 (2005)
The real Jim Jaspers returns and is revealed to have merged with the murderous cybiote Fury during HOUSE OF M.
Uncanny X-Men #466-468 (2006)
John & Elaine Grey are murdered by Shi'ar Death Commandos attempting to eliminate the Grey genome during DECIMATION.
Secret Invasion: Dark Reign #1 (2009)
Andreas von Strucker's quest to revive his sister when he's murdered by Norman Osborn during SECRET INVASION / DARK REIGN.
Illuminati #2 (2016)
Andrea and Andreas Strucker are revealed to have been resurrected (which is later revealed to be the work of their father) during ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT MARVEL.
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men vol.12
Includes Uncanny X-Men #199-200.
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men vol.13
Includes Uncanny X-Men #201.
X-Men: Ghosts
Includes Uncanny X-Men #199-201.
New Mutants Classic vol.5
New Mutants Omnibus vol.2
New Mutants Omnibus vol.2
Include New Mutants #35.
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