In Defense of... Magneto!

 

No doubt "The Trial of Magneto" from late 1985 was anticipated on a number of levels by those of us who were following recent issues of Uncanny X-Men, where readers had lately been seeing the Master of Magnetism turn over a new leaf and acclimate himself to members of a team who for much of the book's history had been his most tenacious foes.  Indeed, it's his own history that remains the elephant in the room for some of the X-Men--as well as for those in government circles, foreign and domestic, who see him as nothing less than a deadly threat to humanity.

Magneto's gradual development of a conscience, as chronicled by writer Chris Claremont, has been fascinating to watch--but for the book's double-sized 200th issue, a long-awaited reckoning for Magneto finally looked to be on the horizon when Mystique, leader of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, decided that it was in the best interests of herself and her team members to make a deal with the Feds for amnesty in exchange for their services as super-powered operatives who report directly to the government. To that end, she approaches Valerie Cooper, Special Assistant to the President's National Security Advisor, who has taken up an aggressive posture against mutant activities and certain mutants in particular but finds Mystique's offer convincing, as well as the perfect means to remove Magneto's threat.

Against the X-Men, however, "Freedom Force," though clearly having become a tight-knit fighting unit under Mystique's leadership, proves less than equal to the task. Instead it's Magneto himself who acquiesces to his arrest in order to put the matter of his crimes to rest once and for all.

Which paves the way for a riveting anniversary issue that, when all is said and done, will have provided anything but closure on the issue of Magneto's guilt or innocence.

The opening narrative from a National Public Radio reporter is a splendid means to both set the stage for events comprising both past and present, and generate anticipation for what is to come. Introductions are made... the temperature of spectators and others around the world is taken... and the ailing Charles Xavier, who aside from defense attorney Gabrielle Haller knows Magneto on a deeper level than most, clearly sees this trial as a turning point for mutant/human relations, whether for better or worse.

Yet Xavier must also address objections from some of those who have chosen to follow his dream of peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants--the X-Men, and, in particular, Scott Summers, who displays ambivalence toward helping Magneto. In their discussion of the matter, Xavier informs Scott of Magneto's vow to accept any decision of the court, to which Scott offers a pointed reply: "Even a death sentence? Do you really believe he'll let himself be executed!?" The conversation continues--but as Claremont likely intended, the question hangs in the air and practically echoes off the page.

As the trial begins, a motion is made that infuriates the prosecution and no doubt sends shockwaves through the packed courtroom: Haller moves to strike all counts against Magneto pertaining to incidents that occurred prior to Mutant Alpha's regression of him to infancy. Her reasoning seems specious, at best:

"At that time, Magneto was reduced to infancy, returned to a state of grace. His life can be said to have begun again. The man that was, at that moment, ceased to exist. In effect, he died. Which is, of course, the ultimate penalty for any crime."

As you might expect, Sir Jaspers objects strongly, pointing out that regardless of his transformations, Magneto committed the crimes on record. Nevertheless, the motion is granted, leaving the indictment against Magneto restricted to only events that occurred after Magneto was returned to adulthood. (Sir Jaspers might have countered Haller's motion with the fact that Magneto still retains his memories of and his complicity in those events, regardless of being returned from infancy to an adult state--but you've probably already noticed that I wasn't offered a seat at the prosecutor's table as Assistant A.G., was I.)

In the meantime, the duo known as Fenris--Andrea and Andreas, twin siblings with a grudge against Haller, Xavier and Magneto--are inflaming public opinion against mutants by conducting terrorist strikes against locations in Europe and making it appear the attackers were the X-Men in support of Magneto. Xavier asks the X-Men to locate the culprits--something even Scott can get behind, even in light of his feelings concerning Magneto.

In the courtroom, the prosecution moves on to two incidents that are still fair game for being presented in court and could be indisputable in terms of criminal actions on the part of Magneto. The first is the sinking of the Soviet submarine Leningrad, which fired on Magneto in response to his worldwide ultimatum. In answering the charge, Magneto claims striking at the sub out of self-defense and self-preservation, despite the fact that he'd provoked the Soviets and other nations of the world with the threat of annihilation unless they disarmed immediately and ceded to him all their political power. His defense, which also includes his devastating attack on the Siberian city of Varykino, is admittedly well-argued, taking its cue from NPR's commentary that Magneto's origin is "unknown."

As for the X-Men, they have been busy curtailing the formidable armored soldiers in the employ of Fenris--so much so that, too late, they realize that those forces have been distractions which have left the Fenris twins free to bring their attack to their true victims presently in the courtroom. The X-Men return in time to help--but ultimately the battle is decided by Magneto, whose demeanor and good intentions are in contrast with the behavior of Sir Jaspers.

In the end, Andreas manages to reunite with his sister and break free--but the conflict has been the final straw for Xavier's failing health, and, at death's door, he implores Magneto to turn his attention away from being held accountable at trial and instead focus his attention on becoming a positive influence at Xavier's school. And though one of the Starjammers arrives with Xavier's love, Lilandra, with the assurance that they can save his life, Magneto agrees to the request.

As for the trial, given the disruption of the attack and its aftermath and the damage involved, it seems that proceedings have been suspended indefinitely, if the Chief Justice's words are any indication. It's an ending that takes the wind out of this issue's sails, in certain respects, which is disappointing--but few would deny that the issue has packed quite a punch and done its job as an X-Men story.

But the Palais de Justice hasn't seen the last of Magneto.

 
NEXT:
Like it or not--THE VERDICT!