The House Of Magnus

 

"You know how sometimes you hear the phrase: AND NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN? Well, this time believe it, buster!! NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!"
-- Promotional copy taken from Marvel.com

In December of 2004, the first volume of The Avengers came to an end after the team was rent asunder by a fierce conflict set in motion by the unbalanced mind of one of their most long-standing members--a woman finally dealt with by Dr. Strange, and subsequently retrieved by her father, the master of magnetism.

Eight months later, Marvel segued from that tragic development to embark on an ambitious crossover event which would be spearheaded by the eight-issue House Of M series, an attempt to capitalize on resolve the fate of the Scarlet Witch whose ability to alter reality remains a clear and present danger but would also involve--and revolve around--the world's mutant population to a degree we'd never seen before.

That level of involvement takes its cue from a prior issue of X-Men, where the sister of Charles Xavier, Cassandra Nova, had sent a squad of Sentinels to destroy the island of Genosha, resulting in the deaths of its mutant population to the tune of over 16,000,000 people (including, presumably, its ruler, Magneto). It's to those ruins where Magneto returns with Wanda, where we learn in a synopsis that he's called on Xavier to do what he can to heal Wanda's shattered mind.

Knowing what's to come, one can't help but think of a certain proverb at this point. But thanks to the logo of this series, which is ever-present on every title that this event extends to, it would seem that there is one figure who appears to benefit from the seismic repercussions which are to follow.

Comprising forty-seven issues in all (including the main series) while folding in over twenty additional related issues* here and there, the House Of M event is essentially a collection of What If tales in Limited Series form, with one central theme: Mutants and humans have switched their roles in society, where humans are the scorned minority and mutants run the culture, ruling over all existing countries, religions, and politics. A kingdom united under the "House of M[agnus]" (Magneto, Lorna Dane, Wanda Maximoff and her two sons, and Pietro Maximoff).

*The event's prelude in Excalibur #14; House of M: Avengers #s 1-5 and House of M: Civil War #s 1-5 (both in 2005); Son Of M #s 1-6 (2006); and House of M: Masters of Evil #s 1-4 in 2009.

As to the how and why of the world being changed to such a degree, we have to roll back the clock a bit to a few months after Magneto had relocated Wanda to Genosha, where we find Xavier in the midst of his treatment of her--a pivotal moment to be sure, since this would be the day he would realize that he can do nothing for this patient. (And given his roughshod approach here, I can't say I'm surprised.)

So much for the power of the man who once mentally if surreptitiously shackled the Phoenix. But we all know why he's throwing in the towel: If Xavier had succeeded or even shown signs of making headway, there would be no Marvel five-month event here.

Yet you may find the stories that follow of interest, and even becoming hooked on where this is all headed, if admittedly strung out more than Mr. Fantastic on a bad day when taking into account all of the issues it encompasses. And this ball really starts rolling with a meeting between the New Avengers and the Astonishing X-Men, who realize that the danger of the Scarlet Witch is cause for concern once more after hearing of Xavier's progress (or lack thereof).

The Wasp's opinion on their next move is both reasonable and sensible, so much so in fact that one can only wonder why Xavier didn't broach the same question to Wanda. What the two groups of heroes don't realize, however, is that in the interim, Quicksilver, at his sister's bedside and claiming knowledge of the meeting in New York, approaches Magneto in a highly agitated state and bluntly states that he believes the Avengers and the X-Men are on their way to terminate Wanda. Details are scarce here, perhaps again in the interests of expediency; Pietro wasn't present at the meeting, even though it would seem he would be the one Avenger you'd want in attendance. Left to his own devices, however, Pietro has put two and two together and come up with five--assuming the worst as to the plans the two groups are making, and imploring Magneto to act.

We can tell in his scene with Magneto that Pietro's plaintive words are having an effect on his father, but put that on the back burner for now. Instead, we rejoin the heroes as they approach Genosha, a grim sight to be sure--but given what happens next, it appears decisions have already been made as to Wanda's disposition.

Obviously, Wanda has acted well before the heroes have reacted to her presence. And as we begin to see in the next issue, she's effectively neutralized the two groups--neutralized everyone who might have moved against her--by changing the past and giving them all new lives. But if we had to take a guess, given the apparent change in mutant integration, we could infer that it's Magneto's influence on his daughter which is at work here.

Interestingly, some "sapiens," however, are faring well. Peter Parker and Spider-Man are enjoying overwhelming acceptance from the public; ditto, Carol Danvers; and Tony Stark continues to prosper. Yet it's clear that they all must operate within a new world order that recognizes mutants first, and foremost. (Sound familiar?)

Yet one high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. operative remembers everything about his former life--and of all people to be on the loose and looking for answers, it's a safe bet that neither Wanda nor the person who appears to be influencing her would want it to be this man.

When we continue our look at this series, we'll single out Peter Parker, the man who has everything... as well as the foursome that became Marvel's premiere super-group following the tragic end of a doomed space flight (a description which has far different connotations in this series).

BONUS!
The reading order of the (almost) entire House Of M saga.