Uncanny Avengers #25 Review: A Final Solution That Isn’t So Final
By Nick Tylwalk
How do you solve a problem like Magneto?
(Props to you and your knowledge of musicals if you know what I’m referencing there too!)
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There’s no right answer to that question, because as we see in Uncanny Avengers #25, he pretty much does what he wants. A healthy portion of this issue is devoted to the idea that he’s never been a really good father to the Scarlet Witch, because he’s always doing things for the good of the overall mutant population, at least from his point of view. Indeed, Wanda notes that while he’s tried to reform for his friend Charles Xavier or for the X-Men as a whole, he’s never done anything strictly for her.
That includes listening to Scarlet Witch here (not to mention Havok and Rogue), which turns out to be bad news not just for them, as they struggle to escape one of Red Skull’s mutant internment camps, but possibly for the entire Marvel Universe as we get set for the first chapter of AXIS. It’ll be another week until we know for sure, but it’s looking like a lot of what comes down the pike might fall directly on Magento’s shoulders.
Not that he’d acknowledge it, of course. He’s going to do what he’s going to do. Rick Remender gives us a memorable way for this part of the series to end (it’s going on hiatus for a few months, at least), and Daniel Acuna is back for the send-off as well.
SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT!
It’s not looking good for our mutant heroes. Havok, Scarlet Witch, Rogue and Magneto are all held helpless by Red Skull’s borrowed mental powers, at least until Magneto manages to give them an opening. They take full advantage, with the Wonder Man-enhanced Rogue taking on Ahab, while the rest deal with the S-Men.
That turns out surprisingly well as Magneto takes off the proverbial gloves and unleashes the full extent of his magnetic powers, despite Wanda’s attempts to rein him in. Havok also protests that Xavier could still be alive, at least in a manner of speaking, but Erik wants blood. He decides to deal with the Skull up close and personal — no powers, just fists.
The Skull gets in one last taunt, saying that since he has access to Professor X’s thoughts he can report that Charles was never really Erik’s friend, and that Xavier’s worst fear was that he’d die and Magneto would mess up the X-Men with his inept leadership. That crosses the line for Magneto, who crushes Red Skull’s head under a pile of bricks. Bloody!
Alas, like a pro wrestling victory that gets broken up by an attack right after the bell has sounded, there’s no time for Magneto to pat himself on the back. You see, while the Skull might be dead, the Onslaught has been unleashed.
(*Cue ominous music … *)
Favorite moment: This story was too grim to really have a favorite moment, but Rogue’s call here showed she’s got the proper Avengers spirit:
Final thought: It really was surprising that Magneto did something he thought was right and ended up making things worse. Oh, no, I meant the opposite of surprising. Sorry about that.