The trilogy is complete! In this final entry of Jesse’s solo celebration of X-Men at 25, we crack open the darkest and most compelling of the movie prequel comics—X-Men Movie Prequel: Magneto. Released in August 2000 alongside the Wolverine and Rogue prequels, this issue dives deep into the tragic origin and militant ideology of Erik Lehnsherr, aka Magneto. With a powerful narrative that stretches from the horrors of Auschwitz to mutant rights clashes in the modern era, this comic adds heartbreaking nuance and ominous intent to the man who would challenge both the X-Men and the world.

Listen to Magneto’s painful journey—starting as a traumatized boy in 1944 Poland, to his first encounter and philosophical sparring with Charles Xavier in Israel, all the way to his present-day war of ideology against Senator Kelly’s mutant fear-mongering. We get classic Magneto: haunted, brilliant, calculating, and unflinchingly determined. And let’s not forget a full-on battle between Magneto and Professor X in a prison hallway, a nod to Cerebro’s origin, and yes—Sabretooth sent on a very personal mission of revenge. 

From the chess match that started it all to Magneto’s ultimate “Check, Charles—your move” mic drop, if you’ve been following the Wolverine and Rogue prequel breakdowns, this is the perfect finale to your X-Men rewatch celebration!