Magneto

Real Name: Max Eisenhardt

First Appearance: X-Men #1 (September 1963)

Powers: Limitless Control over all Forms of Magnetism.  Can Chape and Manipulate Magnetic Fields.  Can Control and Project all forms of Energy part of the Electromagnetic Spectrum.

Affiliation: X-Men, New Mutants, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Hellfire Club

Enemies: X-Men, Homo Sapiens

Did You Know: The mutants known as Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are the children of Magneto.

A Little History

Young Max spent his early life inside the concentration camp at Auschwitz. He was left without his parents after they were murdered by the Nazis and forced to operate the gas chambers, fire pits, and ovens inside the camp.

Not all was lost for Max. It was here that he met the woman, Magda, whom he would marry and have children with. Shortly after his time in Auschwitz and coming home to his house burning down, his mutation manifested for the first time. Unable to rescue his family due to an angry mob, Max unleashed his powers on the people.

Terrified by what she saw, Magda left Max and fled to Wundagore Mountain. During this time, she learned that she was pregnant with Max’s children, Pietro (Quicksilver) and Wanda (Scarlet Witch). Max did not know of their existence at the time of their birth.

After unearthing his powers and being afraid to be found, he took up the name Erik Magnus Lehnsherr and made his way to Isreal. While in Isreal, he befriended what would become his long-time ally/enemy, Charles Xavier.

The two of them became close, often debating what would happen if a race of super-powered individuals rose to prominence. Eventually, they revealed to each other that each did, in fact, have powers. Unfortunately for the two, they were unable to see eye-to-eye on most matters, which led to their separation.