Warning: contains spoilers for Scarlet Witch #5An exciting twist at the end of Scarlet Witch #5 has revealed that Magneto, who nobly died during the A.X.E.: Judgment Day event, has returned to the living… but a blink-and-miss-it clue reveals that this menacing figure is not Magneto at all.
Magneto’s death during Judgment Day was incredibly meaningful and heartbreaking, because due to giving up his Cerebro backups, the mutant hero was supposedly unable to benefit from new technology that allows mutants to be resurrected. It was therefore unexpected to see him return so soon, leaving fans asking how he could possibly still be alive. The answer? He isn’t.
The finale of Scarlet Witch #5 – from writer Steve Orlando and artist Russel Dauterman – reveals Magneto living in the caves outside Lotkill, New York, and weaponizing the anti-magic metal “low Mysterium.” However, a careful glimpse at “Magneto’s” neckline reveals a subtle scar, which reveals that this man is not Magneto, but the errant Magneto clone Joseph.
“Magneto” Has A Neck Scar Where Joseph Was Beheaded
The clone Joseph, created by former Acolyte of Magneto Astra, first debuted in 1995s X-Men #46, created by Astra to be a superior version of Magneto who could kill the Master of Magnetism and accomplish his original goals without any barriers. Joseph eventually lost to Magneto, living as an amnesiac at a South American orphanage before traveling to the United States to join the X-Men. The clone acted as a hero with the X-Men for a period, even having a romance with Rogue just like the real Magneto did, before sacrificing himself to stop Magneto from merging with the “magnetosphere” and ruling the world. Eventually, Astra brought Joseph back to life, and after spending time in the X-Brig on Utopia, Joseph was released and formed his own Brotherhood of Mutants, only to be beheaded by Kwannon.
As a clone, Joseph was not included in Krakoa’s Resurrection Protocols, but Scarlet Witch #5‘s reveal shows that “Magneto” has a scar in the exact place that Psylocke beheaded Joseph, also teased by writer Steve Orlando on Twitter. Joseph’s original creator Astra was confirmed alive and on Krakoa in House of X #5, meaning she easily could have retrieved his head and body, reattached them, and brought him back to life, to continue the villainy he began in his second life.
Joseph’s Goals And Allegiances Are A Complete Mystery
That being said, Joseph’s goals and allegiances as an enemy of Wanda Maximoff are a complete mystery, with Joseph sadistically using low Mysterium throwing stars to attack some random humans. The black Magneto costume that Joseph is wearing is often synonymous with Magneto’s more brutal and vengeful period, staring in 2014’s Magneto, so there is a chance Joseph is attempting to get revenge on the X-Men through the Scarlet Witch somehow. The low Mysterium he uses is specifically harmful to Wanda and other magic users, so there is also a chance that his appearance could tie into Agatha Harkness’ upcoming magic-based Content of Chaos event.
Many Magneto fans would have been disappointed if the beloved hero returned to life so soon after his tragic and meaningful death, so the reintroduction of the now-vengeful Magneto clone Joseph is the perfect misdirection, with the inclusion of Joseph’s beheading scar a truly iconic and sneaky way to reveal his true identity.
Scarlet Witch #5 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.
Source: Steve Orlando
