My BIG problem with X-men

[Gwarr]

Is Magneto . I finally realized this in the new X-men movie(First Class.) The main problem is how a guy that can only manipulate metal be the central villain . Even as I child I could never take the X-men story seriously ,so to say . So , you wanna tell me that in a world where mutans can move things with their mind ,have incredible strength , be indestructible , shoot laser out of their eyes , in this world, the leader of the bad guys is a dude with one niche ability?

Don't get me wrong , I love the personality of Magneto( the actor in First Class did a good job in expressing how I always thought Magneto was) , but his" power" is really weak in the grand scheme of things even compared to Xavier.

So , anyone ever had this problem ? As in , do you think the main villan needs to be more powerful than the hero for the story to be interesting ( especially in a superhero series)?

 

[MorsePacific]

He doesn't manipulate metal, he manipulates magnetic fields. It just so happens that metal is pretty damn magnetic, so his powers mainly show in the fact that he can move metal around.

Sure, it seems pretty weak, but that's why the villain in First Class was Sebastian Shaw who was able to absorb energy and turn it into sheer strength. Magneto wasn't in full control of his powers yet, but they have the potential to be really ridiculous.

The central conflict in X-Men has never really been about the X-Men vs. the Brotherhood. It was more about mutants versus society and how the Brotherhood and X-Men's views on dealing with normal humans differed.

 

[Limecake]

Magneto has always been the 'batman' of the x-men for me.

Magneto's mutant power might not be particularly powerful, however he is a charismatic leader and very passionate about what he believes in. what he lacks in sheer ability he makes up for by being cunning and resourceful.

also there are the obvious applications to his power (guns, bullets, tanks are all extremely vulnerable to his power) however, wouldn't it be technically possible for him to emit some sort of Magnetic pulse if he were so inclined?

 

[whiteshark12]

If he can alter the magnetic field, then he could just be a total ***** and strip away the magnetosphere and watch everyone die from radiation exposure.

 

[drummond13]

He can also fly? And emit a somewhat indestructible shield around himself? And has a helmet that makes him immune to Professor X? The way they write him sometimes it becomes much more than just a niche power. Saying he can only "manipulate metal" is like saying Professor X can only "read minds". He can actually do quite a bit more.

 

[Wolfenbarg]

Uh... he controls one of the four governing forces of the universe. At his best, he is one of the most ridiculously overpowered people who could possibly walk the Earth.

 

[Gwarr]

I get the deep message of X-men( fight discrimination with force or try to make the majority accept ) and , yeah , his power is to control the magnetic field of the world , but Jean Grey has the power of Telekinesis ( which is practically a more generalized form of Magneto's powers) and there are other that could probably destroy him in 1vs1 combat.

It would have really helped if it would have been a Transformers kinda situation , where both factions are pretty much equal . When I watch X-men , I always feel like I am cheering for the winning side and not shouting for the heroic , barely resisting , side .

 

[lukeyk]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I am pretty sure that magneto is an omega level mutant so he can destroy the world. He can control the magnetic spectrum, so things such as gamma rays and what not. So presumably magneto can just give you cancer. And Magneto isn't a vllain :/ More an antagonist. His views are very agreeable.

So his powers are certainly not "Very weak" He just doesn't really use them. Why? Because he doesn't want to. And I think, and this is quite shaky but I think he can control gravity. So in terms of weakness thats a negative. However this is from the comics which perhaps are more awesome, while I believe you are focusing solely on the movie's so meh.

 

[Radoh]

So, you saw First Class and you don't understand how he can be the leader of the Brotherhood?

Spoiler: Slight Movie Spoilers

He lifts a frikkin' submarine out of the ocean, and redirects a whole bunch of missiles and bombs at will.

Seriously, you think he can't stand to be a threat?

 

[Radeonx]

I get the deep message of X-men( fight discrimination with force or try to make the majority accept ) and , yeah , his power is to control the magnetic field of the world , but Jean Grey has the power of Telekinesis ( which is practically a more generalized form of Magneto's powers) and there are other that could probably destroy him in 1vs1 combat.

It would have really helped if it would have been a Transformers kinda situation , where both factions are pretty much equal . When I watch X-men , I always feel like I am cheering for the winning side and not shouting for the heroic , barely resisting , side .

Well Jean Grey (As Phoenix) basically fucks shit up for everyone in the entire story, so that's unfair.
I mean, the factions aren't THAT one sided, either. Magneto could effectively kill everyone on the X-Men if he really wanted to, but that would be ridiculously detrimental to his cause.

 

[Spencer Petersen]

I always felt the Xmen kind of used it mutation powers as an excuse to not properly characterize the people. Other superheroes usually have a origin story or way they got their powers and how it affected them as a person, whereas the Xmen usually just have to show an awkward scene from high school of their powers turning on and making a big fuss. Usually the people are only characterized by what side they were on, the forgiving side or the vengeful side. Also, the obvious tie to gay rights does kinda get in the way, mostly in that it is done so forwardly and without much subtlety that it gets pretty preachy.

 

[bombadilillo]

He doesn't manipulate metal, he manipulates magnetic fields. It just so happens that metal is pretty damn magnetic, so his powers mainly show in the fact that he can move metal around.

Sure, it seems pretty weak, but that's why the villain in First Class was Sebastian Shaw who was able to absorb energy and turn it into sheer strength. Magneto wasn't in full control of his powers yet, but they have the potential to be really ridiculous.

The central conflict in X-Men has never really been about the X-Men vs. the Brotherhood. It was more about mutants versus society and how the Brotherhood and X-Men's views on dealing with normal humans differed.

This.

He is not a SUPERVILLIAN. He is a cultural leader of one philosophy.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Wait, you saw "First Class" and you STILL think Magneto is weak?

Dude, the world has a lot of metal. Besides, it sure as hell beats Angel's power. Seriously, what the hell was the POINT of her?

 

[Gwarr]

So, you saw First Class and you don't understand how he can be the leader of the Brotherhood?

Spoiler: Slight Movie Spoilers

He lifts a frikkin' submarine out of the ocean, and redirects a whole bunch of missiles and bombs at will.

Seriously, you think he can't stand to be a threat?

For humans? Sure . For mutans? Well maybe , I mean magnetism can fuck you up , but I always imagine Night Crawler smuggling the helmet off of Magneto and after I see prof X mind control him off a cliff.

 

[Exterminas]

Even if Magneto only had the power of sharpening pencils he still would be the leader.
Why?

Because he IS a leader. He is strong-willed is not afraid to say what he thinks and has the ability to make people relate to his point of view. (Even the Viewer, who isn't even a mutant) That is is real power.

 

[Radoh]

So, you saw First Class and you don't understand how he can be the leader of the Brotherhood?

Spoiler: Slight Movie Spoilers

He lifts a frikkin' submarine out of the ocean, and redirects a whole bunch of missiles and bombs at will.

Seriously, you think he can't stand to be a threat?

For humans? Sure . For mutans? Well maybe , I mean magnetism can fuck you up , but I always imagine Night Crawler smuggling the helmet off of Magneto and after I see prof X mind control him off a cliff.

Super-Magnetise the helmet to his head. Boom, that plan's a wash.

 

[Nekron_X]

magneto is overpowered in some comics and underpowered in others. it really just depends on who's writing the comic. there's one comic, which i don't know the name of where he kills every one by throwing the earth out it's magnetic alignment. so i'd say that what he can do fluctuates too much to really make him solid. but no matter what his abilities are never just manipulating metal.

 

[mikeybuthge]

... remember in the 2nd movie where Magneto just rips the iron right from the guard's blood, or where he tries to rip Wolveriene's adamantium off his bones? That's why he's such a powerful mutant

 

[Twad]

.. magnetic fields? woudnt making weapons out of anything but iron/magnetite/nickel counter his skill?

 

[Gwarr]

Spoiler

So, you saw First Class and you don't understand how he can be the leader of the Brotherhood?

Spoiler: Slight Movie Spoilers

He lifts a frikkin' submarine out of the ocean, and redirects a whole bunch of missiles and bombs at will.

Seriously, you think he can't stand to be a threat?

For humans? Sure . For mutans? Well maybe , I mean magnetism can fuck you up , but I always imagine Night Crawler smuggling the helmet off of Magneto and after I see prof X mind control him off a cliff.

Super-Magnetise the helmet to his head. Boom, that plan's a wash.

Still , he needs to sleep sometimes right? Doubt he wears a freaking metal helmet to bed . Prof X logs in and makes him kill himself by choking with toilet paper. Ironically , I don't see any problem with Lex Luthor as the main villain in Superman . I really want to like Magneto , but I just can never take him seriously , he feels very forced in the story for me :/