X-amining Classic X-Men #12 - Patreon First!

"A Fire In the Night"

August 1987

In a Nutshell

Magneto dreams of the events which led to the death of his daughter and loss of his wife. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: John Bolton
Letters: Tom Orzechowski 

Colors: Glynis Oliver

Editor: Ann Nocenti
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Plot

In Paris, the recently returned-to-adulthood Magneto dreams of his past, of escaping Auschwitz with Magda, how the pair married and built a life for themselves before settling in the Soviet Union with their daughter, Anya. Years later, Magnus' previously-unknown mutant powers subconsciously manifest when his boss cheats him out of work, with Magnus hurling a metal crowbar through the air. He flees to the inn where his family is staying, only to find it ablaze. He is able to use his nascent powers to rescue Magda, but when he attempts to return for Anya, still trapped inside, he is arrested for his earlier attack, forced to watch helplessly as his daughter burns to death. In a rage, he uses his power to kill everyone present save Magda, who flees from him in horror of what he's done. Magneto then awakens and realizes a nearby building is on fire. He proceeds to rescue a family trapped inside, and when the relieved husband and father asks to repay him, Magneto says he should simply tell the world that in this instance, Magneto the terrorist and villain, chose life over death. 

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