By Marc Strom
Remember that time Magneto took over the world?
No? Well, don't worry, because on September 10, writer Christos Gage and artist Andrea DiVito go back in time to chronicle the master of magnetism's rise to power in CIVIL WAR: HOUSE OF M #1, revisiting the alternate reality created by a disturbed Scarlet Witch in 2005's House of M event.
Or, in Gage's words: "It's a decades-spanning story that starts during World War II and goes all the way up to when Magneto conquered the world!"
And while Gage's historical tour will show fans just how the House of M Universe became so different from the Marvel Universe we know and love, he says those differences don't trace back to a single point of divergence.
"I'm not sure there's a specific point," the writer says. "The main early difference is that mutants emerged sooner and in greater numbers than they did in the mainstream Marvel Universe. We'll see that reflected, but there isn't a single key moment."
So then how did this Magneto manage to do what his counterpart never did and take over the world? The numbers make all the difference…
"A big part of it was what I just mentioned—there were more mutants around [for Magneto] to ally himself with," Gage elaborates. "Rather than just a small Brotherhood of Mutants, he was able to raise a full-fledged army, and use it for conquest."
And though a number of discrepancies exist between the two universes, Gage says the two Magnetos mirror each other in all the important ways.
"In terms of temperament and philosophy, they're basically the same person in different circumstances," he explains. "I'm approaching the character as if he were the same man we've always seen—obviously informed by somewhat different experiences, but at heart the same individual."
Part and parcel of Magneto's "temperament" remains his staunch belief that no one stands more qualified to lead mutantkind than he. So where does that belief come from?
"His power, for one thing, and the fact that no one else seems to be as capable," Gage says of Mags' competition. "But he doesn't go unchallenged for the role of top dog—in our first issue, he has to battle Apocalypse for leadership of the mutant rebellion."
Of course, grand gestures help in establishing one's self as the leader of an entire people, something which Magneto knows all too well.
"He [unites mutantkind] by liberating mutants from oppression or captivity, then allowing them to join his ranks," reveals Gage.
Just like any other world conqueror, though, Magneto will have his fair share of detractors as well as his fans.
"As for opposition, it primarily comes from humanity, who have deadly operatives of their own—like Bucky, the deadliest man on Earth, and the Soviet Super-Soldiers," teases Gage. "Among mutants, there's the aforementioned Apocalypse, who isn't about to give up the throne easily—and where will Charles Xavier stand?"
However, the titular Civil War doesn't refer to the conflicts within mutantkind—or the 2006 mega-event, for that matter. According to Gage, this war exists on a much more global scale.
"The title refers to the civil war between mutantkind and humanity—one that can pit brother against brother or parent against child," he divulges.
CIVIL WAR: HOUSE OF M marks Gage's second foray into one of Marvel's most notorious alternate realities, following HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS earlier this year. And it didn't take much to bring the author back into that world.
"Editor Bill Rosemann asked if I was interested, and when I heard the premise—'Magneto takes over the world'—I couldn't say no!" exudes Gage.
To top it all off, the writer will reunite with two former collaborators on the artistic side of things.
"The art is by Andrea DiVito, who I collaborated with on WORLD WAR HULK: X-MEN, and he's bringing the same dynamic art and all-out action readers saw there,"
gushes Gage. "And the covers are by my HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS buddy Mike Perkins, who is managing to find time between issues of THE STAND to render some great, iconic work."
CIVIL WAR: HOUSE OF M #1 heads to stores on September 10. Revisit the original HOUSE OF M on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
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