SPOILER WARNING for X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #2!
Marvel fans tend to believe that if Iron Man and Magneto were to fight, the infamous X-Men villain would be the obvious winner. Logically, this makes a ton of sense, as putting a man in a robotic suit up against the Master of Magnetism seems like a super unfair matchup. That being said, one should never underestimate Tony Stark, as he’s always preparing for battles to come.
Iron Man already proved that he can stand up to Magneto one-on-one during 2012’s Avengers Vs. X-Men event. Outfitted in a suit made from carbon nanotubes that Magneto couldn’t control, Tony managed to even the playing field quite a bit. While Magneto wasn’t able to outright crush Tony’s suit around him like a tin can, the nefarious mutant still managed to get the upper hand multiple times during the fight, and it even seemed like he would win. Only when the nefarious villain sensed the destructive power of the Phoenix Force wiping out an entire planet did he lose the will to fight, allowing Iron Man to deliver one final blow to secure a victory. While Magneto may have won this battle under different circumstances, it seems that Tony is more prepared for a confrontation with the polarizing mutant than fans may think.
In X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #2, by Leah Williams, Lucas Werneck, Edgar Delgado, and Clayton Cowles, the mutant nation of Krakoa is still investigating the aftermath of the Hellfire Gala, including the death of the Scarlet Witch. While Magneto is held as the main suspect in Wanda’s murder, Captain America, Iron Man, Wasp, and Vision arrive on Krakoa to retrieve her body. A group of mutants lead the Avengers on a tour of the island, but as they take in the sights, Magneto gets loose and begins wreaking havoc. The X-Men try to handle things themselves initially, but as Magneto continues on his rampage, the Avengers step in to offer some assistance.
Interestingly enough, Iron Man just so happens to be wearing a “magnet-proof” suit, helping him to avoid being immediately defeated by his opponent. Opting for this suit may have simply been a precautionary measure for his trip to Krakoa, but given that the X-Men have been keeping the findings of their investigation confidential, Iron Man had little reason to suspect foul play on Magneto’s behalf. Instead, it seems more likely that Tony has been consciously choosing to avoid magnetic material when building at least some of his suits, rather than just having one specific anti-Magneto suit on hand. Tony is constantly making upgrades to his armor and in the MCU he’s managed to create new elements in a few days on the fly, so it’s entirely possible that he’s found materials that are better equipped to protect him than ordinary metal.
If Iron Man truly is making several of his suits “magnet-proof,” then Magneto would have a much tougher time beating him. The Avenger would still have to avoid being taken out by any attacks thrown at him, but he could at least avoid being stripped of his armor and defeated instantly. Plus, Tony has plenty of tricks up his sleeve and could probably catch Magneto off guard with one of his many inventions. When Iron Man and Magneto’s next true rematch will take place is unknown for now, but their latest confrontation in X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #2 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores and online.