Magneto kidnaps a number of astronauts and scientists (some of whom are mutants) onto his orbital base - Asteroid M, which he announces to the world's governments as a haven for mutants from human oppression. Taking this signal, mutants across the world accept Magneto's invitation seeking refuge from humanity. However, the governments of the world interpret Magneto's announcement with grave concern - noting Magneto has assembled a global mutant army and issue Xavier 12 hours to initiate a truce before they take action. On Asteroid M, Xavier encounters an old flame — Amelia Voight, which complicates the mission.
Tropes:
- Berserk Button: Magneto is generally calm and reserved when addressing the United Nations, but he is outraged when personally talking to the Genoshan representative and talking about what he witnessed on the island.
- Broken Pedestal: Cortez views Magneto as this, after seeing him dine with human astronauts, and arranges for his assassination.
- Call-Back: Beast reasons that Magneto was able to build Asteroid M in part by using the advanced technology in the Savage Land, which was established back in Season 2. He likens it to how he's performing upgrades using Shi'ar technology that the team acquired in Season 3.
- The Cameo:
- Black Panther is watching mutants assemble to meet with Magneto in Tanzania.
- Magneto's speech is watched by Apocalypse, Mr. Sinister and the Nasty Boys, and Mjnari and his family.
- Didn't See That Coming: Beast over them bumping into Xavier's old flame, Amelia, on Asteroid M.
- Dirty Coward: When Magneto bursts into the UN, the Genoshan representative makes a run for it. Magneto ensures he stays put.
- Do Not Adjust Your Set: Magneto's declaration to the United Nations is broadcast across the world, even in space! Even Apocalypse is watching attentively.
- Don't Make Me Destroy You: Magneto's warning to the Genoshan authorities trying to stop him from evacuating mutants. Even after the authorities are beaten, Magneto passes up the chance to finish them off.
- Dynamic Entry: Magneto announces his intentions by bursting into the United Nations through the ceiling.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Despite his disdain for humanity, Magneto promises to leave them in peace as long as the mutants on Asteroid M are left in peace. He is outraged to learn Cortez launched one of his missiles at Earth in an unprovoked act of aggression.
- Flashback: When Beast explains Xavier's history with Amelia. She was his nurse and helped in his recovery after he was crippled. Their blossoming relationship later collapsed because of Xavier's dedication to his dream. The original five X-Men appear during this sequence in their old costumes.
- Foreshadowing:
- Apocalypse watching Magneto's speech hints at his big return at the end of Part 2.
- Beast upgrading the Blackbird with Shi'ar technology will pay off in the next part.
- Godzilla Threshold: The Genoshan forces try to fight back against Magneto, but when the tide turns, the commander orders the last resort: the Sentinels.
- Life Isn't Fair: Xavier argues that being on Asteroid M is no different than being an insect trapped in a jar. Amelia doesn't object to the comparison, but since life is so unfair to mutants, she sees it as the best available option.
- Married to the Job: Xavier tried to balance both his relationship with Amelia and training the X-Men. Since she hated being a mutant and wanted a quiet life, Amelia ultimately walked out, which left Xavier as this.Beast: When she left, it was as if a part of Charles had been destroyed. He sealed away his emotions and lived only for his X-Men. His dream became his entire world.
- A Match Made in Stockholm: The kidnapped astronauts and scientists come to sympathize somewhat with Magneto and even take part in his banquet.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: As far as Amelia is concerned, the X-Men's actions made it impossible for mutants to live peacefully on Earth and thus made Asteroid M necessary.
- Noodle Incident: Magneto covertly visited Genosha and was naturally displeased to see how mutants were being treated.
- Not-So-Omniscient Council of Bickering: The United Nations General Assembly is portrayed this way.
- Oh, Crap!: Gambit when Cortez rallies the other mutants against the X-Men.Gambit: Gambit think we're outnumbered.
- Pay Evil unto Evil: Interestingly, Magneto doesn't do this to the Genoshan army and ignores Cortez's goading - seeking only to free mutants, not kill humans.Cortez: Now's your chance, Lord Magneto. Destroy the flat-scan humans!
Magneto: I came to liberate my people, not avenge them. - Praetorian Guard: The newly-formed Acolytes present themselves to Magneto as this: offering absolute fealty to him. Well, nearly absolute.
- Race Against the Clock: Xavier is given 12 hours by President Kelly to de-escalate tensions between Magneto and Asteroid M and the world's governments.
- Reasonable Authority Figure:
- Since the X-Men saved his life, President Kelly is willing to give Professor Xavier a chance to reason with Magneto, despite the threat he has presented consistently to the world.
- Magneto has established his own mutant nation on Asteroid M, but his goal is to safely separate mutants from humanity. He is not out to inflict violence on humans.
- The Scapegoat: After betraying Magneto and jettisoning the chamber, Cortez blames it on the X-Men.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Several mutants decide to take Magneto up on his offer to leave Earth for Asteroid M. Discussed between Gambit, Rogue and Beast: Rogue understands that mistreatment from humans can make mutants frustrated, but she doesn't see it as a reason to leave for Asteroid M. Gambit points out that things haven't really improved for mutants to give them a better alternative. Beast concedes the point that the X-Men seem more to be fighting for their lives rather than campaigning for mutant rights.
- The Starscream: Initally, Fabian Cortez was loyal to Magneto, but he wasn't as gung-ho about revenge against humanity as he'd hoped, and he plots to get rid of him and place himself as leader.
- Thrown Out the Airlock: Cortez locks Magneto in his private quarters and jettisons it from Asteroid M hoping that he'll burn up upon re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere.
- Villain Has a Point: Magneto's speech is all about the bitter existence of most mutants, highlighting the constant attacks from groups like the Friends of Humanity and the inability to be themselves in public (either desperately hiding their powers or living in the sewers). Beast, Rogue, and Gambit aren't about to join the exodus to Asteroid M, but they each admit Magneto raised some worthwhile points that are hard to ignore.
- Villain Respect: During his speech, Magneto commends the X-Men for their fight for equality and acknowledges their efforts should've been appreciated.
- Villains Never Lie: When Magneto announces to the UN that 1) he has built Asteroid M 2) mutants are invited and 3) "Don't start none, won't be none"; they don't believe him, and President Kelly in particular doesn't have reason to - given the attempt on his life by him. Xavier insists that he has no designs for Earth, and that when he means he's leaving, he's leaving. Unfortunately, Magneto's right-hand man (Fabian Cortez) does lie and launches a preemptive attack on Earth without Magneto's knowledge and even arranges his assassination while scapegoating the X-Men for it.
- Wham Line: "The liberation of mutantkind has begun."
- Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters: Magneto - known to the world's governments as a terrorist - comes to be seen by mutants across the world as a liberator, even a messianic figure.
