X-Men: Magneto Testament

In many ways it’s to this book’s detriment that’s it’s tagged with an X-Men connection. Sure the central character is their most celebrated nemesis, but this is no superhero tale. Simply put this is one of the most compelling and emotional holocaust journeys I have ever read. Dealing with one young man’s witness and involvement in the growth, and execution of ultimate evil it is an uncomfortable but important read. Historically accurate, yet compelling on a human scale it is indeed a true testament as to why it should never be allowed to happen again.

I consider myself a "light" X-men fan in that I came to be a fan due to the new rehashing of movies, but was not familiar much with the stories from the comics, graphic novels, cartoons, or older movies. From X-Men: First Glass, I first learned then of Magneto's origins as a Jew in the concentration camps. When I decided to try this edition of the first five volumes, I had assumed it would be much like the movie, showing a brief scene or so with his evolution of story. My assumptions, as they often are, were not correct - the entire series is from his schooling, family's travels, tragedies, destination of camp, and years of camp survival. There is very little discussed about his "power"; in fact, it is easy to forget he has an affinity show more with metal at all.

They did a wonderful job keeping this tragic story interesting. The artwork was brilliant. I'm not an expert critic by any means, but to my eye the detail and coloring is perfectly suited. It's explained at the wrap-up that these were created by digging into the archives of several comic origin stories over the years. They admit to adding some lines that fit into their warnings and dismay of modern day holocaust deniers. Well done adding that.

At the end of Magneto's fictional story, they then tell the true story of a woman I have never heard of. Dina Babbit was a holocaust survivor, a child of considerable talent who was housed in the children's quarters at Auschwitz. As with Magneto's story, those under 18 were routinely killed quickly as they served little work value and higher maintenance. There was a type of caregiver for the children who recognized Dina's talent, and knowing that the children were set to die soon, he had her paint a mural of Snow White to give them a small ray of happiness before being gassed. They knew when she was discovered, she would die - but instead, recognizing her incredible talent, she was brought to the monster Josef Mengele.

Josef, not satisifed with the photographs and ways to preserve the people he "studied" through torture, made her remain with him to paint. He had her paint portraits of those who were to be tortured or killed. When eventually her own mother was transported to the camps, she saved her mother's life from the gas chamber by threatening suicide. Josef, believing her, saved only her mother from the load of women set to go into the chambers.

This awful story was told in a pen and ink drawing detailing the situation. Happily she survived and moved here, married, and became an illustrator for Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote, and some of Cap'n"Crunch. The point too of including her tale is apparently some of her paintings she did in camp had been saved by the Holocaust Museum in Poland. When she went to collect her seven paintings, she was denied. This long fight has gathered more than 350 Comic illustrators and workers, including a letter included by the great Stan Lee (RIP). The museum has argued muliple reasons to keep her artwork, - 1 being, if it's known they let her as the owner claim her property, what is to stop other survivors from trying to claim their property from the museum. (!!!) Second, in another legal battle, they tried to justify it by saying the real owner could be considered Josef Mengele as the "commissioner", while this was shot down that the Nazi criminal cannot legally be considered the owner as she painted under duress of her life and torture, not by artistic freedom of choice, and he did not pay in money, only in force and sparing her life.

It was interesting history to learn of the fight of so many to try and reclaim Babbit's paintings. Stan Lee, a US Governor, many have become involved.

Since I know Stan Lee is now dead, I did a Wikipedia update search on this issue. Unfortunately it looks like Dina has died without receiving her paintings from the the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland, although they did send her reproductions. Horrible.

The end story of this fictional graphic novel series wrapping up with a real story involving an artist made this one stick in my mind even further. Highly recommended. show less

"Sometimes in this life, you get a moment, a time when everything lines up. When anything is possible. When suddenly you can make things happen. God help us if we take that moment. And God forgive us if we don't."

Those are the words we deserved to hear on the big screen, instead we got X-Men: First Class. Not that I'm comparing standing up against the S.S. men during the holocaust to a mediocre movie. It's nothing like that. As a fan of the X-Men franchise, I feel we deserved something better. Something that helped us understand Magneto's anger. After reading Greg Pak's story in X-Men: Magneto Testament, I say that we finally have it. However, the miniseries was overlooked. It still deserves a adaptation of its own. Maybe not for the show more big screen, but for the small screen. A direct-to-DVD animated film. Something to think about.

The five-part miniseries that chronicles Max Esienhardt's life during the most horrific time in human history. From being mistreated because he was a Jew in an all Aryan school to witnessing the murder of his family to finally taking a stand against the monsters who stole his childhood away from him. Di Giandomenico's art work captures emotions - though, at some points, it's hard to decipher one character from the next, even Max's love interest, Magda, looks similar to Max.

That aside, the story and art play off each other when it comes to the emotions. Even in the happier panels in the first chapter are dreary and dark. There is little room for happiness in this story. And the grains that we received are treasured.

The graphic novel also includes historical notes and pointers, even adding a section to use the story as a text book. It's more than just a comic book, I should say. show less

The are no mutant heroes in Magneto Testament. No capes. No superpowers. No. Instead, Magneto Testament is about Max, an "average" middle-class German Jewish boy coming of age in Nazi-era Germany. It traces Max's story from his student days, when (heady with first love) he forgets be careful (even as his teacher warns him, "the nail that sticks up gets hammered down"), through the rise of the Reich, survival in the Warsaw Ghetto, ending at Auschwitz.

This isn't the first graphic novel I've read about the Holocaust, but I would say it is one of the best. The story is well-crafted, the illustrations are hauntingly beautiful, and the end notes are a fantastic resource for students, teachers, or casual readers. Oh, I definitely recommend show more this book! show less

X-Men: Magneto, Testament


As a collector of comics I know that most comics are not for kids and often have adult themes that make you think, that make you contemplate or are just plain fun and enjoyable.

Though not enjoyable in that sense, this compilation gives a true account of Max Eisenhart's (Magneto, enemy of the X-Men) experiences as a Jew growing up in 1930s/1940s Nazi Germany and Poland. After reading this, anyone who thinks comics are for kids or Holocaust deniers really need to wake up and smell the blood – the book is visceral, based on historic facts and explain a lot about Max and his dedication to his family and his deadening of feelings towards death and sacrifice.

Impressive art by Di Giandomenico was at times hard to show more take – the extermination of the Jews, the cruelty of their Nazi "masters" and the apathy and unbelievability of what was happening – really hits you in the gut in its realism and imagination.

Max's magnetic powers come to play in a javelin-throwing contest where he beats the Aryan competitors. He is called a cheating Jew and beat up for his trouble. The Berlin Games where African American Jesse Owens wins a few gold medals and the Nazi response is also telling.

To call the story a slam against racism and against prejudice is obvious and trite. It's about a boy who grows up quickly, protects his family and builds a center of hate. Pak writes a story much different than the origins of Magneto in the X-Men films or the earlier comics, so don't expect a lot of super-heroics – although heroism is another theme explored.

The end of the book has some references the writer gleaned from and even a Teacher's Guide for this book is also meant to be an educational tool. Finally, an article about a Jewish artist who, at the time of publication, is demanding her art work back from a Polish museum who have refused to do it – Dina Babbitt, who was forced to paint pictures of gypsies by Mengele himself. Art by Joe Kubert and others, and an essay on the atrocity by Stan Lee. Dina passed away after publication, so I don't know if she ever got her art back! A pity!

Bottom Line: Excellent piece of work – more for those who want to get a personal history of what went on at Auschwitz and other camps, or teachers who want to get a close, real look on the Jewish struggle to their young students – and even for X-Men fans! An honest and at times hard to read, but necessary to tell, tale. Recommended. show less

X-Men: Magneto, Testament


As a collector of comics I know that most comics are not for kids and often have adult themes that make you think, that make you contemplate or are just plain fun and enjoyable.

Though not enjoyable in that sense, this compilation gives a true account of Max Eisenhart's (Magneto, enemy of the X-Men) experiences as a Jew growing up in 1930s/1940s Nazi Germany and Poland. After reading this, anyone who thinks comics are for kids or Holocaust deniers really need to wake up and smell the blood – the book is visceral, based on historic facts and explain a lot about Max and his dedication to his family and his deadening of feelings towards death and sacrifice.

Impressive art by Di Giandomenico was at times hard to show more take – the extermination of the Jews, the cruelty of their Nazi "masters" and the apathy and unbelievability of what was happening – really hits you in the gut in its realism and imagination.

Max's magnetic powers come to play in a javelin-throwing contest where he beats the Aryan competitors. He is called a cheating Jew and beat up for his trouble. The Berlin Games where African American Jesse Owens wins a few gold medals and the Nazi response is also telling.

To call the story a slam against racism and against prejudice is obvious and trite. It's about a boy who grows up quickly, protects his family and builds a center of hate. Pak writes a story much different than the origins of Magneto in the X-Men films or the earlier comics, so don't expect a lot of super-heroics – although heroism is another theme explored.

The end of the book has some references the writer gleaned from and even a Teacher's Guide for this book is also meant to be an educational tool. Finally, an article about a Jewish artist who, at the time of publication, is demanding her art work back from a Polish museum who have refused to do it – Dina Babbitt, who was forced to paint pictures of gypsies by Mengele himself. Art by Joe Kubert and others, and an essay on the atrocity by Stan Lee. Dina passed away after publication, so I don't know if she ever got her art back! A pity!

Bottom Line: Excellent piece of work – more for those who want to get a personal history of what went on at Auschwitz and other camps, or teachers who want to get a close, real look on the Jewish struggle to their young students – and even for X-Men fans! An honest and at times hard to read, but necessary to tell, tale. Recommended. show less

unflinchingly vicious, tragic and cutting. i can't believe i read it all in one go. what have we done to each other?