Jumping right back into the chaos of Sanctuary (Part 2), the second part of this two-part saga kicks off with Magneto’s utopian vision for mutants teetering on the brink. Following the aftermath of the events in the first part, the episode throws us into a whirlwind of tension and drama. Our beloved X-Men are caught in the crossfire of Magneto’s ambitious plan to create a haven for mutants in space, dubbed Asteroid M. But utopia doesn’t come without its price. Conflicts arise, alliances are tested, and the very idea of coexistence is questioned.

The episode brilliantly explores the themes of power, trust, and betrayal. Magneto’s sanctuary, which was initially seen as a beacon of hope for mutant kind, quickly unravels into a battleground. The X-Men, always the reluctant heroes, must navigate this treacherous landscape, where allegiances are fragile, and the line between friend and foe blurs. It’s not just a physical battle but a clash of ideologies. Magneto’s vision of a separate world for mutants versus the X-Men’s enduring belief in peaceful coexistence with humanity forms the crux of the conflict.

What makes Sanctuary (Part 2) particularly riveting is its deep dive into the characters’ psyches. As the episode unfolds, we see Magneto grappling with his ideals, the X-Men wrestling with their sense of duty, and other mutants caught in the crossfire. It’s a poignant reminder that even in a world of superpowers, the most significant battles are often internal. With its potent mix of action, emotion, and thought-provoking themes, this episode is a quintessential X-Men narrative, capturing the essence of what makes this series a timeless classic.

After being framed for Magneto’s supposed murder by Fabian Cortez, the X-Men find themselves on the run from the duped Acolytes and other mutants aboard Asteroid M. Gambit bravely holds off their pursuers, allowing his teammates to make a desperate escape onto a shuttle, heading back to Earth. Rogue, deeply concerned about Gambit, receives reassurance from Professor X that Gambit is not dead but has been captured. Beast, ever the genius, mentions that once he’s finished outfitting the Blackbird with some Shi’ar tech, they can launch a rescue mission back to the asteroid. Meanwhile, back on Asteroid M, Cortez wastes no time in taking control of the base.

The X-Men, believing Magneto to be dead, hold a sombre funeral service for their fallen foe before setting off to save Gambit. On the asteroid, Cortez, drunk with power, issues a dire threat to Earth. Amelia Voght, growing suspicious of Cortez’s actions and leadership, starts to dig into the X-Men’s alleged crime. She discovers that the security tape for the time of Magneto’s supposed death is mysteriously missing. As the X-Men reach the asteroid, Beast begins the delicate task of disarming the nuclear missiles while Rogue and Wolverine set out to find Gambit. In her search, Amelia uncovers a videotape that reveals Cortez as Magneto’s true killer and promptly exposes this to the residents of Asteroid M.

Back on Earth, Magneto reveals he’s far from defeated. Surviving Cortez’s attempt to fire him into space, Magneto crash lands in a desert. Drawing strength from the Earth’s magnetic field, he makes his way back to Asteroid M. With a wave of his hand, he disarms all the missiles, preventing Cortez from launching them. Confronting Cortez, Magneto administers his own brand of justice, leading to the explosive destruction of the asteroid. The mutants aboard manage to escape back to Earth, but as the dust settles, it’s revealed that Apocalypse intervened at the last moment to save Cortez from Magneto’s wrath.

There are more mutants cameos in this episode including Kangaroo, Random, Reaper and Slither; X-Factor watch both of Cortez’ ‘proclamations’ to the people of Earth; mutant healer and spiritualist Haven and her brother Monsoon also watch, as do the Externals Gideon and Saul.

There is no love lost between Amelia Voght and Cortez in the comics, as demonstrated in Uncanny X-Men #300.

Magneto also communicated with Charles while hurtling towards Earth in X-Men #3. His full name, an alias in the comics, ‘Eric Magnus Lehnsherr’ is heard for the first time and flashbacks are shown at his people’s persecution by soldiers – an unnamed recreation of Nazism in World War Two is particularly striking in monochrome.

Despite his reassurances, Magneto is believed dead until he turns up unexpectedly at the Mansion in Family Ties. From this point until the series finale, Magneto tends to side with the X-Men and becomes more of an ally in dire emergencies.

Apocalypse plans will be revealed at the end of the season. His plans for Fabian take longer, but finally materialise in season five’s The Fifth Horseman. Note his Shi’ar craft from The Cure and Lilandra’s sister Deathbird with him… All will be revealed in Beyond Good and Evil.

There’s some nifty new costumes on display from the X-Men that invade Asteroid M. Beast wore his in Uncanny X-Men #311, while Professor X’s suit comes from the ill-fated mission to Avalon in X-Men #25.

Sanctuary (Part 1) | Xavier Remembers