X-Men ‘97’s latest episode is generating a lot of discussion from fans, especially with the developments involving Magneto and Charles Xavier. One of the questions that has popped up is the meaning of 214782 in X-Men.
This should be familiar to long-time fans, but for those new to the franchise who got hooked on X-Men ’97, the meaning of these numbers is explained in Magneto’s backstory.
Spoiler Warning: This article explains Magneto’s backstory and features spoilers for X-Men ’97, so proceed with caution.
Magneto’s Harrowing Past, Explained
Magneto or Erik Lehnsherr is one of the most iconic characters in the X-Men as he is one of their greatest foes, though he also has a complex relationship with Charles Xavier.
While the X-Men’s goal is to peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants, Magneto rejects this and instead aims to make mutants the dominant species of the world.
His worldview has been shaped in large part by his past as a holocaust survivor. Born as Max Eisenhardt in the 1920s in a German-Jewish family, he was captured by the Nazis during World War II.
As was the case with Jews during the war, he was sent to Auschwitz where he was forced to become part of the camp’s work units.
Due to his harrowing experience, Magneto fears that humans will inevitably inflict the same atrocities on mutants. Thus, his goal is to subjugate or even eliminate humans.
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What Does 214782 Mean in X-Men? Significance Explored
In the Auschwitz concentration camp, prisoners are designated numbers which are tattooed on their arms as an inhumane method of identification.
During his time in Auschwitz, Magneto was also tattooed, and his number is 214782. This tattoo remains a constant reminder for him about his harrowing past and his fears about mutants’ destruction at the hands of humanity.
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Why Does X-Men ’97 Repeatedly Show Magneto’s Tattoo?
While there are many versions of Magneto in various Marvel universes, all of them feature him with this tattoo. His number tattoo is also present in X-Men ’97.
In the show’s latest episode, there are many times when his tattoo is shown. This can be seen as a reminder of his past and a foreshadowing of his declaration of war on humanity following Bastion’s actions.
X-Men ’97 is down to its final two episodes, and they will be released in the coming weeks on Disney+.
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