Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #200

Magneto is set to go on trial at the Palais de Justice in Paris, France for crimes against humanity! Sir James Jaspers, England’s attorney general acts as prosecutor, while Charles Xavier and Gabrielle Haller act as defense. Crowds line up outside to protest Magneto even getting a trial, with the proceedings also sparking countless riots across the globe, as tension rises every moment! Meanwhile, on a cruise ship on the mediterranean, two siblings named Andrea and Andreas watch the proceedings and plan their revenge on Magneto, Xavier, and Gabrielle! Suddenly, in another part of Paris, the X-Men and the New Mutants materialize, having just returned from a recent adventure in Asgard (which occurred in New Mutants Special Edition #1 and Uncanny X-Men Annual #9). They are all confused about where they are and realize they were sent to where Xavier is. They have Rachel telepathically cover their escape and make everyone in the vicinity forget they were there.

A few days later, in Poland, an army base is attacked and burned down by an unknown group, leaving a message to free Magneto, seemingly from the X-Men! Back in Paris, Xavier hears of the attack and realizes the X-Men are being framed. Cyclops stops by his room and expresses his concerns about trusting Magneto. Xavier asks that Scott trust his judgment and for now, figure out who is trying to frame the X-Men. The protests increase as Magneto’s trial gets underway and opening statements are made. In Germany, yet another attack is staged, a plane shot down, and a message implicating the X-Men left. Jaspers argues that Magneto is nothing but a terrorist but Gabrielle rebuffs that things aren’t that simple. She moves that all of Magneto’s crimes from before he was turned back into a baby be disregarded, arguing that the man he was then effectively died and was reborn. Miraculously, this movement is granted, earning them some leeway. However, these were just the preliminaries and there’s a long way to go.

The X-Men split into pairs to surveil various targets that Cyclops has theorized the terrorists framing them may attack next. The target ends up being a hospital overseen by Nightcrawler and Colossus. Colossus deals with their armored attackers while Nightcrawler teleports patients out of the burning hospital. Colossus ends up knocking down one section of the building to keep the fire from spreading before being hit by a powerful energy beam! Rogue arrives with Cyclops and Rachel and they’re blasted too. They arrive just in time to be found by the French police, forcing them to retreat and making the X-Men look more guilty than ever! The next day, Xavier and Gabrielle face more backlash from the protestors than ever, and Kitty points out that the whole of the mutant race may as well be on trial. Gabrielle says that all they can do is keep going, and hopefully prove the X-Men’s innocence. Meanwhile, back at Xavier’s School, a very pregnant Madelyne Pryor watches the news coverage and worries about why Scott hasn’t tried to call her. Suddenly, Corsair and Lilandra beam down from space, having learned about Xavier’s condition, and Madelyne tells them he’s in Paris.

The two of them beam back to the other Starjammers in order to recalibrate their stargate’s coordinates, while just after they leave, Madelyne realizes her baby may be coming sooner than anticipated! Back in Paris, the X-Men plan their next moves as the protestors increase. However, it’s now pointed out that many of these new protestors are pro-mutant, and Cyclops realizes that their framers will likely attack them in order to absolutely ruin their reputation. Rachel telepathically tracks down their attackers while in the courthouse, Magneto finally takes the stand! He freely admits to the crimes he’s committed and admits that he realized too late that the price paid by innocent people was too high. Even still, he clarifies that he still believes his goals and worries are justified, that mutants are in danger of eventual eradication, but now seeks a better way. Magneto admits to being the very reason that mutants are so feared and nobly wants the world to understand the reasons he came to be, and to punish only him, so that the entirety of mutantkind are no longer condemned for his actions.

The X-Men crash the cruise ship they tracked their attackers to, and end up encountering more of the armored goons. They use their respective powers to fight them and slow them down as much as possible, though Wolverine feels like something isn’t quite right. He’s proven correct when Andrea and Andreas, collectively calling themselves Fenris, attack the courthouse, proving that the armored goons were just a diversion. They attack Magneto, who does his best to protect the others at the same time, until Rachel comes to assist. They’re eventually stopped and it’s revealed that they’re the children of Baron Strucker, seeking revenge on Magneto, Xavier, and Gabrielle for foiling their father’s plot decades ago (from UXM #161). They blast a hole in the wall, causing the river to come pouring in, aiding in their escape. Magneto rescues Charles, who begins suffering a heart attack. The dying Charles asks Magneto to take over for him once he’s gone, but Magneto doesn’t feel worthy of the responsibility or the trust. Corsair and Lilandra arrive at that moment and aim to rush Xavier to the Starjammer where Sikorsky can hopefully treat him. The X-Men drop the goons of Fenris off at the Paris police and everything seems to have worked out, when Rachel realizes that she can’t sense Professor Xavier anywhere! We then see a tearful Magneto promise to honor his word and take up Xavier’s dream!