Magneto (Atlas Comics)

Magneto
Publication information
Publisher	Atlas Comics
First appearance	Strange Tales vol.1, #84, May, 1961
Created by	Stan Lee Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter ego	Hunk Larken
Abilities	Magnetism manipulation

Magneto is a fictional character character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The character appeared in Strange Tales #84, May 1961, just before Atlas Comics evolved into Marvel Comics. Even though the character name and creators are the same from modern Marvel's Magneto, the Atlas Comics' character is not related to Marvel's mutant.

The origin of his powers largely resembles the Fantastic Four origin.

Fictional character biography

Eight-foot-tall (2.4 m) Hunk Larken was one of the strongest men in the country and could lift a car with his own hands, but he was a dim-witted worker who couldn't find a job.

One day, Larken hears a government announcement and volunteers for the US Space Program. Because of his strength and low nervous level he is chosen as the first human to travel to outer space.

During his mission, Larken is accidentally exposed to a cosmic mist of radioactive anti-matter. Back on Earth, Hunk finds himself transformed with the power to control magnetic fields and move large objects and other beings.

Driven by a desire for revenge against those who taunted him in his past, Larken assumes the name Magneto and begins a wave of violence and robbery. After a while, Hunk discovers his powers are weakening; they were only temporary.

Fearing being captured for his crimes, Magneto infiltrates a rocket that will be sent to space. In actuality, however, the rocket was part of a plan to exile Magneto into space where he could live a peaceful existence and even find another world that suits him better.