John Romita Jr's Marvel return also brings back "The Trial of Magneto"

'Trial of Magneto' teaser art by John Romita, Jr.

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Artist John Romita Jr.'s recently announced return to Marvel Comics also apparently includes a return to one of the stories that helped launch his career with the publisher, 'The Trial of Magneto.'

Marvel has released a teaser featuring art from Romita, promising "the trial that threatens to divide mutantkind!" launching in August, with the title 'The Trial of Magneto.'

It's unclear what the master of magnetism, who is one of the founders of Krakoa and currently serves on its Quiet Council, may do to earn a trial, but Krakoa only has a few laws, and one of them is "don't kill humans."

With a bunch of humans (including some famous ones) coming to Krakoa in June's 'Hellfire Gala' crossover, that could spell disaster.

As for the original 'Trial of Magneto,' that story took place in Uncanny X-Men #200, part of Romita's long run on the title that helped define the team for the '80s and made a name for the artist.

On trial for his attempted crimes against humanity, Magneto actually winds up becoming the headmaster of the Xavier Academy as a result of the story (Charles Xavier himself went away to space to be with Lilandra, his Shi'Ar girlfriend). This era marked Magneto's first foray into out-and-out mutant heroism and constituted one of the biggest shake-ups in the X-Men ever at the time.

It's unclear whether Romita will provide art for the new 'Trial of Magneto' story itself, or if he's simply providing the teaser art, but Marvel promises more information next week.

John Romita Jr. is #2 on Newsarama's list of the best Spider-Man artists of all time.

I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)