10 More X-Men Fates Worse Than Death
6. Being Left Braindead - X-Men #25 (1993)
Magneto has been the bane of the X-Men's existence since their inception. But since Professor Charles Xavier was friends with his team's arch-nemesis for years, Professor X has a habit of justifying his Magneto's behaviour, claiming he's misguided, not evil. For decades, the professor truly believed he could turn the Master of Magnetism to be a force of good.
But when he witnessed Magneto using his magnetic powers to rip Wolverine's adamantium skeleton from his body, that's when Xavier realised Mags was beyond redemption. Refusing to let Magneto harm anyone ever again, Professor X used his telepathic powers to shut his mind down.
Because the two of them were once close, you would think Xavier would have the common decency to bring Magneto to a hospital or health centre, considering he left the metal-manipulating mutant in a vegetative state.
But the professor did no such thing. He ordered his X-Men to leave Magneto's headquarters, abandoning their catatonic foe. Even though Magneto's acolyte, Astra, found her master and returned his mind to normal shortly after, this may very well be the most uncharacteristically cruel thing Professor X has ever done.