They both have control over electromagnetic energy. Is the only reason for Magneto's superiority his better intelligence and understanding of his powers? If Electro understood his powers as deeply as Magneto does, could he potentially be equally powerful?

More, so to speak. Electro can also shooting electric energy from his body which Magento can't do. So, yea it's possibility. Electro was considered Spider-an most powerful enemies, but his stupidity downgrades him greatly.

Electro also comes with the added weakness of being easily shorted/grounded out. Spider-Man has beaten him a number of times before just by getting him wet. I don't think a bucket of water will do much to Magneto.

Just cause a powerful being has a weakness makes him weak? Tell that to Superman.

"Just cause a powerful being has a weakness makes him weak? Tell that to Superman."

Have you read Superman and Batman? Kryptonite is all over the world. Plus, a lot of characters know magic.

"Have you read Superman and Batman? Kryptonite is all over the world. Plus, a lot of characters know magic."

Yeah, Electro has a lot of potential, but I wouldn't go so far as to put him in the same league as Magneto.  He could still be a serious powerhouse though if he wasn't a complete moron; Ultimate Electro is a good example of what he should be able to do.  Even though UltElec isn't a genius by any standard, he's still smart enough to realize the kind of devastation he can cause with his powers.  Hell, in the Ultimate Six arc he was going toe-to-toe with Thor for a while...

Not even close. What's Electro's greatest feat? The Raft breakout? Magneto almost reversed the polarity of the entire planet. He has disarmed nukes, sunk a sub, created wormholes and complex machinery, etc. Electro couldn't reach Magneto's elbow if he had 3 lifetimes to play with his powers.

"Not even close. What's Electro's greatest feat? The Raft breakout? Magneto almost reversed the polarity of the entire planet. He has disarmed nukes, sunk a sub, created wormholes and complex machinery, etc. Electro couldn't reach Magneto's elbow if he had 3 lifetimes to play with his powers."

What he is saying is that if he mastered his powers and had Magneto's intellect he could probably accomplish similar feats.

I think he could.

"What he is saying is that if he mastered his powers and had Magneto's intellect he could probably accomplish similar feats."

Can't we all read here?

" Not even close. What's Electro's greatest feat? The Raft breakout? Magneto almost reversed the polarity of the entire planet. He has disarmed nukes, sunk a sub, created wormholes and complex machinery, etc. Electro couldn't reach Magneto's elbow if he had 3 lifetimes to play with his powers. "

@mutant413: how does Electro manipulate magnetism? He's an Electrokinetic not Magnetokinetic like Magneto and Dr. Polaris are. There's no way he can be as powerful as Magneto