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| Juggernaut | |
|---|---|
 The Juggernaut, as appearing in Uncanny X-Men #410 (Oct. 2002) Art by Ron Garney. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | X-Men #12 (July 1965). |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Cain Marko |
| Team affiliations | New Excalibur Exiles Brotherhood of Mutants Exemplars X-Men |
| Partnerships | Black Tom Cassidy |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability Regenerative healing factor Force field generation Virtually unstoppable while in motion |
The Juggernaut (Cain Marko) is a fictional character that appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Men #12 (July 1965), and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby.
Debuting in the Silver Age of comic books, the character has appeared in over four decades of Marvel publications, featuring prominently in the X-Men titles and starring in several one-shot publications. The character has also been associated with Marvel merchandise including clothing; toys; trading cards; animated television series; video games and a feature film.
Publication history
Juggernaut first appeared on-panel in X-Men #12 (July 1965), although his presence was sensed by Professor Xavier in the previous issue. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby.
Although commonly appearing as a supervillain in the Marvel Universe since 1965, Juggernaut had his own one-shot in the late 1990s and was formally a hero and main character in New Excalibur. However, as of X-Men: Manifest Destiny #2 and X-Men: Legacy #219, Juggernaut has been returned to his villainous roots.
Fictional character biography
The Juggernaut has evolved from a simplistic, destructive villain to a complex and at times even heroic character. When Juggernaut first appears, he is revealed as the stepbrother of Charles Xavier, founder of the X-Men. Marko is portrayed, in his initial appearance, as having been an angry, greedy bully as a child. Later comics revealed that Marko was also bullied by his older, larger schoolmates and physically abused by his father, and established his hatred of Xavier as coming from his resentment over how Xavier used his powers to get ahead. While serving together in the Korean War, Cain and Charles stumbled onto the ancient temple of Cyttorak, lost for centuries. On an altar Cain saw the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, and immediately grabbed it. Upon the gem was an inscription, and he read it aloud: "Whosoever touches this gem shall be granted the power of the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak! Henceforth, you who read these words, shall become ... forevermore ... a human juggernaut!". When Cain grabbed it, the cavern collapsed. Charles was able to escape, but it took Cain years to dig himself out. Upon escaping, he sought revenge on Xavier.
Although he was originally an X-Men villain, he also appeared in stories with other heroes of the Marvel Universe, such as Spider-Man, Venom, the Avengers, Deadpool, and the Incredible Hulk.
Often accompanying him during his travels was his friend the mutant mercenary known as Black Tom Cassidy, whom he met when they were both in jail at the same time. Sharing a hatred for family members - Juggernaut for his stepbrother, Professor X, and Cassidy for his cousin, the X-Man known as Banshee - the two became close friends. When they got out of prison, they became partners and first battled the "new" X-Men.
In a later storyline, the Juggernaut joined the X-Men. Initially this was part of a scheme with Black Tom Cassidy to destroy them from within, but after Cassidy turned on the Juggernaut, Xavier asked his stepbrother to return with them to the mansion. While at the mansion, Juggernaut began to change when he befriended a young mutant boy from Canada named Sammy Paré particularly as both had similar backgrounds, including an abusive father. Over time he began to be portrayed as a more sympathetic character, though he still retained his violent streak, attacking Sammy's abusive father at one point, and subsequently getting into a large and destructive fight with the superhero team Alpha Flight that led to his arrest. Due to stopping another supervillain from escaping, staying when he had the chance to escape himself, and the intervention of Sammy's mother, he was released.
Juggernaut was seemingly working with Black Tom Cassidy's Brotherhood of Mutants, where he met his future teammate Talia Josephine Wagner (Nocturne). While plotting to attack the X-Mansion, Sammy Paré, aka Squidboy, found out what was going on and was killed by Black Tom. Enraged by having seen his friend murdered, Juggernaut started attacking the Brotherhood. During the attack, Black Tom's plant form took over most of the grounds of the X-Mansion. The only way to stop the attack was for the entirety of Black Tom, along with Juggernaut and Nocturne who were both stuck in his grasp, to be sucked into the portal in Xorn's head, leaving them stranded in the Mojoverse.
Upon leaving the X-Men, Juggernaut joined the New Excalibur team in London. In one storyline, the Juggernaut seeks to reclaim his lost power by traveling to the Temple of Cyttorak in Korea. He kills his challenger and reclaims the Gem. This story expands on the origin of the character, establishing that there were other Juggernauts before him, and revealing that he killed his predecessor before seeking his initial revenge on Xavier.
In the course of the World War Hulk storyline, Juggernaut, whose powers have been weakening, is informed by Cyttorak that he must personally desire and embrace the destructive nature of his power for it to return, instead of simply wanting that power to be a defender of his stepbrother. Upon doing so, Cain's power is restored and he fights the Hulk on even terms. At last Hulk uses Cain's own unstoppable momentum to carry him off into a nearby lake. After the Hulk leaves, Cain dismisses Xavier's attempts to thank him for his aid, and warns that nobody should come looking for him after he leaves, lest they not like what they find.
Subsequently, in X-Men Legacy, Xavier seeks out the Juggernaut in an attempt to reform him and gain lost memories. Cain rebuffs Xavier, saying that he chose to be the Juggernaut again, and that he regretted trying to be like Xavier. After the encounter, Xavier acknowledges that redemption is not possible for Cain.
In order to train Skaar, Bruce Banner ends up blowing up Juggernaut's house. This causes Juggernaut to seek out Bruce Banner for revenge. Skaar initially refuses and leaves Juggernaut to beat on Bruce, annoyed that he is unable to penetrate his shield, Bruce is no match for him until Skaar eventually joins the fight. Juggernaut is then thrown into space.
Wizard ranked the Juggernaut #188 on their list of the Top 200 Comic Book Characters of All Time. In 2009, Juggernaut was also ranked as IGN's 19th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.
Powers and abilities
Cain Marko found the Gem of Cyttorak, which via a transference of mystical energies transformed him into a magical avatar of the entity. As the Juggernaut, Marko possesses immense superhuman strength that rivals that of Hercules; being capable of shattering mountains and lifting and using buildings as weapons.
Besides giving him superhuman strength, the mystical energy of Cyttorak grants the Juggernaut completely inexhaustible stamina, and the ability to survive without food, water, or oxygen. He possesses tremendous durability, and can further protect himself through a practically indestructible force field. It has even withstood Thor's "god-blast", which has been able to pierce the armor of a Celestial, and driven away Galactus. The forcefield, however, can be neutralised by magic.
The Juggernaut has the mystical attribute of being physically unstoppable: once in motion, virtually no obstacle or force is able to impede his movement, mirroring his namesake.
Juggernaut's helmet, and inside skullcap, both made of the same unspecified mystic metal, both grant him great protection against telepathic attacks: once removed, the character is vulnerable to mental attacks.
Other versions
MC2
The futuristic MC2 imprint title J2 stars the son of the Juggernaut, Zane Yama. Yama joins the future Avengers, and is eventually reunited with his father Cain Marko, who was trapped in an alternate dimension.
Ultimate Juggernaut
The Ultimate Marvel imprint title Ultimate X-Men features an alternate universe version of the Juggernaut, who was originally part of the Weapon X program and has ties to Rogue, having grown up in the same trailer park.
In other media
Television
- Juggernaut appeared in several animated series, including Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends voiced by William H. Marshall (1981 - 1983); the 1982 Incredible Hulk series voiced by Bob Holt; the X-Men pilot Pryde of the X-Men voiced by Patrick Pinney (1989); the X-Men voiced by Rick Bennett (1992 - 1997); X-Men: Evolution voiced by Paul Dobson (2000 - 2003); Wolverine and the X-Men (2008) and The Super Hero Squad Show (2009).
Film
Actor Vinnie Jones plays the Juggernaut in the feature film X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). The cinematic version differs from the original comic creation as the character is a mutant recruited to join Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and has no apparent relation to Charles Xavier.
Video games
- Juggernaut appears in several arcade and console games, including LJN's NES game, Marvel's X-Men (1988); Data East's Captain America and the Avengers (1991); the X-Men by Konami (1991); Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge (1992); X-Men for the Sega Genesis; X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse Super NES game;X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994); Marvel Super Heroes; X-Men vs. Street Fighter; Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes; Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes; X-Men: Mutant Academy 2; X-Men: Next Dimension, voiced by John DiMaggio; X2: Wolverine's Revenge voiced by Fred Tatasciore; X-Men Legends and X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse voiced by John DiMaggio; the Game Boy Advance version of X-Men: The Official Game and the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, with John DiMaggio reprising his role.
Books
The Juggernaut is the main focus of the novel X-Men: The Jewels of Cyttorak, written by Dean Wesley Smith and Chuck Wojtkiewicz (1997) (ISBN 1572973293) and also features in the third volume of the X-Men: Mutant Empire trilogy, fighting alongside the X-Men to stop Magneto from conquering Manhattan (1997) (ISBN 0425166406).
See also
References
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #12, 1965, Marvel Comics, writer Stan Lee
- Marvel Team-Up #150
- X-Men #101-103
- Uncanny X-Men #410–412, 2002, Marvel Comics, writer Chuck Austen
- Uncanny X-Men #413, 2002, Marvel Comics, writer Chuck Austen
- Uncanny X-Men #416, 2003, Marvel Comics, writer Chuck Austen
- Uncanny X-Men #432-434, 2003-04, Marvel Comics, writer Chuck Austen
- X-Men #162, 2005, Marvel Comics, writer Chuck Austen
- X-Men #163, 2005, Marvel Comics, writer Chuck Austen
- X-Men #164, 2005, Marvel Comics, writer Chuck Austen
- New Excalibur #1, 2006, Marvel Comics, writer Chris Claremont
- New Excalibur #13-15
- World War Hulk: X-Men #3 (pg 26–27)
- X-Men: Legacy #219
- Incredible Hulk #602
- http://www.wizarduniverse.com/051308top200characters2.html
- Juggernaut is number 19 , IGN.
- All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: A-Z Update #3
- Hulk #172 (Feb. 1974)
- Uncanny X-Men #361 (Nov. 1998)
- ^ X-Men #13 (Sep. 1965)
- Thor vol. 1, #412
- Thor vol. 1, #388
- Thor vol.1, #160-161 (Jan.-Feb. 1969)
- Thor #411 - 412 (Dec. 1989)
- J2 #1 - 12 (Oct. 1998 - Oct. 1999)
- First seen Ultimate X-Men #8 (Sep. 2001)
External links
