Juggernaut (comics)

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Juggernaut
The Juggernaut on the cover of New Excalibur #12. Art by Michael Ryan.
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
Species	Magic-empowered human avatar
Team affiliations	New Excalibur Exiles Brotherhood of Mutants Exemplars X-Men
Partnerships	Black Tom Cassidy
Abilities	High level superhuman strength, stamina, and durability Regenerative healing factor Force field generation Ability to become virtually unstoppable while in motion, gained powers from Crimson Gem of Cyttorak

The Juggernaut (Cain Marko) is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe. The character first appeared in X-Men #12 (July 1965), and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby. The step-brother and childhood bully of X-Men founder Professor Charles Xavier became a being of unstoppable force of destruction upon touching a gem of mystical powers.

Wizard ranked the Juggernaut 188th on their list of the Top 200 Comic Book Characters of All Time.^[1] In 2009, Juggernaut was also ranked as IGN's 19th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.^[2] The Juggernaut appears in the 2006 film X-Men: The Last Stand where he was portrayed by Vinnie Jones.

[edit] Publication history

Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (September 2008)

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.

[edit] Fictional character biography

Over the course of the comics, 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 half-brother 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.^[3] Later comics revealed that Marko was also bullied by his older, larger schoolmates^[4] 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.^[3]

Although he was originally an X-Men villain, he has also appeared in stories with other heroes of the Marvel Universe, such as Spider-Man, Venom, the Avengers, Deadpool, and the Incredible Hulk.

Cover of X-Men #12 (July 1965). Art by Jack Kirby.

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.^[5]

[edit] Juggernaut reformed

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.^[6] 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.^[7][8] 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.^[9] 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 with the X-Men, on the cover for X-Men #161 (vol.2). Art by Salvador Larroca.

Later 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.^[10] During the attack, Black Tom's plant form took over most of the grounds of the X-Mansion.^[11] 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,^[12] leaving them stranded in the Mojoverse.

[edit] Reformation's end

Upon leaving the X-Men, Juggernaut joined the New Excalibur team in London.^[13] 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.^[14]

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, gaining an upper hand as the two test their strength against each other. Juggernaut is tricked by Hulk who uses Cain's own strength against him and allows Juggernaut's 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.^[15]

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.^[16]

[edit] Powers and abilities

Juggernaut is a magical avatar of the supernatural entity Cyttorak; he gained superhuman powers through the transference of mystical energies from Cyttorak via a magical gemstone, the Ruby of Cyttorak. Because of his association with the X-Men, Juggernaut is often mistakenly labeled a mutant. The ruby bonds to his soul and alters his being, a scale of power rivaling that of Thor and the Hulk.

The Juggernaut originally possessed superhuman strength that rivals that of Hercules.^[17] He has slammed Thor through a stone wall,^[18] almost collapsed the X-Mansion accidentally on multiple occasions,^[3][19] and knocked down a skyscraper.^[20] In an incredibly weakened state, he has been strong enough to rip off and wield the entire corners of buildings as giant weapons.^[21] At varied degrees of less than full strength, he has strangled Rogue with one hand while fighting off Colossus with the other,^[4] and held his own against Prime.^[22]

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",^[23] which has been able to pierce the armor of a Celestial.^[24] Juggernaut has likewise proven resistant to Wolverine's adamantium claws,^[25] and the cosmic blasts of Stellaris.^[26]

The Juggernaut has the mystical attribute of being physically unstoppable: Once in motion, virtually no obstacle or force is able to impede his movement.

As a secondary side-effect, the armor that surrounds Juggernaut makes him impervious to psychic attacks. This outer armor consists of his body armor, armored knuckles, helmet, and skull-cap.

[edit] Other versions

[edit] Age of Apocalypse

In the Age of Apocalypse, Juggernaut abandons violence and seems obsessed with Xavier's death. He goes by the name of Brother Cain and has become a monk, a complete pacifist, and dwells in Avalon, with Destiny. He functions as a guide to Avalon, meeting people at a waypoint that Mystique brings them to. When Avalon is attacked by Apocalypse's Pale Riders, Cain initially refuses to fight. A furious Nightcrawler then tells him that everyone in Avalon will die if he doesn't help to battle the invaders. Cain struggles with the decision, but falls and dies before he can act - seemingly killed by an aneurysm, a victim of his own mental conflict.^{[volume & issue needed]}

[edit] Exiles

The Exiles encounter an alternate Juggernaut in a world where all superhumans have been jailed or exterminated. Cain Marko has been detained for years in a maximum-security prison, held immobile so that he cannot use his powers. He is freed by his brother Charles Xavier, who is an anti-human extremist in this reality, becoming the first member of Xavier's murderous X-Men.^{[volume & issue needed]}

[edit] Marvel Zombies

Juggernaut is one of the zombified supervillains seen attacking Galactus. He is later killed by Wolverine, who has gained some of the cosmic abilities of the Silver Surfer after eating him.^{[volume & issue needed]}

[edit] MC2

Juggernaut is the father of Zane Yama, a.k.a. J2. For years Juggernaut was stuck in another dimension, but managed to return to his wife and son.^{[volume & issue needed]}

[edit] Ultimate Juggernaut

In the Ultimate Marvel continuity, Cain Marko has not been shown to be related to Xavier, instead sharing early connections with Rogue, having grown up in the same trailer park as her. He appears to be a mutant, rather than having mystical powers. The Juggernaut is part of the Weapon X program in the Ultimate continuity, and it is from them he got his helmet, which allows him to track other members of the program.

In the Ultimate X-Men tie in to the events of Ultimatum, Juggernaut is brought to the X-Mansion by Rogue. The X-Mansion is under attack, and Juggernaut is shot. Dying, he requests that Rogue absorb his powers. She reluctantly agrees and proceeds to defeat Stryker's forces.^[27]

[edit] Marvel Noir

In X-Men Noir Cain "Juggernaut" Marko was an inmate at the Welfare Pen prison and one of the childhood acquaintances of Tom Halloway, the Angel.^{[volume & issue needed]}

[edit] Other media

[edit] Television

• Juggernaut appeared the villain in the episode "A Firestar is Born" of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends voiced by William H. Marshall with stock grunts by Bob Holt from the 1982 Incedible Hulk series.^[28]
• Juggernaut appeared in the 1989 pilot Pryde of the X-Men as one of Magneto's henchmen, voiced by Patrick Pinney.^[29]
• The character fully appeared in three episodes of the 1990s animated series, "The Unstoppable Juggernaut," "Phoenix Saga Part 3: Cry of the Banshee" (with a teaser cameo at the end of the previous episode) and "Juggernaut Returns." He attempted to get revenge on Xavier, his stepbrother in this continuity, in all three episodes. He was voiced by Rick Bennett.^[30]
• Juggernaut appeared in X-Men: Evolution voiced by Paul Dobson.^[31]
• Juggernaut first appears in the Wolverine and the X-Men episode "Battle Lines." He is sent by Magneto to break Tildie Soames out of an MRD facility since he can break the box that she is held in. Juggernaut places a device on her, but a monster manifested from her nightmares sent him flying.

[edit] Film

Vinnie Jones as the Juggernaut in X-Men: The Last Stand

In X-Men: The Last Stand, Juggernaut (played by Vinnie Jones) serves as one of Magneto's Brotherhood Alliance army. In this version, he is a mutant with no explicit connection to Charles Xavier. Vinnie Jones, who played the Juggernaut, has said he would like to reprise his role in a spin-off, as he felt there was too little time in X-Men: The Last Stand to imbue the character with depth. Jones also suggests that Juggernaut's feelings towards humanity and mutant-kind are neutral, but he is fighting for Magneto because Magneto got to him first. He also used the now famous catchphrase created by an internet parody, "I'm the Juggernaut, Bitch!"^[32]

[edit] Video games

• Juggernaut is a boss in Data East's 1991 arcade game, Captain America and the Avengers.^[33]
• Juggernaut is the stage 5 boss in the X-Men arcade game by Konami.^[34]
• Juggernaut was one of two bosses, along with Apocalypse, for Wolverine's stage in the 1992 game Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge.^[35]
• Juggernaut appears in X-Men for the Sega Genesis.^[36]
• Juggernaut appears as a Danger Room simulation in the X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse Super NES game.^[37]
• Juggernaut is a playable character in several of Capcom's Marvel-based fighting games, beginning with X-Men: Children of the Atom as the semi-final boss, after already selectable in Marvel Super Heroes and returns in the Marvel vs. Capcom crossover series in X-Men vs. Street Fighter, in Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes as a striker, and in Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes.^{[citation needed]}
• Juggernaut appears as a boss in X-Men: Mutant Academy 2.
• Juggernaut appears as playable character in X-Men: Next Dimension.
• Juggernaut appeared as a boss in X2: Wolverine's Revenge voiced by Fred Tatasciore. He is shown as a prisoner of "The Void" until Sabretooth releases him.
• Juggernaut appeared as an enemy in X-Men Legends voiced by John DiMaggio. A flashback level featured the X-Men fighting Juggernaut to keep him from reaching Professor X. The X-Men later fight Juggernaut when he attacks Forge at the Mutant Research Center on Muir Island. After being defeated and placed in a special cell, Juggernaut mentions that he was paid by someone whose name he doesn't know to retrieve the Astral Gate from the Mutant Research Center.^[38]
• John DiMaggio reprises Juggernaut who is a playable character in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse. He is shown as one of the latest members of the Brotherhood of Mutants.^{[citation needed]}
• Juggernaut appears in the Game Boy Advance version of X-Men: The Official Game as a boss character. The X-Men run into him in the Alkali Lake facility where Juggernaut is destroying generators. Here, Juggernaut asks the X-Men if "Chuck" sent them to stop him, meaning there may be a connection between the movie versions of Juggernaut & Xavier. It isn't made clear in the game's dialogue if they're step-brothers or not.
• In the newest edition of Game Informer, Juggernaut was announced to be playable as a pre-order exclusive in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Internet parody

On May 22, 2003, the parody troupe My Way Entertainment released "The Juggernaut Bitch!!", an overdub of part of the X-Men animated TV series episode "Phoenix Saga Part 3: Cry of the Banshee". "The Juggernaut Bitch!!" uses a variety of slang, profanity, and non sequiturs. The parody includes the often-repeated line, "Don’t you know who the fuck I am? I’m the Juggernaut, bitch!" At first, the clip was made available on the duo's college website but when the website phenomenon YouTube became prominent, it quickly became a video of viral proportions.

The clip became a popular Internet meme,^[39] so popular that the line was included in X-Men: The Last Stand during Juggernaut's fight with Kitty Pryde, albeit with a slight tidying up. In June 2006, My Way released a sequel "J2: Juggment Day," using footage from "Juggernaut Returns". On June 10, 2007, My Way released a second sequel entitled "J3: Shadow of the Colossi" on their website.

[edit] Books

In the X-Men/Star Trek crossover novel Planet X, Wolverine programs the holodeck of the Enterprise-E to simulate Juggernaut (along with Sabretooth, Unus the Untouchable, and the Blob) for him and Worf to fight.^{[citation needed]}

Juggernaut is also the main focus of the novel X-Men: The Jewels of Cyttorak (ISBN 1572973293), where an archeological dig reveals a fragment of an emerald from the same lost city of Cyttorak.

Juggernaut is also featured in the third novel of the X-Men: Mutant Empire trilogy, fighting alongside the X-Men to stop Magneto from conquering Manhattan.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• "Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut!"

[edit] External links

• Juggernaut at Marvel.com
• The Full Juggernaut Bio
• UncannyXmen.net, Spotlight feature on Juggernaut