Making Juggernaut Weak Has Made the X-Men Icon a Way Better Character, Believe It or Not
Warning: Spoilers for The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS!Despite being deeply associated with power, the Juggernaut is far more than just what his power conveys. Granted, there was a time when the opposite was the case. As a villain, he was defined by his powers and biology, being a character with more brawn than brain that's easily outsmarted. In his more recent hero turn, however, he's starting to display more humane, even commendable characteristics.
One example of such behavior from Juggernaut arrives in The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS, where the Breaker of Stone's prowess is put at stake. He is essentially given the ultimatum to either reach his full power level by unleashing it on his friends, or to lose that power and risk his life in the process. Even with his life on the line, Juggernaut chooses to lose his power. More specifically, he chooses his friends over power.
Not every hero would choose the same decision, making it an even stronger indicator that Juggernaut's heroship is here to stay.
Juggernaut Chooses Being a Hero Over Having Power
The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS; written by Christos Gage, art by Mark Buckingham, colors by Mattia Iacono, and letters by VC's Joe Caramagna
For those unaware of how Juggernaut's powers work, Juggernaut is - unlike the rest of his X-Men cohorts - not a mutant, but derives his power from being the avatar of Cyttorak. Cyttorak is one of the demon gods in the Marvel Universe. His lore is deeply tied to Juggernaut, having imbued Cain Marko with his power in order for him to be his Exemplar. As such, it's been established that the more that Juggernaut uses the god's power to cause destruction and strike the fear of Cyttorak into the hearts of others, Cyttorak grows stronger, and by extension, so does Juggernaut.
Cyttorak resurfaces as a villain in the "8 Deaths of Spider-Man" storyline. The new Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Doom, dubs Peter Parker as his stand-in to represent Earth against the Eight Scions of Cyttorak. In the midst of this arc, a new Spider-Man villain who could annihilate the Earth if he wanted to - named The Blight - uses his powers to force the X-Men into a fight with their teammate and Cyttorak avatar, Juggernaut. Juggernaut has the wrath and the prowess to crush the X-Men - and yet, the Juggernaut doesn't, knowing the consequences when the possessed mutants seek to kill him.
Marvel Is Setting Up Juggernaut's Biggest Fight Yet, And It Could Change Him Forever
Juggernaut has taken on many powerful foes, but now, he'll face off against his most powerful enemy ever, and it'll change everything for him.
In the middle of the fight, Juggernaut's soul is flung to the Crimson Cosmos, better known as the domain of Cyttorak. Cain Marko infers what the voiceless beast wants from him, admitting that whenever the new hero does good, he gets weaker, which infuriates Cyttorak. As The Blight threatens Cyttorak, Juggernaut knows the god wants Juggernaut to show just how menacing he could be, but even with the threat of having his power taken away, the Juggernaut remains defiant in the face of his would-be master. He argues his friends make him better than his powers make him be.
Juggernaut's Hero's Path is Far Different From His Villain Path
Moment Openly Acknowledges How Juggernaut Has Changed Since Becoming a Hero
Juggernaut curses to Cyttorak that he's not giving up as X-Men fight him in The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATH
One part of the Juggernaut's monologue that stands out is near the end, in its final panels, where he criticizes Cyttorak and his own "nothing can stop the Juggernaut" catchphrase. "Your avatar should be unstoppable. But I got my butt whupped on the regular by folks like the X-Men," Cain Marko starts to explain. "'Cause they had friends ... and I was like you. Big, stupid, and pointless!" Whether intentional or not, this line of dialogue feels like a self-aware acknowledgment of just how differently that Juggernaut is depicted as a hero compared to his villain days.
In-story, it can now be recontextualized that Juggernaut has grown more mature, smarter, and more efficient thanks to the friends he's made since becoming a hero.
Simultaneously, it provides a canonical explanation as to why Juggernaut is depicted so differently. In reality, becoming a main character and hero of stories like this, as opposed to a supporting villain that sports more brawn than brain, has allowed creative teams to provide more depth to Marko. In-story, it can now be recontextualized that Juggernaut has grown more mature, smarter, and more efficient thanks to the friends he's made since becoming a hero. Perfect superhero partners like Magik have made Juggernaut a better fighter, while friendships like that with Jean Grey help Cain commit to his redemption arc.
Friendship Has Always Been Juggernaut's Prime Motivation to Be a Hero
And It Remains The Best Thing to Keep Him on the Straight and Narrow
This would not be the first time that Juggernaut's drive to redeem himself as a superhero hero motivated him more than anything else. In fact, it was friendship that solidified Juggernaut's hero turn years ago. During Chuck Austen's X-Men run, Juggernaut joined the X-Men in search of redemption and befriended Sammy the Squid Boy. Sammy was essentially a plot device, but one that Juggernaut (and his writer) fell in love with. Their shared kinship, along with Sammy's ensuing tragedy, helped make Juggernaut's hero turn permanent, remaining a big reason why Marko is still a hero so long after the fact.
Samuel Paré makes his on-panel debut in Uncanny X-Men #410, which was written by Chuck Austen, penciled by Ron Garney, inked by Mark Morales, colored by Hi-Fi Design, and lettered by Richard Starkings and Saida Temofonte.
Sammy's death took one friend from Juggernaut, and he refuses to let villainy or his power take his new friends in the X-Men away from him. Friendship has made Juggernaut a better character and a better hero. At the end #68.DEATH, Juggernaut himself is at the brink of death as the X-Men pound away at him in his weakest state. Still, that's exactly what he wants, as his last words in this issue are, "I'll go down fighting for my friends."Juggernaut displays the valiance and the vigilance of a true hero.
The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS is on sale now from Marvel.
