Juggernaut (Cain Marko) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #12 (July 1965) as an adversary of the eponymous superhero team. Since then, he has come into conflict with other heroes, primarily Spider-Man and the Hulk.
Cain Marko is a regular human who was empowered by a gem belonging to the deity Cyttorak, becoming a human juggernaut. He possesses superhuman strength and durability, and is virtually immune to most physical attacks; his helmet also protects him from mental attacks. Although not a mutant, Juggernaut has been featured as a prominent member of the Brotherhood of Mutants. He is also the stepbrother of Professor X.
Since his debut during the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character has appeared in over five decades of Marvel publications, featuring prominently in the X-Men titles and starring in two one-shot solo publications. The character has also been associated with Marvel merchandise including clothing, toys, trading cards, animated television series, video games. Juggernaut was played by Vinnie Jones in the film X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), by Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool 2 (2018), and by Aaron W. Reed in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). In some adaptations (most notably the films), Marko is a mutant who was born with his powers, while in others they simply come from his costume.
In 2008, Juggernaut was ranked 188th on Wizards list of Top 200 Comic Book Characters."The Top 200 Comic Book Greatest Characters of All Time, Part 2" , May 13, 2008 . Archive.org archive In 2009, Juggernaut was ranked 19th on IGNs list of Top 100 Comic Book Villains. "19. Juggernaut" (article dated 2009 on first page) IGN also ranked him as Spider-Man's 22nd greatest enemy.
Creation The character was named after the Hindu deity, Jagannath, whose towering sixty-foot-high chariot—pulled by roughly two hundred people—moved with such force and devotion that it did not stop, even if someone fell in its path.
Publication history
The character debuted as an antagonist of the eponymous mutant superhero team in X-Men #12–13 (July & September 1965). In the first of these issues, he rampaged unseen throughout the X-Men's headquarters while the team's leader, Professor X, related the character's origin in a series of flashbacks.
After an initial defeat in the following issue, Juggernaut returned in X-Men #32–33 (May–June 1967), and returned again in X-Men #46 (July 1968), then fought the sorcerer Doctor Strange in Doctor Strange #182 (September 1969), X-Men member the Beast in Amazing Adventures #16 (January 1973), and the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #172 (February 1974).
After the canceled X-Men returned in the mid-1970s, Juggernaut returned to fight a new iteration of the team in X-Men #101–103 (October 1975–February 1976). Storylines in Spider-Woman #37–38 (April & June 1981) and The Amazing Spider-Man #229–230 (June–July 1982) explored Juggernaut's relationship with his ally Black Tom Cassidy.
The X-Men and Spider-Man proved to be regular foes for the character, who appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #183 (July 1984), Marvel Team-up #150 (February 1985), and The Uncanny X-Men #194 (June 1985). Juggernaut guest-starred in Secret Wars II #7 (January 1986), battled a new generation of mutants in X-Men #217–218 (April & June 1987), appeared in a flashback story in Marvel Saga #21 (August 1987), and in a humorous episode in Excalibur #3 (December 1988).
Juggernaut also participated in the "Acts of Vengeance" storyline in Thor #411–412 (December 1989) and returned in Thor #429 (February 1991). Other appearances included an encounter with his creator, Cyttorak, in X-Men Unlimited #12 (September 1996) and starring in the one-shot issue Juggernaut #1 (April 1997).
In 1994 Marvel purchased Malibu Comics and began a series of crossovers that saw Marvel characters entering the Malibu Ultraverse. In 1995–1996, Juggernaut lead a group of Ultras, who were named The All New Exiles. The All New Exiles met up with the X-Men in a special Malibu/Marvel collaboration, The All New Exiles vs X-Men #0, dated October 1995.
The character appeared in Juggernaut: The Eighth Day #1 (November 1999) and Avengers vol. 3 #23–25 (December 1999–February 2000) with similarly powered avatars and attempted a reformation in The Uncanny X-Men # 410–413 (September–December 2002) and X-Men #162–164 (November 2004–January 2005). Juggernaut confronted his stepbrother, Charles Xavier—leader of the X-Men—in X-Men: Legacy #219 (February 2009), and fought the Hulk in Hulk #602 (November 2009).
He appeared as a regular character in Thunderbolts beginning with issue #144, and remained on the team until issue #158, during the Fear Itself limited series.
Juggernaut had a solo comic in 2020, by Fabian Nicieza and Ron Garney. Despite being a character from the X-Men franchise, it has plots of its own that do not crossover with the ongoing Dawn of X.
Fictional character biography
1960s
Cain Marko is the son of Kurt Marko, who becomes Charles Xavier's stepfather when he marries Sharon Xavier after the death of her husband Brian, for which Kurt is partially responsible. Kurt Marko favors Charles and abuses his own son, Cain. Cain resents Charles and bullies him frequently. Cain Marko and his step-brother Charles serve in the US Army and are stationed in Korea. Marko finds a hidden temple dedicated to the entity Cyttorak. On entering, Marko finds and holds a huge ruby and reads the inscription on the stone 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!" The gem channels Cyttorak's power into Marko. The transformation causes a cave-in, and Marko is buried and presumably killed, not being heard from again until a sudden assault on the X-Men's headquarters.
Xavier recounts Juggernaut's origin to the X-Men, and after shrugging off the mansion's defenses and brushing aside the X-Men, Marko is seen clearly in the final panel as he confronts Xavier. The X-Men regroup and attack, while Xavier summons Fantastic Four member the Human Torch to aid the mutants; the Torch generates 'pulses' of flame that essentially hypnotize Juggernaut, distracting him long enough for Angel to remove his helmet, making Marko susceptible to a telepathic attack by Xavier.X-Men #12-13 (July & Sept. 1965)
Juggernaut returns seeking revenge and is delayed by three of the X-Men while Cyclops and Marvel Girl, aided by the astral form of mystic Doctor Strange, find and use another jewel of Cyttorak, which banishes Juggernaut to the "Crimson Cosmos", the home dimension of Cyttorak.X-Men #32-33 (May–June 1967) When Juggernaut reappears, he has gained mystical abilities and briefly battles Doctor Strange before being banished to an alternate universe by the cosmic entity Eternity.Doctor Strange #182 (Sept. 1969)
1970s Juggernaut reappears on Earth through sheer force of will, although the alien dimension caused him to age rapidly. The panicking villain battles former X-Men member Beast before being drawn back to the same dimension.Amazing Adventures #16 (Jan. 1973) An entity from his prison dimension reverses the aging process and removes the mystical powers on the proviso that the villain never return. Juggernaut is accidentally pulled back to Earth at the Hulkbuster base by an interdimensional device designed to banish the Hulk. Hulk aids Juggernaut in escaping from the base but attacks him when Juggernaut threatens a civilian. During the battle, Juggernaut's helmet is removed, and he is surprised and defeated by Professor X, Cyclops, and Marvel Girl.The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #172 (Feb. 1974)
Juggernaut befriends Black Tom Cassidy, the cousin of X-Man Banshee, and battles the first generation of new X-Men. When Tom falls off the battlements of Cassidy Keep after a sword duel with Banshee, Juggernaut jumps after him into the sea.X-Men #101-103 (Oct; Dec & Feb. 1976)
1980s Black Tom uses his niece Siryn, who possesses the same powers as her father Banshee, to steal a shipment of the metal vibranium. Juggernaut battles Spider-Woman and the X-Men and is the only one of the criminal trio to escape capture.Spider-Woman #37-38 (April & June 1981) After freeing him from prison, Black Tom decides that the psychic Madame Web could be useful in his criminal pursuits. On arriving in New York City, Tom sends Juggernaut to capture Madame Web; Juggernaut destroys several city blocks in the process, and ignores Spider-Man's best efforts to stop him. He almost kills Web by accident when he removes her from a life support device, and abandons her. A frustrated Spider-Man lures Juggernaut into setting concrete, poured for the foundation of an office high-rise, into which he sinks without a trace;Amazing Spider-Man #229-230 (June–July 1982) he takes over a month to dig his way out.The Amazing Spider-Man #629
Juggernaut, in civilian guise, has a bar fight with the X-Man Colossus, who is at first unaware of the villain's true identity.The Uncanny X-Men #183 (July 1984) After another battle against Spider-Man and the X-Men,Marvel Team-Up #150 (Feb. 1985) Juggernaut encounters the futuristic Sentinel Nimrod, who humiliates and defeats him.The Uncanny X-Men #194 (June 1985) Juggernaut battles an all-new generation of X-Men,The Uncanny X-Men #217-218 (April–June 1987) appears in a flashback story with the original X-Men,Marvel Saga #21 (Aug. 1987) and battles Excalibur during a mass prison breakout.Excalibur #3 (Dec. 1988)
1990s Juggernaut continues to feature prominently in Marvel titles battling Thor once againThor #429 (Feb. 1991) and starring opposite other characters such as the mutant team X-Force,X-Force #2–5 (Sept.–Dec. 1991) Doctor Strange,Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #44 (Aug. 1992) the Hulk (allied at the time with the Red Skull and tricking and capturing the Hulk with the same "civilian" guise used against Colossus),The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #402-403 (Feb.-March 1993) Deadpool,Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1-2 (Sept.-Aug. 1993) Venom,Venom: The Madness #1–2 (Nov.-Dec. 1993) and multiple battles with the X-Men.X-Men: The Early Years #12 - 13 (April - May 1995); All New Exiles vs. X-Men #0 (Oct. 1995), The Uncanny X-Men #334 (July 1996) Briefly, he traveled to the Ultraverse and joined the superhero team Exiles.All New Exiles #∞ (Sep. 1995). Malibu Comics. After his return to the Marvel Universe, Juggernaut suffers a major setback during the Onslaught storyline, being defeated and then humiliated by the entity when imprisoned in the Gem of Cyttorak. Juggernaut, however, escapes.X-Men Unlimited #12 (Sept. 1996)
Juggernaut also stars in a solo storyJuggernaut #1 (April 1997) and the "Eighth Day" storyline, which introduces the entities the Exemplars. Juggernaut and seven other humans are revealed to have all been empowered and corrupted by mystical entities, and as avatars enforce their will on Earth.Juggernaut: The Eighth Day #1 (Nov. 1999) Juggernaut resists the influence of Cyttorak and when captured by other Exemplars is aided by the superhero team the Avengers. Leader Captain America convinces the other Exemplars that they have been manipulated by the mystical entities, who then decide to leave Earth.The Avengers vol. 3, #23-25 (Dec. 1999 – Feb. 2000)
2000s