Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS! The Juggernaut is and has always been utterly unstoppable, but that’s only the case if he follows one rule. While this ‘one rule’ in question used to be a given, it’s actually become a point of some controversy regarding the Juggernaut’s personal lore. Indeed, the Juggernaut is being redefined in Marvel Comics, as there’s now a clear (and possibly canon-breaking) way to stop the Unstoppable Juggernaut.
In The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS by Christos Gage and Mark Buckingham, the Juggernaut has fallen back into his villainous ways, the opposite is actually true. The X-Men have been corrupted by a cosmic entity known as the Blight, and the Juggernaut is the only one who hasn’t succumbed to its influence.
For eons, the Blight has been kept at bay by Cyttorak, who is the source of the Juggernaut’s power, which is why the Blight can’t infect the Unstoppable X-Man. However, that doesn’t mean the Juggernaut is immune to the attacks launched against him by the Blight-controlled X-Men. Psylocke stabs Juggernaut in the face with a psi-blade, which sends his consciousness spiraling through the Crimson Cosmos, putting him face-to-face with Cyttorak, where fans are met with a shocking revelation: Cyttorak can make the Juggernaut weaker at will.
Cyttorak Still Has Control Over the Juggernaut’s Power, Despite Recent Canon Changes
The Juggernaut Severed Ties with Cyttorak at the Start of the X-Men’s Krakoan Era
X-Men fans who are mostly familiar with the classic iteration of the Juggernaut likely wouldn’t be shocked by hearing that Cyttorak controls his power levels. Cyttorak is the source of the Juggernaut’s power, after all, and the Juggernaut is supposed to be Cyttorak’s avatar on Earth - of course he controls his power level. However, in the more recent X-Men canon, that stopped being the case.
In 2020’s The Juggernaut #1-5, Cain Marko finds a way to magically anchor the power of the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak on Earth while severing ties with Cyttorak himself. This allowed the Juggernaut to break free of Cyttorak’s control and commit himself fully to a life of heroism on Krakoa - eventually leading to the Juggernaut becoming an official member of the X-Men. However, this Spider-Man issue reveals that Cyttorak was making the Juggernaut weaker because of his recent heroic turn, meaning Juggernaut never broke free of him at all.
The Juggernaut Has to Please Cyttorak to Keep His Power
The Juggernaut’s Latest Story Ignores His Arc During X-Men’s Krakoan Era
Throughout this Spider-Man issue, the Juggernaut acknowledges Cyttorak’s control over him, and while he stands in open defiance of it, he still accepts it like it’s nothing - like nothing he did in his 2020 miniseries leading into his ultimate redemption mattered. Honestly, this is kind of canon-breaking, as Cyttorak shouldn’t have control over the Juggernaut, yet he clearly does. In fact, Cyttorak has the power to weaken and ultimately depower the Juggernaut if he wants to, which forces the Juggernaut to follow this ‘one rule’: please Cyttorak.
Is Marvel Setting Juggernaut Up for a New Name & Costume? He Knows He's Outgrown His Villain Identity
Cain Marko is ready to give up his Juggernaut identity once and for all, which raises the pressing question: Who will Marko be without the Juggernaut?
Luckily, Cyttorak was pleased with the Juggernaut’s defiance, and he will allow him to continue being a hero for the time being. But, how long before the Juggernaut is forced to be a villain again just to keep his power? And how long before Marvel Comics does away with his entire redemption arc altogether? Indeed, the Juggernaut is getting redefined in Marvel Comics, as a new (and old) rule has been introduced that he must follow to keep his strength.
The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS by Marvel Comics is available now.
