Cain Marko, aka the Juggernaut, is one of the X-Men’s oldest and most formidable enemies. The hulking half-brother of Charles Xavier, despite not being a mutant himself, has stood against the X-Men purely to spite his brother. However, after the Fall of X, Marko has shifted his allegiance and a new heroic Juggernaut has been officially introduced as a member of the Uncanny X-Men.

Juggernaut’s abilities were first gained by using the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, a mystical totem that contains the powers of Cyttorak, a demonic god of destruction. However, after vowing never to serve men or gods again, Juggernaut left Cyttorak without an avatar on Earth.

In Uncanny X-Men #5 - by Gail Simone, David Marquez, & Matthew Wilson - one of the series’ new young heroes, Calico, is revealed to possess the powers of the Juggernaut as well. Unlike Marko, this young mutant packs a much stronger punch than the original Juggernaut could ever deliver.

Calico’s Psychic Mutant Ability Makes Juggernaut’s Even Scarier

Uncanny X-Men #5 - Written by Gail Simone; Art by David Marquez; Color by Matthew Wilson; Lettering by VC’s Clayton Cowels

When Becca Simon-Pinette was first introduced, she claimed she was not a mutant. Becca comes from a family with a deep hatred for mutantkind. However, after training under the tutelage of Rogue, Gambit, and Nightcrawler, her powers revealed themselves and the teen was forced to accept her mutant abilities. Calico shares a psychic connection with her horse, Ember, and is able to augment Ember, implementing a variety of ethereal flaming psychic constructs. Calico and Ember were first seen taking on the form of a Valkyrie and a pegasus, modeling themselves after the ancient Asgardian guides of the dead.

In the team's latest clash against the forces of Sarah Gaunt, Calico instead calls upon the form of the Juggernaut. Once again, her powers manifest as brightly glowing ethereal formations, this time forming as armor around Calico and Ember, resembling the armor of the Juggernaut. Like Marko, Calico and Ember seem to possess a nearly unstoppable brute force, capable of laying dozens of enemies flat on the ground. The young mutant’s powers are malleable and, so far, identically resemble the abilities she is attempting to emulate. However, it’s unclear whether Calico only mimics these abilities or if she adopts them.

The Juggernaut Doesn’t Need the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak Anymore

The Uncanny X-Men’s Young Mutant Is a Juggernaut and So Much more

As Cain Marko has proven, a person does not need the Gem of Cyttorak to become the Juggernaut. Marko currently uses the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to access his old powers, despite having no fealty to the demonic god. That said, as far as the the old X-Men enemy. Yes, Calico is still young, but her potential should have Marko shaking in his heavy metal boots.

Becca Simon-Pinette and her horse Ember are a combination threat that fans of the X-Men should keep a closer eye on. So far, her Juggernaut transformation could be written off as a random choice. However, as vocal as Becca has been about her family’s hatred of mutants, there may be some deeper connection between the young mutant and the retired X-Men villain. The young X-Man and her steed have both the Juggernaut’s unstoppable destructive strength and a wider array of unseen psychic potential, making her way more powerful than Cain Marko could ever be.

Uncanny X-Men #5 is available now from Marvel Comics.