Cain Marko, aka the Juggernaut,is one of theX-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 anda new heroic Juggernaut has been officially introduced as a member of theUncanny 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 madmen or gods again, Juggernaut left Cyttorak without an avatar on Earth.
InUncanny 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 trainingunder 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 ofethereal flaming psychic constructs. Calico and Ember were first seen taking on the form of a Valkyrie and a pegasus, modeling themselves afterthe ancient Asgardian guidesof the dead.
In the team’s latest clash against the forces of Sarah Gaunt, Calico instead calls uponthe 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 topossess 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 theJuggernaut’s loreis considered,Calico and Ember are just as much true Juggernautsas Marko is. However, unlike Marko, Calico’s mutant ability to bestow her manifestations onto Ember ranks the young mutant abovethe 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 youngX-Manand her steed have both theJuggernaut’s unstoppable destructive strengthand a wider array of unseen psychic potential, making her way more powerful than Cain Marko could ever be.
Uncanny X-Men #5is available now from Marvel Comics.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
