In a historic moment, Marvel just unveiled how its newestJuggernautwas gifted his powers, and it marks a unique departure from the original Juggernaut’s origin. The original Juggernaut Cain Marko exists as one of the most iconic villains to the X-Men. However,Kid Juggernaut reveals a hidden legacy, creating a whole new untold layer to the history of Juggernaut.
Previously a Marvel Infinity exclusive series, the preview toKid Juggernaut #1, written by Emily Kim, with art by Minkyu Jung and Peter Nguyen, shows how Justin Jin became the new Juggernaut by touching the Gem of Cyttorak that originally belonged to his absentee father.Unlike Cain Marko, who desperately sought out undeserved power, Justin is dragged into a family legacy.
Justin Jin receiving a Gem of Cyttorak and becoming a Juggernaut not only confirms that there are more of the powerful gems than fans knew, but that his family has been hiding an entire lineage of Juggernauts.This is a far more personal, positive depitcion of Juggernaut lore than fans have seen before.
Marvel’s New Juggernaut Is the Latest in an Entire Legacy
Kid Juggernaut#1by Emily Kim, Minkyu Jung, Peter Nguyen, Michael Wiggam and Ariana Maher
After his father’s death, Justin is left with a pendant containing a gem of Cyttorak, passed down from the men in his family. Now that Justin had been accepted as the Earthly avatar of Cyttorak,he is almost unstoppable, with enhanced strength, durability and speed. Justin also has a ‘magic momentum’ that makes him unstoppable when charging. This is particularly notable because while the original Juggernaut still has superpowers, he recentlyrejected the control of the demonic god Cyttorak, creating an opening for a new avatar.
The reveal of Kid Juggernaut’s origin changes the status quo by showing that the power of Cyttorak and the mantle of the Juggernaut can be passed down.
For most of X-Men history, Juggernaut was believed to be the only villain of his kind, having discovered the Gem of Cyttorak while fighting in the Korean War. The villain was then imbued withthe unstoppable powers of the Juggernaut, becoming an avatar of Cyttorak, who craves destruction and chaos. However, the revelation that Justin’s family have ties to Cyttorak redefine the character’s lore.Kid Juggernaut‘s origin significantly differs from Cain Marko’s, whose transformation was a result of his selfishness and desire for power, rather than being something gifted by a loving family member.
Marvel’s Cyttorak Lore Grows as a Second Avatar of Cyttorak Is Introduced to Replace Juggernaut
With Cain Marko Breaking Free From Cyttorak, the Dark God Chooses a New Host
Unlike the original Juggernaut - who has undergone decades of development to move away from evil - Kid Juggernaut isintroducedas a hero. This begs the question of how Justin will fare when Cyttorak inevitably confronts him and demands a tribute of destruction. The reveal of Kid Juggernaut’s origin changes the status quo by showing that the power of Cyttorak and the mantle of the Juggernaut can be passed down to future generations and be wielded in a primarily heroic manner from the start. Kid Juggernaut gaining the powers of Cyttorak marks a historic milestone for Marvel, growing the lore ofJuggernautinto an ever-expanding legacy.
Kid Juggernaut #1will be available on June 20, 2025, from Marvel Comics!
