X-Men – Who Is Juggernaut’s Brother?

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As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but marvel at the unstoppable force that is the Juggernaut! This formidable comic book supervillain has been relentlessly smashing and charging through the Marvel Universe for more than five decades. Originally known as Cain Marko, the Juggernaut draws his immense power from the mystical Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, granting him superhuman strength and durability that are almost impossible to overcome. This unstoppable juggernaut was brought to life by the legendary duo of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, making his debut in 1965’s “X-Men” (vol. 1) #12, where he clashed with the original team of teenage mutant superheroes. Since then, Juggernaut has squared off against heavyweights like the Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, and Doctor Strange, establishing himself as an epic brawler worthy of even cosmic recognition.

The famous comic book character, the Juggernaut, has made appearances in video games, cartoons, and movies like “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Deadpool 2,” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” (portrayed by Vinnie Jones, CGI Ryan Reynolds, and bodybuilder Aaron W. Reed). However, those who have only seen the Juggernaut in various media may not be aware of a significant aspect of his origin story – his brother is a prominent Marvel superhero. To help clarify the Juggernaut’s familial ties, here’s a brief overview of his sibling history:

(Note: X-Men family trees can be quite intricate)

In essence, the Juggernaut has an influential Marvel hero as his brother.

Juggernaut’s brother is Professor Charles Xavier

Charles Xavier, also known as Professor X, is not just any sibling to The Juggernaut; he is the founder of the X-Men and a leading figure in the world. Born with the mutant gene – a leap in human evolution – his genius in genetics is matched only by his extraordinary telepathic abilities. When his mental powers are boosted by his high-tech helmet Cerebro, he can virtually read and control minds across Earth.

Originating in the first issue of “X-Men” (vol.1) back in 1963, Professor X runs Xavier’s School for Exceptional Youth, a sanctuary designed to help mutants manage their extraordinary abilities. His initial group of students – Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Beast, and Angel – are the original X-Men. While Professor X is a peace advocate who yearns for harmonious coexistence between humans and mutants, he sometimes exhibits a more complex side, with manipulative tendencies that have at times caused friction among his students. In a more recent turn of events, as depicted in “House of X” #1, Professor X, along with his longtime adversary-ally Magneto, establishes the mutant nation of Krakoa.

Professionally, X is recognized as one of the strongest and most influential members of the X-Men team, and he’s often listed among the greatest superheroes in history. In the live-action X-Men movies, Professor Xavier was portrayed by Patrick Stewart for more than two decades, while James McAvoy took on the role of a younger Xavier in four prequels, and Harry Lloyd played another version of him in “Legion” TV series. He has made many appearances in Marvel video games, books, and animated shows, although only some, like “X-Men: The Animated Series” and “X-Men: Evolution,” have delved into his connection with Juggernaut.

Juggernaut was Professor X’s childhood bully

In essence, it turns out that the Juggernaut is Professor X’s stepbrother, born to atomic researcher Kurt Marko, who used to collaborate with Professor X’s father, Brian Xavier. As depicted in the origin story of the X-Men (vol. 1) #12, Kurt Marko was working alongside Brian when he had an opportunity to save him from a disastrous nuclear explosion in New Mexico, but he chose personal gain over altruism. Subsequently, he pursued and married Professor X’s mother, Sharon, although it was revealed that he primarily sought her wealth, which young Charles, with his budding psychic abilities, had foreseen.

The bond between Charles and his freshly acquired stepbrother, Cain, started off rocky. Hot-headed Cain harbored resentment towards Charles due to his exceptional academic and athletic abilities, as well as what appeared to be his father’s favoritism. One fateful evening, Charles found Cain engaged in a confrontation with their abusive father, which led Cain to act impulsively and ignite a fire that engulfed Kurt Marko’s laboratory. In this moment of bravery, Kurt perished, shielding both boys from the flames. However, this tragic event failed to mend their relationship; instead, Cain began physically attacking Charles, compelling Charles to employ his psychic abilities for self-defense. Regrettably, this marked the start of a lethal rivalry between the siblings.

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Professor X is tied to Juggernaut’s origin

In an unexpected turn of events, Charles and Cain found themselves serving together in the military during the Korean War. (It’s important to note that this comic was published in the 1960s, before Marvel implemented its time-altering narrative.) During a fierce battle, Cain chose to abandon his post by darting into a mysterious cave; Charles promptly followed and warned his stepbrother that his actions could lead to a court-martial for desertion due to their cowardice.

Deep within a hidden cave lay the long-lost temple consecrated to Cyttorak, a malevolent deity expelled from its realm many centuries past. As a parting curse, Cyttorak ensured that anyone who touched the temple’s gem would transform into a human Juggernaut and act as his sinister representative on Earth. In X-Men (Vol. 1) #12, Cain’s encounter with the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak is portrayed: Unable to resist its dark allure, Cain seizes it, which in turn sets off a massive cave collapse. Charles, who bore witness to Cain’s plight, narrowly manages to escape, fully conscious that if his stepbrother somehow emerged from the shattered mountain, he would now be an indomitable force to reckon with.

Juggernaut was one of the X-Men’s first foes

Unavoidably, Juggernaut broke free, driven by his determination to annihilate his despised stepbrother permanently. At that point, Charles had evolved into Professor X and was initiating his first group of X-Men. The Juggernaut’s onslaught destroyed the school, and in “X-Men” (vol. 1) #13, it required the collective power of the original X-Men along with the Human Torch from the Fantastic Four to subdue him and remove his helmet that blocked telepathy. Despite Juggernaut’s seemingly indomitable physical strength, he is susceptible to his stepbrother’s psychic abilities – a clear demonstration of mental dominance over matter.

In essence, the Juggernaut is an unstoppable adversary that frequently challenges the X-Men. His debut confrontation with the new and revamped X-Men – Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, and Colossus – is documented in “X-Men” (vol. 1) issues #101-103. Notably, Black Tom Cassidy, a mutant criminal and cousin of the X-Man Banshee, was by his side during this battle. This complex web of connections within the X-Men family is quite intricate, as you might have guessed from the relationships between Professor X’s stepbrother, various teams like Excalibur, X-Force, and Generation X, and characters such as Banshee.

Juggernaut and Xavier are now allies

In spite of their turbulent past, Professor X remained optimistic that his stepbrother Cain could change from his criminal ways. His belief seemed vindicated in “Uncanny X-Men” (vol. 1) #412 when Juggernaut formed a bond with a young mutant named Squidboy, who persuaded him to join the X-Men. Initially reluctant to establish a connection with Xavier, they later experienced an emotional transformation during a conversation about enduring Kurt Marko’s abuse as kids. “X-Men” (vol. 2) #161 disclosed that Juggernaut had been collaborating with Black Tom behind the scenes to infiltrate the X-Men, but his tenure on the team had positively influenced him.

Although Juggernaut strove for redemption amidst his battles, he was often drawn towards misusing his immense power due to the Gem of Cyttorak. He fluctuated between heroic and villainous roles over many years until he eventually renounced Cyttorak’s control in the 2020 “Juggernaut” miniseries. Opting for a new heroic journey, Juggernaut then teamed up with Xavier and the X-Men on Krakoa. As proof of his enduring appeal among fans, Juggernaut emerged victorious in the X-Men Fan Vote to join the team for the “X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023” special issue. As depicted in “X-Men” (vol. 7) #1, Juggernaut now fights alongside Cyclops as one of the rare non-mutant X-Men within the franchise. The upcoming Marko-Xavier family reunion is certain to be intriguing, whatever lies ahead for Juggernaut.

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2025-01-19 00:30