Though seemingly unbeatable, the frequent X-Men adversary The Juggernaut possesses a hidden vulnerability that Thor attempts to exploit in a titanic fight.
The Juggernaut has repeatedly shown that he can defeat even the mightiest Marvel heroes and villains, but Thor found a weakness in Cain Marko’s abilities that allowed him to use it to his advantage. The Mighty Thor is used to dealing with problems involving magic, including those posed by Amora the Enchantress and his adopted brother Loki. Thor, the Asgardian God of Thunder, must engage in a conflict unlike any other as he encounters the Juggernaut.
In Mighty Thor #429, “This Earth is Mine,” by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz, the Unstoppable Juggernaut and Thor engage in yet another titanic battle (occupying the identity of Midgard architect Eric Masterson). Juggernaut, who is allied with inhabitants of a far-off extraterrestrial world, is pitted against Thor and the Excalibur superhero team from the UK. Although Juggernaut has established himself as a formidable force in the history of the Marvel Universe, the villain occasionally lets his pride get the better of him.
It Is Possible to Counter Juggernaut’s Invincible Abilities
Juggernaut poses such a menace because Marko is connected to the supernatural being Cyttorak. Cyttorak comes from the Crimson Cosmos, a dimension, and channels its unstoppable influence and strength through hosts like Cain. Juggernaut has abilities from Cyttorak’s armor that go beyond just the armor itself, including greater strength and stamina as well as the elimination of his need for food, rest, or breathing. Thor is able to build a cone around the Juggernaut’s cosmic citadel that neutralizes all mystical energy while using the magically enchanted hammer Mjolnir. This includes the mystical abilities of the Juggernaut as well. Juggernaut is not defeated by Thor; instead, he is dispatched into outer space, temporarily taking Marko out of action. Another important element that frequently contributes to Cain’s losses to Thor and other important Marvel heroes is his own selfish values.
The extent of Juggernaut’s mystical connection to Cyttorak was not made clear for the heroes to make use of until Mighty Thor #429. In the majority of his encounters with the X-Men, Cain’s helmet had to be taken off in order to prevent the Juggernaut from being vulnerable to telepathic attacks. Juggernaut ultimately finds himself in a terrifying scenario due to Thor’s connection to magic.
Although Cain’s initial version of the Juggernaut is not exactly on the same level as cosmic-based baddies Galactus or Thanos, there is a reason why he has continued to threaten Thor on occasion for many years. The magical prowess of the Juggernaut is a natural obstacle for Thor, but as long as the God of Thunder is armed with his dependable hammer Mjolnir, he will always be able to vanquish the foe.
