As the X-Men formally welcome Juggernaut into their ranks, the unstoppable Cain Marko finally has the perfect mutant partner - someone who is not only a hilarious buddy for him to fight alongside, but who has a way of dialing his powers up to their maximum potential. This July, Marvel will relaunch its X-Men titles for the new 'From the Ashes' era. The change follows the 2019-2024 Krakoan Era and takes the team more or less back to basics as heroes protecting mutants in a world that hates and fears them.

In a preview of X-Men #1 shared by AIPT, Cyclops leads the new team into battle. In the back of the team's jet, Magik and Juggernaut play Rochambeau, trying to decide who will charge into battle first. The moment shows what a hilarious and perfectly matched team Majik and Juggernaut are, with Marko emphasizing their unique bond by declaring, "Two's all we need."

Juggernaut will serve on this new roster alongside Cyclops, Kid Omega, Psylocke, Magik, Beast and Temper (formerly Oya), giving mutantkind's heroes some serious muscle. However, Juggernaut and Magik are a double-act all of their own, functioning as the X-Men's first line of attack and possessing a secret technique that makes Juggernaut even more dangerous.

Magik's technique allows Juggernaut to quickly reach terminal velocity, meaning he lands with the force of a missile.

Juggernaut and Magik Are X-Men's Best New Buddy Duo

Formerly a villain, Cain Marko achieved redemption during the Krakoan Era, earning an invitation to live on the mutant island and being voted onto the X-Men by its citizens. Sadly, Nimrod's attack killed most of Juggernaut's team and plunged the mutants into World War Orchis, which only recently concluded. Thankfully, Juggernaut is getting a chance to actually honor the vote's results as he appears in the new X-Men series. It's interesting that Cyclops would choose Juggernaut given their antagonistic history, and shows how committed Cain really is to earning forgiveness for past crimes.

This preview shows Juggernaut and Magik both having the same aggressive perspective on the world and each enjoying being the team's wrecking ball, suggesting their friendship will be one to watch as the series continues. This is especially true considering the events of Savage Avengers #14 (Gerry Duggan and Patrick Zircher), where Magik figured out her teleportation discs could be used to drop Juggernaut from a great height. Usually, Juggernaut activates his magical momentum by running, becoming unstoppable and invulnerable the more speed he picks up. Magik's technique allows him to quickly reach terminal velocity, meaning he lands with the force of a missile (often unseen by his target until it's too late.)

With X-Men fans showing a degree of cynicism over the franchise's new direction, it's reassuring to see the new volume open with well-thought-out character beats like Magik and Juggernaut finding out they have a lot in common. And with mutantkind on the backfoot as X-Men's new era begins, it's a major plus for Cyclops' team to have two heroes who can essentially recreate an atom bomb blast between them.

X-Men #1 is coming July 10 from Marvel Comics.

Source: AIPT

• 

  X-Men

  Comic Release Date:

  213035,212968

  First Film:

  X-Men (2000)

  TV Show(s):

  X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (1989), X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine (2011), Marvel Anime: X-Men (2011), Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men '97 (2024)

  Movie(s):

  X-Men (2000), X2 (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants (2020), Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

  Character(s):

  Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23

  Video Game(s):

  X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine's Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)

• Juggernaut

  Created By:

  Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

  First Appearance:

  The X-Men (1963)

  Alias:

  Cain Marko

  Alliance:

  Brotherhood of Mutants, All-New Exiles, New Excalibur, Lethal Legion, X-Men, Thunderbolts

  Franchise:

  Marvel