Warning: Spoilers for The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS!
Few members of the X-Men have proven themselves to be as unstoppable as theJuggernaut. “Nothing can stop the Juggernaut” is rightfully his catchphrase, asJuggernaut bulldozes his way through each of his opponents, and rarely comes out of the losing end. When he does lose, the act of actually stopping a locomotive train made of flesh is easier said than done.
The Amazing Spider-Man#68.DEATHS. – written by Christos Gage, with art by Mark Buckingham – finds X-Men leader Cyclops evokinga loophole for the Juggernaut’s powers. When the X-Men are possessed by The Blight (a cosmic Spider-Man villaincapable of annihilating the Marvel Universe), the team effectively struggles to stop the Juggernaut.
So Cyclops conjures a new game plan:stop the Juggernaut before he moves. It is a simple strategy, yet one that speaks to how much of a master strategist Cyclops is.
Cyclops & The X-Men Beat Juggernaut By Slowing Him Down Before He Can Get Going
The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS– Written By Christos Gage; Art By Mark Buckingham; Color By Mattia Iacono; Lettering By VC’s Joe Caramagna
Traditionally, the act of stopping – or at least trying to stop – the Juggernaut is a tall task for any superhero. In the “Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut!” arc ofThe Amazing Spider-Man– widelyconsidered one of the Webslinger’s best– not even Spider-Man driving through him in a tanker truck, causing a fiery explosion, could stop the Juggernaut. What does lead to Juggernaut’s defeat, though, is when Spider-Man ambushes Cain Marko from behind, forcing Marko to stand in one place to pickat his famous helmet. Juggernaut doesn’t realize that he’s standing in wet cement, forcing him to sink.
The “Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut!” storyline takes place between The Amazing Spider-Man #229 and #230. It was written by Roger Stern, penciled by John Romita, Jr., inked by Jim Mooney, lettered by Joe Rosen, and colored by Glynis Wein.
The key word here is standing. The Juggernaut isn’t stopped by Spider-Man, but he is prevented from starting. Juggernaut isn’t so much outsmarted as he is isolated in one spot. Similarly, this is exactly how Cyclops opts to defeat the Juggernaut inThe Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS. Cyclops strategizes for his X-Men to keep Juggernaut standing in a single place, during which he orders Kid Omega to work his magic, so to speak, at risk of oversimplifying the nature ofOmega’s God-tier abilities. The result is a rousing success that neutralizes Juggernaut.
Figuring Out A Loophole To Beat Juggernaut Exemplifies Why Cyclops Is The X-Men’s Leader
Arguably The Marvel Universe’s Best Combat Strategist
Earlier in Marvel’sX-Menseries last year, X-Men teammate Beast calls Cyclops the"most gifted combat leader I’ve ever known.And I was an Avenger.“Moments like this reaffirm that notion for Scott Summers. While Spider-Man displays similar forward-thinking in how to dispose of Juggernaut,Cyclops showcases this kind of savvy and awareness to think outside the box during combat on a regular basis, contributing to his repas Marvel’s greatest leader. Even under a possessed influence, Cyclops showcases his skills as a combat strategist in thislatest encounter with Juggernaut.
