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Cyttorak

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cyttorak
Two of Cyttorak's manifestations
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearance(First mentioned)
Strange Tales #124 (Sept. 1964)
(Actual appearance)
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #44 (Aug. 1992)
Created byStan Lee (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist)
Alex Toth (artist)
In-story information
SpeciesDeity
PartnershipsOctessence
Juggernaut
AbilitiesNearly unlimited mystical abilities

Cyttorak is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. A mystical entity, he is the deity that powers Juggernaut through the artifact known as the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak.

Publication history

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Cyttorak was first mentioned in Strange Tales #124 ("The Lady from Nowhere", September 1964; written by Stan Lee). He first appeared in person in Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #44 (August 1992; written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Geof Isherwood).

Fictional character biography

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Cyttorak is a deity who was previously banished to the Crimson Cosmos Dimension.[1][2] Centuries later, renegade monks attempt to summon Cyttorak, but instead summon a destructive aspect of him. The magic apprentice Gomurr defeats the aspect and seals him in a magical gem.[3]

During the "Fear Itself" storyline, Magik, Colossus, and Kitty Pryde travel to the Crimson Cosmos to speak to Cyttorak. They inform him that Juggernaut has been transformed into Kuurth and is under the control of the Serpent. Colossus makes a bargain with Cyttorak to gain the power to stand against Kuurth. Cyttorak agrees to the terms and Colossus becomes his avatar.[4]

Through a miniature portal generated by Man-Thing, Cyttorak detects Cain Marko and grants him the powers of Juggernaut once again.[5]

After becoming the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Doom learns that Cyttorak's covenant requires the Sorcerer Supreme to fight the Scions of Cyttorak. He gives Spider-Man arcane armor that will resurrect him up to eight times to fight the Scions for him.[6][7] After Spider-Man uses up all his lives and dies, the Scion Cya makes a deal with Phil Coulson to take her immortality in exchange for reviving Spider-Man. Emerging as the Spider-Naut, Spider-Man assists Juggernaut into defeating Callix.[8][9][10][11][12][13]

Avatars of Cyttorak

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Jin Moon-ho

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Jin Moon-ho was Cyttorak's avatar before Cain Marko. A poor farmer from Korea, Moon-ho came across an abandoned temple of Cytorrak after fleeing from bandits and encountered the Gem of Cyttorak, turning him into the Juggernaut. Cyttorak, the ruler of the Crimson Cosmos and the supplier of Moon-ho's powers, then ordered Moon-ho to align himself with Japanese imperialists to further the deity's goals of world destruction. Moon-ho dropped his Korean name, renamed himself "Taiko" and followed Cyttorak's command to help the Japanese colonize Korea. Taiko became increasingly remorseful and ashamed as he continued killing for the demon and eventually refused Cyttorak's orders to destroy his home village, who took his powers away until Cain Marko eventually found the gem and took over as Cyttorak's new avatar.[14] Cain, as the new Juggernaut, faced and killed Taiko, burning his village to the ground.[15] Due to Moon-ho's service with the Japanese, he was branded as a traitor by his fellow countrymen and his family was shunned, causing his son Jin Jong-Wu to resent him for many years and refusing to take the powers of the Juggernaut himself after inheriting a shard of the Gem of Cyttorak.[14]

Cain Marko

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Temple of Cyttorak

During the Korean War, an American soldier named Cain Marko hid in a cave to avoid an attack by the enemy. A fellow soldier, his stepbrother Charles Xavier, followed him in to convince him to rejoin the battle and avoid a court-martial (the inevitable result if his actions were to reach the attention of the commanding officers). The learned Xavier recognized that the cave contained the Temple of Cyttorak. Marko saw a ruby, remarking that it appeared to be living. He picked it up, despite Xavier's warning, to read the inscription: "Whosoever touches this gem shall possess the power of the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak! Henceforth, you who read these words, shall become forevermore a human juggernaut!" Cain's transformation began as the Koreans' constant shelling of the cave caused it to collapse. Xavier escaped, but Marko also survived due to his new-found powers, becoming the Juggernaut.[16]

Justin Jin

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See also: Kid Juggernaut

Justin (Joon-Sung) Jin is an 18-year-old from Vancouver, Canada and the grandson of Jin Moon-ho who receives a shard of the Gem of Cyttorak after his estranged father Jung-woo is killed by Cyttorak's follower Malphegor.[17][18] He uses the Gem's powers to become the superhero Kid Juggernaut and joins the Avengers Academy.[14][19]

Powers and abilities

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Cyttorak is a deity with enormous magical power. He possesses superhuman strength and durability and can create life at will.[20][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Webber, Tim (April 28, 2019). "Cyttorak: The Mystic Force Behind the Juggernaut's Power, Explained". CBR. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  2. ^ X-Men #33 (June 1967)
  3. ^ X-Men Unlimited #12 (September 1996)
  4. ^ Uncanny X-Men #542 - 543 (October - November 2011)
  5. ^ Dark Avengers #182 (December 2012)
  6. ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (October 1, 2024). "Marvel Teases Spider-Man's Death With New Look at Doctor Doom Spider-Suit". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  7. ^ Adams, Tim (November 13, 2024). "Spider-Man Has Magic Powers Now (And a New Suit) Thanks to Doctor Doom". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  8. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 6) #61-70 (January - May 2025)
  9. ^ Guastella, Nic (November 24, 2024). "X-Men to Crossover With Spider-Man Ahead of MCU Debut". CBR. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  10. ^ Salmon, William (February 6, 2025). "Juggernaut meets his maker as the X-Men arrive to fight Cyttorak in Amazing Spider-Man #67". GamesRadar+. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  11. ^ Dodge, John (February 17, 2025). "Spider-Man's Next Nemesis Could Destroy the Entire Marvel Universe". CBR. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  12. ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (March 13, 2025). "Marvel Resurrects Spider-Man as the Juggernaut". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  13. ^ Dodge, John (March 16, 2025). "Spider-Man Is Back – and His New Look Makes Him Unstoppable". CBR. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Kid Juggernaut: Marvel's Voices #1 - 6 (May - June 2024)
  15. ^ New Excalibur #15 (March 2007)
  16. ^ X-Men #12 (July 1965)
  17. ^ Damore, Meagan (May 29, 2024). "'Kid Juggernaut' Creators Reclaim the Mantle and Its Legacy with Justin Jin". Marvel. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  18. ^ Schlesinger, Alex (May 9, 2024). "Marvel's New Juggernaut Officially Debuts, With 1 Huge Difference to the Original". Screen Rant. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  19. ^ Marvel's Voices #100 (May 2024)
  20. ^ Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #44 (August 1992)
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