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
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
Cyttorak is a deity who was previously banished to the Crimson Cosmos Dimension.
[ X-Men #33 (June 1967)] 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.
[ X-Men Unlimited #12 (September 1996)]
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.[ Uncanny X-Men #542 - 543 (October - November 2011)]
During the Avengers vs. X-Men storyline, Cyttorak is angered after a fragment of the Phoenix Force possesses Colossus. Colossus tries to force the release of him being a Juggernaut with the Phoenix's power, but Cyttorak easily quells Colossus' attempt at freedom. He tells him that he will tolerate this infraction for now and teleports him out of the Crimson Cosmos.[ Uncanny X-Men (vol. 2) #15 (September 2012)][ Uncanny X-Men (vol. 2) #20 (December 2012)]
Through a miniature portal generated by Man-Thing, Cyttorak detects Cain Marko and grants him the powers of Juggernaut once again.[ Dark Avengers #182 (December 2012)]
After becoming 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.[ The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 6) #61-70 (January - May 2025)]
Avatars of Cyttorak
Jin Moon-ho
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 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 conquer 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. Cyttorak took his powers away. Cain Marko eventually found the gem and took over as Cyttorak's new avatar.
[ Kid Juggernaut: Marvel's Voices #1 - 6 (May - June 2024)] The new Juggernaut faced and killed Taiko, and burned his village to the ground.
[ New Excalibur #15 (March 2007)] 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. He refused to take the powers of the Juggernaut himself after inheriting a shard of the Gem of Cyttorak.
Cain Marko
During the Korean War, soldier Cain Marko hid in a cave to avoid an attack by the enemy. His stepbrother
Professor X 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 survived due to his new-found powers, becoming the Juggernaut.
[ X-Men #12 (July 1965)]
Justin Jin
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.
He uses the Gem's powers to become the superhero
Kid Juggernaut and joins the
Avengers Academy.
[ Marvel's Voices #100 (May 2024)]
Powers and abilities
Cyttorak is a deity with enormous magical power. He possesses superhuman strength and durability and can create life at will.
[ Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #44 (August 1992)]
External links
