The Juggernaut returns for a family reunion that is roughly as much fun as any other family reunion that has ever happened!
Stan Lee Proudly Presents (and even edits)
A Roy Thomas-Werner Roth Cataphonically Cataclysmic Co-Production
Inked By: John Tartaglione
Lettered By: Artie Simek
Catered By: Honest Irv
Originally Published May 1967
As we begin this two-parter, the X-Men are celebrating Bobby's 18th Birthday at my favourite place in the Marvel Universe of the 60's, the Coffee A-Go-Go, surrounded by their impressively robust supporting cast: Zelda baked the cake, Vera is there to paw at Hank, Warren brought Candy Sothern, an even Bernard the Poet is on hand to write a verse (in exchange for cake.)
The only one missing is Jean's college pal Ted Roberts. (Well, I wouldn't say he's "missed," Bob.)
The party is unfortunately crashed by a biker gang (Satan's Saints, of course) whose leader, Rocky Rhodes (no relation to Dusty, I should think) was recently rejected by Zelda and have responded by riding their bikes directly into the crowded café to menace the party. The resulting scene is actually a keen use of the X-Men's powers and training with the twist that the group don't want to let on that they're actually super-powered mutant X-heroes.
Meanwhile back in Westchester, the Prof is proceeding with some of his ungodly experiments, and we at last get to find out what is behind his Heavy Oaken Door of Mystery. And unlike the mystery of Ted Roberts' brother, this is a mystery that actually kind of lives up to the hype...
Although Lucifer was the villain I most wanted to see stuffed in a closet and forgotten about, I'm glad to report that this issue is the return of the Juggernaut, the Prof's cartoonishly-evil stepbrother and unstoppable force of nature. It's nice that the Prof, believes in redeeming the Juggernaut at any cost when, not that long ago, he would hand out a mind-wipe (read: lobotomy) in response to virtually any minor obstacle.
This involves the use of one of Professor X's kooky headgear inventions, a sort of telepathic wake-up helmet machine.
What exactly he plans to do with a fully-conscious Juggernaut to convince him not to resume his repeated murder-attempts on his stepbrother, we never get to find out because it malfunctions (due to interference, not the Professor's hubris) leaving Charles unconscious and Juggernaut standing tall... with Prof. X's telepathic powers added to his own physical prowess. Don't you just hate when that happens?
The X-Men arrive home from their night out and are promptly beaten by the newly empowered Juggernaut. And why shouldn't they be, if he possesses an unstoppable physical form and ultra-he powerful vaguely-defined mental abilities of Professor X.
But before Juggy can deliver the killing blow, he's interrupted by... a summons!
The mysterious voice of the group known as Factor Three informs him that they are responsible for awakening him, and while they would never presume to command someone so powerful, they feel, I guess, he owes them one and maybe he would be interested in stealing a Transatlantic jet and flying to meet them?
Now, Juggernaut was one second away from finishing up the whole "kill the X-Men" project, but apparently this can't wait. Juggernaut is convinced, but he has his pride, so he insists all the while that he's only going because he wants to, not because he was told to. My guess is that he was just flattered to be wanted.
The X-Men are left for dead in a rapidly flooding basement, but (as usually happens) awaken in time to rescue the Prof and regroup for round two, next issue!
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