Marvel has another gay superhero in its vault, and he’s ripped and thick.
If Marvel is going to give us superheroes with super strength, complicated backstories, and enough muscles to make spandex work overtime, we are obviously going to pay attention. But Kid Juggernaut brings something particularly fabulous to the Marvel Universe: he is openly, unapologetically, and canonically gay.
Meet Jin Joon-Sung, also known as Justin Jin, a Korean-Canadian superhero whose combination of confidence, friendliness, goofball energy, and considerable muscle has earned him a nickname that may be impossible to unsee: the Twunkernaut.
Yes, Marvel really has a gay Twunkernaut.
And honestly, we deserve nice things.
Who Is Kid Juggernaut?
Created by Anthony Oliveira and Minkyu Jung, Kid Juggernaut made his Marvel Comics debut in Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comic (2022) #100, released in May 2024.
While the character’s superpowered identity gives him an obvious connection to the much larger-than-life Juggernaut mythology, Jin has a personality all his own.
He is confident without being obnoxious, friendly without being boring, and has the kind of goofy charm that makes him feel considerably more approachable than some of Marvel’s more tortured superheroes. He loves baking if that’s helpful to put things into perspective.
Then there is the look.
Kid Juggernaut is thick, muscular, and ripped, while his costume has included fishnets that somehow make an already memorable superhero even more memorable.
Because apparently, saving the world requires serving a look.
How Kid Juggernaut Saves the Day
When Justin touches the gem, he gains the powerful abilities of the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. He becomes incredibly strong and durable, with armor that protects his body and a helmet that helps block psychic attacks. He can survive powerful physical and magical hits, jump huge distances, and keep going without needing to breathe or eat. Basically, once Justin becomes Kid Juggernaut, stopping him is a very difficult task.
Yes, He Is Very, Very Gay
One of the most refreshing things about Jin is that his sexuality isn’t treated as a mysterious question waiting to be solved. He is gay, he knows he’s gay, and his romantic interest is exclusively directed toward men.
Marvel has introduced plenty of LGBTQ+ characters over the years, but representation becomes particularly meaningful when characters get to exist as complete people rather than simply being defined by their sexuality.
Jin gets to be the strong guy, the funny guy, the friendly guy, and the gay guy.
He gets to be all of it.
READ: From Kit Connor to Connor Storrie? Marvel Fans See a Pattern For Joe Locke
Enter Aaron Fischer
And then there is Aaron Fischer, the first gay Captain America.
The two characters cross paths in Avengers Academy, where they have a conversation about their respective experiences growing up gay. It’s a particularly meaningful moment because the story allows two queer superheroes to compare their experiences rather than simply treating their sexuality as a footnote.
But there is also a little interpersonal tension that has fans paying attention.
At one point, Aaron accidentally encounters Jin wearing only a towel and becomes visibly flustered. As the two spend more time together, their friendship develops, creating a decidedly intriguing will-they-won’t-they dynamic.
Are they friends?
Could they become something more?
Marvel has not exactly been rushing to hand us the answer.
The Gay Superhero We Didn’t Know We Needed
What makes Kid Juggernaut so much fun is that he doesn’t feel like a superhero created solely to tick a representation box.
He’s muscular but goofy. Confident but approachable. Powerful but personable. And, yes, he happens to be gay.
In a universe filled with gods, mutants, aliens, billionaires, and people who can literally punch through dimensions, Jin feels like another welcome reminder that superheroes can look and live in all kinds of ways.
So, Marvel, we’re going to need more Kid Juggernaut.
Preferably with the fishnets.