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Summary
One of the most heartwrenching destruction in theX - Men’shistory was be after from the get-go – but that did n’t stop the character ’s creator from getting attach . As writer Chuck Austen explain it , Sammy the Squid Boywas always meant to die for further Juggernaut ’s repurchase arc , even as Sammy ’s own heroic journey became powerful in its own right hand .
In an show on theGraymalkin Lane podcast , Chuck Austen engaged in a retrospective look at his clip as anX - author . Austen ’s mid-2000s tenure is considered by manyX - Menfans to be among one of the franchise ’s most controversial eras .
That say , of the many changesAusten ’s time with the franchisebrought , among the most lasting is one of the most embraced by fans : Juggernaut ’s epic turn . As Austen explained , Sammy ’s death was always an essential part of that , though depart with him prove difficult , as the author key out the role as a " plot gimmick [ he ] return in love with . "
Juggernaut may have spend the majority of his Marvel Comics career as a vicious villain , but that has all changed , as ex - Men confirm he ’s now a hero .
Though Sammy was intend as a necessary forfeit to solidify Juggernaut ’s buyback , his own path toward heroism – if heartbreakingly cut unforesightful – proved to be as quintessential anX - Menstory as any that Chuck Austen bear .
Sammy The Squid Boy’s Tragic Death Was Always Planned
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #410 – Written By Chuck Austen, Art By Ron Garney, Ink By Mark Morales, Color By Hi-Fi, & Lettering By Saida Temofonte
Chuck Austen took overUncanny X - Menin 2002 with Issue # 410 ; his streak go until issue # 443 , after which he close several of his on-going storylines – including Sammy and Juggernaut ’s – in a legal brief , two - electric discharge run onX - Men , as the follow - up toGrant Morrison ’s groundbreakingNew X - Mentenure .
Sammy Pare , the mutation know as Squid Boy , was a dark character from the start . Introduced inUncanny X - Men#410 , Sammy was depicted as an adolescent pushed to the brink of violence by severe bullying , endured as a result of his mutant appearance . It was only the interposition of Charles Xavier , who invited Sammy to canvass at the Institute , that prevented tragedy – or at least , sadly for Sammy , retard it . Though his dying was plotted from the start , Sammy ab initio fulfill a all important role , as Austen ’s proxy for the reader , encountering theX - franchise ’s endlessly wild humans for the first fourth dimension .
As Chuck Austen reassert in his appearing on Graymalkin Lane :
“ Sammy was basically created to die . We know he was going to get killed at some detail , and that was go to be the trigger that sort of got Juggernaut to go over to the light side . ”
InX - Men#162 , a saucily reformed Brotherhood of Evil Mutants get in at Xavier ’s Institute , led by Juggernaut ’s long - time married person in offense Black Tom Cassidy . Juggernaut ostensibly joined them in their assaulton the schooltime , only to be revealed as an undercover federal agent for the X - Men , having never hesitate from his newfound valiancy . alas , Sammy does n’t find this out before he is brutally shoot down by Black Tom . Sammy drop dead in Juggernaut ’s arms , disown their friendly relationship , and leaving Juggernaut wrack by guiltiness .
As a creator , navigating how to apply a supporting fiber in bread and butter of a master quality ’s grander narrative – and when , as necessary , to kill them off so as to do so – is dodgy business .
Not Even Sammy’s Creator Chuck Austen Could Save Him
Squid Boy’s Death:X-Men#162 – Written By Chuck Austen, Art By Salvador Larroca, Ink By Danny Miki, Color By UDON, & Lettering By Rus Wooten
As a creator , navigating how to utilize a support case in support of a main character ’s grander narrative – and when , as necessary , to pour down them off to do so – is wily clientele . It has conduct to all too many instances of theinfamous “ fridging ” trope , in which girlfriends of manlike bomber often lose mortal consequences for the sake of play the hero to his lowest . or else , it often limits the storytelling potency of role who originate beyond their intend purpose .
That is n’t to say killing off Sammy the Squid Boy was the wrong pick – just that it was still a hard option , when it came time to do it . As Austed note :
“ I actually hated killing [ Sammy ] off , when I finally did it . I kept trying to figure out how to make [ Juggernaut ’s arc ] puzzle out without doing it – but we had plan for it . It was sort of set up that way . ”
Though Sammy was intended as a necessary sacrifice to solidify Juggernaut ’s redemption , his own way toward heroism – if heartbreakingly cut myopic – proved to be as quintessential anX - Menstory as any that Chuck Austen delivered . In with child part , this was because of the writer ’s own attachment to the character . “ He was a plot gadget , in a way , that I wind up falling in dear with , ” Austen admit .
Part of what has madeX - Menstories invoke to so many readers across so many years is that any graphic symbol – no matter what they look like , or what their powers entail – can show themselves to be a life-sustaining hero , and a worthy member of the squad , under the correct circumstances .
Sammy’s Death Was Pivotal In Making Juggernaut A Sustainable Hero
Squid Boy ’s Resurrection :X - Men Unlimited Infinity Comic#105 – write By Steve Fox & Stephanie Williams , Art By Noemi Vettori , Color By Pete Pantazis , & Lettering By Travis Lanham
Part of what has madeX - Menstories appeal to so many readers across so many years is that any character – no matter what they look like , or what their power fee-tail – can show themselves to be a vital champion , and a worthy phallus of the team , under the right circumstances . Sammy ’s spark did prove this to be true , even if his climactic minute of gallantry be the young mutant his lifetime . Still , many of theX - franchise ’s most memorable moments have been character deaths , anddespite how readers feel about source Chuck Austen , or Sammy ’s overall arc , it is knockout to deny his last memorable .
As unforgettable as it was , Sammy ’s death likely would have remained one of the enfranchisement ’s most lasting , had it not been for Jonathan Hickman ’s 2019X - Menrelaunch , which introduced theResurrection Protocols , a plot gimmick in its own right , one which allowed for essentially any mutant in the history of Marvel ’s publication to be brought back to living . Readers were give the cathartic reunion of Juggernaut and a resurrected Sammy the Squid Boy in 2023’sX - man Unlimited Infinity Comic#105 , as Juggernaut was there to recognise Sammy upon his arriver , and apologize for Sammy ’s death .
Once again , however , this account prove Sammy ’s core function to be part of Juggernaut ’s character journeying . Despite Austen ’s run being nearly two tenner one-time at this point , some writers have been hesitant to embrace Juggernaut as a submarine sandwich , while some have even tried to return him to the position of a villain . In the end , however , the character has proved resilient , with the Krakoan Era prove more definitively than ever before that Juggernaut is a coreX - Menhero now , and should be used as such move forward .
Source : Graymalkin Lane podcast
