X-Force Showcases Red X-Men Costumes Perfect for Their New Take on Juggernaut

Summary Artist Tony Daniel shares their X-Force #1 variant cover on X, prominently featuring Tank in a cool new look.

Tank, a new X-hero, has unique space-time manipulation powers along with his ability to 'hulk out' with Juggernaut-level strength.

Tank's abilities make him a valuable asset to the X-Force, effectively making him X-Men's upgraded Juggernaut.

Marvel Comics is unveiling an all-new roster for the iconic X-Force team with the launch of X-Men’s ‘From the Ashes’ era, which will see the mutants fight for their right to exist in a human-ruled world following the fall of Krakoa. The X-Force will be integral in that global effort, and each new member of the team has already proven they’re up for the task - and their red costumes mean they’ll look badass doing it. Especially one X-hero in particular, who’s effectively a new take on the Juggernaut.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) by artist Tony Daniel, Daniel shares their variant cover for X-Force #1 (by Geoffrey Thorne and Marcus To). The artwork features all the main players of the new X-Force team - plus Deadpool - including Forge, Betsy Braddock, Rachel Summers, Surge, Sage, and Tank. All of them are in their updated red and black X-Force uniforms, and while they each wear them well, there’s one obvious standout: Tank.

This variant cover preview isn’t the first time fans have seen Tank featured alongside the new X-Force, either, as a number of other covers - main and variants - have been released ahead of this new X-Men title. Tony Daniel is the artist responsible for the variant cover shown in this X post, but they’re far from the only contributor, with the main cover done by artist Stephen Segovia, and three other variants by artists Clayton Crain, Mahmud Asrar, and David Nakayama Foil - all of which can be viewed below.

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Tank is X-Force’s Upgraded Juggernaut, & His Debut Proves It

Tank made his first appearance in Ironheart #6 by Eve L. Ewing and Kevin Libranda

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While his appearance on these X-Force covers alone might lead fans to believe that Tank is simply the team’s token ‘strong guy’, his debut confirms that’s far from the case. Tank first appeared in Ironheart #6, not as a brute, but as a mad scientist of sorts with the mutant ability to manipulate space-time. Tank kidnapped Miles Morales and kept him in a time-looped cabin to observe him for “thirty days”, as he sensed a signature on Miles associated with those that have traveled the multiverse (as Miles has famously done).

When Riri Williams helped Miles escape the time-looped trap, Tank revealed that the manipulation of space-time (which can manifest in his ability to create portals, through which he can freely travel) isn’t his only mutant power. Tank can also control the molecular structure of his body. Indeed, he’s first shown as a scrawny, creepy-looking guy before ‘hulking out’.

It’s interesting that Tank is even a member of the new X-Force at all, as he seemingly dies in this issue of Ironheart. However, now that he’s back, it’s clear from his debut that Tank will be a major asset - arguably more so than even the Juggernaut himself.

Tank’s Appearance is Sleeker Than Juggernaut’s, & His Powers are More Useful

The Juggernaut’s appearance is absolutely iconic, and the slight change to his costume in the upcoming X-Men relaunch (most notably the red ‘X’ on his helmet) is truly brutal. However, his armor is undoubtedly bulky and totally impractical - how can he even see out of that helmet? Meanwhile, Tank boasts the same Hulk-sized super strength as the Juggernaut (proven true when he tangled with both Spider-Man and Ironheart at once), but with a costume that’s much sleeker and more modern than that of Cain Marko.

Not only is Tank’s costume a bit sleeker and more practical than Juggernaut’s, but he’s going to be a greater asset to the X-Force than Juggernaut will be to the X-Men. Tank can create portals that can teleport himself and his team wherever they need to go (the limit of which has yet to be explored, so the possibilities are endless). That will be perfect for a team that’s famously been considered X-Men’s ‘black-ops’ since its inception. Plus, his genius-level understanding of space-time makes him a definitive ‘brain’ on the team, as well as ‘brawn’.

In every conceivable way, Tank is effectively X-Force’s ‘Juggernaut’, but with better powers, higher intellect, and a cooler X-Men costume - and that last point is featured beautifully on Tony Daniel’s variant cover.

X-Force #1 by Marvel Comics is available July 31, 2024.

X-Force #1 (2024) Writer: Geoffrey Thorne

Artist: Marcus To

Cover Artist: Stephen Segovia

Source: Tony Daniel/X