User blog comment:Corvus Corvidae/The Unstoppable Colossus...Where's this going?/@comment-61022-20120120184000

"I have to admit, I was intrigued when they decided to give Piotr the Juggernaut powers. I've always been a big fan of the big steel galoot, but I've always thought he was underwritten, and underestimated."

I'm going to have to disagree with you there. Colossus has had a lot of characterization and has had his spotlight many a time over the 37+ years he's been in publication.

From the get go, since his appearance in Giant-Size X-Men there were a number of deep looks into Colossus' character: - The separation from his family and their collective in Russia and trying to adapt to life in America away form his family and his doubts of being an X-Man (I forget the issue number off the top of my head, but early on in Claremont's run Wolverine pushed Colossus to be his best by standing under a heavy press with him that risked crushing them both is Colossus didn't use his full strength)

- The grief over his brothers "death" (which in later stories in the 90's was played up on when Mikhail returned and led the Morlocks) - His early relationship with Kitty Pryde <--- This latter one I'm surprised you missed since you referenced Uncanny X-Men #183, since the whole reason Colossus fights the Juggernaut in that issue is because Wolverine takes him to the bar and convinces him to man up about cheating on Kitty during the Secret Wars and egged him on into fighting Colossus.

- Then there's the struggle Peter went through with his sister Illyana was kidnapped by Arcade, then Belasco, his feelings about her stolen youth an becoming the demon sorceress ruler of Limbo as Magik, and let's not forget how Colossus lost faith in Xavier's cause and joined Magneto's Acolytes for a brief time after Illyana died of the Legacy Virus. Then there was Peter's conviction to sacrifice his life using his body as a vessel to cure the Legacy Virus, even though it would have meant his life (Sure he was brought back from the dead later, but still it's the sentiment)

Colossus, at least in the past (I haven't read any of the newer stuff where he's become Juggernaut) has been characterized as an individual who has great strength, but has a subtle gentleness and a noble heart. As such, his tribulations in life were always matters of his feelings. His conflicts in life were never so easy as punching a villain in the face or smashing a doomsday weapon.

His characterization is a slight bit more subtle than most other characters, he brooded a lot and mulled things over (especially during Claremont's first run of the X-Men).

But basically, I think that your statement that he was underwritten is not really that accurate. Underestimated? Certainly not by his teammates, maybe some of his opponents or someone who didn't really know him, but that latter point is more of a matter of perspective between characters so its merit really depends on who you compare Colossus to. But with Marvel characters, I think you should never compare their characterization to the scope of their powers, as their powers are just circumstantial to the characterization (Spider-Man is the best example of this)

But seriously, if you go back and read Colossus's chronology from Giant-Size X-Men #1 to present, you'll see a lot of characterization that gives you plenty of insight into his character. I would say that he has not been underwritten at all.