Kurt Wagner: Nightcrawler Appreciation 2020

[Su_Whisterfield]

Giant-Size X-Men: Nightcrawler was a big let down.

Kurt was nothing more than a guide for a few of the other X-characters that joined him on the lame-o mission. I would argue that his teammates actually saw some character development whereas Kurt didn't do much of anything except state the obvious. It seems he was only along for the ride so that fans would buy the book. Nightcrawler fans are so used to being shortchanged that Marvel didn't mind passing this off as a Nightcrawler story (it wasn't, he could have been any other character and it absolutely wouldn't have mattered). It would have been more accurate to call this Giant-Size X-Men: Eye-Boy or Giant-Size X-Men: Cypher.

Do any of you that visit this thread think that the writers have much in store for Nightcrawler in the near future? Are any of you as disappointed as I am with his current "development"?

Right now, he's just sort of a figurehead - as one of the council members, he has the look of someone important, but he really hasn't done much. I mean, advising the other mutants to reproduce is just a nothing burger. Was it supposed to be profound?

Normally, I wouldn't much care at being duped into buying a comic with the premise being that Nightcrawler would be "featured" only to find out he's just window dressing. Since this story has developed last summer, it's become clear that (once again with another another X-Men event) he isn't going to be much of a factor in whatever outcome is in store. It's been years since he's really provided anything of note to the X-franchise and it doesn't seem like any of the creative forces at Marvel are very interested in him.

I found the story in GS:Nightcrawler to be tissue thin and lacking any real tension.
I enjoyed the interaction between all the characters, if it had been marketed as a New Mutants Annual with Kurt as a guest star, that would have been fine.
I was hoping the plot would wither involve Kitty, once we found out that Doug, Illyana and Lockheed were involved.

But what I really, really wanted was a look into Kurt’s life on Krakoa.
What does working on the council entail?
He’s arguably the ‘weakest’ member on the council. Until Kitty officially joins (I don’t think she’s been confirmed as a member has she, we know she’s going to but I’m not sure anyone other than Emma knows) he’s the youngest.
He’s the strongest moral compass, stronger even than Jean.
There’s material enough for a mini-series right there.
Where’s he living?
Who’s he socialising with, his usual friends or has he widened his social circle?
It must be very liberating, to be able to walk around without worrying about being attacked or harassed on the Island.

Like you, I’m not getting any great enthusiasm, from the current creative team on Dawn of X, for writing him.
Clearly his plot line will be Mutant Religion, but as Kurt’s religion is, to me, the least interesting part of his personality, Im just not enamoured with it.
And he’s not being used by any of the books, which makes me sad that none of the writers are interested in him.
I think it would be very interesting to see Kurt out of the X books, in the wider Marvel universe.

[taozen]

I found the story in GS:Nightcrawler to be tissue thin and lacking any real tension.
I enjoyed the interaction between all the characters, if it had been marketed as a New Mutants Annual with Kurt as a guest star, that would have been fine.
I was hoping the plot would wither involve Kitty, once we found out that Doug, Illyana and Lockheed were involved.

But what I really, really wanted was a look into Kurt’s life on Krakoa.
What does working on the council entail?
He’s arguably the ‘weakest’ member on the council. Until Kitty officially joins (I don’t think she’s been confirmed as a member has she, we know she’s going to but I’m not sure anyone other than Emma knows) he’s the youngest.
He’s the strongest moral compass, stronger even than Jean.
There’s material enough for a mini-series right there.
Where’s he living?
Who’s he socialising with, his usual friends or has he widened his social circle?
It must be very liberating, to be able to walk around without worrying about being attacked or harassed on the Island.

Like you, I’m not getting any great enthusiasm, from the current creative team on Dawn of X, for writing him.
Clearly his plot line will be Mutant Religion, but as Kurt’s religion is, to me, the least interesting part of his personality, Im just not enamoured with it.
And he’s not being used by any of the books, which makes me sad that none of the writers are interested in him.
I think it would be very interesting to see Kurt out of the X books, in the wider Marvel universe.

I am finding that one of the drawbacks to Hickman's changes to the X-Men landscape is that there are far too many characters. And if you are not the uber powerful or extremely popular, you barely get any "screen time." Unless you are Xavier, Scott, Jean, Wolverine, Apocalypse, Magneto, Emma, and Sinister; you are not being used. That is unless you are a regular member on one of the other titles. There are just too many characters in play.

[Su_Whisterfield]

I am finding that one of the drawbacks to Hickman's changes to the X-Men landscape is that there are far too many characters. And if you are not the uber powerful or extremely popular, you barely get any "screen time." Unless you are Xavier, Scott, Jean, Wolverine, Apocalypse, Magneto, Emma, and Sinister; you are not being used. That is unless you are a regular member on one of the other titles. There are just too many characters in play.

In agreement.
Even characters in other books feel underused, thinking of Storm here. It looks she might be used in the future, but up until now, there’s been very little. And no Warren.

Beautiful commission on Facebook of our lad.
By Stephanie Lavaud.

CC477A04-C0CF-415D-9DFD-A5F498D1F912.jpg

[Grimsmack]

I found the story in GS:Nightcrawler to be tissue thin and lacking any real tension.
I enjoyed the interaction between all the characters, if it had been marketed as a New Mutants Annual with Kurt as a guest star, that would have been fine.
I was hoping the plot would wither involve Kitty, once we found out that Doug, Illyana and Lockheed were involved.

But what I really, really wanted was a look into Kurt’s life on Krakoa.
What does working on the council entail?
He’s arguably the ‘weakest’ member on the council. Until Kitty officially joins (I don’t think she’s been confirmed as a member has she, we know she’s going to but I’m not sure anyone other than Emma knows) he’s the youngest.
He’s the strongest moral compass, stronger even than Jean.
There’s material enough for a mini-series right there.
Where’s he living?
Who’s he socialising with, his usual friends or has he widened his social circle?
It must be very liberating, to be able to walk around without worrying about being attacked or harassed on the Island.

Like you, I’m not getting any great enthusiasm, from the current creative team on Dawn of X, for writing him.
Clearly his plot line will be Mutant Religion, but as Kurt’s religion is, to me, the least interesting part of his personality, Im just not enamoured with it.
And he’s not being used by any of the books, which makes me sad that none of the writers are interested in him.
I think it would be very interesting to see Kurt out of the X books, in the wider Marvel universe.

Yes, he seems to be a placeholder for when they decide to tackle "religion". Hooray.
There have been times when Nightcrawler's faith has been depicted in an interesting way. There have been way too many times in which writers don't quite know how to tackle such a difficult topic. Because of the inherent difficulties, his views are either very bland and unoffensive, or very whacky concepts that are not fun in any way. I'd prefer the writers not even tackle it -- Kurt is now at the point where he's "the Religious One" on the X-Men, which is often at odds with the swashbuckling, moderately womanizing character he was depicted as early on.

Imagine if he could just be shipped off to the Avengers or something! It'd be all new territory for our Elf.

[Grimsmack]

I am finding that one of the drawbacks to Hickman's changes to the X-Men landscape is that there are far too many characters. And if you are not the uber powerful or extremely popular, you barely get any "screen time." Unless you are Xavier, Scott, Jean, Wolverine, Apocalypse, Magneto, Emma, and Sinister; you are not being used. That is unless you are a regular member on one of the other titles. There are just too many characters in play.

I agree, and there cannot be equal time given, not even for the most popular of the bunch. And I believe Nightcrawler is one of the 10 most popular X-characters, even if the creative teams are trying their hardest to stifle him.

... I guess with "trying their hardest" I really mean "indifference". They aren't interested in exploring what he has to say - I mean, who wants to tackle Catholicism in fucking comic books! Yuck.

[houndsofluv]

... I guess with "trying their hardest" I really mean "indifference". They aren't interested in exploring what he has to say - I mean, who wants to tackle Catholicism in fucking comic books! Yuck.

I have to disagree here...The lack of focus on Kurt is most definitely a symptom of the sprawling cast but I don't think Hickman is indifferent - he's just pushing a zillion concurrent storylines. He gave the kind of space to Kurt's views and opinions that no one else has really been afforded except the "big players" like Scott, Charles, Erik and Moira. The seeds for Kurt's religion storyline have been sown since the end of HOX, its still pretty shapeless because its growing into itself. I see it as a big "Year 2" plot.

[Su_Whisterfield]

Yes, he seems to be a placeholder for when they decide to tackle "religion". Hooray.
There have been times when Nightcrawler's faith has been depicted in an interesting way. There have been way too many times in which writers don't quite know how to tackle such a difficult topic. Because of the inherent difficulties, his views are either very bland and unoffensive, or very whacky concepts that are not fun in any way. I'd prefer the writers not even tackle it --Kurt is now at the point where he's "the Religious One" on the X-Men, which is often at odds with the swashbuckling, moderately womanizing character he was depicted as early on.

Imagine if he could just be shipped off to the Avengers or something! It'd be all new territory for our Elf.

It just wasn’t a big part of his character, it was, as it should be, just a bit of background colour.

Kurt works well with other characters, any other character, he’d fit in well anywhere.

I agree, and there cannot be equal time given, not even for the most popular of the bunch. And I believe Nightcrawler is one of the 10 most popular X-characters, even if the creative teams are trying their hardest to stifle him.

... I guess with "trying their hardest" I really mean "indifference". They aren't interested in exploring what he has to say -I mean, who wants to tackle Catholicism in fucking comic books! Yuck.

I really don’t think the writers should go there, superhero books are not the place for it. Plus, it’s the least interesting aspect of his character.

I have to disagree here...The lack of focus on Kurt is most definitely a symptom of the sprawling cast but I don't think Hickman is indifferent - he's just pushing a zillion concurrent storylines. He gave the kind of space to Kurt's views and opinions that no one else has really been afforded except the "big players" like Scott, Charles, Erik and Moira. The seeds for Kurt's religion storyline have been sown since the end of HOX, its still pretty shapeless because its growing into itself. I see it as a big "Year 2" plot.

I hope we’re proved wrong. I’d be happier if he had a regular book though, we’re months into the Dawn of X and he’s had one significant issue (I’m not counting Giant Sized as the story was so generic, it could have been any character, it wasn’t a Kurt story).

[Hypestyle]

I want him to be part of any future Uncanny Avengers group.

[Grimsmack]

I want him to be part of any future Uncanny Avengers group.

That would be so cool.

[Havok83]

Anyone interested in seeing him get a different color scheme? He always has some variation of red, black and white

[Slicknickshady]

I need more of my babies. For being on the same island.. before the circumstances in Mauerders.. They had spent little time together.

[From The Shadows]

Yes, he seems to be a placeholder for when they decide to tackle "religion". Hooray.
There have been times when Nightcrawler's faith has been depicted in an interesting way. There have been way too many times in which writers don't quite know how to tackle such a difficult topic. Because of the inherent difficulties, his views are either very bland and unoffensive, or very whacky concepts that are not fun in any way. I'd prefer the writers not even tackle it -- Kurt is now at the point where he's "the Religious One" on the X-Men, which is often at odds with the swashbuckling, moderately womanizing character he was depicted as early on.

Imagine if he could just be shipped off to the Avengers or something! It'd be all new territory for our Elf.

I feel the same way. Him only being used as a religious/moral commentator has gone on way too long so I was not the least bit surprised about what's happening. Especially what I've read from the bullpen. I'm glad I'm not the only person that would enjoy seeing him outside the XU again. I don't think that can happen though because current editorial only sees him in a friend role (their actual words) and completely wiped away Kurt's character growth and more assertive side in Excalibur and basically subtly brushed it off as reader delusion. I used to like the idea of the Avengers but so many X- Characters have joined the Avengers lately that it seems less exciting to me. I'd like maybe a new team. Or a new solo But I guess I wouldn't say no to an Avengers book just to get him out of this rut.

[From The Shadows]

I need more of my babies. For being on the same island.. before the circumstances in Mauerders.. They had spent little time together.

Waitaminit, Kitty went back to bartending? I'm afraid I hadn't finished CC's Nightcrawler solo. I much prefer Nauks version of this haircut than what we saw in Gold. And Kurt looks... (puddle of goo).

[Slicknickshady]

Waitaminit, Kitty went back to bartending? I'm afraid I hadn't finished CC's Nightcrawler solo. I much prefer Nauks version of this haircut than what we saw in Gold. And Kurt looks... (puddle of goo).

Wedding Special. Claremont did the story. It was released during the wedding arc. I loved the issue reuniting CC and Nauck. The discussion on this forum around that time was CC having Alasdhair be kitty’s true love.

[From The Shadows]

Wedding Special. Claremont did the story. It was released during the wedding arc. I loved the issue reuniting CC and Nauck. The discussion on this forum around that time was CC having Alasdhair be kitty’s true love.

Ah... ok. I didn't read it. Or Rogues Wedding issues either. So Alasdhair is not a misspelling of Alistair but from the True Friends mini. I remember trying to get it at the time but it was sold out. I haven't tried to get it since and I kind of forgot about it. Maybe its on Comixology. There is no info on him that I can find.

Piotr>Pete>Peter

Allistair>Alasdhair

Am I the only one who finds it odd that Kittys true love is someone from a miniseries from 1999?