It's Not Easy Being Blue: Nightcrawler Appreciation

[Karl-5]

Here I am again with my spoiler images for Astonishing X-Men 46. In the first one, he provides an important solution to a problem. The second one doesn't look good for our cute little boy, but they may just be jerking us around, as usual.

http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/...arl-5/AST1.jpg

http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/...arl-5/AST2.jpg


And now back to AoA Kurt. I've now got the Complete Epic collection of the AoA, all 4 TPB's worth. I found one place where he makes an appearance outside of the X-Calibre comics, in his usual inimitable manner, so I'm posting that page here, in case anyone has missed it. (Sorry for the blurring at the edges. Hard to hold one of those books flat on the copier.)

[IMG][/IMG]

[Karl-5]

I've been reading the AoA TPBs, but they are very confusing, jumping from one group to another and sometimes referring to things in issues that are not included in the collection. Fortunately, I stumbled across a very good history of AoA on a fansite, which separates out each major plotline and covers it from beginning to end. If anyone is interested, it can be found here: http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/time/s...=13&fldAuto=57
This site also included later happenings in AoA history not included in the TPB, with issue titles so that I could find and order each one. :-)

I seem to be finding some differences between this established AoA and what we've seen in UX-F, but I'm not finished reading everything, so I won't mention them yet. Heck, there are minor discrepancies even within the TPB issues, so it may not mean anything.

Meanwhile, I could actually find one image of X-Calibre Kurt almost smiling, instead of frowning and grimly gritting his teeth, so I'm posting that here:

[graffiX]

AoA Nightcrawler was pretty good in the latest issue of X-Force.

He's growing on me...

[DevilishRogue]

@Creaky.Lol! I wish my scanner wasn't busted I'd post that Cain/Darkholme moment.

I think AoA Kurt is interesting temporarily but not a replacement for 616 Kurt. I'm kind of afraid to pick up an issue as it might be like voting to keep AoA Kurt. If people who want to see 616 Kurt come back it might not matter to Marvel if his fans are clamoring to read AoA Kurt. :-/

[Karl-5]

DevilishRogue: Your wish is my command. My scanner works fine and I just reread this story, so I could find it right away. But let's see the entire sequence in context.

Avalon is being ruthlessly attacked by Damask and Deadman Wade:



They are all trying to recruit people to counter the attack, so Kurt tackles Cain:



Kurt doesn't know why Cain dropped dead, so he didn't intend that outcome. He wanted him to help them defend Avalon.



And here's the famous teleport-his-head-off scene with Wade, just for good measure. Kurt saves Damask, who just came over to their side, along with the innocent people of Avalon, from being exterminated by Wade:

[Karl-5]

[QUOTE=DevilishRogue;14669340]
I think AoA Kurt is interesting temporarily but not a replacement for 616 Kurt. I'm kind of afraid to pick up an issue as it might be like voting to keep AoA Kurt. If people who want to see 616 Kurt come back it might not matter to Marvel if his fans are clamoring to read AoA Kurt. :-/

I don't think one issue would make much of a difference to Marvel, so you needn't feel too guilty. BTW, the owner of my local comic store says UX-F is one of his most popular books, so it seems to be doing something right.

I don't really want him to replace our Kurt permanently, but I might like to keep him around for a while if he changes into being a better person, preferably through Logan's influence.

Thanks for the nice pic of Kurt! Another one for my bedroom wall, for sure. :-)

[Ingonyama]

Nightcrawler's always been one of my favorite characters thanks to his lightheartedness, his playfulness, and his heroism. I honestly believe that, next to Storm and Colossus, he's one of the X-Men most deserving of the title of "superhero."

That's why reading AoA 'Crawler is such a slap in the face by contrast. :\

[Siryn]

I really like the relationship AOA Kurt has with Mystique, it's a nice change from the usual drama/hostility in their relationship. I'm hoping AOA Kurt manages to meet 616 Mystique, cause I think that'd be fun. Make it happen Marvel!

[DevilishRogue]

Nightcrawler's always been one of my favorite characters thanks to his lightheartedness, his playfulness, and his heroism. I honestly believe that, next to Storm and Colossus, he's one of the X-Men most deserving of the title of "superhero."

That's why reading AoA 'Crawler is such a slap in the face by contrast. :\

Temporarily, ok, it could be fun. But, I'll never be able to get interested in this guy in the long run. He's too much of a 90's cliche over all. He's no where near as awesome and interesting as the original. I won't pick up an issue, because I'm voting with my wallet. Maybe I'll pick up back issues once the real one returns.

I really like the relationship AOA Kurt has with Mystique, it's a nice change from the usual drama/hostility in their relationship. I'm hoping AOA Kurt manages to meet 616 Mystique, cause I think that'd be fun. Make it happen Marvel!

I don't know, they only interacted maybe twice since Kurt found out she was his mother all the way back in 1994. Not much drama at all. Mystique may be all "oh this is my BETTER son." with Darkholme, and I'll just be thinking how I wish she should have stayed splat at the bottom of that waterfall, lol.

DevilishRogue: Your wish is my command. My scanner works fine and I just reread this story, so I could find it right away. But let's see the entire sequence in co

They are all trying to recruit people to counter the attack, so Kurt tackles Cain:

Kurt doesn't know why Cain dropped dead, so he didn't intend that outcome. He wanted him to help them defend Avalon.

Lol, yeah, nice guy. My mistake. I also remember him taunting Doug Ramsey into getting killed in Avalon and basically calling him a wimp. Lol, Ellis, you're such a trip.

[Karl-5]

DevilishRogue
Here I am once again to play Devil's Advocate.

Lol, yeah, nice guy. My mistake. I also remember him taunting Doug Ramsey into getting killed in Avalon and basically calling him a wimp. Lol, Ellis, you're such a trip.

Here's the scan of AoA Kurt taunting Doug Ramsey.



The result of this was that Doug sacrificed his life later on during an attack on Avalon in order to save Destiny, who had taken him in. His death also motivated Destiny to leave Avalon with Kurt, becoming instrumental in bringing down Apocalypse.


Having finally finished reading the AoA TPBs and the 7 issue series about the subsequent happenings in that universe, I must apologize for doubting Creaky's remarks about the AoA universe being still in existence. At the end of the TPBs, that universe had winked out of existence, and that was all I knew about it. The follow-up series brought it back. (Retconning, anyone?) I also reread the early AoA sequences from UX-F, which deftly brought things up to date from the end of that series, explaining how Logan ended up being the next incarnation of Apocalypse. (Guess I missed that on my first read-thru, since I was so focussed on what Kurt was doing at the time.)
Mea culpa, Creaky.


Also, since I mentioned Logan, I've posted a sequence from the TPBs that really grabbed me. He's trying to convince Gateway to stop just studying things and get involved with the struggle against Apocalypse. Yes, it's rather gruesome, but that last panel almost seemed to be addressed to the reader. It stopped me dead the first time I read it.

[DevilishRogue]

DevilishRogue
Here I am once again to play Devil's Advocate.

Here's the scan of AoA Kurt taunting Doug Ramsey.

The result of this was that Doug sacrificed his life later on during an attack on Avalon in order to save Destiny, who had taken him in. His death also motivated Destiny to leave Avalon with Kurt, becoming instrumental in bringing down Apocalypse.

I swear, AoA wanted to show Kurt's mediative way with words reversed for the edgier AoA Kurt. Kurt has helped peace with his words, here they leave people dead.

Anyway, here's a lovely fan image of Kurt Wagner -- NIGHTCRAWLER!

[Ingonyama]

Anyway, here's a lovely fan image of Kurt Wagner -- NIGHTCRAWLER!

Lovely is right. I really adore the style; it reminds me of Mike Mignola's style in a way.

BTW, how awesome would a crossover be between Hellboy and our beloved 616-Kurt? Hellboy reminds me of Logan in lots of ways, and he and the Elf both have that wonderful "demon outside/human inside" dynamic. I'd love to see how they interact, especially considering Kurt's faith and friendliness.

[dbcb314]

AoA Kurt pulled off some cool shit in the last X-force. BAMF'in all over the place to save Logan and Deadpool's ass

[DevilishRogue]

BTW, how awesome would a crossover be between Hellboy and our beloved 616-Kurt? Hellboy reminds me of Logan in lots of ways, and he and the Elf both have that wonderful "demon outside/human inside" dynamic. I'd love to see how they interact, especially considering Kurt's faith and friendliness.

Kurt and Hellboy has been brought up here a few times, so you're not the only one. Here is some fan art. The link to the second gave me a good chuckle. :-)




http://cldahlstrom.deviantart.com/ar...hart-260698402

AoA Kurt pulled off some cool shit in the last X-force. BAMF'in all over the place to save Logan and Deadpool's ass

Well, if anything, this shows the self control 616 Kurt had. I think others took Kurt for not having the potential for deadliness because he was more of a pacifist with violence. The X-Men now see that he holds back a lot.

BAMF! Shut yo mouth.

[Karl-5]

Love the BAMF illo. The look on Kurt's face is priceless.