This week in The Amazing Nightcrawler Kurt Wagner wakes up after committing the worst crime in the world. That’s right, he had sex! Also, a child is saved from an oncoming car and nightclubs get steamy.
So what’s it about?
Read the preview.
Why does this matter?
This is one of the main tie-in series for Age of X-Man written by writer extraordinaire Seanan McGuire. Need I say more? Okay, how about reading an Elseworlds tale about a mutant superhero who by day is a famous movie star?
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
The caption for each character is handy.
Credit: Marvel Comics
This issue does a good job revealing the mixed emotions Nightcrawler is going through. He wakes up feeling guilty and possibly fearful if caught by the X-Men. Being an X-Men however, there’s added pressure and mixed emotions since he committed a crime the night before. As the story unfolds we get to see Kurt be a hero by saving a kid and it’s clear he values that part of his life. Later it’s suggested the X-Men are notified of a separate issue and it’s interesting to see Nightcrawler’s point of view. It’s not on the surface, but he’s clearly internalizing how fishy the X-Men can be. Further hard choices are made as the story unfolds with a major cliffhanger leaving Kurt even more perturbed. What will this innocent but also guilty man do?
It’s also interesting to see how McGuire is handling the Cuckoo sisters. Last issue we learned most folks find their bond disturbing and wrong. That is further explored in this issue. They are family after all, but in this world, any connection like theirs is considered taboo.
The art by Juan Frigeri is good, especially during the nightclub scene. In it, Frigeri and Dono Sanchez-Almara do a great job blocking the scene but also casting it in pink glows. This scene also has a great full-page splash of the club from above letting your eye linger on couples across the room.
Handy power.
Credit: Marvel Comics
It can’t be perfect, can it?
Two minor quibbles really. The first is the cover which is misleading. I don’t think any dudes in weird masks show up to choke Nightcrawler! The second is an awkward beat where a character is certain foul play occurred. It seems forced and strange even if their powers can detect it.
Is it good?
I liked this issue better than the last thanks to Nightcrawler’s predicament forcing him into a tight spot emotionally. How will Nightcrawler do the right thing in a world that has outlawed the natural feeling of love? That’s exciting and it’s fun to see how the creative team squeezes Nightcrawler.
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