BAMF! THWIP!
The iconic Krakoan Age of the X-Men has drawn to a dramatic close, after several months of ruin during the Fall of X. Many fans took issue with the at-times rushed nature of the Fall of X, but one tie-in series that felt perfectly paced was Uncanny Spider-Man. The trade paperback for Uncanny Spider-Man, which includes the absolutely fabulous X-Men Blue: Origins tale that finally retcons Nightcrawler’s birth story (and makes for an emotional and necessary story to reread during Pride Month), is a lovely read that captures the best parts of a Marvel TPB.
The entirety of the Uncanny Spider-Man collection, including X-Men Blue: Origins, is written by the talented Si Spurrier, whose work on Way of X and Legion of X was central to the X-Men’s Krakoan era. With art from Lee Garbett, Javier Pina, Matt Milla, Wilton Santos, Marcus To, and Ceci De La Cruz, Uncanny Spider-Man is a beautiful, vibrant, and wonderfully expressive story that centers Nightcrawler and his struggles with hope. In particular, the way that Mystique is drawn is truly tragic, her trauma and sadness written across her pained face a testament to the injury of a mother separated from her child.
Marvel Comics
Uncanny Spider-Man and X-Men Blue: Origins released less than a year ago, to much critical and fan acclaim, but it already feels like a classic Nightcrawler tale. The actual paperback is one of my favorites released by Marvel in the recent past. It is a beautiful volume, with the Uncanny Spider-Man logo perfectly placed throughout, and an emphasis on the dark blue, black, and red colors of Kurt’s Spider-Man costume. The inclusion of X-Men Blue: Origins after the fourth issue, before the final fifth issue, is the ideal location for the instantly iconic story. Plus, Uncanny Spider-Man includes many variant covers for the series, mainly gorgeous full page variants which is rare for Marvel TPBs that often squeeze in several pages of quarter-sized covers.
I really loved Uncanny Spider-Man because it integrated Nightcrawler into the Spider-Man mythos – even having him debrief with Peter Parker – while keeping it an X-Men story at its core. The way in which Uncanny tied into the Fall of X, with the injured Mystique, Orchis agents, and Kurt’s self-imposed exile, was done delicately enough to keep it a wonderful standalone adventure as well. Si Spurrier’s X-Men Blue: Origins, with the consultation of queer X-Men creators Charlie Jane Anders and Steve Foxe, is a story decades in the making. The story’s retcon making Mystique and Destiny the true biological parents of Kurt was long overdue, and the exploration of Kurt’s birth fits in superbly between issues of Uncanny Spider-Man.
Marvel Comics
I think the only real critique I have is more for Marvel editorial than any of the creators on the book. I really wish this was an eight or ten issue series, because there was just so much to explore in Kurt’s relationship with Sable, and how he interacted with New Yorkers as a street level hero, that would have been awesome to see. Nightcrawler battling even more of Spidey’s rogues gallery – besides Rhino and Vulture – would have been amazing as well! I guess the only other thing I didn’t love about the series was the “Legion Bamf” as the narrator of the tale. I just didn’t necessarily see why he needed to be there (besides to explain where Legion has been hiding since Before the Fall: Sons of X).
Honestly… this is such a great book. It’s sweet, energetic, beautifully illustrated, and (because of X-Men Blue: Origins) gay as hell. Truly the ideal Pride Month purchase! Spurrier captures Kurt’s endless hope, swashbuckling bravado, and deep sadness in perfect pitch, and I would be glad to see another Nightcrawler solo series from the writer. The art from Garbett, Pina, Milla, and more is so vibrant, expressive, and action-packed, making every page a delight to read. I didn’t think I would love rereading this series so soon after its debut, but I was proven wholly wrong. Anyone who is a fan of Nightcrawler, forbidden love, the hope of family, and the power of forgiveness should pick up Uncanny Spider-Man and add it to their collection.
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