One of the X-Men’s most popular members Nightcrawler gets a new solo series with a twist in Uncanny Spider-Man: Fall of X. Escaping the turmoil of FALL OF X in a flash of smoke and brimstone, it’s time for Nightcrawler to come out web-swinging as the swashbuckling, devil-may-care hero he was always destined to be! A potential new lover… battling some of the most iconic members of Spidey’s rogues gallery… hanging out with other web-slingers… and saving civilians, mutant and human alike – Kurt is having the time of his life! But it’s not all fun and games. Nightcrawler can’t ignore the mutant plight forever. And throughout it all, he must confront a long-simmering mystery surrounding his mother, Mystique!
Si Spurrier has proven to have a great handle on the Nightcrawler character in his previous X-Men work (Way of X, Sins of Sinister) so it’s no surprise that he nails the characterisation of the compassionate and fun-loving teleporter once again. This time though, he gets to put Kurt in a vastly different setting as the events of Fall of X leave mutants without a home and once again being public enemy number one. After Spider-Man gifts him a spare suit, Kurt not only has to deal with The Vulture (who is now hunting mutants) but also finds himself a target of Silver Sable and the Wild Pack. All whilst Kurt must deal with his inner conflict with the imp Nightcrawler over his insecurities of the current state of mutantkind and what to do with his mother.
Spurrier is not afraid to take the series in wild directions as he keeps the reader constantly on their toes. The Kurt and Sable dynamic in particular is one of the main highlights of the series with the chemistry being out of control. Sable flits between being Kurt’s hunter and lover which allows Nightcrawler to showcase the swashbuckling charm he is renowned for. But it is the revelations that Spurrier delves into concerning Kurt’s parenthood and his complicated relationship with his mother Mystique which delivers the biggest shocks. There is a lot of high-level continuity wrangling required for the truths that Mystique reveals and Spurrier pulls it off with flying colours.
The action is also top level with Kurt leaning into the Spider-Man identity he is borrowing whilst having some intense encounters with The Vulture and The Wild Pack. The original Spider-Man also makes his presence felt and Spurrier proves to have a strong handle on his personality/witty banter with him playing off with Kurt effortlessly.
This is all aided by Lee Garbett’s fantastic art. One of the top artists working in superhero comics today, Garbett is a natural fit for this style of story. He gets to flex all his abilities when it comes to action, romance and drama. Special shoutouts to the panels featuring Kurt’s first outing as The Uncanny Spider-Man and his version of “director” Vulture.
This is one of the best takes on Nightcrawler in recent memory and – with the big revelations of Kurt’s parentage – proves to be a must read for all X-Men fans.
Uncanny Spider-Man: Fall of X is out 18 June from Marvel (9781302952266, p/b, £22.99)
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