Ah, advance solicitations. Because why not get hyped up and/or completely depressed for something that won't be out for months? From Comic Book Resources Advance X-Solicitations for March 2009:
X-MEN: QUITTING TIME
Written by JAMES ASMUS
Penciled by TBD
Cover by BRANDON PETERSON
Since the move to San Francisco and after the events of X-Infernus, Nightcrawler realizes a hard truth—he has to quit the X-Men. Kurt has realized that the X-Men just don’t need him anymore. He hasn’t been operating at his highest levels and even the biggest strength he has—teleportation—has been made redundant by Pixie who can do it better and more efficiently. Don’t miss the departure of one of the most important characters in X-Men history.
32 PGS./One-Shot/Rated T+ …$3.99
My initial response? Craaaaaaap.
I can see why Nightcrawler might be frustrated, or even want to quit; but replacing him with a teenager? That seems prudent. But Kurt's teleportation wasn't meant to be mass-transit: his job on the team isn't to bus the whole team around, it's more a short, quick jab, to get in or out. Maybe he's tired of the Cyclops/Emma regime, but Scott has to be a terrible manager if the one semi-upbeat team member the X-Men have ever had wants out.
Sigh. Look, it's pretty obvious, right, but Nightcrawler's my favorite mainstream comics character and serves as adopted mascot around here--Sally's got Green Lantern('s butt), Mike Sterling's got Swamp Thing, and Chris Sims has, um, either a car battery or a face-punched polar bear. I'd call Deadpool too, but frankly, Deadpool gets love and doesn't need my support. In fact, Pool has another solicit for a special. But Nightcrawler, frankly, doesn't seem to get any attention or appreciation from the X-books. I haven't bought a regular one since, um, #499, since it's not like he's had a big role in most of the issues since.
And that's pretty much par for the course: even though Nightcrawler's a popular and well-known X-Man, he's almost never been the main focus of the X-books. To continue the salary cap joke, maybe Nightcrawler should look for a trade to another team or book. Maybe X-Factor, or please, Captain Britain and MI:6. Here's hoping, but I'm willing to bet "Quitting Time" is $3.99 worth of moping, self-pity, and overwrought goodbyes; until Kurt gets dragged back in. Maybe I should change the banner to Nightcrawler reading the want ads...
Hmm. Actually, I do have to change the banner here one of these days...
...but I didn't like the lighting on this one. Still, I might set up a new one later this week. Maybe.
Oh that's just great. I love Nightcrawler, and frankly I can't think of anyone who doesn't like Nightcrawler. He's just fun, dammit.
ReplyDeleteReplaced by Pixie? Puh-leze! Now who is Logan going to have to drink with?
On the other hand, if they took him out of the X-Men, and gave him his own book, with pirates and swordfights and stuff, then I'd be thrilled.