Nightcrawler

Nightcrawler is a comic book character in the Marvel universe, and a prominent member of the X-Men. He possesses superhuman agility and teleportation abilities, as well as skill in martial arts and fencing. His appearance is consistent throughout different fictional appearances, including blue skin, three-digit appendages, yellow eyes and a pointed, prehensile tail. Although early incarnations of his character portray Nightcrawler as an easy-going practical joker, later versions of the character are more pious and religiously devout.

Fast Facts

1. Created by: Len Wein and Dave Cockrum
2. First appearance: Giant Size X-Men #1 (1975)
3. Powers/abilities:
4. Team: X-Men and Excalibur
5. Real name: Kurt Wagner
6. Born in Germany
7. Member of the Catholic Church
8. Played by Alan Cumming in the 2003 film, X2
9. Origin: Uncanny X-Men #428 (2003) & Uncanny Origins #8 (1997)
10. His teleportation makes a characteristic noise, "BAMF", common throughout his comic book appearances

Brief Origin

Nightcrawler is the son of the shapeshifting mutant terrorist Mystique and demonic warlord, Azazel. But despite his parents' villainy, Nightcrawler is a virtuous character who is willingly recruited to the X-Men. Various retellings of his origins also show him being ostracized by his peers due to his somewhat grotesque appearance. He is often wrongly persecuted because of his appearance, and certain storylines have had him turn to religion for solace.

Non-Comic Appearances

Nightcrawler appeared as semi-regular character in the 1990s X-Men Animated Series, and as a regular character in the X-Men: Evolution cartoon series. He also played a supporting role in 2003's X2.

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