This is truly a great jumping in issue for people who are curious about the blue elf as well as a great issue for past fans. Nightcrawler's essence is captured purely on the pages by an author who has had years of experience with the character. While there are subtle hints at his past, most of the throwbacks are really in how he acts with the rest of the cast. This is truly a new story set to move the character forward. I highly recommend this one for someone who has often been described as the soul of the X-Men. Read Full Review

As I said above, Nightcrawler is a beloved character of mine and the team of Claremont, Nauck, and Rosenberg produced a very decent comic in what I hope will be a long line of comics to come. So far their focus seems to be strongly centered on Nightcrawler (hence the name) and the characters closely affiliated with him and less about the X-Men which is truly exciting.Grade 4 of 5 Read Full Review

So it's nice to see the legendary writer back in action again - but here's hoping the future stories hold together a bit better. Read Full Review

If, like me, you are a big fan of Kurt Wagner the fuzzy, blue, German, teleporting elf then find someone whos already purchased this issue and borrow it from them. It looks good enough that its worth flipping through. If you have only a passing interest in X-Men or Nightcrawler I am sad to admit that you can probably skip this. Read Full Review

Nightcrawler #1 was a perfect blend of the three required parts of any characters resurrection story; what has changed, what hasnt, and what is to come. The entire first half of the comic, being dedicated to the people and places that are both the same and different, was a wonderful foundation for the series. The hook to pull Kurt forward and without the X-men feels a little ephemeral but still interesting enough to make issue #2 worth it. Read Full Review

This is quite an action packed book from sparing with Wolverine in the Danger Room to Kurt's reunion with Amanda being interrupted by an unknown heavy hitter, all with Kurt adjusting to his resurrection and being overwhelmed by the amount of students running around the Westchester Academy. For me Claremont is the quintessential X-book writer and he knows Kurt Wagner inside and out, so if there was anyone that should be writing a Nightcrawler book it is Chris Claremont. This book has more packed into it than a lot of other stuff on the shelves right now; there is plenty of action, romance, soul searching and interaction with plenty of X-people. Even though I hope this launches into Excalibur; I am definitely on board for the duration of this book. Read Full Review

This book is a big milestone for Marvel with all of their new books and re-launches. To have one of the all-time greats back to writing a character that seems like he's getting a push into the spotlight like Nightcrawler is. A Nightcrawler book should have a sense of fun and adventure engrained into it's very core and I think that's exactly what Claremont and Nauck are going to deliver to us! Read Full Review

I likd this first issue, but it could certainly be better, and I'm still waiting for there being a strong hook to keep me interested for the next issues as well. Read Full Review

There is so much to be happy about in this new Nightcrawler series. Nightcrawler is back and alive, as he should be. Chris Claremont is back writing in the X-Universe. Todd Nauck is drawing an X-Title. There's a great feel as Kurt returns to the world he left behind and adjusts to the changes. There is plenty of reminiscing, action, and story plots to move things forward. While we see Kurt in different areas, it's not clear exactly where this book will go. But with Claremont and Nauck on board, this title has secured a firm spot on my pull list. Read Full Review

Although the execution could certainly be stronger, "Nightcrawler" has just enough energy and fun to hold readers steady. Where many of the X-books have had a darker tone lately, Claremont and Nauck breathe life and joy back into the X-Men and they couldn't have picked a better character with which to do so. Read Full Review

What begins as the perfect picture of a writer trying to find his feet with a classic character again, ends as a celebration of all of the stuff that made that character great. While issue #1 doesn't blow the doors off of the X-Men status quo, it's not trying to. It's going to be fun to see Claremont sort of work around the back, with a solo title, rather than trying to run things or recapture past glories again. Fans who drifted away from the X-Men titles in recent years (maybe even because of the lack of Claremont) would do well to come back around and check out this title. The early exposition will get you caught up, clunky as it might be, and after that you just might be reminded of why you fell in love with these characters all those years ago. Read Full Review

This has the potential to be one of Claremont's best contemporary projects. Unfortunately, this issue has its problems beyond the excess dialogue and narration. The story loses a bit of its punch once Nightcrawler ditches the X-Men to visit his old girlfriend, Amanda. I'm pretty sure the normal reaction upon learning your late superhero boyfriend is alive again isn't "Yay! Let's have sex!" But maybe people in the Marvel Universe really are that apathetic towards death by now. It also seems strange that Claremont never acknowledges Kurt's new existential crisis - the fact that he was reborn in a new body without his soul. It seems Claremont's intent is to deliver a brighter, more happy-go-lucky alternative to the darker X-Men titles on the stands. And while there's something to be said for that approach, that plot point is far too integral to the core of who Kurt Wagner is for it to be ignored. Read Full Review

The combination of CC's writing and art by Todd Nauck (Teen Titans, Amazing Spider-Man) has the potential for this to be one of Chris's best post-'91 projects, despite a few faults. The story is a bit forced, especially when we see Kurt reuniting with Amanda once again. But hell, this is the comics; "normal" reactions get tossed out the window when you fight crime in spandex. Another tick I have on Clairmont's writing too, is that he constantly finds the time to explain his characters' special powers but lacks to actually acknowledge the elephant in the room. Read Full Review

Overall, I believe your level enjoyment of the story will vary depending on your level of expectations and experience in the X-Universe. If you are someone not versed in X-Men lore, I think it would be somewhat inaccessible and frustrating due to its lack of backstory. If you are an X-Men fan, I think you will really enjoy this book. That said, Nauck's art alone makes this book fun just to look at. Read Full Review

Both the art and the writing have an old school sensibility about them. But while Nauck's classic references feel reverently nostalgic, Claremont's feel sadly regressive. I worry that in his years away from regular comic work, his skills may have atrophied a bit. Characterization was the biggest hallmark of his decade and a half run on Uncanny X-Men, but it feels lacking here. I'm willing to stick it out for a few more issues in hopes that Claremont BAMFs off the rust and gives us the Nightcrawler adventure that we've been waiting years to see. Kurt has endured a few crises of faith in his lifetime; let's hope I can do the same. Read Full Review

Nightcrawler may be a fan favorite, and Claremont may be the best writer in X-Men history, but this first issue is mediocre at best. Hopefully the story takes shape in the coming issues and fans have more to look forward to. For now,Nightcrawler makes for some brief moments of fun without much of a lasting impression. Read Full Review

In the end, this book is probably best suited for those who are tired of events and overambitious arcs. It seems we're getting a solid serialized solo book with the focus firmly on character interaction. Read Full Review

Nightcrawler #1 might warm the cockles of your heart with the purest of the X-Men back in action, but the story feels out of time. Indeed, the whole thing feels very out of step with the other Marvel books and the Cinematic age of comics. Read Full Review

And he's still wearing those red, pointy pajamas. Maybe that's good enough for some people. Read Full Review

The writing is ok and feels handcuffed. I get the feeling this was tossed together very quickly as the original advertised story was a Kurt Logan road trip story.
The art drags down the book and makes the story feel like everyone is 10.

oh chris...

I wanted to like a Claremont Nightcrawler book, but it was just ok. The art was decent, except that the females tend to look juvenile. The villain is Trimega. Seriously. Any 12 year old could have brought a similar villain in. Nightcrawler just returned from the dead, yet his interactions with Logan and Amanda lack depth and believability. An example is Amanda saying she hates it when he teleports her. HE JUST CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD! Not enough in the first issue to bring me back next month.

While I really liked the narration at the start of the issue during the fight with Wolverine, the aftermath of the battle seemed to focus too much on Wolverine's current situation rather than the person this series is about.

The art was pretty decent but nothing particularly special. The attack on Amanda's home felt very lacklustre and there wasn't much of a threat. The enemy chosen also felt very generic. While I really hoped for a Nightcrawler series that I could get behind, this isn't it.

Very 'routine'.