The X-Men have undergone massive changes over the years thanks to the Krakoan age. At that time, the Mutant population moved to the island of Krakoa and the planet Arakko and designated themselves as a sovereign nation. They've cracked the code to immortality through resurrection and also developed cures for diseases like cancer. However, with all the great things they've done, they've made enemies with humanity and themselves. Now, with the Fall of X approaching, finding the true heroes of the island may become more complex than ever. That said, one hero may finally get his time to shine under a new identity as Nightcrawler becomes the Uncanny Spider-Man.
Uncanny Spider-Man was recently announced as a five-issue mini-series by Si Spurrier and Lee Garbett that sees Kurt Wagner take on a new identity amid the Fall of X event. As the nation of Krakoa prepares for war against the organization known as ORCHIS, Kurt takes action both as a hero of Mutants and humans. Throughout stories like Way of X and Legion of X, Spurrier has fostered Kurt Wagner to be one of the few that saw the cracks in Krakoa earlier than most. Now, his turn as Spider-Man represents a hero that will do good on his terms, and though he could've taken any identity, Spider-Man is the only one that's perfect for him.
Nightcrawler Has All the Makings Of A Great Spider-Man
From a powers' standpoint, Kurt Wagner has more than proven himself to be a fitting Spider-Man. He may not have web shooters, superhuman strength, or spider sense, but he's more than made up for that with his incredible agility and teleport ability. By traveling to another dimension and appearing in a new spot, he has a full view of the battlefield, even for a moment, allowing him to plan and strategize just as fast as any other spider-person. Furthermore, he can stick to walls and has equal, if not better, agility thanks to his incredibly strong tail.
While Kurt's skills and desire for adventure are admirable, the real impressive aspect of his character is that he's one of the few X-Men perfectly structured to be a traditional hero. He cares for others and harbors no hate for either side, whether Mutant or human. Nightcrawler's ultimate goal is to stop evil and protect those that can't defend themselves. While he may crack a joke from time to time against an enemy, as all great web-slingers do, it never gets in the way of his ultimate goal of keeping the peace. His heroism also made him incredibly selfless, as the Judgment Day event by Kieron Gillen and Valerio Schiti showed when he sacrificed himself alongside Captain America as a leader against the Progenitor, inspiring others along the way.
Nightcrawler's Recent Past Makes Him A Perfect Fit For Spider-Man
When the Krakoan Age began, it was touted as a utopia for all Mutants. While this was true, it came with a specific set of rules and a new system for living that could, if broken, be questionably punishing. This included a banishment to The Pit. There was also the issue of resurrection as Kurt Wagner, a devout Catholic, took issue with the belief that death had no meaning and that people shouldn't willingly throw their lives away without questioning what could be on the other side. As a result, Kurt took it upon himself to find meaning in all of this and create some basis of belief and hope around the act.
Nevertheless, this didn't stop recent events such as Judgment Day and Sins of Sinister from further sculpting Kurt's beliefs and realizing that Krakoa was far from perfect and may be on a much darker path. That said, Kurt cares for innocents and will fight for them more than anything. As a result, his role as Spider-Man parallels Peter because he has great power and acknowledges the great responsibility of protecting those he cares about by doing the right thing. Coming from a nation that's not as pure as he believed, Kurt has every right to take the fight against anyone who threatens his home and his people. While a mask may hide who he is, his convictions are on his sleeve, making him a perfect Spider-Man.