Warning: SPOILERS ahead for X-Men Forever #3Even for the X-Men, Nightcrawler has always had one of the most unorthodox family trees in Marvel Comics. Thought for decades to be the son of Mystique and the demonic mutant Azazel, and only recently revealed to actually be the son of Mystique and the mutant icon Destiny, Kurt’s world outside of the X-Men has always been unconventional. But Nightcrawler’s family influenced his life with the X-Men more than anyone knew.
X-Men Forever #3 by Kieron Gillen, Luca Maresca, Federico Blee, and VC’s Clayton Cowles sees Destiny confronted by Nightcrawler and Mystique as she explains how she never remembered the truth about Kurt’s origin prior to Destiny’s Krakoan resurrection. Sharing her vision of a world decimated by Azazel, Destiny reveals other timelines where Nightcrawler was raised by his birth parents.
And in these timelines, Destiny saw Kurt – born to defeat Azazel – dead along with them, telling her son, “But then I seemed to know that I saw Azazel would kill you if we didn’t let you become a %$#@$&% X-Man.”
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Nightcrawler Joined The X-Men To Save His Own LIfe
Kurt’s Life Was In More Danger Than Anyone Knew
Created to defeat Azazel once and for all, Nightcrawler’s fate was integral to the world’s survival, and Destiny’s revelation also shows just how important the X-Men are to that same fate. When Kurt first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1 by Len Wein, Dave Cockrum, Peter Iro, Glynis Wein, and John Costanza, he initially joined the team to escape a vicious mob that saw him as a monster. Joining the X-Men early on quite literally saved Nightcrawler’s life, and Destiny’s visions have made that truer than ever. But that won’t make Destiny’s betrayal easier for her family to swallow.
With her vast precognition powers constantly bombarding her with information from the future, Irene Adler has always been inherently disconnected from the present. Despite her love for Mystique, or even their adopted daughter, Rogue, Destiny has consistently used those around her, moving them like chess pieces to get to whatever future that she deems acceptable. In this instance, it appears that Nightcrawler’s entire life has simply been one giant maneuver by Destiny to defeat Azazel. And though the world is better for Nightcrawler’s time with the X-Men, her family can’t say the same.
Destiny’s Machinations Have Changed X-Men History
Irene May Have Finally Pushed Her Family To The Edge
Nightcrawler is one of the most iconic and beloved X-Men, so it’s ultimately a good thing that he wound up with his fellow Children of the Atom, but the price his family paid cannot be overstated. Though Kurt grew up with a loving family, Mystique and Destiny gave up and entirely forgot about a piece of themselves. And while Destiny’s plans may have saved Nightcrawler’s life and the entire world, she’s added another layer of tragedy to the X-Men icon’s already convoluted and heartbreaking backstory.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
- Movie(s)
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X-Men (2000)
, X2 (2003)
, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
, X-Men: First Class (2011)
, The Wolverine (2013)
, X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
, Deadpool (2016)
, X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
, Logan (2017)
, Deadpool 2 (2018)
, Dark Phoenix (2019)
, The New Mutants (2020)
, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) - First Film
-
X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
-
X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (1989)
, X-Men (1992)
, X-Men: Evolution (2000)
, Wolverine and the X-Men (2008)
, Marvel Anime: Wolverine (2011)
, Marvel Anime: X-Men (2011)
, Legion (2017)
, The Gifted (2017)
, X-Men ’97 (2024) - Character(s)
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Professor X
, Cyclops
, Iceman
, Beast
, Angel
, Phoenix
, Wolverine
, Gambit
, Rogue
, Storm
, Jubilee
, Morph
, Nightcrawler
, Havok
, Banshee
, Colossus
, Magneto
, Psylocke
, Juggernaut
, Cable
, X-23 - Video Game(s)
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X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994)
, Marvel Super Heroes (1995)
, X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996)
, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997)
, Marvel vs. Capcom (1998)
, X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000)
, Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000)
, X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001)
, X-Men: Next Dimension (2002)
, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011)
, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011)
, X-Men Legends (2005)
, X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005)
, X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (2003)
, X-Men (1993)
, X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995)
, X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
