In X-Men, Nightcrawler’s involvement in the Inferno crossover — while well-intended — may have set up some serious chaos in Krakoa.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Inferno #2, now on sale from Marvel.
Nightcrawler is one of the most important emotional figures within the X-Men franchise. As a noble man who turns away from the kind of hate and fear he’s long endured, Kurt Wagner has increasingly been becoming a more vital figure in the Age of Krakoa. Whereas he was formerly just a major member of the X-Men, his appointment to the Quiet Council gave him real power behind his moral beliefs and his role in devising the Spark — a mutant-based philosophy — have proven just how much positive effect his brand of kindness can have.
But it’s also sometimes a weakness, as two obvious choices made by the morally-minded Nightcrawler in Inferno #2 (by Jonathan Hickman, Stefano Caselli, David Curiel, and VC’s Joe Sabino) may quietly help spread chaos through Krakoa.
Nightcrawler’s position in the Summer Branch of the Quiet Council has never been in doubt. The side of the Krakoa ruling body that is bound through heroism and hope, Nightcrawler has provided a soft heart to the proceedings that have come before the council. However, he’s also someone that can be counted on to act on his conscience more than anyone else. He was among the minority who voted to resurrect the Scarlet Witch, and has stood in opposition to the harsher pitches made to the group. This means Mystique has the perfect opening when she recommends her (recently resurrected wife) Destiny as a new member of the Quiet Council.
Most everyone else on the council who votes for Destiny’s ascension to a position on the Autumn Branch has to be offered something in exchange (like Emma Frost) or be convinced to follow through with her plan (like Exodus) — even Mister Sinister and Sebastian Shaw have to be quietly manipulated in following through with the plan. Only Nightcrawler does so from a genuine emotional place — because Mystique is his mother and he wishes her to be happy. It’s a sweet gesture that Mystique openly thanks him for, but it also means that Nightcrawler has not only moved Destiny into a position of power but inadvertently helped set off the further strife caused between Moira MacTaggert, Xavier, Magneto, and Emma Frost over his decision.
Likewise, Nightcrawler’s loyalty ends up getting the better of him at the end of Inferno #2. As a counter to Mystique and Destiny, Xavier and Magneto elect Colossus to fill the vacancy left by Jean Grey on the Summer Branch. Nightcrawler (along with fellow former X-Men Emma Frost, Kate Pryde, and Storm) all quickly line up behind this motion, helping place the longtime hero onto the Quiet Council. Nightcrawler even celebrates this decision. But unbeknownst to all, Colossus has been secretly controlled by his villainous brother Mikhail (who remains primarily loyal to Russia) and his captive reality-warper. He recently forced Colossus to steal state secrets about X-Force and murder his girlfriend against his will — and this revelation of his promotion makes Xavier visiting him afterwards all the worse.
In essence, Colossus has been forced to become one of Krakoa’s greatest traitors — and Nightcrawler just helped make him one of Krakoa’s most powerful mutants. It’s a huge shift for the Quiet Council, and both events pose genuine danger to the stability of the mutant nation. And Nightcrawler — with no thought towards malice or hate — has found a way to help facilitate both developments. It’s a good thing Nightcrawler has his work with cultivating the Spark to move back to, as being a pragmatic and suspicious leader like Beast just isn’t in his nature — and Krakoa may suffer for it.
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