Kurt Wagner, aka Nightcrawler, is one of the most fascinating members of the Uncanny X-Men. The son of mutant supervillain Mystique (with it later being revealed that he is also the son of Mystique’s wife, Destiny), Nightcrawler looks a little like what one might expect a demon to look like, but couldn’t be farther from it. A devout Catholic, Nightcrawler is the kind, playful heart of the X-Men, and he has some pretty great powers, too. With enhanced agility, flexibility, night vision, a prehensile tail, and teleportation, he’s a real powerhouse and has been a fan favorite for years. He also has some pretty great costumes, too.
Everyone’s favorite Fuzzy Elf doesn’t just fight bad guys; he does it in style. From classic looks to more tactical attire to even a costume you might not expect, Nightcrawler’s looks can’t be beat. Here are his seven best.
7) Uncanny Spider-Man
In the very brief era between Krakoa and “From the Ashes”, Nightcrawler became Spider-Man. Acting as a new version of the hero in a disguise and helping out around Central Park, he would battle the Vulture, who was working for Orchis at the time. Aligning himself with Silver Sable, the two were able to take down the Vulture when mutant hate was at an all-time high.
Donning a Spider costume with his own classic color scheme, he looked a bit more menacing than we’ve previously seen Nightcrawler, but it was perfect for him. Moving so fast you couldn’t notice his lack of webs, Kurt’s brief tenure as Spider-Man worked out well. Of course, the addition of a hole for the tail was a dead giveaway at who was under the mask, but this is a fun costume that screams “video game skin,” and that’s not a bad thing. Perhaps we’ll see it appear in Marvel Rivals.
6) From the Ashes ’24
Back to basics in the current “From the Ashes” era, Kurt has donned a more armored approach to his usual costume. With a lot more padding along with shoulder pieces, he’s been given a nice little touch-up. The added armor might make him look a bit more bulky than he typically does, but this works for what he’s going for. All he’s missing is the priest collar some of his suits use, and this would be a nice upgrade to a classic. In fact, it’s the simplicity of it and the fact that it is just a refreshed version of an already iconic look that makes it so great.
5) 2000s Costume
The 2000’s and the 2010’s were rough for Kurt, but he at least got a good costume out of a trying time. Kurt opting for a casual incognito costume was refreshing to see for the hero. Giving him a chance to look more “normal,” this costume was a breath of fresh air for Nightcrawler. He’s long struggled with how he looks compared to everyone else around him, and giving him a simple hoodie and a jacket really helped reinforce that he could be a regular guy even with his unique appearance. I’m sure that if he had swapped the gold hoodie for a red one, it would have been even better.
4) Ultimate X-Men
There’s a lot that can be said about the original Ultimate X-Men era and everyone’s costumes from that time, including Nightcrawler’s. Yes, Kurt looks more like Sunspot here than his normal self, but the shadowy look with the gold accents on his classic costume worked surprisingly well and had a great tactical feel. With the added yellow smoke around him when he teleports, you have a modern twist on the classic.
While there’s a lot of 2000s Fox synergy here, it’s not a bad look. Sure, he does look a lot scarier than perhaps other looks, but if you take it for what it is as a time capsule, it works.
3) Immortal X-Men
In the Krakoa era of the X-Men, Nightcrawler had a major glow-up. With a jacket-like costume with black underneath, it was a nice change of pace for the hero. However, the biggest upgrade was giving him a goatee. It’s a nice addition and helps give him another “regular guy” sort of look, which isn’t something the hero gets very often. It also showed Kurt’s more fashionable side, which just overall makes this a great spin on his classic look, and while it didn’t last for very long, it’s a great one.
2) Swashbuckling Solo
Speaking of new spins on a classic costume, Kurt’s first solo series looks really upgraded his appearance. This was the first time he settled into his “swashbuckler” attire, and while it was simple, it was still great. The updates were simple with the addition of swords, a bandana, and a couple of belts, but it really worked well. It was also just fun and has really stood the test of time.
Over the years, Kurt has gone back to this costume a handful of times, or at least elements of it, particularly the sword. What can we say, it’s a cool accessory.
1) Classic Costume
It’s hard to beat a classic that’s this good to begin with. The circus outfit he’d later use as his signature X-Men uniform is one of the best from any X-Men ever. The simple use of red, white, and black, along with the blue skin, was perfect in every way. With just a few colors in a perfect pattern, you have an icon that rarely changes its costume all that much, and the simplicity makes it great.
This has been Nightcrawler’s main look for 50 years now, since Giant-Sized X-Men #1. In that time, Nightcrawler has become one of the biggest staples of the X-Men, and without a doubt, it’s due in part to this costume. It’s just that good.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
The post Nightcrawler’s 7 Coolest Costume, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.
