Nightcrawler’s solo adventure falls flat.  There’ve been rumbling of Nightcrawler’s discontent and angst for a long time in the X-verse.  His teleportation powers have weakened.  Recently acquired X-Man Pixie, who Nightcrawler is mentoring and training, has far surpassed Kurt’s teleportation range and power.  Kurt questions his place and relevance with the X-men and decides to leave.

Invited to attend the opening of the Nightcrawler Museum is his home village, Nightcrawler returns home.  This issue fumbles along with a cast of mismatched characters, none working real well together.  X-Men writer newcomer James Asmus suffers from trying to juggle too many plot elements.  Kurt meets a tortured and cursed young man who is run out of his village because he’s a monster.  Cuts a little too close to home, don’t it Nightcrawler?  Mara Keller, the self-appointed president of the Nightcrawler fan club, is a fun character.  Mephisto’s appearance is awkward and forced.  We even have a gang of angry villagers with pitchforks and fire.  The result is a mishmash of characters and mini-plots, none giving this iconic X-Man a tale that satisfies.

This book’s large cast of artists seems indicative of its lack of direction.  The art is inconsistent, not necessarily bad.

Despite my many criticisms, this book still has a charm to it. Nightcrawler is one of my favorite X-Men, so I have a soft place in my heart for Kurt.  Why this title is bannered under Manifest Destiny is beyond me.  This one shot’s problems are symptomatic of most of the X-titles right now, great characters without direction and a clear purpose.

2 out of 5