NIGHTCRAWLER'S Fighting Ability: Once and for all

[BAMF!]

...how does he measure up to the other x-characters?
When it comes to hand-to-hand combat and proficiency in the Martial Arts, I personally believe that Kurt should rank close to the top of the short list of the X-universe's best fighters. Obviously though, i'm kind of biased towards Kurt! So it leads me to wonder if i'm able to judge his fighting ability objectively. Solution?
Feedback from other fans!
I figured i'd post this topic here in our little hotbed of raving Nightcrawler junkies, and in some other general x-forums around the web as well. This way i'll get kind of a cross-section of input & feedback from Rabid fan/Casual fan/Non fan/and 'Hater' alike!

My short list of some of the X-universes better fighters...

WOLVERINE SHATTERSTAR PSYLOCKE
CABLE NIGHTCRAWLER DOMINO
BISHOP GAMBIT LONGSHOT

Logan, Nate, and Bishop are definitely at the top in my book. After those 3 it gets kinda 'fuzzy'.. (pardon the pun!)

For my next post... 4 quick reasons why I think that Kurt should rank so highly...

BAMF!

[Slartibartfast]

Yeah, Wolvie, Cable and Bish are up there at the top. Kurt's up there, too. Kitty is trained as a ninja isn't she?

Kurt kicked some major ass in Excalibur No. 62. He did the Wolvie berserker thing. He has the ability to be more deadly than he chooses to be.


~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~

[BAMF!]

reason # ...

1.) During his tenure as leader of EXCALIBUR it was hinted at a couple times that his Fighting ability was actually greater than previously thought/established.







After observing Nightcrawler during this training session a surprised Kitty notes that in the past, Kurt has always tended to use more passive fighting techniques.
This seems to imply that Nightcrawler has knowledge of and proficiency in more deadly fighting forms but chooses not to employ them.

2.) EXCALIBUR # 62. (I know, I know.. I always keep referring to this incredible issue!) Unable to teleport, Kurt single- handedly beats back a legion of mutated carnivorous creatures.




Having observed the battle, the storylines' main antagonist states that Nightcrawler's fighting abilities far surpass previous calculations of his Martial skills. He takes note that his organization will have to "Update their files" in regards to Kurt's Martial Arts ability.

3.) In recent times Chris Claremont has emphasized that aside from his incredible speed, Nightcrawler is able to strike an enemy with virtual 'pin-point accuracy'. A Martial Artist able to strike at his opponents' nerve clusters, pressure points and weak spots with almost surgical precision is VERY dangerous and should never be taken lightly.

4.) A really fantastic point that GARBLE brought up some time ago in an old thread: For YEARS Kurt has held his own in BRUTAL life-or-death combat situations. This has been amongst combatants who have healing factors, super strength and/or invulnerability, TP and/or TK, and powerful ENERGY MANIPULATION powers enabling them to strike from a distance with devastating effect. I remember GARBLE saying something to the effect that, teleportational power and his brief use of combat swords notwithstanding, he's had to rely soley on SKILL and the power of his own two fists.

All of the above lends credence to the idea that contrary to popular belief Kurt Wagner ranks among the top tier of x-universe Martial Artists and hand-to-hand combatants.

BAMF!



[This message has been edited by BAMF! (edited December 10, 2000).]

[BAMF!]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Kurt kicked some major ass in Excalibur No. 62. He did the Wolvie berserker thing. He has the ability to be more deadly than he chooses to be.

[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Most DEFINITELY SLARTI! I'd love to see them touch upon that again. Kurt is/ has the potential to be an EXTREMELY dangerous fighter!

BAMF!

[BAMF!]

BAMF!

[This message has been edited by BAMF! (edited December 10, 2000).]

[Slartibartfast]

Yep...we sure were on the same wavelength there. Kurt rules! I had forgotten the ish with him practicing when Kitty and Meggan walk up on him.

[Drags]

Hey BAMF ol' pal!

Remember that cool Jim Lee X-Men card set?Well I think I remember him being one of the second highest in 'fighting ability'.Above Psylocke if I recall(at a time where Betsys fighting was real hyped).I was a bit shocked-Not because I didnt agree with it,but because Marvel actually acknowledged hes a good fighter.I wish I had my collection with me so I could be more specific.

------------------
`~`~`Dragonlady`~`~`


"All I am is a man trying to live his life the best he knows how and be true to what he was taught." Nightcrawler-Excalibur Bookshelf Format#1

[BAMF!]

SLARTIBARTFAST when that issue first came out I remember thinking how great it was that Davis touched upon Kurt's fighting ability like that!

DRAGONLADY how are ya! I sure do remember that incredible Jim Lee card set! if I recall the power rankings were from like 1 - 7... with 7 being the highest someone could score in a category. In fighting ability I think that Logan ranked a 7, Psylocke ranked a 4 and Kurt ranked a 5! Ditto DRAGS about being excited that they ranked him so highly!

BAMF!

[BAMF!]

Hey, I got some interesting feedback from some Non-Elfaholics on this topic in another X-related Forum! I'd forgotten that in some of his earliest appearances Kurt almost seemed to have enhanced strength!
(In his 1st encounter with Spider-Man in the awesome ASM #161 Nightcrawler traded blows with the 10-ton pressing Web-Slinger and actually kinda laid him out at one point!)

BAMF!