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...Am I dreaming, or is Nightcrawler finally getting some of the long overdue respect and exposure deserving of such a multi-faceted and original character?
I dont mean to ramble on, but as I was cruising through the Monument and some other Message Forums, I noticed that I had this ridiculous perpetual smile stuck on my face! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
Why the silly grin?
It dawned on me that I was just amazed by the increase in NIGHTCRAWLER awareness, knowledge and appreciation throughout the Net as well as the mainstream public.
X-MEN: Evolution has a lot to do with that, ( http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif ) but it feels like there's more to it than just his teen counterparts' surprising stardom.
There seems to be a palpable new level of respect for the Fuzzy Elf and as a loooong-time (and sometimes long suffering!) Nightcrawler fanatic I could NOT be happier! I can honestly say that I dont think i've EVER been this excited about the things going on with Kurt, and his place in the X-universe!
More to come....
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
BAMF!
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I'm back with more rambling! (sorry!)
I remember YEARS ago, before the X-MEN became this HUGE pop culture phenomenon, i'd goof off at the local comic shop or sit around with my other comic collecting buddies and talk about favorite characters.
No matter where I was it seemed like whenever I mentioned that NIGHTCRAWLER was my favorite, someone would either snicker or make some stupid disparaging comment.
"You like THAT guy?" ( http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/mad.gif )
It just stuck with me that despite Nightcrawler being a member of the world's most popular superhero team, the character has always been the perpetual underdog. As crazy as it sounds, I even found myself starting to resent previously well-liked characters who seemed to constantly steal the X-spotlight at the expense of Kurt getting his chance to shine. ( 3 guesses who i'm talking about bub http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif )
There WAS the occasional Nightcrawler bright spot, but more often than not I was dissapointed...
"Ugh! Right off the bat Nightcrawler gets taken out and/or has to be rescued by his teammates..AGAIN!"
"Theyre using the Mutant Massacre storyline to write Kurt out of Uncanny?!?
AARGHH!!"
"They scrap the Cartoon pilot with Kurt in it, and eventually go with a series that doesnt even have him on the roster?! #$@%!"
LOL! you get the idea.
To see the things going the way they appear to be heading for Kurt now is TRULY amazing and extremely gratifying.
In the past 12 months alone....
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Even though most of us dont like where Claremont was taking the character, you have to admit that Kurt was an integral part of Chris' REVOLUTION revamp.
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif The Legendary, Infamous WizWorld thread
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Meeting all of you guys! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif The Marvelous Monument!
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif ELWING's incredible BLUE-ELF.COM!
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Nightcrawler has (arguably) become the break-out fan fave of the X-MEN: Evolution cast...
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Substantially increased mainstream awareness of the character due in no small part to the aforementioned Evolution!
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Ultimate (upcoming)
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Kurt (again!) being an integral part of the latest X-revamp!
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif The limited series (upcoming)
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Kurt made it into the sequel to the smash-hit Playstation game MUTANT ACADEMY (YES!)
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif The launch of a # of new excellent Nightcrawler-realted sites on the WWW!
A year ago BAMFCENTRAL was just about the only quality Kurt related site. Now it's incredible how much cool Fuzzy Elf stuff is out there!
I think I remember proclaiming in an old Monument thread that 2001 was the year of the Fuzzy Elf. To my utter and complete satisfaction and amazement it looks like I was actually right!
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif
BAMF!
[This message has been edited by BAMF! (edited May 20, 2001).]
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Yes BAMF! I know what you mean. I used to think I was the only Nightcrawler fan. It was lonely. You know something, I think a big reason the elf is finally getting his due is because his fans are more vocal now. And how did that start? It could only have been the monster Nightcrawler thread at Wizard. To bad Skye isn't here, becuase he deserve credit for starting it, but I'd like to tip my hat to you BAMF. Your infectious enthusiam is probably what built that momentum and kept it going. I know it's what made me join in, before then I had been strictly a lurker. So give yourself a pat on the back BAMF. A lot of this is because of you.
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===={::??@m??::}====
It's all you need in souperheroes and haute cuisine:
Culinary_X
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I know what you mean BAMF,
I'm tickled to pieces everytime i come here.
It seems like ever since the infamous Wizard thread a lot of this has been like a dream.
Not only have i met so many like-minded fans but the magic seems to be spreading in other ways too.
Nightcrawler's spotlight stealing in Evolution, his upcoming appearance in Ultimate and how that came to be, his inclusion in Uncanny as a regular, and the icing on the cake is his upcoming LS.
I'm SO glad to hear the writer is not only a serious writer in other fields but also an admitted FAN of Nightcrawler! I think the writer's feelings for a charater really show through. It could have been really bad if they'd gotten someone who was like "I don't really care for Nightcrawler. I wanted to write about Wolverine, but I guess this is okay. I'll just have Kurt hanging around a church or something..)
The phenomenon of the Elf is growing!!
I think one element that testifies to how strong a character he is is his fanbase.
He's got fans that love him even when he's not being given the spotlight, and a large group of admirers within the writers and artists, and almost no haters. (Think about that, most other popular charaters also have a large groupl of haters. For every 5 Wolverine fans there's one guy who wishes Logan had never been created. But how often do you hear someone actually say they "hate" Nightcrawler?)
People that like him, LOVE him. And people that don't really like, still kinda like him.
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"And all the fraulen say I'm pretty fly, for a blue guy."
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Spatula Gal:
I used to think I was the only Nightcrawler fan. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
DITTO SPATULA GAL! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
Awwww and AMY thank you for those kind words ... ( http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/redface.gif )
I wish I could take some credit my friend, but I just feed off of everyone else! It's just great to know that there ARE other Nightcrawler fans out there.
(And that they are all so intelligent, articulate, funny, thoughtful, resourseful, kooky, crazy and cool! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/eek.gif We really do take after the Fuzzy guy dont we? LOL!)
P.S. We really do need to get SKYE over here... http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif
BAMF!
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Garble:
I think one element that testifies to how strong a character he is is his fanbase.
He's got fans that love him even when he's not being given the spotlight, and a large group of admirers within the writers and artists, and almost no haters. (Think about that, most other popular charaters also have a large groupl of haters. For every 5 Wolverine fans there's one guy who wishes Logan had never been created. But how often do you hear someone actually say they "hate" Nightcrawler?)
People that like him, LOVE him. And people that don't really like, still kinda like him.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
DITTO GARBLE and (as always) well said!
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
BAMF!
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Yes BAMF! Garble and everyone Im with you!.Its so exciting to be an elf fan right now.Kurt is finally getting the respect he deserves.And so are we.And Im tickled pink to think we might of had something to do with this new frenzy. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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Scoribra-The sting of truth weighed on the scales of destiny.
~`~`~`Dragonlady`~`~`~
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http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Ah, lots of thanks to you all, and especially to BAMF (who keeps the flame burning) to KC (Who gave us a home) and BAMFcentral (the first!) I can't give you guys enough credit. And I give Marvel credit too, because I'm beginning to think they are actually listening to us over there.
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BLUE-ELF.COM- hangout for the Nightcrawler-obsessed.
http://www.blue-elf.com
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Elwing:
...I give Marvel credit too, because I'm beginning to think they are actually listening to us over there.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I know! It's almost 'Uncanny'... (bad pun, I know http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/tongue.gif )
P.S. Hiya DRAGS and ELWING!
BAMF!
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I agree! I was the only Nightcrawler fan I knew for the LOOOOOONGEST time! I loved the guy, he was just too fun not too! It was cool when NC got the respect and spotlight he deserved in Excalibur, from the scene where he stood up to Brian on. But it wasn't enough to actually gain him any respect, it seemed...because it was like he was the bright shining star on a second rate soap opera...still no respect.
I seriously feel that the large amount of respect he's suddenly getting is due to all of us. Not only the large number of us, but also our totally unbridled enthusiasm for the Elf.
People see us talking about him, holding intelligent conversations about him, and announcing our fandom loudly and proudly, so WE earn their respect, and by default, they start to respect OUR character. Other factors have obviously contributed to that end, but I feel that it is truly US that have earned the Elf a place in the sun.
Of course...this is all because my basis for this argument is the message boards I go to, WizWorld, X-Fan, Marvel's...and we don't get nearly the respect at the Marvel Boards as we do at the other two. Part of that is that hardly ANYONE over there has respect for ANYTHING, (That's the reason I hardly go over there anymore) and part of that, I feel, is that we aren't over there to show how great we are, and he is.
A good comparison is the Colossus fans at WizWorld. There is A LOT of them. And they are really speaking out as Colossus fans since his death. However, their enthusiasm is somewhat hampered by the general low maturity level and/or seemingly low intelligence. (Some people are reeally smart, they just post dumb) Their other problem is that they just sat back and watched Colossus get the shaft...until it was too late to get the respect he sorely needed, and now he's dead.
So far, WE've single handedly added Nightcrawler to the cast of Ultimate X-Men and have spared US the "embarassment" of being a Nightcrawler fan....what will we do next? http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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~~The KnightCrawler~~
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I wont say that I'm better,
it's just that I'm less worse.
Visit the Ultimate in Ultimate X-Men : http://www.geocities.com/ultimatexfiles
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I can't share the sentiment sadly enough!
Rogue always took the spot of favorite character with me, and only recently got bumped off by Nightcrawler(the whole WW thread, combined with Rogue being molested by CC....).
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That's interesting Suguh. Most Rogue fans I've come across love CC and what he's done to Rogue. I personally don't like it, but then I'm not a big Rogue fan. (Although I do like her a lot in Evo, she's probably my 3rd favorite character)
Hey KC, I've just discovered the Marvel Boards myself a couple days ago. I'm having a blast there. Why don't you give it another try. Lot's of Kurt fans in the evolution board, and a few in the movie board as well.
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===={::??@m??::}====
It's all you need in souperheroes and haute cuisine:
Culinary_X
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Im one of those who likes CCs Rogue better than Lobdells.Maybe because I started reading when CC wrote Rogue.I didnt care much for the "southern bell" take.The only thing I dont like about what CCs doing with her is the claws.Im sure this makes you even crazier about me than you are already,Sugah. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
Ok....NIGHTCRAWLER RULES!!!!!!!!!
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Scoribra-The sting of truth weighed on the scales of destiny.
~`~`~`Dragonlady`~`~`~
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I sadly also fall into zhe category of "Didn't really like Nightcrawler before, but now tings have changed"
But after zhe influence of other fans (cough cough Fasheem cough cough) and reading zhe comics, I found zhere was way more to zhis character zhen I thought.
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Vive le Nightcrawler!! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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Don't mess with me, I'm French!
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I hear ya BAMF! I too am a long time fan and it's all I can do to keep from getting cynical even now. There have been so many times where I felt Kurt was slighted in the comics in exactly the manner you described that I probably wont feel good until I have a solid issue in my hands. Thank God that Evolution is well done.
However, considering I can look foreward to:
-Uncanny
-Ultimate
-the Limited Series
-the Evolution comic.
-Evolution season 2
-an Unlimited story
I can take comfort that there are lots of opportunities to do Kurt properly.
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I dont know if this has been done already but Hello Trion and Welcome!
I couldnt agree with your post more. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
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Scoribra-The sting of truth weighed on the scales of destiny.
~`~`~`Dragonlady`~`~`~
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Just like DRAGS, I can really relate to your post TRION! As ecstatic as i've been the past few months, after years of watching Nightcrawler get shoddy treatment, a part of me cant help but wait for " the other shoe to drop. " if you get my drift. With all of the Kurt related stuff coming out, odds are at least a few of the books you mentioned will do Nightcrawler total justice. (Finally!)
( For some reason I think I am going to absolutely enjoy that UNLIMITED story!)
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Knight_Crawler:
It was cool when NC got the respect and spotlight he deserved in Excalibur, from the scene where he stood up to Brian on. But it wasn't enough to actually gain him any respect, it seemed...because it was like he was the bright shining star on a second rate soap opera...still no respect. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Great analogy Fearless Leader! That was SO true. It seemed like the rest of the Marvel Universe (and Fandom for that matter) just werent aware of the awesome things that were going on in ( Davis') EXCALIBUR!
To this day I look back at some of those old Claremont/Davis and Davis Excaliburs and cant believe how good they were!
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
...what will we do next? http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Get him in X-MEN2!!! SPATULATOR has a topic on here with a link to a place where you can be heard by X-MEN director BRYAN SINGER!
It couldnt hurt to let him know that Kurt DOES have a loyal and rabid fanbase out there. ( Who deserves to see their favorite X-character on the silver screen! )
I know that if a well done Nightcrawler made it into the cast of the 1st sequel, ( http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif!!! ) i'd personally see the movie like 10 times! Heck, and i'd bring as many people with me as I could each time I went! Hey BRYAN.....
"Nightcrawler....X-MEN2...NOW!!" http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
BAMF!
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Oh yes, Drags, I have been warmly welcomed by BAMF and Knight_Crawler. I'm glad to be here.
However, I am at a loss as to why everyone is agreeing with me. What's wrong with you people?? http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
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While I'll remain dwarfed by my copatriots response, http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif, I'll just insert my little thought...
It's AWESOME that NC is being more accepted and I completely agree that WE have something to do with it! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif It's not like it happened by magic... (or did it.. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif )
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~*The Hiding-Crawler*~
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Always watching from the shadows...
