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Kurt Wagner
Kurt Wagner

Kurt Wagner

1,549 appearances · Bronze Age · 1972–2026 · 85 key issues
Who is Kurt Wagner?

Born with blue fur, yellow eyes, and a prehensile tail, Kurt Wagner was chased by a terrified mob in Bavaria before Charles Xavier recruited him as one of the "All-New, All-Different" X-Men. He uses his teleportation ability — announced by a thunderous BAMF — to fight for human-mutant coexistence.

Few Marvel characters have woven themselves as deeply into the fabric of the X-Men universe as Kurt Wagner, the acrobatic, blue-furred mutant who first leapt onto the Bronze Age scene in The Defenders #1 back in 1972, courtesy of Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema. Over more than five decades — stretching an astonishing 1,251 catalogued appearances across Uncanny X-Men, The X-Men, and beyond — he's proven himself one of Marvel's most enduring figures, sharing countless adventures alongside legends like Wolverine, Storm, and Colossus. A proud X-Men stalwart, Kurt brings a singular presence to every page he graces, and with 85 key-issue appearances to his name, serious collectors know his runs are essential reading. If you're building a definitive Marvel collection, this Bronze Age original is absolutely worth your attention.

Identity

Real name. Kurt Wagner

Powers. Teleportation (BAMF), wall-crawling/adhesion, prehensile tail, enhanced agility and reflexes, near-invisibility in shadow

Teams & affiliations
X-Men
★ First appearance
Giant-Size X-Men #1
May 1975

Trivia

  • Nightcrawler was originally conceived as a DC Comics villain before Marvel editor Roy Thomas stepped in and suggested recasting him as a mutant, ultimately folding him into the X-Men roster.marvel.com
  • His instantly recognizable silhouette was deliberately engineered around a demon aesthetic — pointed tail, fangs, and fur included — so he would read as a nightmare figure on the page even though the character himself was written as deeply sympathetic.marvel.com
  • Nightcrawler went on to become one of Marvel's best-known openly devout Catholics, a rare distinction in mainstream superhero comics and a cornerstone of his long-term identity that extends well beyond his powers.marvel.com
  • Chris Claremont has written more of Kurt Wagner's comics than any other writer in our catalog — 275 issues.

Top series

Covers through the years — 1972–2023

The Defenders #1 1972
The Defenders #1
The X-Men #97 1976
The X-Men #97
X-Men Annual #4 1980
X-Men Annual #4
Marvel Fanfare #12 1984
Marvel Fanfare #12
X-Men Annual #14 1990
X-Men Annual #14
Marvel Super-Heroes #10 1992
Marvel Super-Heroes #10
X-Man #12 1996
X-Man #12
X-Men #94 1999
X-Men #94
New X-Men #134 2003
New X-Men #134
New Avengers: Illuminati #3 2007
New Avengers: Illuminati #3
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man: Death of Spider-Man Fallout #[nn] 2011
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man: Death of Spider-Man Fallout #[nn]
Wolverines #6 2015
Wolverines #6
Marauders #1 2019
Marauders #1
Legion of X #7 2023
Legion of X #7

Appearances (1,201–1,350 of 1,549, oldest first)

Marauders (2019)
X-Men by Jonathan Hickman (2020)
Dawn of X (2019)
Fallen Angels by Bryan Hill (2020)
#1
Captain Marvel: The Many Lives of Carol Danvers (2020)
X-Force (2020)
#11
Hellions by Zeb Wells (2020)
Way of X by Si Spurrier (2021)
#1
X-Men by Gerry Duggan (2021)
Phoenix Omnibus (2021)
#1
Hawkeye Epic Collection (2021)
#1
New Mutants Omnibus (2020)
#2
Marvel Masterworks: Dazzler (2020)
#3
Reign of X (2021)
Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange (2003)
#10
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men (2003)
Captain Britain Omnibus (2021)
Ororo: Before the Storm (2021)
X of Swords (2021)
X-Men: Hellfire Gala (2021)
Women of Marvel (2021)
X-Men: The Trial of Magneto (2021)
Wolverine by Claremont & Miller: Deluxe Edition (2021)
King in Black (2021)
Avengers by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection (2020)
#4
Giant-Size X-Men : Seconde genèse ! (2021)
Captain Marvel vs. Rogue (2021)
Way of X (2021)
#1
Excalibur by Tini Howard (2021)
X-Factor by Peter David Omnibus (2021)
#1
Inferno (2021)
The Death of Captain Marvel Gallery Edition (2021)
Trials of X (2022)
X-Force by Benjamin Percy (2020)
A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022)
Hellions (2020)
#18
Dark Ages (2021)
X-Men (2021)
Hulk (2022)
Immortal X-Men (2022)
Incredible Hulk Epic Collection (2015)
#13
Free Comic Book Day 2022: Avengers / X-Men (2022)
#1
Legion of X (2022)
Hulk by Donny Cates (2022)
#1
Marvel (2022)
A.X.E.: Eve of Judgment (2022)
#1
Damage Control (2022)
She-Hulk by Rainbow Rowell (2022)
#1
Deadpool Epic Collection (2021)
Knights of X (2022)
#5
Sabretooth: The Adversary (2022)
X-Men: Red by Al Ewing (2022)
#1
Immortal X-Men by Kieron Gillen (2022)
Legion of X by Si Spurrier (2022)
Wolverine by Benjamin Percy (2020)
Rom: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus (2023)
#1
Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant (2023)
#1
Sins of Sinister (2023)
Marvel-Verse: Guardians of the Galaxy (2023)
A.X.E.: Judgment Day Companion (2022)
Marvel-Verse: Rocket & Groot (2023)
Spider-Man 2099 Omnibus (2023)
#1
Damage Control: New Employee Handbook (2023)
The Uncanny X-Men Omnibus (2006)
#5
Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection (2013)
#9
X-Treme X-Men by Claremont & Larroca: A New Beginning (2023)
X-Men No. 1 Facsimile Edition (2023)
Marauders by Steve Orlando (2022)
#2
Storm (2023)
Ghost Rider / Wolverine: Weapons of Vengeance Alpha (2023)
#1
Spider-Man / Deadpool Modern Era Epic Collection (2023)
#1
Uncanny Spider-Man (2023)
Marvel Horror Classic Collection (2022)
#2
Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man (2003)
#25
Storm: Blowback (2023)
Dark Avengers Modern Era Epic Collection (2024)
#1
X-Men Blue: Origins (2024)
#1
Wolverine (2020)
#39
Marvel: The End Omnibus (2024)
Marvel-Verse: Spider-Man & Madame Web (2024)
Silver Surfer: Return to the Spaceways Omnibus (2024)
Fall of the House of X (2024)
#1
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Facsimile Edition (2024)
#1
Wolverine Epic Collection (2014)
#14