Nightcrawler #1

Nightcrawler #1 (2004) kicks off with a chilling mystery in "The Devil Inside, Part One: The Locked Room," as Storm tasks Kurt Wagner with uncovering the truth behind a gruesome incident at Metro-General Hospital—thirteen children found inside out in a sealed room, and the sole survivor, young Seth Walker, mute with trauma. Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and illustrated by Darick Robertson, the issue unfolds with eerie precision, following Kurt’s trail from the hospital’s scorched roof to the Dakota, where a confrontation with security guard Barney Franks ends in flames. The cover by Greg Land and Matt Ryan captures the tension perfectly, setting a dark, foreboding tone for the series.