Warning: spoilers ahead for Dark Ages #4!
A new preview for Marvel Comics' Dark Ages #4 sees Kurt Wagner's Nightcrawler seemingly living his best life as a total badass on the high seas. Providing aid to refugees as the captain of a helicarrier that no longer flies, Nightcrawler is finally able to become the swashbuckler he's always been at heart, fulfilling the pirate fantasy seen in past comics. While the entire world might have lost electricity in Marvel's Dark Ages, this new preview further proves that the new 'apocalypse' might not be all bad for some heroes (including Nightcrawler.)
In previous issues of Marvel's Dark Ages from writer Tom Taylor and artist Iban Coello, the cosmic machine known as the Unmaker was defeated using an incredibly powerful EMP at the Earth's core. While he was successful in putting the Unmaker to sleep, Doctor Strange was killed before he could shut off the EMP, resulting in the entire world losing access to modern technology. However, the world's heroes saw this as an opportunity to improve upon society and make Wakanda into the new world capital, forging a utopia from the darkness. That being said, there are still threats in the world, with the biggest being Apocalypse and his takeover of Europe, having recruited several villains to his quest of waking the Unmaker and taking its power, and even enslaving heroes who have no choice but to serve him thanks to the powers of Zebediah Kilgrave, the Purple Man.
Now, the new preview for Dark Ages #4 sees Nightcrawler living out his dreams as an epic ship's captain, commanding a crew of fellow mutants and heroes as they seek to rescue refugees from Europe in favor of the haven and asylum that is Wakanda. Sporting an eye-patch, sword, and a modified version of his old costume, Nightcrawler couldn't look cooler, truly looking as though he's in his element. Enjoy the preview pages and synopsis for the upcoming issue:
DARK AGES #4- A group of heroes have crossed dark seas in a desperate and dangerous attempt to save their friends. But before the heroes can save the world, they must first survive the most treacherous place on Earth—Europe!
Clearly, the new role Nightcrawler has found for himself in this post-apocalyptic world seems to suit him quite well, and it tracks with the type of hero he's always believed himself to be. Past comics have long seen Kurt fantasizing about being a swashbuckler on the high-seas, and now he's actually living it out. Case in point, the recent Way of X #2 starring Kurt saw Legion venturing into Nightcrawler's mindscape, which had unsurprisingly taken the form of a ship sailing in the open ocean.
Now, Kurt Wagner's dream of being a badass swashbuckler has become a reality and it will be interesting to see how he manages his crew and cargo when the full issue releases on January 12 and (the cover implies) the buccaneer heroes face a major threat in the form of Fin Fang Foom. Here's hoping Nightcrawler and his crew are prepared to defend themselves and those they've rescued as Dark Ages' heroes take the next step towards defeating Apocalypse and freeing Europe from his control.