Like I mentioned before, X-Men Origins: Nightcrawler came out a bit ago, and...were all the Origins books completely gloom-and-doom versions of the character's origins? Not quite the comics version, not quite the movie version, neither fish nor fowl. It's not terrible, but this one kinda sucks the fun out of Nightcrawler's origin, on several levels.

Instead of having a relatively fun childhood in the circus, Kurt spends a good chunk of time as either a bored sideshow freak, or drugged by the circus owner between shows. His adopted family is given short shrift: previously in the comics, his mom and 'sister'/girlfriend were sorceresses, and his brother a monster-hunting psychopath. And the angry torch-waving mob chasing Kurt in Giant-Sized X-Men #1, is a mere four henchmen here. Wow, that's exciting...instead of throwing himself into an angry mob, Kurt beats up an old guy. A mean old guy who deserved a stout beating, but still.

This issue also reprints the Len Wein/Dave Cockrum Nightcrawler introduction from Giant-Sized X-Men #1, which still holds up pretty well, and is a good chunk more exciting than the whole of the retold version. This Origins is a nice effort, but I'll stick to the original, thanks.

"Nativity" Written by Adam Freeman and Marc Bernardin, pencils by Casey Nord and James Harren.

Tomorrow: something else!