Way of X: Nightcrawler to star in thought-provoking X-Men spin-off

Way of X will be the newest addition to the X-Men’s comic book series.

Over the last two years, the X-Men have dominated Marvel Comics. Writer Jonathan Hickman started this trend with House of X and Powers of X – two stories that told alternate pasts and futures for Earth’s mutants and both tales ended in some kind of tragedy.

Right now, however, the mutants are experiencing a level of bliss and euphoria that they’ve never experienced before. Has there been trouble along the way? Of course there has. Mutants will never have lives without struggle. That takes us right into the newest X-book that will be released.  Something is wrong with the minds of mutants and it looks like everyone’s favorite teleporting elf Nightcrawler will be the one to figure out what it is in a series called Way of X.

Nightcrawler fans must have been waiting for him to appear in his own series for a while. He’s one of the most popular X-Men of all time. He has a great sense of humor, infallible morals without being self-righteous, and he’s just cool overall. It’s no wonder people love him. It also helps that he’s easily recognizable.

In X-Men No. 7, the Crucible was taking place. A ritual where a mutant who has lost their powers fights to be resurrected with their lost powers. This caused Nightcrawler to think about death. For example, what happens to a mutant soul when it dies and the body returns after resurrection? These questions led him to think that  mutants needed their own religion.

What is new X-Men Spin-off, Way of X, about?

Marvel.com announced that writer Si Spurrier (X-Force) will be writing Way of X. In the article, Si Spurrier revealed that The Way of X is about more than just religion, commenting:

"“Nightcrawler realizes something’s wrong with the hearts and minds of mutantkind and sets out to fix it. But as he quickly discovers, this isn’t a job for priests and prayers… The question is, what do they have to become in order to fight it? Preachers? Cops? Executioners? Or something entirely new?“WAY OF X is a smart, psychedelic tale about faith, science, culture, love and law. And Bamfing. Bamfing just for the joy of it.”"

He reveals that the story will center on a powerful entity with a connection to Professor X that manages to cause a “sickness of the spirit” in the mutant paradise of Krakoa, resulting in a number of mutants acting out of character and leaning towards despair and violence. It’s Nightcrawler and his team who realize this, but in doing so, they figure out that they’re actually up against the darkness within the hearts of the mutants – something that can’t be easily defeated.

Who’s on the team?

First, there’s Blink – a mutant teleporter as well. If you’ve read Exiles, you know that she has potential to be one of the greats. Her alternate reality version is amazing. Then there’s Pixie – who is friendly, bubbly, and sometimes a little naïve.

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Another teleporter,  Pixie’s abilities comes from a magic spell. There’s also Loa (who doesn’t get a lot of time in the comics). It’ll be interesting to see what they do with her. She’s not exactly a fighter. Nonetheless, she doesn’t have to fight to shine in a comic. The mutant with the headphones is DJ – a mutant who can take music and do all sorts of cool things like fly, heal other people, and stop time.

According to CBR.com, Dr. Nemesis will be joining the team as well. He’s a sarcastic genius who will undoubtedly remind you that he’s smarter than everyone.

During his interview with Marvel.com, Si Spurrier said something that will get people amped up to read Way of X. Something inspiring that connects to people today.

"“It’s a story about how mutants live. Not just as people, but as a People. It’s mischievous and sarcastic and a looong way from being holy. It’s a book about ethics and culture and growing fungus out of your own brain. It’s a book about rituals and thrills, sexy times and casual death. Above all it’s about Shared Ideas, in all their terrible beauty, and what they can do to the minds, hearts, and souls of the communities adrift on their tides.”"

What makes it even more intriguing is that Spurrier teases that he hopes the story is the “the next obvious step in the grand reworking of the X-Men franchise”, adding that The Way of X is “the path the Mutant Nation must walk” if it wants to have “any hope of escaping its own long and hungry shadow”.

You don’t have to be a fan of Nightcrawler to be excited about this project – especially after reading that. It’s another addition to the X-Men comics with real promise.

There are a lot of X-Men titles. Currently, there are 10 if you count the Wolverine and Cable solo runs (Way of X makes eleven). What’s better is that they’re all really good and connect to each other well. Hopefully, Way of X will be yet another X-title added to the growing list of must-haves.

Way of X No. 1 comes out in April 2021.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to Way of X? Let us know in the comments below!