Funko’s Marvel Selects line at Target has beena steady source of Comic Cover figuresover the past several months that honor the roots of Marvel Comics and their many heroes. Although the calendar has flipped over to 2024, that pattern won’t be changing anytime soon as the collectible company follows upDecember’s Ghost Rider releasewith a beloved X-Men ally — Nightcrawler. Collider can offer an exclusive look at the new figure which commemorates the mutant’s first swashbuckling solo appearance inNightcrawler#1 released in 1985.
Nightcrawler’s figure is one of Funko’s more detailed andaction-packed collectiblesout there as he wields a cutlass and swings on a rope with his pointy tail swaying along the way. His pose mirrors his backdrop, which depicts the blue-skinned hero swooping in with style and grace to battle a crew of pirates aboard their ship. Before becoming the much-respected, demon-like companion of the X-Men, Nightcrawler was a trapeze artist in the carnival under his mother Margali Szardos’s care. The cover and figurereflect both his talents and heroism as he approaches the fight with a smile and a bit of swagger. Standing approximately 4.6 inches tall, the collectible comes contained in a 7-inch wide, 10.75-inch tall, and 3.25-inch deep case as always.
Originally introduced inGiant-Size X-Men#1 in 1975, Nightcrawler was conceived byDave Cockrumand became a regular presenceamong the mutant teamwell before landing his first spin-off series. He established himself as one of the group’smost noble and charming membersin those ten years, but his first solo tale of derring-do, penned and illustrated primarily by Cockrum, shows off his heroism first-hand.Nightcrawler#1 sees him dive into an interdimensional portal to save Kitty Pryde’s dragon Lockheed, only to find himself in a land of scurvy alien pirates, sea beasts, and sorcery. The issuekicks off a bizarre adventure for Nightcrawler and Lockheed as they bounce around other worlds and desperately search for a way back home.
Nightcrawler Has Enjoyed a Limited On-Screen History
Despite his association with the X-Men, Nightcrawler’s on-screen appearances have been somewhat limited. On television, he enjoyed a few appearances in the beloved 1990sX-Men: The Animated Series, but was more commonly seen in its successorsX-Men: EvolutionandWolverine and the X-Men. He did get a few chances to show off his teleportation powers on the big screen, however. He was most notably played byAlan CumminginX2, where he was brainwashed and used as a pawn by Colonel William Stryker(Brian Cox) to attack the President of the United States and stoke fears of the threat posed by mutants.Kodi Smit-McPheealso embodied Nightcrawler in bothX-Men: ApocalypseandDark Phoenix.
It’s possible that Nightcrawler could soon emerge from the shadows once again in 2024. Areboot to the classic X-Men animated show,X-Men'97, isdue out in the early months of this yearand Nightcrawler is already confirmed to appear in some capacity. However, he also has a slight chance to reappear on the big screen inDeadpool 3this summer.Hugh Jackmanis returning as Wolverinefor the film, bridging the gap between the MCU and the 20th Century Fox X-Men universe. Considering Smit-McPhee popped up as Nightcrawler for a cameo inDeadpool 2back in 2018, there’s no ruling out the acrobatic mutant’s return until theRyan Reynolds-led filmhits theaters on July 26.
The Nightcrawler Pop! Comic Cover figure will be available from Target or the store’sofficial Marvel Selects pagefor $29.99. Get an exclusive look at the new collectible in the gallery above.
X2: X-Men United
When anti-mutant Colonel William Stryker kidnaps Professor X and attacks his school, the X-Men must ally with their archenemy Magneto to stop him.
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