Nightcrawler #1 pg 4 (Dave Cockrum) featuring Nightcrawler, Kitty, Illyana and Lockheed

Nightcrawler drawn by one of his creators! It’s hard to even try and describe how awesome something like this is to have in my collection.

The amazing work of Dave Cockrum, one of the founding creators of the second generation of X-Men giving it second life and full revival from the astonishing Giant Size X-Men. Nightcrawler was apparently a creation he had in his art notebook for quite some time, he shopped the character around at both major places and thankfully he landed here amongst the X-Men. One of my favorite male characters and such a complicated one at that. Demon body but spiritual mind with one of the most level-headed kindest souls.

Getting a page of Cockrum’s work is huge by itself, but getting one where he is writer, penciller and inker is uncanny. This is from Nightcrawler’s first mini series (1985), first issue featuring the start (inciting incident) to his adventures. Beautifully drawn with so much great character and energy Lockheed gets pulled into the Well at the Center of Time. Nightcrawler follows suit with Kitty and Illyana left behind.

Another really great extra on this page is getting a Cockrum drawing of Illyana, who along with Len Wein also created her as well. So many great moments on this page and great detailed work that I am so X-cited to have in my collection.