NIGHTCRAWLER #4 REVIEW

[Brandon Yates]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/ncrwlrv2-4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/ncrwlrv2-4t.jpg" align=left alt="Nightcrawler (2nd series) #4"></a><b>Reviewer:</b> Brandon Yates, brandonyates@zentertainment.com
<b>Quick Rating:</b> Below Average
<b>Story Title:</b> Crossing

It's Final Confrontation time as Nightcrawler takes the fight to Oleg, while resolving the inner turmoil that has plagued him (and me) throughout the series.

<b>Written by:</b> Chris Kipiniak
<b>Cover by:</b> Massimiliano Frezzatto
<b>Pencilled by:</b> Matthew Smith
<b>Inked by:</b> Mark Morales
<b>Lettered by:</b> Jon Babcock
<b>Colored by:</b> HiFi Design
<b>Editor:</b> Pete Franco
<b>Editor-In-Chief:</b> Joe Quesada
<b>President:</b> Bill Jemas

Unlike the Iceman mini-series, which had a decent first three issues and a terrible conclusion (in my opinion), Nightcrawler ends on a more solid note after a ho-hum beginning and middle. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a bland, sub-par storyline but compared to the miserable previous installments, any improvement is joyfully welcomed.

More angst, self-doubt and hopelessness are countered, finally, by reasonable determination, making for a more emotional read. Nightcrawler takes a stand and tells Father Whitney where he can stick his skepticism (well, maybe not so harsh as that) and goes after the irritating, if uninspired villain Oleg (the head of an urban slavery ring).

The supporting cast in this mini-series has been rotating at uneven intervals, so a couple of characters that we haven’t seen since the first issue are featured in the conclusion. I’m not so sure that was a good idea, because it’s been two months since I’ve seen the escaped slave-girl who was rescued by Kurt in the first issue and now I just don’t care that she’s run away from Father Whitney’s shelter. Even someone who started reading <b><i>Nightcrawler</i></b> with the second issue will be clueless as to who the despicable Frau Emsoon is and why Kurt is using her to get to Oleg.

And, for the final time, I must say that Matthew Smith was not the best choice to illustrate this series and this issue is no exception. The storytelling was very confusing: did Oleg snap that guy’s neck or did Nightcrawler stop him in time? For that matter where did that guy’s body go when Kurt kicked Oleg into the store? What a mess.

The final battle with Oleg was competently done, at least. If Kurt was going to beat on anybody for something that can’t be solved with violence, the least he could’ve done was beat on the ringleader, so I’m glad Kipiniak took that route (obvious as it is).

The last pages were a little sappy, the kind usually accompanied by NBC’s “The More You Know” music, so I wasn’t really feeling it. My patience for clichés had run out on Nightcrawler long before that ending, right along with my patience for anything else about this book.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html) and save!

[ShaggyDiz]

I actually kind of liked the ending where Nightcrawler beats down Oleg and Oleg tells him that he isn't the only one that does this kind of stuff. Found that interesting in that it'll take more to bring down a whole ring than just one man in a very big business.

Overall, I found the series to be solid in the writing by uninspired in the art.

[jay_mckiernan]

I don't think that I'd call this the best mini-series ever, but I don't know if I'd give it such a low review.
Yes, it's obvious that it's the writer's first attempt at writing a comic book and he's not particularly good at the form yet. It is harder to write for a comic book than you'd imagine.
What I did like about the story was the whole moral ambiguity to it. Nightcrawler has always been such a black and white character, especially since he's become the wannabe priest. But when he has to deal with the greys of the real world, he's facing huge problems.
And I think I was the only one who liked Matt Smith's artwork. It was dark and brooding but yet kept the story moving. I'd like to see more of his stuff - maybe he's not the best choice for a super-hero book - I think that he's better at normal people, but that's just me.
Was I the only one who was impressed by the coloring job by Hi-Fi? They were really doing some different things here and it worked well throughout the entire mini-series.
later,
j

[Brandon Yates]

Yes, it's obvious that it's the writer's first attempt at writing a comic book and he's not particularly good at the form yet. It is harder to write for a comic book than you'd imagine.

I don't factor how hard it is to write a comic into my rating. I can only rate it based on how much I liked it, hence the low score. As a first comic assignment it wasn't terrible, but if you check out Bill Rosemann's first series, Deadline (I got my hands on an early copy), you'll see that some "rookies" can excel. I understand your point, though.

Found that interesting in that it'll take more to bring down a whole ring than just one man in a very big business.

I agree with that, but I agreed with it by the first issue when this dilemma was made clear. The remaining issues seemed to harp on the fact that it was an impossible challenge. But different strokes.

Thanks for reading the review.

[nightcrawler]

I have to admit it wasn't the best story, it was interesting to see Kurt struggle, but I think you're accurate when you write that the same ideas were being drawn out. Besides, I think the priest direction for Kurt has been a mistake from the start. His characterization took a 180 degree turn around when he decided to enter the priesthood. I did enjoy the art at times, there were alot of spots that it didn't work, but a couple of panels were really good too.

[Punctuator]

That being the royal "we."

About the only thing this pathetic mess of a miniseries got right was Oleg's statements about New York's sentencing policies at the end. Azz right, folks: in da Empire State, the man would be as free as...as...well, I would say "a bird," but those of us who braved this mini have had our fill of cliches for one day--or two--or two million.

How long will we have to put up with writers throwing their assorted limbs out of whack trying to accommodate this moronic priest scenario? I know it's OH SO NAUGHTY for this confirmed Catholic to say anything bad about religion and whatnot, but Nightcrawler becoming a priest is ridiculous. It's amazing what you can get away with when you're a "name": Claremont plucked this from his butt, and now we're stuck with it.

And please, no puling "I think it's sweeet that *Kurt's* following his religious destiny" stuff. Any script editor worth her salt would have said to His Royal C-ness, "I don't recall anything about Nightcrawler beginning his four to six years of seminary training, let alone finishing a bachelor's in theology. This is coming out of nowhere."

Ah, well, maybe over at DC....

But not here at Marvel. A pointless, go-nowhere mini spun off a butt-pluck masquerading as "character development." One totaled Nightcrawler and a whole lot of whining. Grotesque.

[stormwatch]

I liked this issue, moreso than the other miniseries, the art while basic it worked for me. The fight scene I really enjoyed, it was more of a fight of realities and words than straight action. Even though this wasn't a great miniseries, I liked it, and I loved the ending to this, with Nightcrawler prowling around thinking and the bum finding the money. I loved that part.