Warning! Spoilers ahead for Uncanny X-Men #10!

who shaped decades of X-Men lore.

In Uncanny X-Men #10 – written by Gail Simone, with art by Andrei Bressan – with Rogue’s X-Men stationed in Louisiana, Nightcrawler is growing accustomed to the family who took them in, and he makes it clear he is not missing his turbulent X-Men life. Despite knowing Rogue has been working hard to rebuild the X-Men following the fall of Krakoa,

Nightcrawler confesses “I could take the X from my clothing forever,” a sentiment he’s afraid to it to his teammates. Nightcrawler leaving the X-Men would be a tremendous loss but his retirement has been hinted at since the "Fall of X."

Nightcrawler Reveals He’s Done With the X-Men: “I Could Take the X From My Clothing Forever”

Uncanny X-Men #10 – Written By Gail Simone; Art By Andrei Bressan; Color By Matthew Wilson; Lettering By Clayton Cowles

Rogue and Cyclops splitting the X-Men apart, the X Mansion now a private prison incarcerating mutants, and negative public opinion of mutants at an all-time high. Nightcrawler has finally itted enough is enough, and he’s done fighting the endless battle for mutant equality, a questionable but self-preserving motivation that makes sense when looking at what his character has been through. The question is whether Marvel will follow through with retiring one of their most popular X-Men.

Now that Nightcrawler has found a sense of peace, the gravity of his prior era is coming back to haunt him with Nightcrawler reconciling how much he doesn’t miss being an X-Men. Nightcrawler was one of the founding X-Men to usher in the Krakoa Era, but during the nation’s downfall, he was used by Orchis to generate negative press for Krakoa; moreover, he was forced into hiding to evade persecution. The loss of Krakoa was devastating, both within and outside the Marvel Universe, and Nightcrawler’s role in Krakoa’s downfall marked a massive turning point for his character.

Marvel Finally its The Cruel Reality Of Nightcawler’s Life With The X-Men

Kurt Wagner Has Literally Been Through Hell

Nightcrawler only recently itted that he was done being an X-Man, but this arc has been in the making since he was used as a weapon by Orchis to carry out several murders as a smear campaign on Krakoa. After Charles Xavier removed most mutants from Earth, Nightcrawler remained but became an outlaw disguised as Spider-Man while being hunted down by sentinels and Silver Sable. In Nightcrawler’s solo series, Uncanny Spider-Man #4 – written by Si Spurrier, with art by Lee Garbett – Nightcrawler breaks down and spells out the harsh reality of his existence as an X-Men.

Since his introduction in Giant-Size X-Men #1 by Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, Nightcrawler has been treated as a pariah to society based on his genetics, has been killed and resurrected several times, and has spent his adult life in an endless war. This struggle can be attributed to most mutants, but Nightcrawler’s distinctive mutant appearance and powers have always placed it at the forefront of his character. Nightcrawler’s time as Spider-Man showed him at an all-time low, and Kurt is shockingly doubling down on his frustrations and hinting at the conclusion to his tenure as an X-Men.

The X-Men Could Lose One of Their Greatest Heroes – Will Marvel Be Bold Enough To Make It Permanent?

Nightcrawler Reaches His Breaking Point

Nightcrawler's life has been marred with pain despite his presented happy demeanor, and while some of that comes from the mutant plight within Marvel, Nightcrawler’s masked sorrow has been consistent throughout most X-Men series. The “From the Ashes” era is meant to be a reset for the X-Men, but it has also been marked by massive changes and one of those changes may just be Nightcrawler saying goodbye to his X-Men family. Now that Nightcrawler has found his long-sought acceptance within Louisiana, Marvel is making the audacious choice of concluding Nightcrawler's story.

Nightcrawler leaving the X-Men would be a massive upset for the X-Men in their current state of rebuilding.

Though Nightcrawler’s retirement from the X-Men has been building up since his solo series, permanently retiring a hero is usually very improbable, especially for a well-known hero as beloved as Nightcrawler, an original member of the team that popularized the X-Men series. His journey from being an outcast to being accepted by the community would make for a satisfying conclusion to his long-term arc, but the removal of a hero is notoriously challenging to keep permanent. Moreover, Nightcrawler leaving the X-Men would be a massive upset for the X-Men in their current state of rebuilding.

Should Nightcrawler resign, there is the likelihood it would be temporary due to Nightcrawler’s status as an X-Men staple, and, in universe, his sentiments about leaving the X-Men will undoubtedly cause discord between his fellow X-Men. Nightcrawler is one of the most recognizable and complex superheroes from the X-Men series with his striking demonic appearance coupled with his kind-hearted nature and devotion to his faith. Whether permanent or not, Nightcrawler’s absence would be a monumental loss to the classic X-Men roster and a daring move on Marvel’s part.

Uncanny X-Men #10 is available now from Marvel Comics!