Amazing X-Men #1 is a new X-Men series featuring the return of Nightcrawler after his death in the X-Men Messiah Complex series. This will be an ongoing series but the first 5 issues are part of the Quest for Nightcrawler story line. It also picks up from a Wolverine and the X-Men storyline so that’s the X-Men team featured in this series. Apparently since his death, Nightcrawler has been in Heaven, well, rather on the edge of Heaven because he still feels a strong attachment to the life he lived. He feels there’s one more chapter that has to be written and so he can’t let go and fully enjoy all that paradise has to offer. Before he can get into any more depth about it with his companion, they’re interrupted by attackers looking for the soul chains. It’s not what one would expect in a place of eternal peace and tranquility but it’s an intrusion welcomed by Nightcrawler, who has been unable to find a good sparring partner and is enjoying the action as he disposes of them easily. But that was just the warm-up as an even tougher villain reveals himself.

Meanwhile at the school, it’s Firestar’s first day and she’s trying to get acclimated to all the bizarre things that take place at the school, or to put it a different way, it’s just another day at the school. But there’s an infestation problem that has grown into a crisis and that’s the presence of the Bamfs. Firestar’s first day might end up being more than she bargained.

Yes this is another X-title. Yes it pretty much has the same cast as the Wolverine and the X-Men series, although it appears that this series will focus more on the exploits of the team as opposed to the school and the students. But yes it’s a really good comic book too and that’s what matters. It sets the stage very well for Nightcrawler’s return and it’s done in a way where it’s not punishing him, and in an action packed sequence that makes the reader want to see more of him in action again. And this issue gets right to it and establishes that in an enjoyable and clear way. Firestar’s introduction is handled in a mostly humorous way but the point is made, even for those who don’t follow any other X-titles, that  this school is completely unlike any other.

If there was ever a case to be made for another X-Men comic book, Amazing X-Men #1 makes a damn good case for it because this has been immediately added to my monthly list. For as many times as a character has died only to return down the line, I’m now excited to see Nightcrawler return