X-Men’sRogueandNightcrawlerhave an interesting dynamic because they are not only mutant allies, but also adopted siblings - now, that connection is finally manifesting in their powers. Currently, Rogue and Nightcrawler are working together to protect and train a group of young mutants known as the Outliers. The young mutants are being pursued by the mysterious Sarah Gaunt - a powerful villain withmystic claws equal to Wolverine’s adamantium.
In the preview forThe Uncanny X-Men #4by creative team Gail Simone, David Marquez, Matthew Wilson, and Clayton Cowles, Rogue and Nightcrawler work together as they search for Wolverine, who engaged Gaunt in battle last issue. As Rogue flies through the sky at top speed, carrying Nightcrawler, he repeatedly teleports the two of them forward.Rogue can break the sound barrier under her own power, so Nightcrawler’s added contribution turns her into one of X-Men’s fastest heroes.
This combination of powers is the perfect symbol of Rogue and Nightcrawler’s renewed connection as siblings. Rogue was adopted bythe villainous Mystique and Destiny, while Nightcrawler recently learned the pair are his biological parents (having previously believed the demonic Azazel was his father.) The emergence of the truth has given Kurt and Anna Marie a close new connection.
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The Brother and Sister Are Closer Than Ever Before
When Nightcrawler was born, his birth parents, Mystique and Destiny, abandoned him due to a precognitive vision that doing so was vital to stop Azazel’s demonic plans, but requested that Professor X erase their memories so they wouldn’t remember the full story. Rogue’s biological parents, Priscilla and Owen, were newlyweds. When Priscilla went missing, Rogue’s aunt Carrie helped Owen raise her, but due to her aunt’s strict rules, Rogue ran away and found Mystique and Destiny, who raised her as their own (likely in part due to their repressed misery at losing Nightcrawler.) Rogue ended up joining Mystique’s Brotherhood of Evil before eventually becoming an X-Man, with Nightcrawler also being recruited by Charles Xavier.
Nightcrawler discovering the truth led to Xavier lifting his repression of Mystique and Destiny’s memories, allowing them to truly love their son for the first time.Despite this, Nightcrawler has struggled to fully embrace Mystique, knowing that she will always let him down and pursue her own best interests. In the recentX-Men #35, the two engaged in a friendly sword fight, reaching a new level of understanding. However, what Kurt hasn’t quite found in his mothers, he seems to be getting from his sister.
X-Men’s new ‘From the Ashes’ era has depicted Rogue and Nightcrawler as closer than ever, exploring their new sibling bond at a time when many former mutant heroes aren’t even on speaking terms. Last issue, a training mission withUncanny X-Men’s new class of mutantsgot out of control, leading one to sincerely attack Nightcrawler, with Rogue flying to his rescue with a cry of"hands off my brother.“For years, this sibling relationship has been mostly theoretical, but now fans are seeing Nightcrawler and Rogue truly embrace their roles as brother and sister.The pair combining their powers to fly at increased superspeed shows how instinctively they’re now working together.
WithRogueseemingly developing new powers, having psychically sensed that Wolverine is near death, maybe her sibling bond withNightcrawleris helping her develop even further. They’ll both need any advantage they can get, especially when theX-Mencome face-to-face with the ellusive Sarah Gaunt.
The Uncanny X-Men #4is available July 03, 2025, from Marvel Comics.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
