Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

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Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Sundown »

As Slarti suggested in the Brevoort thread, here is a thread to discuss strategies for a fan effort to encourage the return of Kurt Wagner to the mainstream Marvel universe.

For myself, I sent postcards I had made with Nightcrawler's picture to:
Isaac Perlmutter, Alan Fine, Axel Alonso, and Nick Lowe (separately, of course)
Marvel Entertainment Inc
135 W 50th St
New York, NY
10020


These were the names and address Paty Cockrum provided some time ago. Aside from that, I've written letters and posted on various platforms where those at Marvel might see. I expect it has had about the effect of flea bites, to be honest. :)

One of the things that has concerned me most was the lack of presence of Nightcrawler fans since Kurt Wagner was killed off. We roared and stomped our feet for the first months, then it was like everyone just wandered away with their little invisible pointy tails tucked between their legs. I honestly don't think there are enough numbers of die-hard Nightcrawler fans to make boycotting Marvel a noticeable tactic, but that is just me. It feels more like it comes across as indifference to what happens. (Again, that is just my opinion.)

So what are everyone else's thoughts and ideas?
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Angelique »

I had sent snail mail to all of the aforementioned responsible parties. I might have also asked a pointed (but polite! Always polite!) question on Tom Brevoort's Formspring, and even discussed the matter with Chris Yost.

The result was quite disheartening. Chris Yost was the only one who cared enough to correspond with me about it.

So I let my money talk and stopped spending it on anything Marvel until WATX came out. Marvel does not need to be rewarded for a monotonous glut of anti-heroes, but for comics that bring some light, fun, heart- and bring the emphasis in superheroes back to heroics.

But if my experience was typical for the Nightcrawler fan who wants Wagner back, I can understand why some fans are losing hope.
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Sundown »

Angelique wrote:
The result was quite disheartening. Chris Yost was the only one who cared enough to correspond with me about it.
What did Yost have to say about it?
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Ult_Sm86 »

Yost cares deeply for Nightcrawler and his fans, and he grudgingly "pulled the trigger". When I met Matt Fraction at Midtown Comics he told me "we made the best of a bad situation. No one wants him to die, man! But we tried to make it worth reading."
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Sundown »

Ult_Sm86 wrote: No one wants him to die, man! But we tried to make it worth reading."
Then why did he? Why use that type of shock story-telling?
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Ult_Sm86 »

I doubt that's what is relevant but I assume because it was a story they needed to tell to get to the next one. But I'm for an actual campaign so we going to share addresses or keep getting upset?
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Slarti »

Editorial mandate. He has to do what the boss says, in service of the crossover. I remember reading/hearing an interview with him about it.

Yost was an active member here when he was working on the Evolution cartoon. He's a good guy.
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Slarti »

Ult_Sm86 wrote:I doubt that's what is relevant but I assume because it was a story they needed to tell to get to the next one. But I'm for an actual campaign so we going to share addresses or keep getting upset?

Okay, there's what I'm talking about. Let's not read subtext into other people's posts and let it derail the conversation. Let it go.

Get back to topic.
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Sundown »

My apologies, it wasn't meant to derail or even sound snarky. I really was just curious where the decision came from, as he's always been one of the more popular characters.

Are we talking email addresses or mailing addresses? My email is sundowhn@gmail.com
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Ult_Sm86 »

I was hoping for their mailing addresses, so we can do a postcard campaign
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Slarti »

I've been at work all day, so I haven't had a lot of time to think about this, but I *did* find the thread discussing what we did back in 2005 to protest the cancellation of his solo title. I haven't had time to read it all yet, but it's at least good for ideas.

I'll have more to add later.

The link, if you'd like to read it over: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5150&hilit=protest+nightcrawler
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Angelique »

Slarti wrote:I've been at work all day, so I haven't had a lot of time to think about this, but I *did* find the thread discussing what we did back in 2005 to protest the cancellation of his solo title. I haven't had time to read it all yet, but it's at least good for ideas.

I'll have more to add later.

The link, if you'd like to read it over: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5150&hilit=protest+nightcrawler
I'll volunteer to draft an appropriate form letter as soon as the FCBD frenzy dies down a bit!
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Nightcrawlis »

Whoa, it's really been that long since his solo series? :eek
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Dedicatedfollower467 »

I'll work with you guys if you can send me some info!

I still don't know what to make of the flowers they (apparently) sent me...
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Ult_Sm86 »

I was hoping to send 3 or 4 personal letters from myself, hoping you guys could do some as well, and then judging by their response we'd draft a singular one from the whole of the group.
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Sundown »

Should the letters be posted here as they are sent(to compare them), or at some later time?
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Sundown »

There is a poll posted on CBR (currently the most active X-Men forum) about which version of Nightcrawler reader's prefer. If anyone is interested in making themselves heard, here it is: http://forums.comicbookresources.com/sh ... ghtcrawler
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Brimstone Elf »

Thanks for the link. I voted.
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Brimstone Elf »

*BAMF* btw...I voted for the original Earth-616 Nightcrawler. *BAMF*
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Sundown »

I'm not sure who is still reading this, but I have a contact point for the CEO of Disney, Robert Iger. Paty Cockrum had suggested that Nightcrawler fans write to him as someone who might take an interest in the current trend at Marvel of killing off iconic and beloved characters.

Robert A. Iger,
President and CEO of the Walt Disney Company
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
Email: robert.a.iger@disney.com

Here is a link to Paty's thread, for anyone who hasn't seen it: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=13151&p=131512#p131512
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Blueman333 »

They should have never made him die!!!!! >:(
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Sundown »

It has been suggested that we write in and politely talk about what we miss about the character, and plea for his return. For those of us who've done so, it can be disheartening, as is the direction Marvel has headed since then. A lot of people will complain on forums, or even stop buying the books, but never make the effort to say anything directly to Marvel editors. It seems so many have given up and just stopped reading. That's understandable; you don't financially support something you don't like.

The numbers of us dropping subscriptions may or may not have hit on Marvel's radar. Readership and interest fluctuates, after all. They may or may not have attributed any decline in sales to Nightcrawler's death. Any activity that picked up when Kurt Darkholme was introduced may or may not have been noted. (Indicating an interest in the character concept and imagery in general.) The number of people on a character's fan site might account for around 5% of total fans of the character, though. For a site with, for example, 2000+ listed members, that is representing a fan base in the neighborhood of 40,000. It doesn't seem like small change to me.

What I would like to ask of everyone, everywhere who has ever been attached to this character, is that you try just one more time, in an organized effort to be heard. What I'm suggesting is very, very easy, and will take perhaps a minute and a half of your time. I'll be posting this same message on various internet sites, as well.

Just send an email. I'm not even asking you to buy a stamp for snail mail. If you're on the internet to read this, odds are you have an email address. A default subject line (if it happens to hold true for you) is “I stopped reading because....”, another is “Regarding Nightcrawler”.

If you've stopped reading Marvel comics or X-Men titles after the character's death, then just say so.

“I chose to stop purchasing your products in May of 2010 due to the unnecessary death of the iconic and beloved character, Nightcrawler.”

or

“I'm writing in to request the return of Nightcrawler, a unique, iconic and beloved character killed unnecessarily in 2010.”

Surely, if you want to go into more detail, then do so, but really it is about numbers and reasons. Is Marvel right that no one cares about Nightcrawler in the long run, and they'll keep buying regardless? If they're wrong, we should tell them once more.

Alternatively, if you happen to be pleased with Marvel using Kurt Darkholme as a temporary replacement, then say so, as it appears as though the character is about to be killed to further Wolverine's character development, just like the original was.

Marvel won't know what we're thinking if we don't tell them, and tell them en masse.

I'm including the CEO of Disney's email address as well, as he should be made aware of any remaining interest in Nightcrawler.

The addresses are as follows:
ip@marvel.com (Isaac Perlmutter)
jquesada@marvel.com (Joe Quesada)
aalonso@marvel.com (Axel Alonso)
TBrevoort@marvel.com (Tom Brevoort)
NLowe@marvel.com (Nick Lowe)
robert.a.iger@disney.com (Robert Iger/Disney)
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Re: Campaign to Bring Back Kurt Wagner

Post by Angelique »

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/sh ... oming-back!

Well, now some people are wondering if we'll ever see Wagner- not Waggoner or Darkholme- again.
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