Bamf
Encyclopedia
Bamf originally Bampf, is a onomatopoeic term from the Marvel Universe
.
is onomatopoeia relating to the fictional character Nightcrawler
and the resulting sound he makes when he teleports. The sound is caused by air rushing into the space where Nightcrawler's body once was. It has been borrowed as a teleport sound by fans and a generic term for teleporting in general ("...and then he bamfed out..."). The sound has become a standard in pop culture.
tells a fairy tale to six-year old Illyana Rasputin, which includes a race of creatures called "Bamfs." Bamfs are small, super deformed
versions of Nightcrawler (even wearing similar clothes to his classic costume). One of the Bamfs enters the story after catching sight of Pirate Kitty, on whom he developed an instant crush, when she and her entourage landed on Bamf Island. He subsequently joins her team and aids in taking down Princess Jean (the fairy tale equivalent of Jean Grey
), aka Dark Phoenix.
Later, in the first Nightcrawler limited series, Nightcrawler is sent to another universe that is identical to Kitty's fairy tale, and there he encounters the Bamfs, including the heroic Bamf from Kitty's tale. Nightcrawler discovers that female Bamfs do not look the same as male bamfs; they are taller and look very much like female versions of himself. The male Bamfs are lecherous, flirtatious and skirt-chasing, making them rather tiring company in the presence of attractive females.
Even before Kitty's fairy tale, plush versions of Nightcrawler, also called "Bamfs", had appeared in many X-Men issues. Kitty Pryde, Illyana Rasputin, Jubilation Lee and Amanda Sefton
, among others, have been shown owning Bamf dolls. It is unknown whether Nightcrawler makes the dolls himself, whether he employs someone else to make them for him, or whether some outside source makes them and he merely purchases them. In the comic Exiles
, a stuffed Bamf is seen in the bedroom of Nocturne
, the child of Nightcrawler and the Scarlet Witch
from another reality
.
The Bamfs reappeared at the newly opened Jean Grey School of Higher Learning, infesting the school after Vice Principal Beast
accidentally opened a portal to their home reality on the school's first day open. Headmaster Wolverine
is the head of a "Bamf Hunting Club."
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
.
Sound
"Bamf" in the Marvel UniverseMarvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
is onomatopoeia relating to the fictional character Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler (comics)
Nightcrawler is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He has been associated with both the X-Men and Excalibur, originally appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
and the resulting sound he makes when he teleports. The sound is caused by air rushing into the space where Nightcrawler's body once was. It has been borrowed as a teleport sound by fans and a generic term for teleporting in general ("...and then he bamfed out..."). The sound has become a standard in pop culture.
Race
In Uncanny X-Men #153, Kitty PrydeKitty Pryde
Katherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 and was created by writer-artist John Byrne....
tells a fairy tale to six-year old Illyana Rasputin, which includes a race of creatures called "Bamfs." Bamfs are small, super deformed
Super deformed
Super deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads, to make them resemble small children...
versions of Nightcrawler (even wearing similar clothes to his classic costume). One of the Bamfs enters the story after catching sight of Pirate Kitty, on whom he developed an instant crush, when she and her entourage landed on Bamf Island. He subsequently joins her team and aids in taking down Princess Jean (the fairy tale equivalent of Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
), aka Dark Phoenix.
Later, in the first Nightcrawler limited series, Nightcrawler is sent to another universe that is identical to Kitty's fairy tale, and there he encounters the Bamfs, including the heroic Bamf from Kitty's tale. Nightcrawler discovers that female Bamfs do not look the same as male bamfs; they are taller and look very much like female versions of himself. The male Bamfs are lecherous, flirtatious and skirt-chasing, making them rather tiring company in the presence of attractive females.
Even before Kitty's fairy tale, plush versions of Nightcrawler, also called "Bamfs", had appeared in many X-Men issues. Kitty Pryde, Illyana Rasputin, Jubilation Lee and Amanda Sefton
Amanda Sefton
Amanda Sefton is a fictional character, a witch in the Marvel Universe. She is the foster sister and former lover of Kurt Wagner, Nightcrawler of the X-Men....
, among others, have been shown owning Bamf dolls. It is unknown whether Nightcrawler makes the dolls himself, whether he employs someone else to make them for him, or whether some outside source makes them and he merely purchases them. In the comic Exiles
Exiles (Marvel Comics)
The Exiles are a group of fictional characters that feature in three Marvel Comics series, Exiles, New Exiles, and Exiles vol. 2. The Exiles consists of characters from different dimensions, or realities, which have been removed from time and space in order to correct problems in various alternate...
, a stuffed Bamf is seen in the bedroom of Nocturne
Nocturne (comics)
Nocturne is a code name used by four separate fictional characters in the Marvel Comics Universe. This article deals with Talia Josephine "T.J." Wagner, formerly associated with the reality-hopping Exiles and New Excalibur....
, the child of Nightcrawler and the Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
from another reality
Multiverse (Marvel Comics)
Within Marvel Comics, most tales take place within the fictional Marvel Universe, which in turn is part of a larger multiverse. Starting with issues of Captain Britain, the main continuity in which most Marvel storylines take place was designated Earth-616, and the multiverse was established as...
.
The Bamfs reappeared at the newly opened Jean Grey School of Higher Learning, infesting the school after Vice Principal Beast
Beast (comics)
Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
accidentally opened a portal to their home reality on the school's first day open. Headmaster Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
is the head of a "Bamf Hunting Club."