One of the harsher theories about Nightcrawler's death is that he was killed off because a percentage of the money from his appearrances went to Dave Cockrum's widow. Presumably though she'd still get paid for the Bamf and AOA Nightcrawler's appearrances too as they are all technically Nightcrawler? I'd like to think Marvel wouldn't do something like that but it wouldn't be a first for the industry.