Everyone else is doing it so why don't I? That is to write about how much they are disappointed with Avengers Arena. Except I am not going to do that. The first impediment to me doing so is that I actually have not read Avengers Arena, nor do I have any idea what is really going on other than the fact that it seems to be some version of the Hunger Games with young superheroes. What people seem to be bothered by is the treatment of their favourite characters in a setting which is apparently not designed to highlight their best qualities and to make their favourites into inferior versions of their former selves. Whereas people have complained about the treatment of their favourite characters, I have suggested to just put the series down and find characters elsewhere in the comic world that might appeal to them. It occurred to me that with all of those upset over the treatment of X23 that they might like characters from Grimm Fairy Tales, Mowgli. Granted I have never actually read a comic with X23 in it, but I think I get the gist of the character. So while the title that I have chosen for this blog might be true at this moment, it is not always the case of the character (that is to say I am sure that X23 has been awesome before.)

Anyway here goes:

1. Feral - Though X23 is not exact wolf like (drawing more inspiration from her father, the Wolverine) it is a close enough idea to how the two characters are presented. Mowgli is the human member of the Wolf Clan at the beginning of the Grimm Fairy Tales Jungle Book series, and she has a similar feral attitude at times as to what I have read in other Wolverine comics. For those that like the semi-unhinged side of the characters and yet struggling to maintain control with it, they would also find Mowgli interesting.

2. Story based on characters - For reasons that I won't get into (spoilers) Mowgli decides that she must go to kill the leader of the Tiger Clan. This is not just an assassination attempt though. All of the characters fear for her own safety and for her mental state and whether revenge will consume her. It is a strong characterization of a female character and as a character as a whole.

3. Strong concept - The Jungle Book has been somewhat reimagined with more humans and a different setting, but it does not seem as forced and commercial as Avengers Arena. If people can accept that it is an updated version of the Jungle Book and not a book about superheroes (though the humans would be considered excellent street level characters in a regular superhero setting.).

4. Strong supporting cast - The other humans are not there just for one liners or for guiding along poorly conceived plot devices, instead they are built up themselves from the same place that Mowgli is. This occurs more in the second series (Last of the Species) but still they are presented as strong throughout.

There they are a few suggestions about why the fans of X23 might like Mowgli and the updated version of the Jungle Book. Something to consider for those disappointed with a favoured character (I also wouldn't mind another single person on this site to discuss this series with.)