X-23

X-23 1-shot
This was a good book. The character X-23 is definately living up to her title as Wolvie's clone. She seems to be the newest character trying to find her humanity, or even understand humanity. Kinda like a mutant version of Spock....well with, tits, adamantium claws, and a homicidal glee streak.

It was nice to see some more of the character fleshed out. We witness her observe Wolverine and Jubilee's relationship, and are left wondering how she is processing it. Then we get to see her reconnect with the people that helped save her from the streets she was selling her chocha on.

I actually liked the art in the issue as well. Mostly the contrast between what was going on and the battle that was happening in her head. This isn't really a must read, but if you have interest in the character you won't be upset that you picked it up.

3.5 out of 5 Wolverine clones    

What a great Story!  The beginning is really something you don't expect, because the issue starts with narration like a fairy tale, and very awesome art to go along with it.  The story goes in to Laura's thoughts, made a weapon, while they were expecting a boy she did just fine.  Wolverine brings Laura along to New York, to a case of missing De-powered mutants, summoned by Jubilee.  But Laura just runs in to the streets of New York, this one shot is about X-23, and not the case of missing mutants.  
 
Laura's thoughts about being caged, and experimented on are so deep, but she is making a point, X-23 is being used.  She then goes on talking about when she used to prostitute herself, along with some graphic pictures.  You know what Laura is not the only one with problems, she finds her old friend from New York, homeless, on the run, and broke, don't forget broke.  Laura goes on remembering that with them is when she used to feel safe, but it hurts her to remember. 
 
I found the whole issue very compelling and touching, with enough action to show Laura is a force to be reckoned with.  I give this issue a 4 1/2, because to me it showed me how X-23 exist today due to Wolverine, and Wolverine is a part of her life.  But he is not the only one, she has made friends, and more importantly X-23 is Laura, and she is freeing herself. I just want to congratulate the whole creative team of the issue Marjorie Liu writting, Filipe Andrade and Nuno Alves Pencils, with Jay Leisten, Nuno Alves, and Sandu Florea in Inks, and the colors by SotoColor and Nuno Alves.  Sweet Sweet issue.

For a clone of Wolverine, x-23 is very much different from logan. Aside from the obvious, male/female & 3claw/2claw comparisions,both Laura & Logan are very different in different ways. I found this one-shot reinforced those key differences that make X-23 such a good character.  
 
Until recently, a major part of Logan's character has been his lack of memories and how he found it difficult to define himself with no knowledge of his past. But Laura has all of her memories, almost all of them bad. This issue really shows Laura's insecurities, her comparison on her & Jubilee's relationships with Logan is really quite sad. Especially so when you see her reaction which while not physically lasting damage to X, it must be doing some major psychological damage. The same can be said to her reaction to Kiden & the gang, she seems totally taken aback that there are people who care about her and don't see her as a weapon. All throughout the book the recurring theme is Laura's inability to deal with emotions and how she deals with those who care about her. And with the very cool manga-esque subplot running through the book I found this book to be both profoundly sad but such a deep character book I enjoyed it immensely. Such a refreshing one-shot, if you're a fan of X-23 or just want to get to know the character better I'd definitely recommend it

This one shot is an elegant gothic fairy tale. I didn't know much about X-23 (Hell, I didn't know anything about her) prior to reading this other than blurbs about her being a Wolverine clone and both literal and proverbial girl of the streets. The writing is never self-indulgent or cliched. The art is unorthodox, but utterly beautiful. This book reaffirmed my love of comics, and introduced me to a character I intend to follow. 

Laura Kinney, the X-Man known as X-23, is one of the most popular comic book characters created in the Modern era—even though she was originally created for X-Men: Evolutions cartoon. Because of this, her character is also one of the most abused. In the new “X-23” one-shot penned by Marjorie Liu (NYX: No Way Home and Dark Wolverine), Laura reunites with Kiden and Tatiana, homeless mutants that befriended her in the series NYX.

Told in media res, Liu tells the story of a mysterious figure called the Gamesmaster who finds comfort in Laura’s mind which leads her to question things about herself. This should lead to an interesting retrospective of how far X-23 has come since her first appearance plus her internal debate on whether she is anything more than the killing machine she was created to be. Instead the reader is treated to a very emo Laura who seems to have disregarded all the character development she has achieved in the six years since her comic debut. An example of this is when X-23 thinks, “The woman who carried me in her womb read me stories. I remember.” This contradicts other times when she referred to Dr. Sarah Kinney as her mother.

Marjorie Liu is a good writer. Her novels remain some of the most well written paranormal romance novels I’ve read. She obviously knows how to weave a story that includes superpowers and dynamic character development, but it fails to translate onto the comic book page.

The true terror of the “X-23” one-shot is found in the art. Newcomer Filipe Andrade’s art is stylized but isn't that bad, just a bit unrefined—though I could do without all of the shots of Laura’s underage, upper buttocks shots. The other artist is Nuno Plati (Avengers Fairy Tales and incorrectly listed as “Nuno Alves” on the credits page). He used a style that he said, “was quite a departure from my usual stuff,” and it shows. The art hurts. The highly stylized dream-like sequences with the Gamesmaster are brightly colored jumbles of static images that make trying to read the alternating black and white word balloons a chore as well as an eye strain (though it could be worse it could be Warrior #1).
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My god, this comic was breathtaking! I have yet to find a single issue of any title that I have liked more than this. 
The way in which the art shifted from a more realistic, somewhat typical comic style into a different landscape of stark red and black was absolutely flawless. Though the latter was very unrefined, it was primal and raw and very much fit the interaction between Laura and the Gamesmaster.  
Speaking of the Gamesmaster, his narrative was beautifully written. Maybe I just have a bit of a thing for semi-poetic dialogue, but the wording conveyed the essence of the character so perfectly. We're presented with a being who hears the thoughts of everyone, at once, all the time (unless he tries really hard not to), and yet feels so horribly alone, existing in what seems to be somewhere apart from reality itself.  
Even the emotions depicted were convincing. There should be more comics like this in the world!