Writers: Craig Kyle, Chris Yost
Artists: Mike Choi, Sonia Oback
Publisher: Marvel Comics
In the 21st century most comic book readers and creators try to stay away from clones and the types of crazy stories that plagued the past. Bendis handled the Ultimate Clone saga fairly well but still, when dealing with clones, tread lightly. However, while I usually stray from clones and such characters, Craig Kyle’s X-23 is one clone that I love to follow. Who would have ever thought a female teenage clone of Wolverine from a cartoon would be on the rise as one of the most popular X-characters in recent memory? Craig Kyle’s passion is telling a good story and teamed with Chris Yost, he accomplishes that feat every time he touches pen to paper with X-23.
I believe that X-23 is so successful not because she is essentially the main character of New X-Men, and not because she is the “daughter” of Wolverine, X-23 is successful because she’s not just a mindless clone, but rather a character with a dark and violent history that’s just trying to move on with her life. While X-23 may be wildly popular and rising amongst fans, the one thing that I think will keep her rising is her dark and troubled past.
Wolverine was created without a known past; no one really knew who he was, and he’s currently still being shaped and molded, and many parts of his personality are being incorporated. The difference between Wolverine and X-23 is that X-23’s past is being told clearly and well by her creators, Craig Kyle and Chris Yost. That is one of the greatest advantages to this character. When a character is handled for the most part only by his or her creator, we get a sense of the true personality and motivations for that character. Nothing is distorted by a different writer’s own vision, but the true intention of the character is explored and built upon by the very people who first developed the concept.
In this issue, X-23 is really shown in her true form. There’s plenty of action and violence in this issue to really satisfy any action junkie or reader with some sadistic tendencies. But X-23, in all of its blood and guts, really finds its true glory in the character. While anyone who shares the same DNA as Wolverine should have some violent tendencies, to make a story great there must also be character. X-23’s real substance comes in her character; she’s responsible for her mother’s death and killing countless others, but she is just a girl trying to fit into the world. While we’ve seen stories like this before, it’s very rare to see this story told through the eyes of a weapon, a pure killing machine. While X-23 possesses Wolverine’s powers and raw rage, she definitely has her mother’s compassion and heart, something that will more than likely quell the beast.
But like I stated, this issue is almost pure action, action that is key to the story. There’s a trigger to X-23’s rage, and we see this trigger utilized in a hit for Wilson Fisk. The hit is also quite entertaining. Seriously, check it out. The person X-23 kills and how she does it (considering who it is) is pretty cool. When the reader learns what the trigger is, the consequences are so severe that it makes you want to throw away any product that contains the trigger. Seriously, X-23 doesn’t just open a can of whoopass, she slice and dices. Who knew such a pretty little girl could chop you into little cubes?
I feel that while the first two issues have dealt mostly with X-23 trying to fit into a normal life, this issue is essential for readers and fans of X-23 to really see what she is capable of. This issue is a welcome break from the emotional struggle and drama X-23 faces and really comes at the right time to show us why X-23 is so dangerous and why even those that helped create her are scared to death. I for one hope that Craig Kyle never stops writing X-23; it’s his brainchild, and he should continue to develop her further and further.
The art is also spectacular. Even though Captain America and Daredevil look like 12 year olds and Wilson Fisk is overly and menacingly rotund, the artwork throughout the book is consistent and really captures a great deal of the action. There’s a dark tone to this title that really comes through in the artwork. A lot of emotion is conveyed just as well as the sheer madness and rampage killing.
For any Wolverine fan, you should be picking up this title. For anyone looking for something new, or wondering about X-23, you should definitely be picking up this title.
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