Comics / Comic Reviews / Marvel Comics

X-23: Target X #1

By Kevin Powers
December 19, 2006 - 10:00

X-23 is one of those characters that gains so much popularity in another medium that it seems inevitable that the story be carried over to another medium. Craig Kyle created the “daughter/clone” of Wolverine during his tenure on X-Men Evolution. The character became such a hit that further development began and she soon entered into mainstream Marvel Comics Universe. She’s the clone of Wolverine mixed with the DNA of scientist Sarah Kinney. She was trained to be a weapon, obviously a female version of Wolverine, but free will and the death of her mother steered her in a direction otherwise. Since her initial transition into comic books she has been featured heavily in the X-books including Uncanny X-Men and is today one of the central and more popular characters of New X-Men.

While X-23 may be a new staple of the X-Men and the Marvel Universe, the details of her origin are still being revealed. Obviously who better to handle it than her two creators Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost. The first details of her origin were covered in the first X-23 mini-series but the question remains what factors led X-23 to become a “normal” teen while dealing with her true nature of being a weapon. These questions are going to be explored in the new X-23: The Target series. In the first mini-series, X-23 was introduced as a teenage prostitute, this mini-series appears to be exploring the more human side of X-23. Told through flashbacks, her training at Weapon X shows that she was better than Wolverine at many simulated tests, which she improvised and took risks that Wolverine did not, and she still ultimately comes out on top. Inserted between these flashbacks are panels showing X-23 in what appears to be an interrogation and when asked “Who is X-23?” the flashbacks become ones that are more in tune with memories of being “good” or in other words, not being a weapon. There’s plenty of everything that involves X-23 in this first issue, there’s blood, there’s plenty of action and there’s a look at X-23 trying to be a normal teenager and hiding out at the relatives of her mother.

I once sat down with Craig Kyle and asked him what he enjoys the most about what he does. He told me that he doesn’t care what character is featured or where and when a story takes place, he only cares about good stories and telling good stories. With his success on X-Men Evolution and the Ultimate Avengers animated features its easy to see that Kyle is a guy that doesn’t like to put out anything but quality and for this you’ve got to respect him. He and Yost have done a fantastic job with X-23 and her popularity and well as making New X-Men one of the few solid X-books on the shelves. On a personal level, Craig Kyle is a great guy and his passion for telling great stories with these characters he loves will keep him on top of his game for years to come.

The artwork on this title is also amazing. Michael Choi’s level of detail and realism really makes the art standout. He does a great job capturing action sequences as well as drawing environments that X-23 finds herself in.

9/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12