When you consider the fandom and love for Wolverine (Laura Kinney) and Generation X, expectations for Generation X-23 are going to be sky high. Fandom loves both, with Wolverine in particular being a closely talked about character given her development over the last few years. Returning to the X-23 era in any capacity is dicey at best, but as far as first issues go, there’s a lot of potential here to satiate new and old fans alike.
Generation X-23 #1 does a few things right, like capturing Laura and her sister Gabby’s voices, establishing its plot with a key figure in Wolverine’s life, and offering up the tantalizing aspect of new mutant characters. Some may argue we’ve got too many mutants these days, but how can you argue with the excitement of new characters and the legacy of Generation X bringing in new ones? Already a good big sister, writer Jody Houser seems to be setting up Wolverine as a mentor, that is, if she can survive the experience.
This issue opens with Gabby and Wolverine protecting a mutant in an alley from a mob of racists. It’ll be easy work until shards of reality break up what Laura sees. Or maybe it’s time travel, or maybe multiverse shenanigans, either way, it distracts Laura enough to put the mutant she’s defending in danger. Once the confrontation is thwarted, Laura realizes her old friend Kiden Nixon may be involved with what happened, and she’s quickly off to investigate.
Fast ball special!
Credit: Marvel
As far as plot progression goes, a lot happens in this issue, from the opening confrontation to Wolverine ending up in a facility with robo-hers. The cliffhanger leaves you with plenty to learn more about regarding new mutants, and by the end, you’ll be right there with Laura, wondering what is going on. There is one clunky moment where Gabby conveniently shows up, but chalk that up to limited page time to get the ball moving.
Action feels intense, and Jacopo Camagni delivers strong, detailed superhero art. Backgrounds can feel blank and flat throughout, which makes some pages feel a bit empty, but characters look good, and it’s always easy to follow fight scenes. The time displacement effects are quick and cool to look at, with the shards working as portals, adding a chaotic element to scenes. Throw in fun moments like a fast ball special and a near full-page splash of Gabby and Laura fighting robot Wolverines, and there’s a lot of pulse-pounding visuals to take in.
Generation X-23 #1 clears a high bar by honoring Laura and Gabby’s dynamic while launching a fast-moving mystery tied to Laura’s past. Houser balances heart and chaos, teasing new mutants and bigger implications without losing sight of character. Camagni brings energy to the action, even if some backgrounds feel sparse. It is a confident start that should hook longtime fans and curious newcomers alike.
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