Laura Kinney is easily one of the best additions to the Marvel universe in the modern era. Given her intriguing backstory and stellar character evolution from X-23 to Wolverine, it’s not hard to see why. X-23: Deadly Regenesis #2 written by Erica Schultz, art by Edgar Salazar, and colors by Carlos Lopez, continues to tell an exciting story from a previously unknown time in the character’s history.
In this issue, Schultz spends the time needed to develop Haymaker, Laura Kinney’s newest foe. In my opinion, he is given an interesting backstory, but his motives for wanting to take revenge on Laura are a bit cliche. Despite this, I can easily see him becoming a reoccuring and important villain for Laura, if writers choose to utilize him after this run. Schultz also captures the menacing and downright evil nature of Kimura, but does so in a way that does not make her feel like a one-note, cartoonish villain. My favorite scene from the issue was the flashback scene with Laura, as it is a side of Laura we don’t often see in current comics. Her inner dialogue is heartbreaking to read, but it feels accurate to her mindset during the time that this takes place. This also shows how far she has come as a character, and how she has gotten herself in a better place mentally after years of trauma and trying to heal. Due to the backstory Haymaker was given, Laura almost takes a backseat in this issue, but she does have stellar moments regardless. Also, the ending proves this is likely a one-off and she and Kimura will have plenty of scenes together in the next issue.
Edgar Salzar and Carlos Lopez’s art is excellent. The characters show tons of emotion, and you can almost feel their pain and anguish. The flashback scene is also creatively done, and Laura utilizes her powers in a way that makes for a great visual. Haymaker and Kimura’s new costume designs are very eye catching, while still having a pratical feel. The coloring also is slighty different in the flashback scenes, which is subtle but effective way to differentiate it from the scenes set in the present.
X-23: Deadly Regenesis #2 is a great sophomore issue in a promising series that is already proving to have a big impact on Laura Kinney’s character and history. We get a look at the history of Haymaker, an iconic villian in the making, and how he connects to Laura. The art highlights the characters expressions and new costume designs very well. While this issue mostly gives us backstory and setup, it’s clear the payoff in upcoming issues will be worth the wait.
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