X-23 #1

[Mark Caringer]

Written by Majroie Liu, pencils and cover by Alina Ursov.

X-23 has spent her short life being used by those in power, from the military to the X-Men. But when she is forced to confront a being who can control her life with nothing but a thought, will X-23 finally learn how to fight -- not for others, but herself? Guest-starring NYX!

48 pages, $3.99.

[Megalictis]

I'm really looking forward to Marjorie Liu's X-23 one-shot! Mostly it's because Liu is the perfect writer for this story (though the cover art looks good too). Back before she published her first novel (when she was still "just a lawyer") she founded the Wolverine and Jubilee fan site. In its day it was the most active fan site for either character - lots of discussions and tons of fanfics (a few by Liu herself). The point is she knows these characters very well. Like most fan-fic writers on the site she had dreams of writing comic books for real. But unlike the rest, she's actually doing it! X-23 #1 will be her first chance to write both Wolverine and Jubilee (and X-23, who is arguably Jubilee's "successor" as Logan's "surrogate daughter").

She began her professional writing career as a best-selling romance novelist (her books typically feature supernatural characters) She first wrote Wolverine (and the '90's X-Men team) professionally in the novel X-Men: Dark Mirror (which I recommend). This led to her first venture into the comic book side of Marvel publishing - NYX: No Way Home. Since X-23 debuted in comics in Joe Q.'s original NYX miniseries, and a reunion with the NYX kids is part of the X-23 one-shot, this is almost a sequel to her previous work.

From there she moved on to team with Daniel Way writing Daken's exploits in "Dark Wolverine" by adding more depth and complexity to a character I had previously considered shallow and disposable. Thanks in large part to Marjorie Liu I now consider Daken to be Wolverine's most worthy arch-enemy for the forseeable future. Apparently Marvel was also pleased with her work since she's been given a chance to write the rest of Wolverine's family.

Knowing what Liu is capable of I'm eager to see her write this story. It's the first actual "meeting" between X-23 and Jubilee (though both lived at the mansion for a while and were both seen in the final panel of X-Men #156 there was never any interaction between them). Given their shared connection to Logan it's sad that it's taken so long for anyone to explore this angle, and Marvel couldn't have chosen a better writer for the job! For over a decade Marvel has ignored the relationship between Wolverine and the one and only character Logan has ever admitted that he needed (in Generation X #6). Likewise Marvel hasn't seen fit to allow Logan to step-up and become the "family" that Laura needs. In Marjorie Liu's hands I'm hoping that both these situations will be remedied.

Oh, before I forget, Liu is also writing a Wolverine and Jubilee story for one of the "Girl Comics" anthologies. If Marvel is still trying to attract more female readers, a best-selling romance novelist with an existing (mostly female) fanbase (many of whom have never read a comic book) is a potential big draw. (Especially since she discusses her comic book work on her website).