Sibling Differences

We talked a bit about volume 2 of Mariko Tamaki's X-23 series back in Sunday Splash Page #21. Where the first six issues larger focused on Laura and Gabby's connection in terms of them working together and looking out for each, this volume (which consists of the remaining 6 issues) concentrates on their differences.

Tamaki brings back Robert Chandler, the villain of the first six issues of Tom Taylor's All-New Wolverine, and the one responsible for cloning Gabby and her sisters from Laura's genetic material. Since that went poorly, Chandler is taking the approach of making cyborg Laura clones from damaged genetic material. No healing factor and seemingly no natural claws, but I assume they have her other natural athletic abilities, as well as being more docile, loaded with weaponry and armor. Best of all, the lack of healing factor means people will have to keep buying them!

This whole scenario does not end well for Chandler, which, is fine. It also doesn't end well for the first of the "X-Assassins" Laura and Gabby encountered, who Gabby had grown fond of and wanted to help make a life for herself, as Laura had for her. Laura dismisses X-Assassin as just a weapon, which is a harsh assessment coming from her. While Gabby spends most of a night singing to the X-Assassin and telling "her" stories, Laura keeps insisting X-Assassin is an "it".

Of course, Logan never shied away from acting like he was better than Deadpool or any number of other victims of government experimentation, so Laura comes by that hypocrisy naturally.

The X-Assassin never speaks, other than with simply gestures, but Diego Orlotegui's art would seem to lean towards Gabby's point of view. The X-Assassin never shows any hostility, spending most panels with either a vacant look, or one of vague sadness and resignation. But there are a few panels where Gabby does or says something, and it's followed by a silent reaction panel from the X-Assassin. her watching the young girl thoughtfully. It's enough I understand Gabby being sad over how things end.

That covers the first four issues, with the remaining two trying to deal with the fallout. Gabby is processing her grief and shutting Laura out in the process. Laura, as her internal narration notes, doesn't know how to deal with this delicately. So it turns into a shouting match where Gabby accuses Laura of just making the decision on her own that no one else gets the chance the two of them got. Which leads to Gabby storming out (and taking Jonathan the Wolverine with her), and trying to rescue a bunch of turkeys that have been spliced with X-23's DNA as well.

Yeah, I know. It's kind of hilarious in its absurdity, and maybe Tamaki means it as a sign of Gabby's general youth and way of looking at things, but I'm not sure it lands. Turkeys might be a bridge too far of a connection to insist on. Although the idea of trying to use the healing factor as a method for organ replacement, and trying it on turkeys to start, actually makes some sense. It's essentially what Butler was doing with Deadpool in Duggan and Posehn's run. Either way, it does highlight both some similarities and differences in the sisters. Laura is focused on finding the people who do these experiments and stopping them, while Gabby seems more concerned with helping their victims.

But both of them demonstrate very black-and-white views for most of the volume. Gabby says she wants to help all of them (though she had no problem fighting the other X-Assassins swarming Laura), while Laura seemingly is fine not worrying about any of them after Gabby. 

Orlotegui's art is well-suited for the story. His lines aren't overly busy, but he can be detailed when he needs it, and it's the little details that help highlight the differences in Gabby and Laura. Gabby wears a hairband with some little monster face on it all the time, and favors pajamas and baggy hoodies with X-logos, while Laura, when not in her mission outfit, goes for very plain tank tops and the like. Gabby carries nunchaku with her on missions. Why does she need them? I assume because it's fun to hit people with them. Especially if you have a healing factor, so there's no permanent damage when you accidentally smack yourself in the face. 

That helps add some levity to the story, keeps it from being too depressing. It also helps to demonstrate why these two live together. Tamaki mentions things in passing about how they argue and fight like sisters, with it being cranked up to 11 because they're both Wolverines. But there's still affection, and this version of Laura's apartment looks much more lived-in than it did at the beginning of All-New Wolverine.