X-23 #12

By Mariko Tamaki, Diego Olortegui, Walden Wong, and Chris O’Halloran

With issue #12 of X-23, the series wraps up. This has been a different series than All-New Wolverine, and mostly dealt with clones for the entire run. Whether it was the Stepford sisters or another clone of Gabby and X-23, clones and duplicates were a large part of this series. As we enter the final issue, Gabby and Laura are at odds with each other, and a resolution may be harder to come by than you think.

Mariko Tamaki has done a pretty good job of flushing out both main characters and showing how they differ from one another. In issue 12, she shows us how important the relationship between Laura and Gabby is. Laura is having trouble sleeping and is also seeing things. After storming out, Gabby calls, not for help as she says, but it’s clear that she can’t deal with everything on her own. Tamaki establishes that right now, these characters need each other. While the mission Gabby goes on, freeing X-turkey, seems lame, it is important to her, and it shows the difference in mission between the characters as well. Throughout the issue, Tamaki makes it clear that Gabby is not prepared to be on her own. Trying to save the turkeys and getting attacked by a metal arm and needing X-23 to help her really cements that Gabby is not ready to go solo. We see a resolution between the characters, and Tamaki definitely leaves her mark on Gabby by having her change who she is at the end of the issue. Tamaki also makes it clear that while these two are clones, they are not the same. The series wraps up nicely, and we should all look forward to where Laura and Gabby are headed in the future.

The pencils this issue are handled by Diego Olortegui with inks by Walden Wong and colors by Chris O’Halloran. Olorttegui does a nice job on the pencils this issue. Helped by the inks from Walden Wong, the pencils are clean and very detailed. As Laura meets Gabby in the train to discover the x-turkeys, each bird is very detailed from their feathers to their face. We also get a great close up panel of Laura jumping off of an exploding train. Olortegui has a perfect expression on her face, and the detail on her gloves and her body make this an excellent panel. The colors by Chris O’Halloran are good here as well, and compliment the pencils. O’Halloran uses a lighter palette to show flashbacks, which is effective. O’Halloran excels in the panels with the train fight, like when Jonathan attacks. The art is very good in this issue, and I look forward to the next project these guys work on.

X-23 wraps up nicely, and the future is bright for both characters. Mariko Tamaki wrote a nice conclusion that puts our heroes in a good spot. The art works well with the story and is overall very impressive. This series should leave an impression on the characters and fans as well.