With Logan marking the cinematic farewell of Wolverine, it also marks the beginning of the next generation. Played by Dafne Keen in the film, X-23 is the heir apparent to Wolverine's title for many reasons. The most obvious is because she shares a few DNA strands with him that lead to her having adamantium claws that grow out of her hands and feet. In her origin story "Innocence Lost," she gets a story that is a series of conflicting ideals. Is there anything that makes her human, or is she a mutant doomed to seek violent revenge for the sake of those who modified her? The answers aren't always clear, but it makes for a fascinating introduction to a character likely to gain more attention in the years to come.
While Wolverine isn't a major figure in "Innocence Lost," he does make a brief appearance at the start of the story. As Weapon X, he escapes and leaves scientists unable to properly clone his DNA to their advantage. This would give them the chance to build mutants who have healing capabilities and brute strength. When things aren't entirely in place, they have to sacrifice their ideal male gaze for a little girl, who belongs to one of the scientists. The mother figure longingly talks in prose, hoping to find the humanity within Laura, now named X-23 due to her genetic condition. Even then, she is a lab experiment without too many advantages.
She is a one note character, and doesn't have much to offer. She is predominantly silent and is largely sarcastic when she does talk. If there is one thing that's unnerving about X-23, it's that she is detached from the world, able to seek violent revenge without much remorse. What the writers excellently do is manage to pair this with prose that not only discusses her like a genetic experiment, but as a human. There's constant battles of dialogue, raising the question as to whether they went too far. While it's no "Frankenstein," it's definitely rich for a superhero story that ends with some form of redemption and the belief that things will be just fine.
With great animation, "Innocence Lost" is a solid read that properly introduces a second rate character with a strong emotional and narrative depth. It may lack some interest due to X-23's limited appeal, but it makes up for it with the feeling of angst and isolation that run rampant through Laura's body. It's even at times heartbreaking while managing to balance the darkness with any sense of optimism. By the end, she is a tragic figure, and one who will only incorporate herself further into pop culture as time goes on. For now, she has a very interesting start that also serves as a compelling parable of science and humanity.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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