How X-23 Changed After Her Introduction in ‘X-Men: Evolution’ (2024)

TV Shows

Published

November 22, 2019

X-23's first appearance ever was in Season 3!

by

Steve Horton

The 2000-2003 cartoon series X-Men: Evolution might be best known for two things. One, it was a brilliant, teen X-Men focused successor to the classic X-Men Animated Series. And two, it introduced the world to a character in its third season that would outlast the show by years and go on to appear in comics, video games, and even on the big screen!

That character is Laura Kinney, otherwise known as X-23. She has two large claws on each hand and one in each foot, a healing factor, and a tortured past a mile long. All this adds up to one of the most compelling new Marvel characters of the 2000s.

With the series now streaming on Disney+, now’s the perfect time to catch up with the character and how her Marvel introduction happened in reverse, starting on television and then making her way to the comics.

How X-23 Changed After Her Introduction in ‘X-Men: Evolution’ (1)

X-23’s Animated Debut

Episode 10 of Season 3 of X-Men: Evolution, “X-23,” sets the stage: Though the Weapon X project is currently defunct, HYDRA wants to create another Wolverine. They are unsuccessful at doing this 22 times.

On their 23rd attempt, HYDRA uses DNA from Wolverine himself and clones a girl that was raised to be emotionless and uncaring. This had the side effect of giving her anger that she couldn’t control.

When HYDRA’s Dr. Deborah Risman defects to the X-Men and reveals HYDRA’s plan, simultaneously X-23 escapes from HYDRA’s facility and tracks down Risman to kill her, as X-23 blames Risman for her tortured existence.

Wolverine is the last X-Man standing after X-23’s precise, but furious attack, and Logan’s empathy prevents him from harming X-23 and she flees the mansion.

Later in Season 4, X-23 targets Madame Hydra and the rest of HYDRA, working alongside Wolverine to take down the terrorist organization.

NYX

After X-Men: Evolution, it was only a matter of time before X-23 made her way to the comics. She was reintroduced with several other young, homeless mutants in the limited series NYX. while we didn’t learn much about her origins, but we were treated to some nice Josh Middleton and Rob Teranishi art.

X-23: Her Own Miniseries

From there, X-23 jumped into the pages of back to back miniseries, X-23: INNOCENCE LOST and X-23: TARGET X, where we learned the true Marvel Universe comic book origin of this enigmatic character. These series take place chronologically before NYX.

This origin story mirrors the cartoon without the HYDRA influence: Mutant geneticist Dr. Sarah Kinney carries a female clone of Wolverine in her own womb for nine months and delivers her as the 23rd and first successful attempt to clone Wolverine.

When Laura turns 7, she’s forced to undergo the same adamantium claw-bonding process as her older clone. She is also programmed with a trigger scent that sends her into an uncontrollable angry rage whenever she smells it.

Present Day X-23

Since her animated series and debut in the comics, Laura has learned to feel emotions for the first time and keep her mental programming at bay. She’s joined the X-Men and even taken on the mantle of Wolverine from time to time, more than filling the shoes of her genetic twin, Logan.

These days, X-23 is a part of an outsider team, Fallen Angels, along with Kwannon and Psylocke. Whether fighting solo or with a misfit team of mutants, X-23 has earned her place among Marvel’s elite mutants!

Sign up for Disney+ and start streaming now! And be sure to follow Disney+ onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagramfor more.

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In this article: Wolverine (Laura Kinney), X-Men, Wolverine (James Howlett)

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How X-23 Changed After Her Introduction in ‘X-Men: Evolution’ (2024)

FAQs

How X-23 Changed After Her Introduction in ‘X-Men: Evolution’? ›

Present Day X-23

What happened to X-23 in X-Men: Evolution? ›

X-23 was sent by HYDRA to steal information from S.H.I.E.L.D., but she went rogue instead. Wolverine helps X-23 take down part of HYDRA. X-23 joined the X-Men in the future along with Alex, Colossus and Gambit. Gambit, X-23, Wolfsbane and Jubilee all appear in the final shot.

When was X-23 first introduced? ›

X-23
Laura Kinney X-23 / Wolverine
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceX-Men: Evolution: "X23" (August 2, 2003)
First comic appearanceNYX #3 (February 2004)
Created byCraig Kyle Christopher Yost
9 more rows

Who is X-23 love interest? ›

In X-23, she dated Julian Keller, but the writer had also implied that she had feelings for Jubillee. There were a few other people she was set up with, but the most recent and iconic is Archangel. Her relationship with him was much healthier than her relationship with Julian because she didn't let him push her around.

What is Laura Kinney's backstory? ›

Laura Kinney is a mutant artificially created by the Facility using Wolverine's DNA to serve as their private assassin. Geneticist Sarah Kinney was tasked to lead the project, proposing to create a female subject after twenty-two failed attempts due to a damaged Y chromosome in the genetic material.

What is X-23 real name? ›

Laura Kinney is X-23, the perfect killing machine created from stolen DNA of Wolverine himself. Now free from The Facility that valued her only as a killer, Laura has become a hero and sometimes member of the X-Men. Currently, she has taken up the mantle from Logan as the All-New Wolverine!

Was X-23 born with adamantium? ›

Laura Kinney, X-23, the new Wolverine of the Marvel Universe and current X-Men member, does not have an adamantium skeleton, just adamantium claws, in her hands and her feet.

Is X-23 immortal? ›

Disease Immunity: Due to her highly efficient immune system, X-23 is immune to all Earthly diseases and infections. Immortality: Due to her healing factor, X-23 is virtually immortal.

What gender is X-23? ›

X-23 is also known as Laura Kinney. She's a female clone of Logan aka Wolverine. They, an organization known as the facility, only had a damaged copy of his genetic sample and they couldn't copy the Y chromosome.

Who gave birth to X-23? ›

As revenge for her insubordination, Rice forced Kinney to act as the surrogate mother for the clone, and she gave birth to "X-23."

Is X-24 Logan's son? ›

X-23 is Logam's daughter because she was actually born using his DNA making Logan the surrogate father. X-24 however is a clone created using Logan's DNA and probably some of Caliban's DNA for the use of tracking him.

Will X-23 have her own movie? ›

However, the Disney-Fox merger, finalized in 2019, halted multiple X-Men projects, including the proposed X-23 solo movie. The deal led to the absorption of Fox's Marvel characters by Disney, sparking uncertainties about the future of Mutant-centered films.

Who is X-24 in the comics? ›

X-24 was a clone of Wolverine created by the Alkali Corporation and Transigen project after X-23 escaped. X-24 was sent to recapture X-23 who had discovered Logan and the pair were on the run with Professor X. X-24 caught up with them at the Munson household and broke into the house at night.

How old was Laura in Logan? ›

In Logan, Laura is an 11-year-old Mutant genetically engineered from Wolverine's DNA. Since Mutants are no longer born, they are instead bred as weapons to be used by people who can afford this expensive process. As Wolverine's biological daughter, Laura has her father's healing factor and retractable claws.

Who is Jeff Kinney's first wife? ›

Kinney graduated from the University of Maryland in 1993. While at college, he originally majored in computer science but later swapped to criminal justice to have more time to work on his comics. On December 14, 2003, Jeff married Julie Kinney. They have two sons together, Will and Grant.

What did Jeff Kinney want to do as a kid? ›

Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney didn't grow up wanting to be a children's author. His dream was to become a newspaper cartoonist but he wasn't able to get his comic strip syndicated.

Is X-23 still alive? ›

Wolverine's daughter, Laura Kinney, also known as X-23, Wolverine, and Talon, is dead and unlikely to return. Laura's psychic imprint was stored by Synch after her body was destroyed by the High Evolutionary, but he had to let go of it to save the X-Men.

What happened to x 24? ›

X-24 is narrowly defeated when Will Munson, dying of his wounds, rams him with a SUV, impaling him on a farming machine, and then shoots him three times with a shotgun. Logan and X-23 escape.

Who is X-23's mother? ›

Sarah Kinney (Earth-616)

Does X-Men: Evolution have an ending? ›

During the final battle, the X-Men and their allies defeat the Horsem*n, who are returned to normal, while Rogue absorbs the powers of Dorian Leach to neutralize Apocalypse and trap him in his tomb forever.

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