Laura Kinney: Wolverine, Vol. 2: My So-Called Perfect Life

Laura Kinney: Wolverine (2024)

by Erica Schultz, Giada Belviso (Illustrator)

Laura Kinney continues to take the fight to those who stand as enemies of mutantkind! The Wolverine family tree can get pretty complex, but what could be more perfect than Laura Kinney living happily with her doting father (by the name of Logan) and her beloved sister (the incomparable Gabby)? In fact, wouldn't leaving behind her life of death and assassination mean living the dream? Or is it the perfect trap? Plus: Is Julian Keller, A.K.A. Hellion, the love of Laura's life? Can they put their troubled past behind them, or will true happiness always remain out of their reach? The enigmatic Haymaker returns, and Laura reunites with her sister! But Gabby Kinney has a sickness even her healing factor can't cope with. As Wolverine searches the catacombs of Paris for the cure, will Xarus - son of Dracula - seal Gabby's fate? Collecting LAURA KINNEY: WOLVERINE #6-10.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

112 pages, Paperback

Published January 6, 2026

About the author

Erica Schultz is an American comic book writer, letterer, and editor. She is the first woman to write a Spawn comic, and is best known for her writing work at Marvel on titles like Daredevil, X-23, and Hallows' Eve.

Reviews

[Molly™☺ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short volume that tries to juggle a lot despite its length. Laura is still as likeable as ever. However, the shenanigans she gets up to aren't the most interesting. There are three separate 'shorts' featured here. The first is a dream world (enough said), the second is completely forgettable, and the last stands out as being the best without having much to offer. Leading straight into Age of Revelation, here's hoping the series picks up with the shift in direction so Laura can truly shine.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
I like Laura and Gabbie. These stories were solid enough. But also underwhelming and a bit forced.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second and final volume of Wolverine better than the first, so that's definitely an improvement. We get 3 tighter, more focused stories, 2 two-parters with a one-shot in the middle, though none of them really reach the heights of some of Laura's previous adventures.

The opening two-parter, the titular My So-Called Perfect Life, is a Black Mercy-esque story. It kind of all falls apart in the second issue for no reason other than...because we needed it to, and it ends without really showing us that Laura's learned much aside from 'kissing Hellion leads to bad things.'

The middle one-shot story brings back Haymaker from one of Laura's previous adventures, as well as Polly from volume 1, but this is neither here nor there overall.

And then the final two issues, Blood Ties, bring back Gabby and Jonathan (so instantly a good thing) for a magical adventure involving Clea and Xarus, son of Dracula. This is the strongest story in the collection, though Laura tends to have a habit of repeating herself, saying something in inner monologue and then voicing it aloud as well, which feels redundant.

On art is Giada Belviso, who continues an unbroken run through to the end. Her work's a little sketchy at times, but it works for the stories she's given for the most part.

Not bad overall as a series, but I definitely feel like it could have been a bit better.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly stunned by the way this Volume started, but I knew it was going to be a ruse. Laura really needs a way to be happy. She deserves a good life..
Highlights:
- We start with Laura in a normal happy life, living with father Logan, sister Gabby, dating Julian, and she is told her "memories" as a mutant and X-Man are the stories she made up to cope with the loss of her mother. She almost believes it, but then struggles herself awake to experimentation by the Badoon. Her and others they are trying to steal abilities from make it over after some intense combat.
- Looking for something do to one night, she teams up with Haymaker to take down a local maker and dealer of MGH (Mutant Growth Hormone - which temporarily gives people mutant powers)
- Gabby returns fully to Laura's life but has been cursed by a witch who was controlling a group of vampires. Getting help from Clea and Xarus, son of Dracula, the curse is lifted.

Laura's Wolverine title always feels more attuned to family rather than violence, but still packs a punch. This Volume was great. I hope her title continues after "From the Ashes" is over.
Recommend.

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of these modern X titles feel like ways for Marvel to churn out content over an actual desire to push good stories etc and this volume of Wolverine is no exception. The stories, whilst a little underwhelming, are fine and all but they really serve no purpose. Laura, maybe outside of curing Gabby, achieves very little that hasn’t already been touched upon elsewhere. The title is the epitome of ‘going through the motions’. The art is decent throughout though.

[Mel]

Bunch of standalone adventures with basic comics plots (mind prison, street level baddies, and kidnap plot). Not terrible, not terribly memorable, either. Bringing back the Son of Dracula was pretty fun. But Laura's "I'm a temperamental loner" schtick in this run just does not fit her. It's such an odd character personality reset.

[Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spinnning the story wheels until 'Age of Revelation' resets things again..
Nothing amazing here. Laura does what she always does and keeps the loner role going.

===
Bonus: Oh look, it's the Son of Dracula with MUTANT powers?! WTF?

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.3 stars

[Jourdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wiiiiiiiife she’s so fucking cool dude. If they do a small book of her as Sabertooth later I’ll probably get it but I don’t care about any other Age of Revelation thing tbh.

[McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it. The art was tasteful, the characterization was accurate, and I'm glad Johnathan and Gabby are back.