X-23, Vol. 2: Chaos Theory

X-23 (2010) (Collected Editions)

by Marjorie M. Liu, Sana Takeda (Illustrator), Kalman Andrasofszky (Illustrator)

Collects X-23 (2010) #10-16.

X-23 thought she had walked away from her past, but after her brutal discoveries in Madripoor, she realizes there are some crimes--of the heart and body--that cannot be so easily forgotten. But as memories begin to spin her out of control, an old mentor and maybe a new enemy come back into her life: Wolverine...and the vampire, Jubilee. Then, when X-23's kill-list is resurrected, she may now be forced to take the lives of the people she once spared. But with a vampire as her uneasy ally, is restraint even an option? Plus: a seemingly unstoppable cosmic force is tearing apart New York, and targeting X-23 and the Future Foundation's Sue Richards and Spider-Man. What strange connection do these three heroes share, and is it the key to saving the city and the world--or will it get them killed?

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, X Men, Superheroes, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

148 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2012

About the author

New York Times bestselling and award-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and she leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop.

Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.

Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”

Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.

Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shallow X-men Buddy Read!



I love X-23, and Marjorie Liu does her justice in Chaos Theory. I still prefer Craig Kyle's stuff, but that doesn't mean this isn't a really good volume. Especially considering that this one features Jubilee (now a vampire) & those nerds at the Future Foundation. And I believe I've already mentioned that I've never been a fan of Gambit, who is now Laura's mentor/sidekick.
So.
If you put all of that into a pot and stir it around, it should be the perfect recipe for Kill-It-With-Fire Soup, right?
Nope.
Believe it or not, this was interesting and fun to read.
Yes, even Vampire Jubilee.
Plus, I absolutely Lovelovelove the art in this!



Gambit is worried about Laura. He found out that she's been cutting herself, which given her healing factor would be hard to discover.



So he calls in Papa Bear to help him get through to her. Wolverine, however, is still watching over Jubilee, which is how she ends up coming along for the ride.
Almost as soon as they show up, Gambit discovers that someone is auctioning off X-23's Trigger Scent to the highest bidder.
For those of you who don't know, this scent causes her to lose all control and go into a mindless berserker rage...killing everyone around her at the time.



After initially wanting to claw her undead face off, Jubilee's bubbly personality eventually wins Laura over, and the two become friends. And since her vampiric nature gives her a fighting chance against Laura in a beserker rage, X-23 even asks Jubilee to be the one to kill her if someone somehow manages to use the scent on her. 'Cause that's what BFFs do!

Anyhoo, the hunt for the Trigger Scent leads to some dramatic times, and you get to see EMOTION! from everyone's favorite hairy little Canuck...



The Stuff with the Fantastic Four Future Foundation was less awesome to me, but it still packed a nice punch.
The art is different, but I still liked it.



The FF crossover has the whole cosmic power thing happening. Boo!
But, ultimately, it turns into a story about Laura choosing to be...better.
More.
Her whole origin is riddled with the theme that she has always been used. First as an assassin, then as a prostitute, and finally again as a weapon by the X-Force. X-23's journey is all about understanding that what she was, isn't necessarily what she has to be.
And while, we as the reader know that Laura is good, she still doesn't trust herself yet.
So, even with the Geek Squad running around in the background, these issues still turned out to be decent.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid volume.

Probably the strongest of the bunch for this series. I think the problem I have with the series is the plotting is okay at best, the scenarios seemed forced and the way things are foreshadowed here are WAY too obvious.

On the other hand I love the tender side of Laura here. Unsure but also always helping. I also enjoyed her with Sue Richard and of course Spider-man, always fun. This volume had a bit more comedy which helps bring levity to the harsh situation Laura is usually is. I also really enjoyed Logan and Gambit relationship with her.

Overall a 3.5 out of 5. I'll bump it to a 4 for the hell of it.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artist for this series does beautiful work. She even manages to make Wolverine look strangely pretty.



Jubilee is just a joy to read, she's so endearing (even as a vampire). I love that she just takes to Laura so easily, even after their less-than-friendly first meeting.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first X-23 story/book/appearance I've ever read. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. A female clone of Wolverine with her own unique personality and ass-kicking potential. I was a little disappointed to see Jubilee, but, to their credit, the writers/artists make her the least annoying/actually interesting version of Jubilee I've ever seen. I love that Gambit and Wolverine are pretty much the old guard in this book, each looking out for the younger ones, but having enough experiences of their own to not treat them completely like children.
The 2nd half storyline deals with Spider-Man and the FF and X-23. I'm at a loss as to why Spider-Man and the FF are all wearing Black & White costumes though, I should probably look it up. Overall, a very good book, has me wanting to read more by this team, though I liked the first half art a bit more, the 2nd artist wasn't any slouch either. Nice to see a new(ish) female character who isn't written poorly, and I'm guessing it's because she's written by a woman? What a crazy idea that is eh? lol. Well worth a read.

[salomé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolverine et Gambit emmènent leur filles Laura et Jubilee en voyage à Paris, ils forment un famille disfonctionnelle mais aimante 😍😍😍

Plus sérieusement, j’aime beaucoup ce récit. Pourquoi Jubilee est un vampire ? Je ne sais pas mais elle et Laura sont trop choupettes ensemble. Gambit est le meilleur homme qu’on est connu sur cette terre. Wolverine est (étonnement) beau et sympa, il est très compatissant et compréhensif envers Laura.

Je trouve que le personnage de Laura est bien écrit. Pareil pour les autres. Pareil pour les dialogues. Les dessins magnifiques, que ce soit le style un peu manga de Telada ou ceux de Phil Noto.

Je suis assez indifférente par rapport au 4 fantastiques mais j’ai apprécié leur arrivée et la manière dont Sue a pris Laura sous aile.
Ça part vers un récit assez fantastique (sans mauvais jeu de mot) pour un personnage comme Laura sur la fin mais pourquoi pas.

[G · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume gets a star more than the previous TPB in this series, only because Takeda and Noto’s distinctive art style made reading through this mess of a narrative bearable.

[nella ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.25 ⭐)

[Sid · Rating 4 out of 5]

wait why is jubilee a vampire lol also gambit and logan bromance double lol but also cute

[Jesús De la Jara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Éste es uno de mis cómics favoritos, los dibujos son sensacionales tanto de Takeda como de Noto. Y esta aventura de Laura la lleva con Gambito, Júbilo y Wolverine. Comienza en París, seguimos conociendo más de Laura a través de sus frustraciones y sus impulsos a veces un poco enfermizos y masoquistas. A pesar que no puede compararse a los cómics con tesoros de la literatura, muchas veces he encontrado enfoques y frases que me encantan, la que siempre recuerdo de esta colección es la que sigue en boca de Júbilo (ya hecha vampiro) desde lo alto de la Torre Eiffel: "La vida es hermosa. Es hermosa y horrible, y alocada ... pero principalmente hermosa. Porque es nuestra. Mi tiempo. Tu tiempo. Podemos hacer lo que sea. Podemos ser lo que queramos. Ésa es la definición de estar vivo. Eso es mágico".

[The other Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the arc with Logan and Jubilee, but the arc with the Future Foundation didn't do anything for me.

[Sana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell yeah to Jubilee! Yes to more comics featuring her. Also, Remy >>>>. Basically, there's a lot to love in this volume

-----------------------------

'But you hurt me more when you tried to hurt yourself.'

THE FIRST ARC IS EVERYTHING AND I'LL PROBABLY NEVER RECOVER FROM IT. THE FEEEEEEEEELS.

I love Jubilee so much, she's awesome. I mean, she made Laura smile for what was probably the first time ever so I'm very serious about her being awesome. Gambit being so protective of Laura and calling out Wolverine on his bullshit reasons for not taking care of her like he does Jubilee is everything and then that panel with Wolverine trying to snap Laura out of her raging killer mode just about killed me. Wolverine stepping up: THAT'S THE CONTENT I'M HERE FOR AND EVEN BETTER, ALL OF IT IS SANA TAKEDA'S ART.

The second arc couldn't have lived up to the first one and the art isn't all that but thankfully, also isn't sexualized which progress, finally. The Fantastic Four make an appearance but are called the Future Foundation for some reason and there's some Captain Universe subplot happening that did a callback to Laura's dream from volume 1 and is cool. There's still this running theme of Laura being able to finally decide for herself and it's honestly so amazing to watch her embrace and live it. I have emotions.

Favorite quote: 'Fill your heart with better memories. Better actions. Better friends. That's all any of us can do.'

[Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first arc was fantastic! It was my favorite storyline thus far. I loved Laura having this group of people backing her. I wish the whole volume was solely X-23, Gambit, Wolverine, and Jubilee. Gambit was pretty adorable and I hope he continues to be at Laura's side for the next volume. Also, in general, I'm just really glad Laura was able to finally see she has true friends. She's had great development in this volume as a whole.

The second arc was such a snooze for me. I really did not care for it. I mean I liked seeing X-23 interacting with Spider-Man–that was fun. Not sure what Spidey was doing with FF though. Johnny Storm was missing too. I felt a little out of the loop there.

[Wolverina · Rating 2 out of 5]

First half better than the second half.

First half I'd probably give about 4 stars on it's own. It doesn't deal with anything particularly original or add any new perspectives, but it does do it really well. Jubilee, Wolverine, Gambit and X-23 make for a fun team up.

The second half is complete and utter cross-over comics drama incomprehensible garbage. Which is a little bit sad.

[Lauren MacDougall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I mean, just absolutely gripping from end-to-end. I have practically no critiques. The narrative evolution, the emotional beats, the slow-cooker nature of this volume make what is the quintessential X-23/ Laura Kinney solo adventure.

First of all, the art is magnetic. I was invested in every frame. Takeda and Noto have such different portrayals of Laura, yet they communicate the same visual cues.

Takeda’s work is soft around the edges, darker in tone and never fails to remind the reader how beautiful the world and the people around Laura are. The watercolour-manga style, in particular, heightens the familial (and dare I say romantic) undercurrent of the volume. Paris, of course, either bathes Laura, Logan, Jubilee and Remy in the warmest light or coldest shadow. It flows with the narrative to an unsettling degree; this is a story about reflections & self-understanding after all. I firmly believe Takeda’s style is what allowed the connection between Jubilee and Laura to blossom so sweetly. Their differences and similarities are all rendered with such care you can’t help but contemplate their narrative significance. That significance is where I believe romantic subtext becomes more overt; the scenes where Jubilee and Laura discuss their relationship to death/murder look like the way the 3 AM sleepover trauma dump feels. So much so, the atmosphere & details of these moments read very effectively as sapphic.

I have always been a Noto-head. I cannot get enough of his Natasha and am elated to see his work pop-up literally anywhere. I couldn’t care less about Star Wars comics, but the way he draws women? I am sat. His version of X-23 similarly affects me. Noto however makes a startling departure from the previous volume’s archive. Noto emphasizes Laura’s youth in one of two ways: the surplus of expression. Both are meant to be entirely earnest, as if Laura has never once thought to conceal her emotions. I love it. Plus, this decision also pays off in our short epilogue-like ending at the university. Noto does rely on a formula more than Takeda but I do not mind it. It’s what connects her to both Sue and Valeria Richards, ultimately. Noto also does a fantastic job blocking Laura. Literally, in the story. Very very few artists lean out of sexualizing Laura when it comes to acknowledging her time in sex work. Noto obviously draws her as beautiful, but this is a story about Laura finding a place and peers who care about her. Who see the humanity & likeness of a friend in her. She has normal proportions and in-character clothes that a teenager would wear.

[47Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

Off to Paris, mon ami! Good thing Remy is there to help with the French if Laura's claws can't get some answers. The team does too much running around to be any fun, though. The story is fueled too much by deus ex machinas and senseless crap. Sure, this is a superhero comic, but get with the program.

Laura hasn't yet found herself. The depression starts to resurface. Logan and Jubilee the vampire join them. It's the perfect setup for some girl on girl action. The team soon finds about a weapons deal focused on the trigger scent that was designed to send Laura into a killing rage back during her assassin training days. The serum now acts upon anyone, with similar results, so the good guys aim to stop the deal. Laura also falls prey to it and Jubilee must fight her, lest innocents get slaughtered.

The gas is used on a train station populated with civilians. The good guys are surrounded, but eventually escape. Pretty easily, if you ask me. Laura is approached by a mysterious woman who gives her a lead to move forward in her personal quest - an old target she refused to kill. When she reaches the target's location, there is an earthquake, a symbol, Spider-Man the member of the Fantastic Four, something called the uni-power, a teleportation to a different world, a demon... nothing makes sense, really. Instead it's laughably chaotic and, dare I say it, outright stupid. But that's just me. I'm sure everybody else will love it. I mean, it has Spidey in it.

[The Lost Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally an X-23 book that actually has a little bit of everything I expected: some serious exploration of Laura's emotional issues and her attempts to bond with people, some easy-to-read action and art that doesn't treat her like a sex-doll. Who would have said that it would be so difficult to treat poor Laura as an actual character, instead of a pair of boobs with claws. This is not like the best comic-book I've ever read, but it has kept me amused. I've really got a chance to dive deeper into X's self-confidence issues, so human and easy to understand by almost any woman I've ever met. I love the explicit way her 'weapon nature' is, finally, connected with all kinds of abuses and how verbal the comic gets about all this. More of that stuff, please. Because, obviously, there can still be some decent and enjoyable classic superhero action even if you try to give some psycological depth to your female protagonist. Again, who would have guessed.

[Rogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

An update; a review of the entire series:
I enjoyed this arc! Some of the art was absolutely awesome, just shining off the page. I loved reading Gambit, X-23's and Jubilee's relationships development, and they were super fun to see play off each other. A lot of action the whole way through, and plenty of side characters pulled in and out- although there was a LOT happening, and occasionally I could have done with a bit more of a breather to actually explore Laura herself and how she was changing, rather than simply thrown into the next mini-chapter of who she was about to meet (and probably, fight). I appreciate that it made every single issue a fun read, but it was a bit jarring to be thrown from one event to the next in succession.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laura's adventures into becoming...normal continue but its obviously not easy. She encounters trouble in Paris and hangs with a vamped out Jubilee. It was fun and seeing her deal with someone so different and similar. Gambit still comes off as a little skeevy but that's just Gambit. The second story was way too cosmic for this book. It was a letdown but did let Laura cross paths with the FF which was a great juxtaposition of life views. Phil Noto's art stood out. Overall, a decent read for a complicated character.

[Mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now THIS is the Jubilee I was hoping for in the Wolverine and Jubilee: Curse of the Mutants run. She makes a great counterbalance to Laura, and I can see why so many fans like seeing these two together.
Also, Laura, how come Marvel lets you have two dads? I really like the "mother hen" streak Gambit has with her. Any excuse for this kid to be treated her age and receive genuine love and compassion. Love it.

[Pie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gambit, Wolverine, and Jubilee: Buy Laura a birthday cake, help her become an individual, take her shopping, and let her know that she's loved and is more than just a human weapon.
Me: I'm not crying you're crying.
I liked the first half of this more than the second because it turned into something slightly confusing stuff with Spiderman, the Fantastic Four, and demons, but both Sana Takeda and Phil Noto have a great art style and I love Laura SO much.

[Jessica Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

X-23 is so beautifully drawn that each panel looks as if it could be framed art work. With a story to match, this is one of the best graphic novels I have ever read. More complex and complete that many other comics, X-23 is more than blood and violence. With a killer heroine that is a little lost and a cast of X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and Spiderman there is something for everyone.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

X-23 continues wandering around trying to figure out who she is. Includes Jubilee as a vampire but also less annoying than she used to be. And an encounter with the Fantastic Four and the Fantastic Four Foundation or something like it. Not the best, but a good solid read. The art could be a touch better, there was a certain amount of sameness to the character's look from panel to panel. 3.5 of 5.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The relationship between X-23 and Jubilee is interesting, but the interesting stuff gets sidetracked by punching. I also think the art for this section, while good, doesn't suit this particular story well. The second story, with the FF, also has some interesting points but gets distracted by cosmic stuff. [When did X-23 host cosmic powers?]

[Chaitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one. Jubilee was a great person to pair with X-23, she's the perfect opposite of X-23 and an injection of fun in a dark story. Chaos Theory itself is a crossover with Future Foundation, and I have zero background in what's happening there, but it was fun, nonetheless. I like Sana Taleda's artwork a lot better though, so that counted against Chaos Theory.

[Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

What killed me more: the Laura-Jubilee combination with Laura thinking she’ll always be people’s gloomy shadow and Jubilee refusing to give up on her and trying to make her laugh, or Gambit completely roasting Logan on how differently he’s treated either of his (lbr) daughters.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and I wish we had seen more of Jubilee and X-23 interacting. Has Jubilee lost her firework powers? But otherwise, even all the chaos plot was fun and the FF and Spidey cameos weren’t bad, if only to see how they react to Laura.

Good job Gambit!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. Just no. Why is there pedophilia in every issue. Did this bitch even read the previous comics? She repeated the same story and changed the characters entirely. The art is also anime for some reason and everyone looks like a bug.

[Trike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no idea what was going on here. Jubilee is a vampire now? Demons and Captain Universe? It all feels so random, so I suspect there’s a bunch of cockamamie crossover stuff going on, but I have zero clue what it was about,

[iayal · Rating 3 out of 5]

the anime-style art was so ass and made laura look older than she actually is which completely makes one of the points of this story useless. liked the first part of this just with gambit, jubilee, and wolverine (all of their bonding was cute) but not the rest with the f4 and spiderman.

[Kate McCartney · Rating 4 out of 5]

2017 Read Harder Challenge- female superhero