Heart breaking, Poignant, Compelling and Bloody....

I was first introduced to the character way back in Uncanny X-men: the Cruelest Cut, she didn't seem to be that interesting a character at the time. I think it was at the peak of Wolverines popularity so yet another Wolverine type character seemed fairly dull. It wasn't until X-force (Post Messiah Complex) that she really came into her own.

X-23: Innocence Lost
written by Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost, Pencilled by Billy Tan

Innocence Lost shows us X-23's beginnings. How she was created, why she was created. Who her mother is. Its a very through origin story and one that is touched with sadness. The tale opens with a flashback to when Wolverine escapes from the weapon X facility. We see a scientist madly grabbing notes and trying to flee for his life. He doesn't get very far. Years later we see that that scientists son is now running the project and they are attempting to recreate weapon X.I don't know what it is about these secret government types and creating killing machines. It just seems to be their main interest. Unfortunately they have been having zero luck in recreating weapon X. It would seem that Wolvie is one of a kind. That's when Sarah Kinney comes into the story. She has a fairly straight forward approach to recreating Weapon X. Lets just clone the bastard! Soooo that's what they do, but things go a little bit wrong (as they usually do) and the Y chromosome is damaged in the sample they have. Hence the clone being female. So that brought a bit of clarification as to how we have a female clone.Right from the word go they train X to be an unfeeling, ruthless killing machine. She is treated like a weapon and not a child. The head of the project Zander is especially cruel to X as he has some unresolved issues with Wolverine. X becomes his punching bag. This story brings up all kinds of controversial issues resolving around child abuse. You really can't help but feel truly sorry for X. She has no concept of a normal life. She is denied the chance to be a real little girl. I've never before encountered a character that is both brutal and unrelenting and at the same time completely innocent. You can't help but hurt at the injustice done to this poor little girl who does not know any different. Its in this book that we are introduced to trigger scent, something that X fears and will become the bane of her existence. Its a scent that when smelt by X sends her into a blind feral rage. Its used effectively by her handlers with visceral results. Its not until later that its used for very vindictive purposes by Zander.Billy Tans art is spot on as always and the dialogue and pacing of the book was really well put together. Christopher Yost and Craig Kyle are a great team when it comes to writing. Its amazing how a team up can have amazing results. These two guys have been kicking goals together fora while now. Their work on X-force is amazing, I'd highly recommend picking up the two hardcover collections which collects that entire run. I would have to say X-23 has a grand future ahead of her in the Marvel universe, as long as shes handled by the right person. X-23 belongs on the darker side of things. Its gritty, dark and has a strong element of emotion attached to it. Just wait till you get to the last part of the book and you'll see what I mean. I'm something of a softie and I shed a tear for poor X.Highly recommended!