New X-Men: Childhood's End - Volume 4

This book is a quasi sequel to X-23: Target X. Though I emphasize quasi since it is not a direct follow up. Situations from TX merely flow into this book. The Facility, the agency who were instrumental into creating Laura and turning her into a killing machine. Kidnap one of her fellow students at the school in hopes that Laura will come and rescue her. From there the usual superhero shenanigans insure with Laura and her friends trying to rescue Cessily. The book is remarkable to me for two main reasons. The first is an exchange between X-23 and a Marvel gangster called the Owl. When the Owl demands that X-23 show him the same level of respect that she shows Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of crime. She bluntly tells him that she will not because he's not worthy of it. X-23 is normally very quiet, but when she speaks her words have quite the impact. One of the reason I love the character is that she is very confident and self-assured without displaying any of the arrogance or haughtiness that can be often found with many of the Marvel heroines. The second and most remarkable instance. Is near the end of the book. When Emma Frost, the headmistress of the Xavier Institute confronts Kimura. The woman who had been brutalizing and abusing X-23 while she was at the Facility. What Emma does in this instance is absolutely amazing and shows great character. I would call the book okay. But it's not a must read if your only reason for picking it up is an interest in X-23.

Before this volume X was a cool character but this volume really showed her in action and her personality. Very worthy volume, more death but more kickass action!

this is a good story that ties into (or is rather, a sequel to) x23: target x (which was also a good story. some of the plot is a little iffy, but in this story we learn that even a hardcore living weapon like x23 can have a crush, much liek wolverine, although her luck seems to be better than his, his crushes usually die. its not too late for hellion to die though! LOL. the artwork is pretty good too, i'm not too into the whole 'i like this character because she's drawn hot!" thing, because unlike my peers, i've BEEN with several women in my life :) but yeah, x23, kimura and even mercury are pretty curvy drawings if i do say so myself! BOOSH!

This volume which seems to be a straightforward rollercoaster ride of the team colliding with the Facility has some excellent character moments. Julian Keller officially graduates from arrogant fratboy to morally upstanding hero by acting as X-23's conscience. Another great moment is when Cyclops finally recognizes the great things this young team has accomplished. Buy this volume and you will not be disappointed. If you are new you should really start at Childhood's End vol1. There is quite a bit of violence, but it is all important to the plot and the character development as X-23 is on a pinocchio's journey from assasin clone to human being.