Interview with Nich Lowe

Enjoy some outtakes from an interview with Nick Lowe that I found interesting! There is also a most beautiful cover of "X-23 #5" featuring Gambit who Laura already appeared killing vampires with in the "X-Men #3"! And the lamest, most idiotic explanation of why Elixir is not on the team and can't heal Hellion's hands and Karma's foot that appear to be the proof that Second Coming was badass. Lame. WTF??

"Uncanny X-Force" was amazing – easily the best X-book right now! Rick Remender mentioned that his X-Force team was already chosen when he was attached to the book. So why did you pick these characters? I'm especially interested in why Psylocke was chosen, but it's always a pleasure to read a good-written Betsy.
That's an easy question. Axel loves Psylocke – plain and simple. He just loves her. So that's pretty much why she's there. As for the rest, we knew that Warpath, X-23 and Wolfsbane weren't going to be signing up for such a team again, and we wanted to formulate a cast that would get people talking. Seems like it worked.

Elixir's powers make him an important character who could potentially help human/mutant relations. Which X-book will be getting him and will his knowledge about Hope obtained in "Messiah War" ever be acknowledged?
Right now, Elixir is on the lam. You won't be seeing him particularly soon, but I imagine that he is on a quest to eat at every McDonalds in the world and then heal himself from the damage that such a quest would cause. It's similar to the quest that I'm on, only without the healing powers.

CBR TV @ NYCC: Marjorie Liu

Writer Marjorie Liu visited the CBR TV Tiki Lounge to discuss crossover between her novel and comic book fans, her collaborations with writer Daniel Way, the introduction of Gambit to "X-23," writing a college paper on the X-Men and more.

Interview with Marjorie Liu

I'm very sorry for the recent lack of news - I visited Croatia with my friends to spend the rest of the holidays on the sea. =) Now I'm back, so here's a new interview with Ms. Liu about Laura and also an amazing preview of the issue #1!

How much story time passes between the end of the recent "Second Coming" event, where Wolverine told her that she would no longer be part of X-Force, and "X-23" #1? Where is Laura physically and emotionally when the series begins?
Not a huge amount of time at all. She's messed up, honestly. She doesn't know where her place is anymore. While she was part of X-Force, her life was defined by "the mission." There was a job to do, and she did it. She was a good soldier.
But - what people love in war, they fear in peace. Or if they don't fear it, they don't understand it. And that's Laura's situation. She was great to have around when times were bad, but now that the world is settling down, well, what do you do with her? How do you treat her? Do you pat her on the back and say, "Okay, go be a kid now?" That's ridiculous. Except, that is what some of the X-Men try to do. Others who have had traumatic childhoods know better. She's not just a kid. She'll never be just a kid. She's a child soldier. That's a very unique psychology.
Of course, one can argue that all the kids on Utopia are child soldiers - but not like her. It's like comparing the students of an upscale military academy to the children of Sierra Leone who are forced into armies and then subjected to fear, brutality, and psychological manipulation to achieve absolute obedience. Those kids are dehumanized. The entire world is dehumanized, for them.
And now Laura is out of that army. How do you recover from that? How do you recover, when even your friends are afraid of you?

In terms of plot and theme, what is the opening arc of "X-23" about? I understand there's some connection to the current story arc in Jason Aaron and Renato Guedes' recently launched "Wolverine" series, which has the title character's soul trapped in hell while sinister forces inhabit his body, but I assume there's more to "X-23" than simply tying in with that.
It's about Laura coming to terms with this new life she's got. She doesn't see it as a second chance, because that implies that the first part of her life was a failure, and she doesn't feel that way. It was just life, and now she had to figure out a different way to live. She needs to learn who she is outside of the army, away from all these adults who used her. But - to tie in with the Hellverine arc - we've got the Devil tempting her back into that old life of death and war, which does hold a certain comforting appeal. Laura needs to make a choice. Does she go back to what she knows - or does she have the courage to go forward into the unknown?

Who are some of the major supporting players readers will see throughout the opening arc of "X-23?"
Laura's relationship with Hellion will be explored, but she also finds a caring figure in Storm - and in one other well-known X-Man who will play a very important role in her life (and in the second story arc, which starts with issue #4).

How important is setting to the overall opening story? Where does the opening story take place?
It takes place on Utopia and in the personal hell of Laura's mind, which will feel like another world entirely.

You mentioned in past interviews that much of this series is going to be Laura, on her own, exploring the world. Are there any locales you're dying to take her to? Say, some of Wolverine's favorite stomping grounds like Madripoor or the Savage Land?
I would love to take her to Madripoor. You'll definitely see her in China (I have this vision of her tromping all over the Great Wall, which I can't seem to shake), and she'll be heading back to New York City. Really, she can go anywhere she wants. And she will.


It seems like Daken and Laura have a lot in common and a lot of issues with each other. They met once before in the Utopia crossover. With you writing "X-23" and co-writing "Daken: Dark Wolverine," is there any chance we could see them run in to each other again in the near future?
Yes. Absolutely, yes. Readers have been clamoring to see Daken and X-23 go head-to-head, and we gave a taste of that in the recently released "Wolverine: Road to Hell." We wanted to hint at what the crossover will be about - but even that doesn't give a real sense of the rich, intense storyline that we're planning. These two have very different views of the world, but at the same time, they are very much of the man they're made from: Wolverine. Working with and against each other may bring out parts of their personalities that they don't expect.

---

But will X-23 truly be "on her own?" That's what Katja S. (that would be me)) was wondering, at lea.
Marjorie, you've said in the past that you didn't want Laura's story to solely focus on her romantic relationship with Hellion. Being a huge fan of these two characters, I was curious how you plan on dealing with this, or if you plan on mentioning this relationship at all?
Liu: Oh, yes. The first arc deals, in part, with Laura's relationship with Hellion. I've stated in the past that I'm not interested in exploring her role as a girlfriend - and that's still the case - but their ties to one another will be examined within these first three issues. After that, they part ways - at least for a little while. It won't be forced, I promise you. It should feel like a very natural result of what happens in issue #3.

Will either Daken or X-23 be doing any dating in their upcoming series?
Liu: Daken always has it going on with the ladies (and men), but I don't know if that counts as dating; although, he's going to come very close in issue #2. As for X-23, she'll be forming some deep and lasting bonds - but again, I don't think that's the same thing as going out on a date.
2) When Wolverine goes to hell, will it affect Daken and X-23 on an emotional level? Will they know about it (and will they care)?
Liu: Yes, to X-23. It's going to affect her in more ways than one.
3) In X-23 and Daken's new series, can we expect the two to go up against villains we've seen before? Or are you creating brand new baddies for these books?

Liu: You'll see Laura going up against an established female villain in her second arc (hint: it's not Kimura). I don't plan on creating any new characters, to be honest. I think the Marvel universe already has tons of great villains without adding another one to the mix.

4) Laura has never really had any formal education. How does this impact her in her life? Do you think she'd even be capable of sitting through any kind of class? And how old is she - would she be in high school or college?
Liu: That's a good question. Laura is a highly intelligent young woman with a wealth of life experience that very few could ever hope to match. That, in itself, has been an incredible education. Is she book smart? Well, she could be. She was raised in a lab, after all - meant to be a weapon - and as such, one would assume that she was taught strategy, languages, history and culture - all the things a good living weapon would need to know in order to assess a situation, adapt, blend in, etc.
I never felt that X-23 was meant to be a blunt force object. On the other hand, I don't see her ever sitting down in a formal high school setting. That doesn't mean, however, that she won't try to educate herself. The two are very different things - and an interesting side of her to explore.

Interview with Marjorie Liu

Enjoy a nice interview with the best-selling writer of the ongoing series we all are waiting for.


Marjorie, let's start off by talking about X-23. You've written the character before, but how will you be approaching her in the new ongoing series?

Marjorie Liu: Who is X-23? That's the core question, and my plan is to treat this series as the journey of a damaged but hopeful girl who has done some terrible things in her life-and been abused in horrible ways - but who is determined not to let that define her. 

X-23 a very interesting character in that regard. At first, she cut herself off from emotions, but now she's experiencing them more and more. What about her do you think appeals to the fans?

Marjorie Liu: I can't speak to what appeals to most fans, but as I'm a fan, I'll explain what I love about her. X-23 has been through hell. She was created for one purpose, and she is fantastic at it. She is a born killer. But despite the fact that she was raised in a lab and taught nothing about compassion or mercy, she nonetheless possesses those qualities. She's not cruel. She has the heart of a good person. More importantly, she wants to be a good person. And it's that desire, that hunger to defy fate and be more than what she was supposed to be that makes her such a wonderful character. She never gives up. She never backs down. 

What can you say about your plans for the series as a whole? Will the title be featuring appearances by the other X-Men?

Marjorie Liu: As I said earlier, this is a journey of self-discovery; a chance for X-23 to be on her own. She's young, she thinks she knows a lot, and sometimes she does. But she knows more about the world than she does about herself.You'll be seeing some X-Men. I won't tease who, quite yet, but I'll say that they're favorites of mine - real, hardcore favorites - so that's a clue right there if you're familiar with me. The villains will be awful, really horrible and will definitely leave X-23 feeling outmatched. She faces off with the Devil in the first arc, and in the second, the villain is a woman. Not Kimura. Someone worse. 

In regards to the X-Men, you mentioned there are characters you really like and really want to write. Do you plan on having them as a sort of supporting cast in the book?

Marjorie Liu: I can think of two X-Men in particular who will be part of her supporting cast, and several who will put in brief appearances. Do I love writing them? You bet. And both are characters who have never interacted much with X-23, but who share a great deal in common with her - on an emotional level, that is. I'm keeping their identities under wrap at the moment, simply because I'm still hammering out their roles in her ongoing story.

 In previous stories featuring the character, it was sort of established that she has romantic feelings for Julian Keller, aka Hellion, who was injured in Second Coming. Is this something you'll be addressing in your series?

Marjorie Liu: You know I'm not really interested in exploring X-23's role as a girlfriend. Julian will be part of the book, in a limited way, but X-23 is on a journey that will be taking her away from almost everyone she knows. She needs to come to terms with her own identity before she can really give herself over to a healthy relationship, which sounds like a cliché, I know, but seriously, it's so true.
What does artist Will Conrad bring to the table for this title? What about his art style do you like?

Marjorie Liu: I love everything about his style. There's a visceral quality that is rich and hard, and full of careful detail that brings each panel to life. He's got great movement in his pencils, and man, his work in this first issue has been stunning. Absolutely chilling. John Rauch is on colors, and that's just badass.

As a last question, we've got an X-23 series, Daken and also Wolverine-how long until the Crazy Clawed Crossover?

Marjorie Liu: Well, I can promise blood, that's for sure. And there will be a Daken/X-23 crossover. It's already in the works.

Marco Djurdjevic's X-Men poster + Yost/Kyle Interview

Marco Djurdjevic's X-Men poster released at San Diego Comic-Con 2010 is a thing of absolute beauty which will be divided in separated parts over several X-Books. It's very cool that Laura is one of the biggest characters on the whole picture! And she's still wearing her X-Force uniform. An interview with Kyle Yost and Craig Kyle is also included.

 

The Interview

X-POSITION: Marjorie Liu

A new and amazing interview with miss Liu will tell us a little about her plans for Laura's new ongoing. The most beautiful art is included as well. I'm so very excited about this! It is said that Filipe Andrade and Nuno Alves won't be returning to the series (thank GOD) and the new artist is going to be the awesome and great Will Conrad (Emma Frost, She-Hulk, Serenity). The NYX-characters will appear in the series, but it won't happen in the first arc.

Is this book merely going to tell adventures of this character? Or will X-23's tales have an overarching goal driving them (e.g. to find out more about her creation)?
Marjorie Liu: Both, really. X-23 has endured some awful abuse – physical, mental, sexual – and she's inflicted her own abuse, as well. She's a killer. A predator. And yet, she's still a teenager. I mean, talk about a need for some self-reflection (and therapy). X-23 is still learning about who she is – she's trying to, anyway. But the X-Men have done all they can for her, and so this next stage of her life is going to take her away from them, and set her on a path where she'll need to rely on her own moral compass – which, occasionally, will lead her astray.
Will any members of the X-Men be making regular appearances in this book?
Liu: Yes. Which is a vague answer, but only because I'm still hammering out the first arc. Again, though: yes. I have several favorites who I hope will show up on a regular basis.

Will you be making references to points in X-23's history, especially those given by her creators Chris Yost and Craig Kyle? And have you ever talked to or met with Yost and Kyle as her creators?
Liu: Absolutely. Not only did Chris and Craig give X-23 a complex, rich personality – they gave her an incredible history to draw upon. She's a wonderful character, and though I haven't formally discussed her with them, I appreciate that they've given their blessing with respect to my involvement in the X-23 ongoing.

With you writing both "offsprings" of Wolverine, can we count on a big confrontation between Daken and X-23?
Liu: I guarantee it. Dan and I have already talked about this.

Marjorie, I'm sooo excited for your new "X-23" ongoing. I read the "X-23" one-shot that you wrote recently, and I loved everything from the story to the appearances, but I especially loved the art. Please tell me the artists are returning for the ongoing! And can we expect to see NYX pop up much in X-23's book?
Liu: Thank you so much! I loved the art, too, but Filipe Andrade and Nuno Alves won't be returning to the series. The new artist is Will Conrad, who has been doing wonderful work on "Wolverine: Origins." As for NYX, the short answer is "yes." They'll be popping up, though not in the first arc. Expect them down the line.

Is X-23 going to be having a permanent supporting cast or will it change arc to arc? 
Liu: Again, I'm still hammering out some details, but my hope is that X-23 will have a semi-permanent supporting cast. I don't like throwaway characters that change from arc to arc. Sometimes there's a purpose to them, and that's fine – but I prefer exploring relationships over the long-term, and shaking things up within those relationships – upping the stakes, pushing, going deep.

Will X-23 be sticking around San Francisco for her title, or will she be hopping from place to place?
Liu: By the end of this first arc, she'll be a nomad – more or less. No real home, just the world at her feet. She won't have much of a reason to stay in San Francisco.

Marjorie, will you continue Laura & Hellion's relationship in the "X-23" ongoing?
Liu: I will be touching on it, yes.

Will we see a Kimura vs. Wolverine fight at some point soon?
Liu: I don't have any immediate plans for Kimura...which isn't to say that she's not coming back. When I do deal with her, it's going to be wild.

X-POSITION: Craig Kyle & Chris Yost + X-Force - Sex and Violence Preview

Here's a recent interview with our beloved guys about X-23, Wolverine and the X-Men (which got canceled) and Second Coming's aftermath. You can also find some awesome information about "Sex and Violence" there. Also, Laura was called Hellion's love interest, even if not by the writer themselves. The biggest gift, however, is the most beautiful preview of "X-Force: Sex and Violence" (guessed release date July 14, 2010). Have fun!

How disappointed were you that "Wolverine and the X-Men" was canceled after only one season? Can you give us an idea of what else was planned?
Craig Kyle: Yeah, it was a bummer. [...] By the time we got to the end of the first season, it was designed to have at least three more seasons. Obviously, "Age of Apocalypse" was next and then it would move into "House of M," which would have been the next stage. [...] And by the end of it, we would get to outer space and the Shi'ar and the Brood and just tell the X-Men's perspective of the Marvel Universe. I would say, though, that the X-Men never stay off of the television for long. I was thrilled for the first season we got, and I look forward to them popping up again, whenever that may happen.

Back during "Messiah War," Elixir seemed to learn something about Hope, but so far this hasn't been addressed. Will this be followed up on during "Second Coming?" Also, is Elixir unable to heal now? They could sure use him.
Yost: After "Necrosha," Elixir kinda bugged out. He is not on the island.
Kyle: He has been fighting the ability to kill for quite awhile - since he killed Stryker, way back when we were writing "New X-Men." He's been forced to use this ability again, and...this has kind of been a tipping of the scale. Once he does that too many times, it's a question of...you know, unlike Archangel where he'll revert, Elixir may not have that option. His powers may switch for good, and that's something he doesn't want to happen. [...] Now, he knows what Hope is, and that information isn't going away. [...] Where he shows up next and how and who he'll be, well, that's anybody's guess. But let's hope he's a good guy still, because if he's not, it's going to really, really change up the Marvel Universe.
Why did Hellion get mauled...again?
Yost: He's so arrogant, he's just asking for it. Heh. You know, there's a funny story about that, and when it's all said and done, we'll tell it. But, yeah, he's had some bad luck. I think all the New X-Men kids are in a tough spot right now, but hopefully with "Legacy's" new direction post-"Second Coming," they'll get some of the spotlight and start rebuilding.
Kyle: And here's the real kicker - had that been Anole, that kid would have had two awesome arms!
I loved the little scene of Hellion and X-23 in the Med Wing; it was very touching. I was wondering though - can Hellion get a pirate hook prosthetic for his left hand?
Yost: [...] No, he can not have a hook, to answer the question. I have to tell you, I love the New X-Men - I don't think that's a secret to anybody - and doing that was so horribly hard. I did not enjoy that scene particularly.

Since the Big G mentioned Hellion's love interest, Chickrockguitar wanted to know more about her new title that was recently announced.
What do you think of X-23's upcoming ongoing series? Were you guys consulted on it at all? And what about your plans for a third X-23 miniseries?
Kyle: You know, we weren't consulted, but that's okay. There's been other X-23 stories where we also weren't consulted. You know, it turns out Marvel owns the character - I had no idea. [Laughs] What I love is that a female writer who is very talented is taking X-23 on to the next chapter.
Did Chris and I have another story we could tell? You bet your ass. I also think that if Chris and I were left to our own devices, we could keep writing that character indefinitely. But we also agreed a long time ago that the longer you hold onto a character and the longer you write them, the easier it becomes for you to be the one that ruins the character. So, because of its timing, "X-Force: Sex and Violence" is kind of our X-send-off for the time being.
Who knows what our next thing will be? We're always looking, always thinking, always plotting. But for X-23, I'm excited. It will be very interesting and kind of exciting to be just a fan for once and sit back each month and see what's going to happen. And I am really just excited that she's in the right hands, because I do think Marjorie will do a great job with her. And as long as the next time X-23 meets Daken she kicks his ass, I'm cool.

Is there any character who you wanted to kill, but the X-office wouldn't let you?
Yost: You know, they stopped us from killing Onyxx back in "New X-Men," but we finally got him in "X-Force."
Kyle: That's true!
Yost: I hated that character. No offense to Peter Milligan, who I think is great, but I was not a fan. But we never do anything maliciously - it's all within the story. Hm, let's see, anyone else we wanted to kill, but didn't, because they wouldn't let us...
Kyle: Oh, Nezhno!
Yost: Yeah, we wanted to kill Nezhno, just to show people that we would.
Kyle: Yeah, people thought we got all precious. Now, I'll be the first to admit we favor X-23, but that's because she's awesome! But, yeah, we were going to kill Nezhno, and they said, "Nnnooo, we like him." Now, we liked him too, but that's why we thought we had to ace him...

X-Men #1 Ongoing

 

 The end of "Second Coming" and beginning of the "Heroic Age" brings a few series launches for Marvel's X-Men family of titles—including a brand-new X-Men #1 in July, by novelist and Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth scribe Victor Gischler and recent Deadpool artist Paco Medina.

The first arc's conflict centers around "mutants versus vampires," as "a new kind of X-Men team forms to combat threats unlike any the X-Men have faced before." It's also told the series will feature "some surprising new faces." The new "We are the X-Men" teasers most certainly have something to do with this new story.

Victor Gischler: "Our story will pick up with a suicide bombing in San Francisco’s Union Square. But this is not Al Qaeda—this is the opening shot of a war," he writes. "Vampires are descending on the Bay Area, commanded by their, let’s just say, enigmatic leader, and mutants appear to be their target. What follows is a war on several fronts, as the X-Men defend their home from a threat unlike anything they’ve ever faced. There will be twists and turns you can’t see coming, and there will be some permanent status quo changes. [...] Depending on the mission and the situation, appropriate characters will be showing up to lend the X-Men a hand. Super heroes are helpful that way. [...] Probably we should think of these X-Men as an elite unit within [Cyclops'] army. [...] The cast of characters will be a combination of both big name and lesser known characters. I think we'll see a wider cast of characters for the first arc, while we're getting situated. Then the following arcs will kind of narrow things down to a core cast. [...] We've got the whole team and everybody is available for that first arc. Then in following stories we kind of whittle things down to the people we see every issue.
Plus, since the book is a part of the X-Men line, there's a good chance that we'll see characters rotate in and out from story to story. So new faces might come and go, but that will be along side the core cast that we see every month." 
This new monthly is not a supernatural-flavored X-Men title – it's a title that will firmly integrate the X-Men in the Marvel Universe, boasting new team-members from across the Marvel Universe as the X-Men contend with a host of threats -- including some of Marvel's most popular super-villains. That said, the first arc will pit mutants against another society of super-powered outcasts: vampires. The X-Men have some history with Dracula. It's about to come back and haunt them. [...]

It's easy to wonder if the future of Mike Carey's X-Men Legacy is in jeopardy giving this new title, especially since Legacy started its life as the 1991 adjectiveless X-Men comic. But it's continuing undeterred, and penciler Clay Mann is returning to the title.
"If you think we’re going to let Mike get away from us, you’re crazy," Alonso writes. "He’s got his next few arcs plotted out and they are going to shock the pants off of everyone. I hope none of you are going commando in coming months."

X-23 Ongoing!

Believe it or not - Laura Kinney will get her own ongoing series in September! Let's read the interviews (1, 2) with the soon-to-be-writer of our soon-to-be-favorite comic book! 

"She's been set loose from X-Force and is on a journey of self-discovery. It's going to be a dark, intense book."
Marjorie Liu: Almost two years ago my editor, John Barber, asked me to write a one-shot for X-23 -- partially to promote NYX, which I was working on at the time. That project fell to the wayside, but returned to life in late 2009 under my current editor, Jeanine Schaefer. I'm not certain how long the X-Office had been mulling the X-23 ongoing, but after I turned in the one-shot, I was invited to write the continuing series.

Nrama: X-23 has had a decent run as a supporting character in the X-Force series, but as a single character, she hasn't been quite as defined as a three-dimensional human being. For you, what's the appeal of a character like her?

Liu: I don't even know where to start. She's so damaged, and yet, despite all the terrible things that have happened to her, she's retained a particular compassion and dignity that is truly remarkable. She's ruthless, don't get me wrong -- but she has a primal sense of right and wrong that comes straight from the gut. I've heard some describe her as a robot, but I think the opposite is true: Laura feels too much, more than she can process or understand, and so she stuffs those emotions down. I think she's scared of feeling anything, because what she's endured is so tragic and awful...it's safer not to feel, to be still and quiet on the inside.
Problem is, you can't hide your heart forever. Something has gotta give.


Nrama: Something else that is particularly interesting is the darkness behind X-23's origin, much of which you helped introduce with NYX -- namely, the elements of control and dehumanization, whether that's her past as being abusively groomed into a living weapon or even living on the streets as a prostitute. First and foremost -- will you be returning to any of these themes in this book? And as a writer, how do you approach that sort of subject matter, in terms of walking that fine line between making it powerful and compelling and not making it something trivialized?

Liu: It's a very fine line. I hammered the issue home in the one-shot, as I considered that to be a character study -- and Laura's past is very much a part of what shaped her character. There's a risk, though, of going too far. The key to approaching that kind of subject matter, I believe, is to do so only when appropriate and necessary -- and then, delicately. I don't want to turn Laura into a victim, because she's not. She's tough, a survivor, unbroken -- capable of compassion and helping others, despite (or because of) what happened to her. That's to be admired, and one of the things I love about her character.
So yes, I'll be returning to those darker themes, but not in a heavy-handed manner. Only enough to show where Laura has been, where she is, and where she's going.

Nrama: It says here in the solicits that X-23 is going to have to "step up to fill [Wolverine's] shoes" -- what does that mean?
Liu: Laura isn't taking Logan's place on the X-Men team. If she's filling his shoes in any way, it's to follow his example of heroism against incredible odds, in the service of friends. She's going to try and help Wolverine. No matter the cost.

Nrama: So much about stories that tie into teams is the idea of relationships and character dynamics. How much of the other X-Men will we be seeing here? What do people on Utopia think of this quiet girl with the Adamantium claws? How about Wolverine himself? Will you be working out a new niche in the relationship between the original Canucklehead and his female clone?

Liu: The first arc will certainly involve Wolverine, though I haven't hammered out the specifics. Certainly, I'll be fleshing out their relationship -- in this arc, and in future ones -- although I should emphasize that it won't be the main focus of the ongoing. [..]
This initial story will definitely touch on Laura's feelings toward Wolverine. Complex emotions, to say the least. Laura has never had a father figure whom she can trust. Most men have betrayed or used her - or they're fellow soldiers, maybe friends - but that's not the same thing. That's not a father. That's not the kind of adult nurturer whom she can rest her heart on. Now, a lot of kids never have adults in their lives who can be trusted, ever. But that doesn't mean those kids stop looking, or hoping to find that one person who will take care of them (mentally, physically). It's an elusive thing, an emotional hunger, that sometimes isn't even consciously acknowledged.
Laura feels that hunger, but she doesn't acknowledge it. She can't. She doesn't understand those kinds of emotions well enough to even give them a name, except that they make her hurt, they overwhelm her at times, and she doesn't know why. All she can do is manage these feelings, divert them, bury them (sometimes with pain). She's a girl who feels too much, and so, doesn't allow herself to feel anything.
As such, Laura, on a superficial level, expects nothing from Logan. She acknowledges him as a mentor, a fellow fighter - the man she was cloned from. She respects him. She follows his lead. If this was a wolf pack, she'd be dominant - but he'd be her Alpha. On the surface of things, that's as deep as it gets for her. He exists, she exists, they survive, and that's that.
But deeper, much deeper, her feelings are different. Whether Laura is aware of it or not, she wants to be loved. She wants Logan to love her, as a father. She wants to know that she's not alone, even when she is. Not alone, because someone out there cares. She wants Logan to be the one who cares. She's a kid who hasn't had many good people in her life, but he's one of those good guys. And when push comes to shove, she will do whatever it takes to protect that tenuous, special relationship between them - even if she can't admit, or articulate, what that is.
Laura will often be on her own, journeying on her own, learning how to live on her own -- with a small supporting cast of regulars who pop in and out. Former X-Men, mostly, who are drawn to her despite a (perhaps wise) desire to keep their distance. As for what the people on Utopia think of her? No doubt they consider her to be quiet, a little strange, and very dangerous. But I'm not too worried about what they think. Laura won't be hanging around Utopia. [...] There are several [characters] who will act as mentors to Laura, but none I want to name at this point. [...] I won't be inventing anyone new for her to tackle -- there are enough bad guys already in the Marvel universe! And some of the good guys aren't all that great, either. Laura will have her hands full right off the bat. [...] Laura is getting out of San Francisco. She's cutting ties, learning how to be herself - exploring what it means to be herself, whoever that girl might be That can't be done around all the people (say, the X-Men), who might drag her back into her old familiar patterns of fight and obey. So yes, she'll be hitting the road, traveling. She might go around the world. She might spend some time in New York City. We'll see. The point is, though, nothing is holding her back. She can go anywhere now. Be anyone.

Ultimately, how fired up are you for "X-23?" If fans respond and the series takes off, would you want a good long run with the character?
I'm so fired up. I'm incredibly excited to be working on this book, and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to do so. If fans respond, I plan on sticking around for a good long time.

Marvel Hotline: Marjorie Liu

   

Get the details on X-23 #1, from writer Marjorie Liu, on this week's edition of the Marvel Hotline!

Interview with Marjorie Liu

 I'm very sorry that there haven't been many updates lately, but I'm still here and still have news for you all =)

In the upcoming X-23 one-shot, slashing into stores March 17, the novelist takes her first stab at the titular mutant killing machine as she returns to her roots and reunites with the kids of NYX.

Marvel.com: What can you say about what readers can expect to see in the upcoming X-23 one-shot?Marjorie Liu: Some very deep, intense explorations of her character and how she views herself-and how that's evolving as she becomes more aware of her inability thus far to stop being used by men. She's tough, strong [and] lethal; she doesn't need to take the abuse that's been dished on her head, but she [has], and she begins to realize in this issue how wrong that is.
Marvel.com: What are your thoughts on the character of X-23? What do you like about her?
Marjorie Liu: I like her because she's tough [and] driven, but also she's got this sweet side of her that's been buried so deep that it hardly ever comes out, and it's that part of her that was never broken, that's still a kid, young and vulnerable. She's so vulnerable. She might be a killer, but she's been used [and] abused, and that's a cycle she still hasn't managed to break free from.
Marvel.com: You've written other clawed mutants before, both Wolverine and his son Daken. How does writing X-23 compare?
Marjorie Liu: She's way more damaged than either of them, and a lot younger, too. [She's] more vulnerable, because she doesn't quite know herself yet. And yet, she's got that core of strength that Wolverine and Daken have. She is relentless when she sets her mind to do something.
Marvel.com: The NYX characters are set to appear in the one-shot. What's it like bringing these characters back together? What can you say about the meeting?
Marjorie Liu: It was such a pleasure writing both Kiden and X-23 and all the kids, together. The meeting is bittersweet. Kiden and her friends are in a bit of a bad spot-still homeless, broke, trying to figure out what to do next-and here comes X-23, a blast from the past. Last time they saw her, she had just been rescued from a pimp, and so there's a real concern on Kiden's part that perhaps X-23 has fallen back into the life of a prostitute.
It doesn't help that they lost all contact with her, and here she shows up still acting damaged.

Chris Yost talks X-23

Chris Yost gave an interview about his carrier in the comic books and animation. X-23 is mentioned.

Nrama: You’re well-known for being party to introducing X-23, beginning with an episode of “X-Men: Evolution”.  How did the character come into being, and what did her reception mean to you as a writer?

Yost:  Craig Kyle, who was supervising X-Men Evolution at the time, created her before I entered the picture.  He needed a way to get more Wolverine interacting with the kids, and that was his solution.  Since adult Wolverine was already part of the show, he got another Wolverine, essentially.

I was just happy to be there. :)  When he told me that she was crossing over into the comic universe, and that we were writing her comic origin, I was floored.  It honestly changed pretty much everything for me.  I owe Craig Kyle and X-23 a ton.

X-POSITION: Marjorie Liu

Sorry for the lack of updates! There is an interview with Marjorie Liu about Laura.

2) [...] Are there any plans for [X-23 and Daken] to have more interaction beyond what little they had in “Utopia?”
LIU: I'm sure it's likely, though I think it's also safe to say that we don't want to simply throw them together simply for the sake of having them on the same page. There has to be the right story. And I'm convinced that, eventually, we'll find a good moment and a compelling reason for the two of them to be together in the same book.
How about some X-23 in “Wolverine”? She's family to both Logan and Daken. It's about time there was a trio team-up!
LIU: Again, no plans in the immediate future for X-23 to join Logan and Daken in the pages of “Dark Wolverine.”
It has been mentioned that [Jubilee] will show up in the “X-23” one-shot and also a short story by Marjorie. What capacity will Jubilee be used, and are there any other (possibly long-term) plans to use her alongside Wolverine, Laura, or Daken from either one of you?
LIU: [...] I love the character of Jubilee. [...] In the one-shot, Jubilee's role won't be huge, but it will be vital in explaining why X-23 and Wolverine are in New York. You'll also get to see her interacting with X-23, which was a kick to write.
1) What is this one-shot about? Is it a story from her past? Or does it deal with everything presently going on with the character?
LIU: [...] The one-shot is about Laura finding her footing in the world. She's been seen as a very physical character in the past – all action – and that'll be true here too, but I go deeper into her head, exploring the circles of abuse she's often found herself in and why it is that, despite all her power and strength, she still allows herself to be controlled by men. So it's not really a story about her past, though the past is referred to. Instead, it's more of a commentary on the present and future of the character.4) The NYX version of the character (including her stint as a prostitute) always seemed inconsistent with the present version of X-23. Do you plan on reconciling the two?
LIU: I try, yes.

Pixie: Making it on Her Own

COVER BY: Stuart Immonen
WRITER: Kathryn Immonen
PENCILS: Sara Pichelli
INKS: Array
COLORED BY: Christina Strain
LETTERED BY: Robert Steen
THE STORY: Pixie, X-23, Armor, Mercury and Blindfold face a new kind of hell: high school! Things get even worse when Pixie’s mother shows up on Utopia demanding to see her daughter. Discover the truth about Pixie, inculding the answer to something even SHE doesn’t know: the identity of her father- one of the most dangerous X-Villains ever! Rated A …$3.99
IN STORES: February 10, 2010
One of the X-Men's youngest members flies into her first extended solo adventure with X-MEN: PIXIE STRIKES BACK #1 on February 10, from writer Kathryn Immonen and artist Sara Pichelli. The four-issue limited series will take Pixie and her teammates Armor, Mercury, X-23, and Blindfold and send them to any teenager's nightmare: high school. But according to Immonen, all may not as it appears.
"How can I break this to you gently-it's not actually a real high school," the writer informs us.
"From Pixie's perspective, everything is super perfect. From everyone else's, the exact opposite of super perfect, but it's hard to fight back against something you can't see or control. And that's all I'm going to say about that!

The story will also explore the relationships Pixie and her fellow teammates share in a new light.
I'm really keen, in this story, to take a hard look at what these girls mean to each other," explains Immonen. As teammates certainly, but maybe more importantly as friends and almost sisters. And Pixie's going to have a lot to answer for by the time we're done. She's proved herself pretty easily to them all the way along. It may not be so simple for her from here on in."
It's got mutants and magic! A demon from the past! Nefarious plans! Stabbings! Very scary school nurses! Girls talking in bathrooms! And Sara Pichelli and [colorist] Christina Strain are knocking it all right out of the proverbial park!" Source

X-POSITION: Craig Kyle and Chris Yost

Nice interview with our beloved writers. Have fun! Source.

Do you plan on leaving any drastic changes to make a big exit on your excellent run?
 
Yost: Before our run is over, the cast will change.
Kyle: Yes, quite a bit - from top to bottom. 

Are there any X-23/Hope scenes planned in either "X-Men: Second Coming" or "X-Force?" Hope seemed to form some sort of attachment to Laura, and they need to meet up again!

Yost: That will be touched on soon, if not already. In the pages of "Cable," there is a scene where Hope mentions Laura by name. And if it's not out yet...spoiler!

 Any news on that third "X-23" miniseries?

Kyle: For now, that story's kind of on hold. There's lots of stuff coming with X-23 in the future, so for fans of her, there's wonderful surprises on the way. As for Chris and I writing that third story? For right now, that's been put on ice. We've had a lot of success and a lot of happy fans with the first two minis, and the last thing we want to do is put out one that is half-cooked.
 Chris and I are up to our eyeballs in work right now, so to do that kind of final chapter of our work with her - the timing isn't right. If we can't give it our best, we're not going to do it halfway. It's something Chris and I would love to do, but I wouldn't look for it in the near future...unless Chris goes behind my back and does it without me.
Yost: I've already started it.

Kyle: [Chuckles] Look for it in 2010!
Yost: January 2010.
Kyle: Can I at least get a copy?
Yost: No.

How about "X-Force: Sex & Violence?" Is there a release date for this yet?

Yost: It's not on the schedule yet, but issue #2 is pretty much wrapped. Or, if not, it's close. And I know we say this every time, but - ohmigod! It is spectacular.
Kyle: When it does come out - and I think it will probably hit before we're out of the series - it will be worth the wait when it hits the shelves.[...] It's going to be a beautiful and twisted and screwed up and dark and funny and sexy andeverything kind of book.

X-23 One-Shot in March!

The news that absolutely made my day! I can't even describe how thrilled and happy I am!

As a member of both X-Force and the X-Men, X-23 calls the X-Men's island of Utopia, which floats off the coast of San Francisco, home. However, come March, she'll return to the mean streets of New York City in the "X-23" one-shot by writer Marjorie Liu ["NYX: No Way Home," "Dark Wolverine"] and artist Alina Urusov ["Young Avengers Presents," "X-Force, NYX"]. CBR News spoke with Liu about the special, which is part of Marvel Comics 2010 year long "Women of Marvel" celebration.

Marjorie Liu: Unlike Daken, Laura was raised in a lab, brainwashed, under constant supervision (receiving some kindness from her surrogate mother), and then later abused sexually - after which she eventually found her way to the X-Men. Logan, I'm sure, was the first male role model in her life who treated her decently, and with affection. All this, and she's still a teen.[...] I don't think it's just being with the X-Men that has given her that streak of compassion - she showed a willingness to help others when she was with Kiden. [...] The abused don't always become abusers. Some rise above their circumstances, and become better for them. Others, not so much.[...] Despite the fact that she's powerful, dangerous, and ruthless, Laura is, still, just a kid. Okay, maybe I shouldn't say "just a kid," but she's a young teen girl who has been through hell. Raised in lab, then pimped out as a whore, now used as a killing machine for the X-Men. She's spent her entire life being used - mostly by men in authority - and she's just beginning to realize what that means, and what a mental trap she's found herself in: this odd circle of power and powerlessness that she keeps returning to.[...] 


What is X-23's physical and emotional state when the "X-23" one-shot begins?
Marjorie Liu: Laura's emotional state, at the beginning, is...introspective. Physically, she's fine - but isn't she always? It's her mind and heart that need bolstering.

Power and powerlessness, the cages we put ourselves in without realizing it, the strength it takes to stand up for ourselves when people are hurting us – not physically, but mentally. Friendship, love, hope - I tried to cover all the bases for Laura!
As for the plot, it's rather simple: Laura and Logan come to New York to help an old friend of his (Jubilee, as a matter of fact), and Laura picks up Kiden's scent. She follows it, finds them - and someone else finds her. Someone very powerful, who wants to control her life. Something, unfortunately, that she's all too familiar with. [...] The greatest enemy one ever faces is one's own self. With Laura, this is taken to a much deeper level, with higher stakes. She must take that first step in becoming her own person, or else risk losing her identity altogether.

Kiden and the other kids of NYX first met Laura when she was at her very lowest. She was being used as a whore, and her mind had truly shut down. Her body was just a thing for men to use. She didn't even think about it or fight her treatment.
But Kiden's friendship brought her, for all intents and purposes, back to life. It made her wake up. And the thing about Kiden and the others was that they didn't want anything from her. Not one thing, except to help and keep her safe. That would have been something Laura had never encountered.
They were the first people to show her true friendship, and that's not something she can ever forget. So there are a lot of hard emotions for Laura when she encounters Kiden and the others - and, as with the first time she met them, their presence will make her rethink the circumstances of her life.

What do you feel the book's artist, Alina Ursov, brings to the comic?
Alina is fabulous. I can't say enough good things. Her art is fluid, delicate, with just the right mix of strength and beauty. Truly, it's a joy working with her. She was the artist who was originally intended to draw this one-shot, and I'm thrilled that's still the case.
Is X-23 a character you'd like to revisit again someday? Do you have any ideas on where you'd like to take her next?
I loved writing her, so sure! I suppose I'd like to carry on exploring some of the themes and issues raised in this one-shot.

Source

X-Force writers are leaving

As announced here on CBR, [Craig Kyle and Chris Yost] will leave "X-Force" at the end of the recently disclosed "Second Coming" storyline. Before anyone panics, though, fans will still be able to enjoy the duo's work on the title for a number of months to come – and those months look to be busy! After concluding the current "Not Forgotten" arc, "Necrosha" and its tie-ins will occupy readers' time for quite awhile. This will be followed by the aforementioned "Second Coming," which will help conclude events kicked off way back in the "Messiah CompleX" event.

Is there any chance you'll be sticking around the X-Universe and write something else? And if so, will you be taking any of the "X-Force" characters with you?

YOST: As far as I know, the book is going to continue. [...] Here's the thing: we love to be honest with the fans. But we're still eight or nine months out, so it's really hard to talk about future plans or endings or anything like that. [...] There's many reasons to want to stick around in the X-World, as well as being fans since we were kids. "Who knows?" is the short answer, but we have many reasons to stick around is the second part of that. And let's not forget about all the fans who have been amazing to us since we started.

Should fans be looking for your works at companies other than Marvel?

YOST: Um, I don't know how to put this, but "Red Robin" is on sale monthly (from DC). I mean, I've got big love for Marvel – obviously – even though I'm working on a DC book right now. And of course, you're going to see Craig's work outside of the X-Men universe.

KYLE: [...] I'm a Marvel boy and I've said it out loud. And it's not as though I don't have wonderful friends like Geoff Johns at DC, but, you know, unlike guys who can jump back and forth between worlds, I'm very comfortable in the world of Marvel. So I'm sticking around. If I'm doing comics, I'm doing Marvel comics.

YOST: And the third bottom line is, we love the X-Office so it's hard for us to say "no." If they come up to us and say, "Hey, do you want to do X-whatever," it's hard for us to refuse that stuff because we love it.

Some great new Gabriele Dell'Otto pages for the "X-Force: Sex & Violence" mini were released not too long ago, so I was wondering if you could give us an update on the status of the project?

YOST: The second issue is about halfway done. I wouldn't be surprised if you see it in the solicitations by this spring, but that's just a guess.

KYLE: [...] It's a three act film, and it's real intimate, real fun, and, obviously very sexy and very violent. I think the fans are going to enjoy it, and the way Gabe has translated that story – it's just thrill after thrill. So no matter how long it takes, I assure you no one wants it on the shelves more than Chris and I. It's going to be worth the wait.

What are the chances of any of the "living dead" staying in the land of the living once "Necrosha" dies down?

KYLE: I think the bigger concern is how many of the living are going to stay a part of that world and not go to the land of the dead, because we're not screwing around with this crossover. Is the potential there for those that were lost to return and stay? Maybe, but it really is the threat that's posed to those that are still alive and have never been dead.

YOST: [...] And the X-23 storyline is the focus of issue #20 which is coming up and it's great – it's gorgeous.

Source

X-Force: Sex and Violence Art Revealed

It was promised a long time ago, but we never forgot, did we? An amazing three-issue mini-series starring Wolverine and Domino from Craig Kyle and Chris Yost and a wonderful artist Gabriele Dell'Otto (known with his awesome covers and only one drawn comics "Secret Wars"). Domino has gotten herself into a bit of a jam and being Domino she's more than happy to take care of it herself. But Wolverine catches wind of it and kind of inserts himself into the adventure. The exact date of release it's still not known, so we have to hope it's late 2009. I am also certain Laura won't appear after reading this old interview wit the creators:

YOST: While the “Sex and Violence” miniseries stands alone, it will feed into plans for the second year of the ongoing series. The relationships you see in this book are going to carry over into the main book. We're not going to ignore it, it's going to be part of continuity. [...] [Gabriele Dell'Otto] had a couple things he was concerned with; one was panel count. So that he could get in there and do great work, he didn't want to be bogged down by nine-ten panels per page, He also wanted to have a reduced cast so again he can really focus on the characters he's working with. [...] Grant Morrison did a story a while back that put them in almost kind of a… sex buddy light, but the bottom line is they have a history together, and that history includes sex. It's something we've wanted to touch on in the main series, but we've got a lot going on there. This is a place where we can focus on the two of them and really expand their relationship.

KYLE: Wolverine and her have a great chemistry and we've really only seen bits and pieces of it. I think there's also a lot of respect [between them], the fact that they're equals in the same game. They're kind of fighting each other and the threats they'll face on many levels – sexual chemistry, mentally, physical combat. There are so many levels they'll be engaging each other and their enemies that it creates a lot of tension and a lot of places to have some breath between. We think they're a pretty fantastic couple to spend some time with. I think people reacted really well to the cover that Mike Choi and Sonia Oback did for a previous, and this is just expanding on that kind of an idea and opening it up to some really intense moments.

YOST: That being said, we're not doing comic book porn here. Still a family friendly book…

LYLE: Hah! Yes, that's what we're known for – family friendly X-Men books.

X-Position

Today's delicious news: X-Position with Executive Editor & X-Men Group Editor Axel Alonso and X-Editors Nick Lowe, Sebastian Girner, Daniel Ketchum, Jody LeHeup, and Jeanine Schaefer! This is interesting, dear fans!

In “Messiah War,” X-23 interacted with her old friend from NYX, Kiden Nixon. This made me very nostalgic for “NYX” and X-23's interactions with the NYX cast. Will that group ever meet with X-23 again? And if that can't happen, will we ever see X-23 address her NYX days more fully?

JEANINE SCHAEFER: There are plans in the works for X-23, although I’m sorry to say I can’t get into them much right now. I know it seems like deflection, but if you love X-23, you’re not going to want to miss the journey we’re taking her on, both in “X-Force” and outside it. As it is, a pretty big chapter of her life is being dealt with right now in “X-Force,” and issue #19 is going to see some huge hurdles for her to get over.

I would really like to know what's happening with Laura and her claws on this page... She has both hands, though one of them is covered with some sort of a cloth... And the look on Doctor Nemesis's face is not exactly giving us much hope either.

How many mutants can we expect to see return from the dead in “Necrosha?” A dozen? More than twenty? Fifty plus?

JEANINE SCHAEFER: I’m not a mathemagician, but I can definitively say that “fifty plus” is an understatement, although I’m going to leave the exact number to experts Craig Kyle and Chris Yost. But the title alone should give you a pretty good idea about how many we’re dealing with, and, without getting into specifics, there are going to be a lot of gut-wrenching reunions that definitely don’t turn out the way anyone dreamed they might.

NICK LOWE: If you love short stories, than you’re in luck. Not only is there a “Necrosha: The Gathering” one-shot where you get to see Selene putting together her team of elite killers (you saw them briefly in the “Necrosha” preview in the back of most Marvel books this month), but we’re also launching “Nation X,” where you get to see what life is like on Utopia, the X-Men’s new island home. The X-Men have been pushed to the edge and the stories you’re going to get in there are fantastic.

Why was Pixie chosen, among all of the young students, to get her own mini? Simply because there was someone who wanted to write her story? Or will something “special” be occurring with her?

NICK LOWE: Pixie got a mini because she rules. Plain and simple. Her Q-factor has been on the rise since “New X-Men,” through the “FCBD: X-Men” story and big-time in “Uncanny.” And you’ll find out that she has a very interesting familial tie to X-Men history. You don’t know everything about Megan Gwynn, but you will after you pick up her mini.

AXEL ALONSO: Well, Wade already made costume for himself, so he’d better! You’ll have to read the “Nation X” tie-in arc, “Want you to Want Me” (“Deadpool” #16-18) to find out! And if you’re into Deadpool team-ups, be sure to check out the debut of “Deadpool Team-Up” this November.

Laura appears in Pixie mini-series

In December's X-MEN: PIXIE STRIKES BACK limited series-brought to you by the critically-acclaimed RUNAWAYS team of writer Kathryn Immonen and Sara Pichelli-that aforementioned scenario becomes reality for Pixie and her friends, Mercury, Blindfold, X-23, and Armor. Except, this being the X-Men, things will likely be much more complicated than lost wallets and flat tires, and the writer could not be happier to put them through it.

"I love all these girls together," Immonen says. "Even though they're all full-fledged X-Men, they're still kids, some of them more than others. They are also sisters of a sort. [... ]It's a story about friendship and lies and betrayal and deception. About how you can make the wrong decision for the right reason and about how difficult it can ultimately be to forgive that. And if that's not enough, it's also about stabbing and brawling and torture and Cessily in a cheerleader uniform. And girls' bathrooms."

In the midst of this whirling chaos, Pixie stands on the precipice of some life-changing discoveries, including the possibility that her father, unknown to her, might be well-known in the Marvel Universe as a villain.

Every good comic needs a strong artist and PIXIE comes as no exception as Immonen once again collaborates with her RUNAWAYS partner Sara Pichelli and knows that she, the character, and fans will be in good hands.

"I know that we're both anxious to stretch a little on this project and I can't wait to get going," she insists. "'Fortunate' doesn't begin to describe how I feel about being paired up with Sara again. Pixie doesn't know how lucky she is."