X-23
Laura Kinney is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with Wolverine, whose codename she has also used, and the X-Men. The character was created by writer Craig Kyle for the X-Men: Evolution television series in 2003, before debuting in the NYX comic series in 2004. Since then she has headlined two six-issue miniseries written by Kyle and Christopher Yost, the X-23 one-shot and the 2010 X-23 ongoing series written by Marjorie Liu, the 2015 All-New Wolverine ongoing series by writer Tom Taylor, the 2018 X-23 ongoing series by writer Mariko Tamaki, and the 2024 Laura Kinney: Wolverine ongoing series by writer Erica Schultz. Starting in February 2026, Laura and her sister Gabby will headline the upcoming ongoing series Generation X-23 by writer Jody Houser. Laura has also appeared in several team books such as Avengers Academy, New X-Men, X-Force, X-Men Red, X-Men, and NYX. The character also appears in other media from Marvel Entertainment.
Laura was apparently the clone and later the adoptive daughter of Wolverine, created to be the perfect killing machine. For years, she proved herself a capable assassin working for an organization called the Facility. A series of tragedies eventually led her to Wolverine and the X-Men. She attended school at the X-Mansion, and eventually became a member of X-Force. It is revealed later that she is not a clone, but the biological daughter of Wolverine. Like her father, Laura has a regenerative healing factor and enhanced senses, speed, and reflexes. She also has retractable adamantium-coated bone claws in her hands and feet. In 2015, the character succeeded her father in adopting the name and costume of Wolverine in the series All-New Wolverine. During the Krakoan Age, a duplicate of Laura is created via the mutant resurrection protocols after she is presumed dead. However, the original Laura is later discovered to be alive, leading to both versions coexisting – the original assumes the Talon codename and joins the X-Men, while the duplicate continues to use the Wolverine codename and joins X-Force. Talon then died during the Fall of X storyline.
Laura Kinney has been described as one of Marvel's most notable and powerful female heroes. In addition to comics, the character has appeared in various media, including animated film and TV series and video games. Dafne Keen portrayed the character in the film Logan and the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Deadpool & Wolverine.
Creative origins
Laura first appeared in season 3, episode 10 of the X-Men: Evolution animated television series, titled "X-23", voiced by Andrea Libman. She was later voiced by Britt Irvin in season 4, episode 3, titled "Target X".Laura was created by Craig Kyle. He revealed that the character was his attempt to make a Wolverine to "connect more to the younger kids", as while X-Men: Evolution was a reinvention of the X-Men making the characters teenagers, "Wolverine was one of the old, grizzled guys". The characterization went for the opposite of Wolverine, where instead of a man "older than we know" with no memory of his past and the life that he lost, Laura Kinney was a young girl "shackled to the murders she's committed" whose entire life revolved around the project that made her a killer. Kyle added that the character is "Pinocchio for Marvel Comics, she's a samurai sword trying to become a real little girl". Kyle and Christopher Yost were the writers of the two episodes of X-Men: Evolution in which Laura appears, with Yost stating that Kyle "had all the beats of her origin in his head when I came on board".
Transition to comic books and publication history
2004–2014
Laura Kinney's comic debut was in 2004 in the third issue of the Joe Quesada's NYX series, where her history and past were never divulged but her abilities were showcased. In X-23, her first miniseries, Laura's origin was fully explained. She became part of the X-Men supporting cast in Uncanny X-Men #450.Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost also scripted X-23: Innocence Lost, a six-issue miniseries that details the character's origin, as well as X-23: Target X, a six-issue miniseries that covers the character's experiences between her origin story and her appearance in NYX. They continued to write for the character into their runs on New X-Men and X-Force as a member of the teams.
Laura Kinney starred in a monthly comic book series in 2010, written by Marjorie Liu. The series was prompted by the success of Liu's one-shot X-23 from earlier in the year. On November 15, 2011, Marvel announced that the X-23 comic series would end at issue #21.
Laura Kinney appeared as a regular character in Avengers Academy from issue #23 through its final issue #39, and also appeared in Avengers Arena a series by Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker.
In 2014, Laura joined the All-New X-Men in issue 19 after the team finds her in Florida being chased by anti-mutant religious zealots.
2015–2024
In June 2015, it was announced that following that year's "Secret Wars" storyline, Laura would take on the Wolverine mantle, as the main character in the series All-New Wolverine, by writer Tom Taylor and artist David López, and wearing a costume resembling Wolverine's.After the return of Logan, Laura's title was relaunched as the fourth X-23 volume and written by Mariko Tamaki and drawn by Juann Cabal. Tamaki said, "This is a story about being in the very weird kind of family that someone like Laura finds herself in. It's about what it means to wrestle with legacy and identity when you were created to be a weapon and not someone with a birthday and a sister." The series ran for 12 issues before ending in May 2019.
In 2018, Laura—once again under the mantle of Wolverine—and her sister Gabby Kinney joined Jean Grey's X-Men Red team, written by Tom Taylor and illustrated by Mahmud Asrar. The series received critical acclaim, with several critics citing it as one of the best comics of the year.
During the Krakoan Age, as part of the Dawn of X relaunch of all X-Men-related titles, Laura joined the newest Fallen Angels series written by Bryan Edward Hill and drawn by Szymon Kudranski. The series ended after 6 issues. During Jonathan Hickman's X-Men run in 2021, Laura goes on a mission into The Vault where time is accelerated and is seemingly killed after spending centuries within; the mutant resurrection protocols lead to Laura returning to life in a new body, however, her memories from The Vault were not stored so she is resurrected without them. During the Reign of X relaunch, debuting in the Hellfire Gala, Laura as Wolverine is on the first team roster for Gerry Duggan's X-Men run. In the Destiny of X relaunch, Laura had a starring role in the X-Terminators five-issue limited series by writer Leah Williams and artist Carlos Gómez. Also in 2022, it is revealed the original Laura had actually survived; the younger, duplicate Laura continued to use the Wolverine codename while the older, original Laura used the new Talon codename. Talon continued to be a member of Duggan's X-Men team until her death in X-Men #31 during Fall of X. The duplicate Laura, as Wolverine, joined the roster of Benjamin Percy's X-Force in issue #39 until the run ended with issue #50 ; she also appeared in Percy's Wolverine series which focused on Logan. Additionally in 2023, Laura was the focus of the five-issue limited series X-23: Deadly Regenesis by writer Erica Schultz and artist Edgar Salazar; this series was set in the past during the X-Men Utopia era.
2024–present
In April 2024, it was announced that Laura would have a starring role in the ongoing series NYX, which began in July 2024 as part of the X-Men: From the Ashes relaunch. It was written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing with art by Francesco Mortarino. The new ongoing series centers on Laura and several other mutant young adults – Kamala Khan, Anole, Prodigy and Sophie Cuckoo – attempting to adapt to life in New York City in the post-Krakoan Age. Laura's updated Wolverine costume retains "some elements of the usual Wolverine suit, including the yellow and black color scheme", however, it also includes "a sharper cowl with more severe lines and edges" and some streetwear-inspired aspects such as "a cozy athletic jacket-type design on the top". Screen Rant highlighted that the "new NYX look blends her classic Wolverine suit with the casual-wear she often sported in her early appearances". At SDCC 2024, it was announced that a solo ongoing series focusing on Laura will be spun out of events of NYX. Schultz returned to write this series, titled Laura Kinney: Wolverine, with artist Giada Belviso; the first issue was released in December 2024.NYX ended with issue #10 in April 2025. In May 2025, it was announced that the previously announced New Thunderbolts* ongoing series was retitled to New Avengers ; it is written by Sam Humphries with art by Ton Lima and the first issue released in June 2025. This team book is led by Bucky Barnes with Laura, Black Widow, Eddie Brock, the Hulk, Clea Strange, and Namor on the roster. Laura is also featured in the three-issue limited series Wolverines & Deadpools, by writer Cody Ziglar and artist Rogê Antônio, with the first issue released in July 2025. From October 2025 to December 2025, as part of the upcoming "Age of Revelation" event, Laura headlined the three-issue limited series Laura Kinney: Sabretooth by writer Schultz and artist Valentina Pinti. ComicsXF explained this event will have a similar format to previous events such as Age of X-Man and Sins of Sinister where Marvel shuts "down a bunch of ongoing series" in order to relaunch "them with new names and concepts".
Batman/Deadpool #1, the DC Comics crossover issue with Marvel, was released in November 2025. It includes a back-up story by writer Tom Taylor and artist Bruno Redondo that features a team-up between Laura and Nightwing.
Starting in February 2026, Laura and Gabby will headline the upcoming ongoing series Generation X-23 as part of the X-Men: Shadows of Tomorrow relaunch. It will be written by Jody Houser with art by Jacopo Camagni.