X-23 #4 Review - Marvel Monday

Body Snatchers

Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Art team: Juann Cabal, Nolan Woodard, and VC’s Cory Petit
Covers: Mike Choi & Jesus Aburtov 
Release Date: 9/12/18
Cover Price: $3.99
Reviewed by: Jon Wayne

I have mixed feelings on this series three issues in, and while the art has been fantastic, what we’ve gotten story-wise has somewhat bored me and the pace is troublesome. Every issue so far has been about a five-minute read which in it of itself isn’t a bad thing, but it really does make me feel like this is being written for a trade collection and not monthly readers. Many stories in comics these days are written in six-issue arcs and you always get an issue or two of just set up, which is what I hope the last issue was. Does #4 course correct? Let’s see!


We pick up right with an odd scene, kind of depicting where Gabby’s mind is… maybe… before we pick up where left off at the end of the last issue with Laura trying desperately to save Gabby from the clutches of the Cuckoo sisters. Something happens as Laura grabs the mind-transferring device (I’ve forgotten if it has a name…) before things go BWOOM. Then we turn the page to a sad and disturbing revelation that the process was successful and Esme is now in control of Gabby’s body. Esme is none too happy about Laura finding them and sends Mindee off to make sure she’s dead. 

We flash to some excellent panel work showing Laura recovering from the blast, but all is not as it seems. We find out that Sophie, the sister Esme killed earlier in the series, is still alive and partially inhabiting Laura’s body now. Esme shares her power with Celeste and Phoebe as they go off to steal Cerebro, while Mindee finds Sophie in Laura’s body. I wish I had more to say but sadly that’s basically all that happened this issue.

I really enjoy Juann Cabal and Nolan Woodard together. The line style of Cabal is fresh and sleek, while Woodard uses a darker yet vibrant color palate, and in tandem, they give readers some truly gorgeous art. 



Bits and Pieces:

Cabal and Woodard are proving to be one of the best art teams in the business right now, but their work is being let down by a meandering story that moves an inch per issue. I’m still on board till the end of this arc (cough: issue #6) but if Mariko Tamaki doesn’t give me a more substantive story I’ll probably drop the book. That would be such a shame because I was very hyped on this series going into Marvel’s Fresh Start. I love our main characters and I wanted a book to just have fun with them in, yet four issues in and I’m not really having fun. This issue was better than #3 but not that much better.

6.5/10