X-23: Target X

{{short description|Comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics}}

{{Italics title}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}

{{Infobox comic book title

| image = X-23 Target x issue 1 cover.png

| caption =

| schedule = Monthly

| format = Limited series

| publisher = Marvel Comics

| date = 2006

| issues = 6

| main_char_team = X-23

| writers = Christopher Yost
Craig Kyle

| artists = Mike Choi

| pencillers =

| inkers =

| colorists =

| letterers =

| editors =

| creative_team_month =

| creative_team_year =

| creators =

}}

X-23: Target X is a 2006 six issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics. It was the second self titled series for the character Laura Kinney, better known as X-23. It was written by Christopher Yost and Craig Kyle, who created the character, which was drawn by Mike Choi. The series helped fully reveal X-23's previously mysterious origins.{{cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-x-23-and-why-her-app-1788023907|title=Everything You Need to Know About X-23, and Why Her Appearance in Logan Is So Important|first=James|last=Whitbrook|website=io9|date=20 October 2016 }} The series also portrays the first meeting of X-23 with her father Wolverine.{{cite web|url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/flashback-friday-x-23|title=Flashback Friday: X-23 - News - Marvel|website=Marvel Entertainment}}

Publication history

Before the series was named Target X it was simply referred to as X-23 Vol 2 by most. It is a sequel to the previous series (Innocence Lost), detailing the time between her escape from the facility that held her up to her arrival in New York in the series NYX.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/08/07/x-23-vol-2-1-first-look|title=X-23 Vol. 2 #1 First Look|first=Richard|last=George|date=7 August 2006}}{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2017/03/everything-you-need-to-know-about-x23|title=Here's Your Primer to 'Logan's' Pint Sized Hero X-23|website=Complex}} Marvel used the tagline "The ghosts of X-23's past continue to haunt her - and hunt her!" for the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.marvel.com/comics/series/981/x-23_target_x_2006_-_2007|title=X-23: Target X (2006 - 2007)|website=Marvel Entertainment}}

Plot

{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/21/x-23-target-x-1-preview|title=X-23: Target X #1 Preview|first=Richard|last=George|date=20 November 2006}}

Laura has escaped the program but lost her mother in the process and S.H.I.E.L.D has captured her. Captain America and Matt Murdock are interrogating her. Captain America's dealt with Laura's handiwork before and wants Murdock to verify her story. Laura recounts the events that brought her to this point — finding her aunt and cousin in San Francisco and dodging the efforts of the Weapon X program. Afterwards, she sets out to find her cousin Megan and aunt Deborah. Megan doesn't remember Laura rescuing her last time they met, but she has had nightmares ever since. Treated as an outcast at school makes it easy for her to bond with Laura. She is also able to accept Laura's past as a child assassin with a mix of horror and sympathy. When Weapon X comes calling the family is forced to flee. Laura then separates from them to find her new mission — finally meeting Wolverine.

Reception

The series currently holds an 8.5 out of 10 from four professional critics on the comic book review aggregator Comic Book Roundup.{{cite web|url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/x-23-target-x|title=X-23: Target X Reviews|website=ComicBookRoundup.com}} of ComicsVerse Peyton Hinckle described the series by the following "If you’re trying to connect all the puzzle pieces that make up Laura’s history, Target X is an important series to read. It’s an intimate look into young Laura’s disturbed psyche at a difficult time in her life. Without reading Target X, Laura’s development in later series won’t make a lot of sense. If you’re looking to skip a few series’ on our X-23 essential reading list, don't skip this one."{{cite web|url=https://comicsverse.com/x-23-essential-reading-list/|title=From Science Experiment to X-Men Veteran: An X-23 Essential Reading List|date=3 February 2019}} Eric Nierstedt also of ComicsVerse praised the series as well. He described it as superior to the earlier series Innocence Lost since Target X gave Laura her own voice.{{cite web|url=https://comicsverse.com/origins-x-23/|title=The Origins of X-23: Objectification, Rape, and Redemption|date=10 May 2017}} Kevin Powers of the Comic Book Bin commended the artwork by Choi.{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookbin.com/targetx-1-001.html|title=X-23: Target X #1|website=www.comicbookbin.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/10/26/essential-x-23-comic-books-to-get-you-ready-for-logan|title=Essential X-23 Comic Books to Get You Ready for Logan|first=Jesse|last=Schedeen|date=26 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/article/x-23-7-comic-book-stories-to-inspire-her-first-solo-film/|title=X-23: 7 Comic Book Stories to Inspire Her First Solo Film|website=Nerdist}}

Prints

=Issues=

class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"

! Issue

! Title

! Cover date

! Comic Book Roundup rating

! Estimated sales (first month)

#1

| Part One{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/category/x-23-target-x-comic#issuelist|title=X-23: Target X|website=comicbook.com|access-date=2019-03-23|archive-date=2019-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321234158/https://comicbook.com/category/x-23-target-x-comic#issuelist|url-status=dead}}

| February 2007{{cite web|url=https://comicbookrealm.com/series/16559/0/marvel-comics-x-23-target-x|title=ComicBookRealm.com: The Free Comic Book Price Guide & Community - Use our database to track your comic book collection|website=Comic Book Realm}}

| {{N/A}}

| 58,121, ranked 32nd in North America{{cite web|title=December 2006 Comic Book Sales Figures|series=Estimated Comics Sold to North American Comics Shops as Reported by Diamond Comic Distributors |url= https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2006/2006-12.html|publisher=The Comics Chronicles |website=comichron.com |access-date=2019-03-23}}

#2

| Part Two

| March 2007

| 9.0 by one professional critics.{{cite web|title=X-23: TARGET X #2 |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/x-23-target-x/2|publisher=Comic Book Roundup|access-date=2019-03-23}}

| 43,997, ranked 38th in North America{{cite web|title=January 2007 Comic Book Sales Figures|series=Estimated Comics Sold to North American Comics Shops as Reported by Diamond Comic Distributors |url= https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2007/2007-01.html|publisher=The Comics Chronicles |website=comichron.com |access-date=2019-03-23}}

#3

| Part Three

| April 2007

| 9.0 by one professional critics.{{cite web|title=X-23: TARGET X #3 |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/x-23-target-x/3|publisher=Comic Book Roundup|access-date=2019-03-23}}

| 42,125, ranked 45th in North America{{cite web|title=February 2007 Comic Book Sales Figures|series=Estimated Comics Sold to North American Comics Shops as Reported by Diamond Comic Distributors |url= https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2007/2007-02.html|publisher=The Comics Chronicles |website=comichron.com |access-date=2019-03-23}}

#4

| Part Four

| May 2007

| {{N/A}}

| 41,856, ranked 52nd in North America{{cite web|title=March 2007 Comic Book Sales Figures|series=Estimated Comics Sold to North American Comics Shops as Reported by Diamond Comic Distributors |url= https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2007/2007-03.html|publisher=The Comics Chronicles |website=comichron.com |access-date=2019-03-23}}

#5

| Part Five

| June 2007

| 8.0 by one professional critics.{{cite web|title=X-23: TARGET X #5 |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/x-23-target-x/5|publisher=Comic Book Roundup|access-date=2019-03-23}}

| 41,658, ranked 55th in North America{{cite web|title=April 2007 Comic Book Sales Figures|series=Estimated Comics Sold to North American Comics Shops as Reported by Diamond Comic Distributors |url= https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2007/2007-04.html|publisher=The Comics Chronicles |website=comichron.com |access-date=2019-03-23}}

#6

| Part Six

| July 2007

| 8.0 by one professional critics.{{cite web|title=X-23: TARGET X #6 |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/x-23-target-x/6|publisher=Comic Book Roundup|access-date=2019-03-23}}

| 41,546, ranked 64th in North America{{cite web|title=May 2007 Comic Book Sales Figures|series=Estimated Comics Sold to North American Comics Shops as Reported by Diamond Comic Distributors |url= https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2007/2007-05.html|publisher=The Comics Chronicles |website=comichron.com |access-date=2019-03-23}}

=Collected editions=

class="wikitable"

! Title
[Tagline] !! Format !! Material collected !! Pages !! Publication date !! ISBN !! Estimated sales (North America)
[Trades] !! Rated

X-23: The Complete Collection Vol. 1

| TPB

| X-23: Target X #1-6{{cite web|url=https://www.comicbookherald.com/x-23-reading-order/|title=Complete X-23 Reading Order - Where To Start?|date=6 December 2016}}

| 456

| July 27, 2016{{cite web|url=https://www.marvel.com/comics/collection/58043/x-23_the_complete_collection_vol_1_trade_paperback|title=X-23: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 (Trade Paperback)|website=Marvel Entertainment}}

| {{ISBNT|1302901168}}
{{ISBNT|978-1302901165}}{{cite book|title=X-23: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 (9781302901165): Craig Kyle, Chris Yost, Jay Faerber, Marjorie Liu, Billy Tan, Mike Choi, Francis Portela, Felipe Andrade: Books |date=16 August 2016 |publisher=Marvel |isbn=978-1302901165 }}

| Combined sales: 1803{{cite web|title=July 2016 Comic Book Sales Figures|series=Estimated Comics Sold to North American Comics Shops as Reported by Diamond Comic Distributors |url=https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2016/2016-07.html |publisher=The Comics Chronicles |website=comichron.com |access-date=2019-03-24}}

| {{N/A}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}