“The mutant body is explicitly traumatic, armored against the world outside yet racked and torn apart by complex forces within” writes Scott Bukatman in “X-Bodies: The Torment of the Mutant Superhero.” He adds, “The mutant body is oxymoronic: rigidly protected but dangerously unstable.” A perfect illustration of this is X23, the angst-ridden female clone of Wolverine. Her Adamantium coated claws and healing powers shield her from physical harm, but inside she is tormented by her killer instincts and deep set fears about the state of her soul. The first issue proves that she is “dangerously unstable” when she goes berserk and slaughters the inhabitants of a mutant halfway house. In this second issue, much like the first, the panels are overwhelmingly dark, not only in content but in color as well.
Although I don’t think that the art of this comic is particularly well done, I do like the fact that the visuals are used to tell the story, instead of having a ton of explanatory text (as was the case in The Dark Phoenix Saga, among others). In this way the dialogue is able to more closely replicate actual speech while the plot action is transmitted via the visual art. For instance, instead of having a thought bubble to explain to the reader that X23 is feeling panicked and anxious, the artist provides us with a close up panel of her hand clenching. In fact, throughout this issue X23’s mental state is conveyed through her facial expressions and body language rather than through cumbersome text (see above).
The plot of this issue focuses on X23’s relationship with Wolverine, whose soul (as a part of a story arc within his own comic) has been sent to hell and his body left behind to be inhabited by a demon. Not only is she being tormented by her inner demons, there is literally a demon trying to ruin her life (just in case she didn’t already have enough problems…). Bukatman also writes that “The bodily torment of the mutant superhero expresses a desire, a need, to transcend the confines of the body.” This is a key aspect of X23’s character, since her main concern is separating/differentiating her soul from the killing machine that is her body. At the end of this issue she makes a deal with Wolverine that if she can prove the existence of her soul then he will save the life of her mutant friend Julian (who had just moments before been gored by Wolverine’s claws).
As a female character, X23 is surprisingly not that problematic. Bukatman comments on the “spectacle” of the female body in comics, saying that “the fetishism of breasts, thighs and hair is…complete.” However, X23’s body has not been an object of focus in either of the two issues so far. She wears combat boots (sensible) and is frequently depicted wearing pants and a jacket. The second issue depicts her body more provocatively in a short, form-fitting hospital gown, but even this is nowhere near as bad as some other female characters out there. While X23 may not be a spectacle for the male eye, the older X-women certainly are. In the few panels where Storm and the White Queen appear, they are scantily clad and their breasts are the inescapable focal point of the image. Perhaps it is X23’s youth that gives the artists pause when deciding how to present her body.
Even X23’s powers break the mold of female superheroes. Bukatman points out that traditionally these characters have had “such wimpy powers as invisibility or telekinesis.” As a clone, X23 has appropriated the uber-masculine powers of Wolverine, and I believe that such physical prowess is highly uncommon among super-powered females. In another interesting role reversal, her male friend Julian is telekinetic. However, her powers could also be seen as problematic because X23 has essentially been turned into a man. Masculine abilities are still positioned as the ideal in this instance. What superhero comics really need is a female character with powers that are somewhere in-between wimpy and hyper-masculine. But what is that power? I have no idea. Anyway, the third issue of X23 comes out pretty soon and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for this character…
I like your point in relation to X-Bodies. Her powers help shield and cover up her inner turmoil but she cant keep it bottled up forever and innocent people suffer because of it. Wolverine, on the other hand, never seems to truly try to work out his inner demons, it seems, and he deals with it by lashing out in rage. Not sure if that is the innate nature of action-oriented superhero comics or what. It's funny because Wolverine is touted for his dangerously unstable state many times. Is that really an admirable quality we want from our superheroes though? Characters like him and Rorschach, if taken at face value, should be frightening to us. Yet they are some of the most beloved characters by fans all over country. Go figure. Also, if Adamantium claws are too masculine, is there a superpower that could be defined or closely associated with femininity? I never really gave thought to powers being gender-specific. I guess characters like She-Hulk were not readily accepted when they first appeared though.
ReplyDeleteI think that passive powers like invisibility or mind-reading/telekinesis can be generally regarded as feminine powers (like Sue Storm in Fantastic Four).
ReplyDeleteGood discussion!
ReplyDeleteIn the few panels where Storm and the White Queen appear, they are scantily clad and their breasts are the inescapable focal point of the image. Perhaps it is X23’s youth that gives the artists pause when deciding how to present her body.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the glamorization and sexualization of their features are meant to suggest that they, unlike X23, have attained a degree of experience, self-confidence, and comfort with their mutanthood? I note that, according to your review, X23 is presented as a vulnerable, confused, and inexperienced character; in these comics, it may be that overt sexual display is taken as a sign of confidence and strength.