For information on the X-plane X-23, see X-23 PRIME

X-23 is a fictional character from the X-Men Evolution animated series. She is a clone of Wolverine and, with the publication of select issues of NYX and Uncanny X-Men by Marvel Comics in 2004, the character was brought into the regular Marvel Universe, much like the character Harley Quinn of DC Comics.

X-23 was created by Craig Kyle. The other person who had a prominent role with the character is Chris Yost. Together, the two wrote the two episodes of X-Men: Evolution that X-23 appeared in ("X-23" and "Target X"), and are currently writing the comicbook miniseries that will give X-23's origin.

In X-Men Evolution

X-23 first appeared in episode number 40 (titled "X-23"), where she was voiced by Brittney Irvin .

Wolverine discovered though SHIELD that Hydra had created a female clone of himself. This clone can erect two claws from each hand (instead of three like Wolverine), and can erect one claw from her foot (an ability Wolverine lacks). The clone was named X-23, since this was Hydra's 23rd attempt at creating a clone.

Denied the life of a normal child, X-23 was lonely. She had almost no companions and had been worked on her entire life. She had to spend most of her time training to hone her skills.

Angry, X-23 decided to get revenge on Wolverine. She invaded the X-Men's mansion looking for him, and when she ran into the other X-Men was able to defeat them with little trouble. When Wolverine confronted her he felt sorry for the girl, so instead of turning her over to SHIELD like Nick Fury wanted, he let her go.

In comics

X-23 first appeared in NYX #3. She met the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #450. Marvel has recently started a six-issue miniseries that will detail her origin.

Dale Zander, the spy in the Weapon X project is killed by Wolverine as he was escaping. With his father's briefcase full of stolen data, blood and tissue samples, Zander's son used years later to recreate Weapon X. After 22 unsuccessful attempts, Zander and Dr. Sarah Kinney, a geneticist specializing in mutant genes, recreated Wolverine by creating a clone that was female rather than male, as the recovered genetic samples had been damaged on the 23rd chromosome. Kinney served as the surrogate mother to a successful birth.

X-23 eventually came to live on the streets, and was accused of the murders of four humans that were investigated by Wolverine and his fellow X-Men (she was responsible for the murders, but she killed them because they were brutally attacking a young woman). After a brief conflict with the mutant heroes she came to live with them at the Xavier Institute. She has nearly no social skills, so Wolverine is helping her adjust to her new life.