Laura Kinney has come a long way from where she started in X-Men: Evolution (and later in her first comic book appearance in NYX No. 3). She’s evolved into more than just the daughter of Logan: She’s Wolverine. And, for those who doubt that, Logan himself says it’s true during X-Men No. 5 by Jonathan Hickman (with art by R.B. Silva). Due to her consistent evolution, it’s not shocking that Marvel Comics put her on the New Avengers and that Bucky Barnes (a.k.a. the Winter Soldier) says she’s the better Wolverine.
While on their first mission, Natasha asks if their distraction (Laura) can handle what’s happening. Bucky says, “Of course. She’s the best there is at what she does.” Natasha, who was trained by Wolverine, asked if she was better than Logan. Bucky replied, “I didn’t call him, did I?”
New Avengers No. 1 creative team
- Writer: Sam Humphries
- Artist: Ton Lima
- Colorist: Rain Beredo
I love Laura Kinney, and she is Wolverine. Don’t listen to internet trolls who say otherwise. She also does a lot of things better than her dad. Among them are tracking, and stealth; she’s also quicker and has youth on her side. However, whether you believe what Bucky said or not, there’s baggage with Logan and Bucky that leads to some bias from the Winter Soldier.
Once upon a time, Logan was forced to work for Baron Zemo during World War II. Logan betrayed his handlers, but Bucky and Captain America didn’t know that he was being manipulated (this happens in Wolverine Origins: Our War, written by Daniel Way with art by Steve Dillon). Years later, when Bucky was still a mind-control operative, he killed Logan’s wife, Itsu (read Wolverine: Origins and Endings, written by Daniel Way with art by Javier Saltares and Mark Texeira for that story).
Because of these incidents, the two of them aren’t what anyone would describe as friends. They’ve worked together on a few occasions, but it’s doubtful that they’d like being around each other. Plus, Bucky and Laura just had an adventure in Laura Kinney: Wolverine (written by Erica Schultz with art by Giada Belviso).
Their road trip leads to them admitting a mutual hatred for people who manipulate and control others against their will. So, when a mission comes up soon after their team-up, it makes sense that Bucky would go to Laura. To him, she is the best there is at what she does.
Bucky's comments will undoubtedly lead to debate among fans, but there is no denying one thing: Laura Kinney has earned the title of Wolverine - and this glowing recommendation from the Winter Soldier is just the most recent example of that.
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