Jeanne: But that’s not what’s bothering you. You are trying to decide whether to stand with your current classmates, or your former ones
Laura: I… dislike seeing them held against their will. I understand it’s for their protection. It’s true, if left alone, they would likely endanger themselves. And it is ridiculous to compare it to internment camps or prisons. But still…
Jeanne: The choice is being taken from them.
Laura: Yes. But I am concerned my own emotions and prejudices— having been confined most of my life— are affecting my feelings.
Jeanne: This is not my area of expertise. But perhaps they should.
Laura: Thank you. I don’t know why the others call you cold.
Jeanne: Then I’ve helped you make a decision?
Laura: Not yet.

Avengers Academy #30 by Christos Gage & Tom Grummett

So, I’ve been really enjoying the reoccurring theme of choice in Academy, which was very focused on in this issue. From Jenny unsure of whether she should have sex with Ken, even though she’s heavily traumatized by her attempted first-time w/her former bf, but she’s also afraid she might lose Ken if she doesn’t. And Laura lets her know it’s her choice, that if it doesn’t feel right, then she shouldn’t have sex w/him. What truly matters here are her feelings. To Jeanne turning down Humberto & commenting she doesn’t want any of her choices being limited for her. Just because a future turned out a certain way, she won’t let that decide what happens to her. They may have been together in that timeline, and he wants to be with her now, but that doesn’t mean she has to automatically get with him, she has a say on who she dates. And in these panels, Laura’s choice of where to stand in all of this and she ultimately decided based on what she felt was right and wrong. As well as the X-Kids choices being taken away here, that they don’t even get a say in any of this.

And choice was also a huge theme in Marjorie Liu’s solo for Laura and I’m very happy to see Christos Gage continuing that theme with her as well here. Sometimes it’s also glossed over that Laura joining Avengers Academy was actually her personal choice, whereas with the previous teams she’s been on, it wasn’t necessarily her own decision. And I just love that in this book, we are seeing the kids learning to make their own choices and decisions for themselves on what they feel is right to them, regardless of others. They’re always just growing into better characters. 

Laura: People tell me I must determine what I want. Irrespective of others. Then they seek to direct my actions.
Jeanne: Contradictory behavior. I find it off-putting.
Laura: As do I.
Jeanne: I have worked to expand my knowledge base, in hopes it would help me understand.
Laura: Has it?
Jeanne: No.
Laura: Again.
Jeanne: Yes. 

Avengers Academy #29 by Christos Gage & Tom Grummett

I LOVE LOVE LOVE their training session so much! Jeanne/Laura are bonding some more and becoming girlfriends! And I think this scene really shows how they truly are able to understand each other on this whole different level where others cannot really. And though they’re very different characters, they’re similar in a lot of ways with how they deal with their own feelings and how they interact with others. And I think they’re kinda at the same point in their lives as well where they’re finally becoming their own person and learning to make decisions for themselves. And here Jeanne and Laura are connecting and I just LOVE it all! I need future Jeanne/Laura super team-ups because it would be the best!

Jeanne: May I participate?
Laura: If you wish. 
Jeanne: Those people. They were your friends?
Laura: I studied with some. Shared rooms with others. I am not sure I would call them friends. 
Laura: [Friend] I am not even sure I understand the word.
Jeanne: I am pleased to hear that. I thought i was the only one.

Avengers Academy #29 by Christos Gage & Tom Grummett

I’m basically gonna repeat what I said a few days about this scene. Because I saw some people had issues w/ Laura’s comments & I don’t see anything wrong with what she said. Laura is referring to the Utopia X-Kids, more specifically her former teammates: Pixie, Sooraya, David & Nori and is unsure whether she’d call them friends. And that’s okay because lbr neither of the four were ever really her friends. Sure you can argue Sooraya was, as they shared a few nice moments in the past, but there was nothing that really solidified a ~lasting friendship. I always felt for them there was potential but it was never developed into something more. And in the New X-Men series for Laura, her only actual friend was always just Cessily, but she’s not included in “those people”, she’s off at Westchester. And also Laura previously was on this huge transformative journey where her feelings for herself and for others as well changed and some feelings disappeared. And she may not feel the same way as before. So yeah, Laura hasn’t really been friends with any of them, so her comments are fine.

And in the last two panels, “I am not even sure I understand the word [friend]” I think can be misread. But Laura is not questioning her friendships she’s made with like Gambit, Jubilee, Cessily and Kiden. Laura and Jeanne are questioning what the word friend means as there is no true definition. Because both Laura and Jeanne moreso most of the time use logic and reason to make decisons and understand things, and so I think it’s fine and in character for them to wonder what the word friend means. You don’t just call someone a friend because you’ve shared a room or studied with them or were on the same team. And for Jeanne who has much trouble understanding the emotion and feeling behind things, she’s not questioning her friendships either. She views the AA kids as her friends, shown back in AA25. This is just Laura and Jeanne questioning the meaning of the word friend.

tl;dr Christos Gage is writing Laura fine~ Give me more Jeanne/Laura scenes please!

X-23 #21 - PREVIEWS 1-3

Written by Marjorie Liu 
Cover by Kalman Andrasofsky 
Penciled by Phil Noto 

—  Series Finale!
—  X-23’s Globehopping Journey Comes To A Close. 
—  After All This Time Spent Choosing Who She Will Be, Will She Permanently Choose A Team As Well?

X-23 #21 goes on sale March 14th for $2.99.

Final issue of Laura’s solo book! I don’t want to believe this day is actually upon us in just a week! Marjorie Liu stated this issue will be completely silent. Also, I don’t think Laura is in any comic books during April, but she’ll be back & focused on in Avengers Academy with AA29 in May when AvX begins.

Source: CBR

AVENGERS ACADEMY #29 - PREVIEWS 1-4 (Pgs 4-5, 16-17 | pgs 1-3 here)

OMG! More Laura & Jeanne together!! 

ღ Laura Kinney
The woman who carried me in her womb read me stories. I remember. Pinocchio. A puppet. Until he became a real boy. I am not real. Not yet. I was born inside a cage. Raised inside a cage. I am here because I do not know how to live any other way. But I will learn. I can have what I want. I can change. Watch me.

ღ Laura Kinney // X-23
“Listen to my voice,” he would say. “You know what to do.” I know what to do. There’s only one thing I know how to do. Fight back.

fycomicbookfriendships:

Avengers Academy #23 & 24

Laura/Jeanne friendship is one I’m most interested in seeing developed (though right now Mettle/Laura seem to be getting closer which I’m loving too, I just love Laura making friends!). Anyway about Jeanne/Laura, I can see them being really good for each other. They’re very different characters, but do share some traits in ways they can understand each other. Similar with how they interact with others being very logical & direct. I also think they feel and process their emotions the same way. And sometimes don’t know what to do with those feelings or quite understand them. Both growing up, lived in uncaring environments and were deprived of expressing themselves, they were constantly being used. Emotions and understanding their own feelings are still new to them, and they’re figuring them out now. 

I also kinda think Laura and Jeanne are near the same point in their lives where they are just learning to be their own person and they’re finally making their own decisions for themselves. And deciding what they want and who they want to be. I think they’re a great match and they’d have a beautiful friendship and I see them helping one another out a lot. 

I also read comments about Jeanne having this competitive nature, and I just haven’t seen it, and it’s neither the type of person she’s grown to be. The thing about Jeanne, that I think many people mistake of her is that she is after being the best, but she’s not. Finesse is after knowledge and she just craves learning more. So I don’t think her and Laura will end up rivals or anything, or Jeanne’s personality would be bad for Laura. Plus so far, Jeanne has been nothing but welcoming to her. Like she offered flashcards she made to help her out! That’s soo funny & sweet! And like Laura, Jeanne is a really good girl too. She’s grown to be selfless and always help her friends and I’d say though she’s more amoral, lately she’s been becoming pretty heroic.

Anyway to end this, love both my favorite ladies very much! I would so love them to become awkward best friends who spend their days hanging out & studying flashcards in trees and training with each other.

And when they become best friends, Remy & Pietro being their personal mentors/father figures can start hanging out which each other too!