X-23 nears its conclusion, and I can't resist pointing out that by shipping five whole issues, it's already equalled the output of parent book NYX.

Anyhow, I've pointed out in relation to previous issues that the difficulty with this story is that X-23 is more of a plot element than a character.  She's brainwashed, therefore she never makes any choices, so she isn't really a character at all.  This issue is the point where X-23 finally does do something on her own initiative - not by disobeying orders, but at least by letting her mother know that she's been sent on a mission to kill the project manager.

It's certainly more believable than having her suddenly snap and turn on the project altogether.  Although Sarah decides to take this scene as evidence that X-23 is a child rather than a weapon, it's perfectly capable of being read the other way - that she's only shopping Zander on this particular mission because it happens to involve disloyalty to the project, and conflicts with her own brainwashing. 

On any view, X-23's capacity for going against orders is obviously extremely limited.  Much depends on how the creators pay off the series next issue.  They've taken a bold route here by having a title character who is almost totally dysfunctional to the point of autism, and whose big moment of rebellion is in fact almost as small as it could possibly be.  Although she goes after the villain next issue, that's only because Sarah told her to.

While the "beating the villain and escaping the project" bit of the plot will be easier to fulfil, what will be trickier is making it emotionally satisfying.  Other than a generic sympathy for her as a victim of abuse, we've been given almost nothing to identify with in X-23.  The series seems to be heading for a very hollow victory, but then perhaps that's the point.

Rating: B+

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