Table of Contents

Gabrielle Kinney (Honey Badger/Scout)

Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary

Part 2: Origin and Evolution

Publication History and Creation

Gabrielle Kinney first appeared in All-New Wolverine #2, published in December 2015. She was co-created by writer Tom Taylor and artist David López. Her creation was a cornerstone of Taylor's critically acclaimed run, which focused on Laura Kinney's journey after she officially took on the mantle of Wolverine. Gabby was designed to be a narrative foil and emotional catalyst for Laura. Where Laura was defined by decades of trauma, solitude, and a struggle for identity, Gabby was introduced as a character who, despite sharing a similarly horrific origin, possessed an unyielding optimism and a childlike sense of wonder. This dynamic allowed Taylor to explore themes of nature versus nurture, found family, and healing from generational trauma. She quickly became a breakout character, beloved by fans for her sharp wit, her endearing relationship with her pet wolverine, Jonathan the Unstoppable, and her unique blend of lethal skill and innocent charm. Her initial codename, Honey Badger, was a tongue-in-cheek moniker given to her by her estranged “brother” Daken, which she enthusiastically adopted before later changing it to Scout.

In-Universe Origin Story

Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe)

Gabrielle Kinney's origin is a dark mirror of her older sister's. She is one of ten clones of Laura Kinney (then Wolverine, formerly X-23), created by the sinister Alchemax Genetics division. This clandestine project, internally codenamed “The Sisters,” was overseen by Robert Chandler, a former handler of Sarah Kinney, the scientist who created Laura. Chandler's goal was to create a squad of perfect, obedient living weapons, just as the Facility had attempted with Laura. The ten young girls, including Gabby, were grown in captivity and subjected to brutal training and abuse. Unlike Laura, who was engineered to be a solitary assassin, the Sisters were designed to be a team of bodyguards for humanitarian missions, a twisted PR stunt by Alchemax. However, their treatment was anything but humane. They were frequently beaten by their guards, and their chief scientist, a cruel woman named Captain Mooney, took sadistic pleasure in tormenting them. A key difference in their creation was the deliberate suppression of their pain receptors; the girls were genetically engineered to be incapable of feeling physical pain. This was intended to make them more effective soldiers, but it also made them reckless and unable to properly gauge injuries. The Sisters eventually escaped Alchemax with the help of a dying scientist. Lacking any understanding of the outside world, they embarked on a misguided quest for revenge against Alchemax personnel. This drew the attention of Laura Kinney, who was shocked to discover their existence. Laura, along with the time-displaced Old Man Logan, intervened, trying to save the girls from both Alchemax and their own self-destructive path. A tragic complication arose: Alchemax had embedded nanites in the girls' bloodstreams, which could be remotely activated to cause fatal aneurysms. Chandler began systematically executing the clones to cover his tracks. Despite the best efforts of Laura, Doctor Strange, and Iron Man, most of the Sisters were killed. In a final, heartbreaking confrontation, only Gabby and another clone, Zelda, remained. Zelda sacrificed herself to save Gabby, leaving Gabby as the last surviving “Sister.” Devastated by the loss of her siblings and with nowhere else to go, Gabby was taken in by Laura. This marked the beginning of a profound transformation for both of them. Laura, who had always seen herself as a weapon and a monster, found a new purpose in protecting and raising Gabby. Gabby, in turn, found the loving family she never had and began to heal from her traumatic past, becoming a beacon of light in Laura's life. She officially became Gabrielle Kinney, Laura's adopted sister.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

As of the current timeline, Gabrielle Kinney has not appeared and does not exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999). The MCU has not yet adapted the All-New Wolverine storyline or introduced the Alchemax Genetics program responsible for her creation. While the concept of cloning Wolverine has been touched upon in 20th Century Fox's Logan film (which exists in a separate continuity from the main MCU), the character of Laura (played by Dafne Keen) was created by Transigen, not Alchemax, and there was no mention of a second generation of clones like the “Sisters.” Speculative Analysis for Potential MCU Introduction: Should Marvel Studios decide to introduce Gabby, there are several potential pathways:

Regardless of the method, her introduction would serve a similar narrative purpose as in the comics: to explore the legacy of Wolverine and to provide a powerful story about found family and overcoming trauma.

Part 3: Abilities, Equipment & Personality

Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe)

Powers and Abilities

Gabby's powers are derived from her genetic template, Laura Kinney, but with several key distinctions.

Skills and Training

Despite her youth, Gabby is a formidable combatant.

Personality

Gabby's personality is a stark contrast to her dark origins.

Equipment

Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

Gabrielle Kinney does not exist in the MCU, and therefore has no established abilities, equipment, or personality within that continuity. Any on-screen depiction would be a fresh interpretation, though it would likely draw heavily from the comic book source material for her core powers and optimistic-yet-lethal personality to satisfy fan expectations. The core traits of a single bone claw and her pain insensitivity would be crucial visual and narrative differentiators from Laura Kinney.

Part 4: Key Relationships & Network

Core Allies

Arch-Enemies

Affiliations

Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines

The Four Sisters (//All-New Wolverine// #1-6)

This opening arc of All-New Wolverine serves as Gabby's origin story. It introduces the Alchemax Sisters, details their escape and subsequent pursuit, and establishes the core conflict between Laura's desire to save them and Alchemax's intent to destroy them. The storyline is defined by tragedy, as Gabby is forced to watch her sisters die one by one. Her survival and subsequent adoption by Laura conclude the arc on a powerful note of hope, setting the stage for their new family dynamic and Laura's evolution as the new Wolverine.

Enemy of the State II (//All-New Wolverine// #13-18)

In this storyline, Laura is infected with a “trigger scent” that sends her into an uncontrollable berserker rage, turning her against her friends and allies at S.H.I.E.L.D. Gabby plays a crucial role, refusing to give up on her sister. Despite her young age and inexperience, she tracks Laura and becomes the only person who can get close to her. Her unwavering faith and love are instrumental in helping Laura break free from the trigger's control. The story solidified Gabby's role not as a sidekick or a liability, but as a competent and essential partner to Wolverine.

The Krakoan Age (//X-Factor//, //New Mutants//, //X-Men//)

Gabby's time on the mutant nation of Krakoa marked a new era of maturity for her. Adopting the new codename Scout, she joined the New Mutants. This period was pivotal for her integration into the wider mutant community. It also contained one of her most traumatic experiences since her creation. In New Mutants (Vol. 4), she was murdered by the psychic entity known as the Shadow King. Her death was a brutal blow to her teammates and especially to Laura. However, thanks to Krakoa's Resurrection Protocols, she was brought back to life by The Five. This experience of death and rebirth, a grim rite of passage for many Krakoans, forced her to confront mortality in a new way and further solidified her place as a true X-Man.

Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions

As a relatively recent character, Gabrielle Kinney does not have as extensive a history of alternate-reality counterparts as legacy characters like Wolverine or Cyclops. However, a few notable versions have appeared.

See Also

Notes and Trivia

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)

1)
Gabrielle's initial codename, “Honey Badger,” was sarcastically given to her by Daken, who compared her fierce-yet-small nature to the famously aggressive animal. Gabby, unaware of the sarcasm, loved it and adopted it immediately.
2)
The character of Jonathan the Unstoppable was named by series writer Tom Taylor after his friend, fellow comic book writer Jonathan Hickman.
3)
Unlike Laura Kinney, who had her claws coated in adamantium, Gabby's single bone claw in each hand remains in its natural state. This makes them more susceptible to damage but also allows them to heal naturally if broken.
4)
Gabby's inability to feel pain is a significant plot point. In All-New Wolverine #7, after being shot multiple times, she doesn't realize she's bleeding out until she physically collapses, highlighting the danger of her condition.
5)
First Appearance: All-New Wolverine #2 (December 2015).
6)
First use of “Honey Badger” codename: All-New Wolverine #9.
7)
First use of “Scout” codename: X-Factor #2 (2020).
8)
There has been some fan discussion and textual ambiguity regarding Gabby's sexuality, with some interpretations suggesting she may be queer. However, this has not been explicitly confirmed on-panel in Earth-616 continuity.