Uncanny X-Men #509 Art

Uncanny X-Men #509 Spoilers

Spoilers: While Northstar is giving a live interview, breaking news come from Sacramento: Simon Trask manages to muscle "Proposition X" to an emergency ballot vote. If it passes, mutants won't be allowed to breed, which upsets the X-Men. On the next day, the X-Club decides to travel back in time to study the parents of a first-generation mutant. Now, the Sisterhood enters the scene. The Red Queen explains to her girls that she found Psylocke travelling between parallel worlds, therefore she cast a spell to bring Betsy home, while Spiral recreated tissues and organs for Kwannon's corpse. Now, Psylocke seems to be under her control. The Red Queen adds that they reanimated a dead body capable of containing such a powerful psyche as a test, because they will be doing it again. It's revealed that the Red Queen is a "ghost", without a body of her own. She says there have been two hosts able to contain her powers, but the first one was destroyed. When asked about the second one, the Queen just tells the others that she knew her path would cross with Cyclops' someday. At night, Cyclops feels uncomfortable by Emma's side and decides to sleep on the couch, when Northstar, Dazzler and a drunk Pixie arrive at 3 a.m. Scott complains about it to Jean-Paul and Alison, when they are attacked by Martinique and Chimera. Lady Mastermind takes care of Emma. Spiral stabs Nightcrawler and Colossus. And Lady Deathstrike ambushes Wolverine. The Red Queen appears and affirms that Logan is the man she's been looking for. To be continued...

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Returns!

Marvel.com: One of the most celebrated fighting games in history is coming back for another round! Check out the first teaser trailer, art and details for "Marvel vs. Capcom 2"!

Nine years after taking the arcade gaming scene by storm and over six years after making its original home console debut, "Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes" returns! Slated to hit Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade and PS3's PSN, expect the same fast, furious and fantastic gameplay you loved with even more awesome online head-to-head action! A release date is set for "Summer 2009", and obviously Psylocke is a playable character!

Psylocke by Roger Cruz

Here's a little something to tie us over until Wednesday! I came across this sketch of Psylocke and Wolverine by artist Roger Cruz. (Artist of the X-Men: First Class series) I think this is a great piece! And I've heard that Cruz is a fan of Psylocke's.

Uncanny X-Men #509 Preview

Cover by: Greg Land

Writer: Matt Fraction
Pencils: Greg Land
Inks: Jay Leisten
Colored by: Justin Ponsor
Lettered by: VC - Joe Caramagna

The Story: The X-Men get up to the delicate art of living as the Sisterhood plan their imminent demise. The Science Team gets to work, trying very hard not to kill one another first. Simon Trask gains traction in the California state legislature, muscling PROPOSITION X to an emergency ballot vote. If it passes, mutants past and present, powered and otherwise, won't be allowed to breed... all this and a friend returns as a foe and ready for murder. Oh, things are getting ugly.

In Stores: April 29, 2009

Psylocke by artist David Yardin

Here's a sketch by artist David Yardin! It was done for a fan at a convention. He's currently drawing the covers for X-Factor and is also doing the interiors for a Gambit one-shot written by Mike Carey coming out this June. This is a great new piece and I'm a fan !

"Sword Of The Braddocks" Sales

According to the estimates of the sales by Diamond U.S. to comic specialty stores during March 2009, Psylocke's one-shot sold a quantity of 20,068 copies. It was an increase from New Exiles #18, which had sold 17,925 copies back in February. Nightcrawler's one-shot, also released in March, sold 24,316 copies.

Psylocke Designs for "Wolverine and The X-Men"

Khary Randolph has uploaded two Psylocke's designs for "Wolverine and The X-Men" on his DeviantArt page. The artwork features Betsy in both casual clothes and uniform. You can check his page for more designs artwork for other characters.

X-Solicits for July 2009

Uncanny X-Men #513

Written by: Matt Fraction
Pencils & Cover by: Terry Dodson
Variant Cover by: Simone Bianchi
UTOPIA: Chapter 2
WHO ARE THE DARK X-MEN? He has his own Avengers team and now Norman Osborn has his own X-Men team. The other shoe has finally dropped and Emma Frost has betrayed Cyclops and the rest of the X-Men. And that's just one of the huge surprises in "UTOPIA". Is that Namor? Cloak and Dagger? Professor X?! The thing that you aren't ready for is that Osborn is right.

Dark Avengers #7
Written by: Matt Fraction
Pencils & Cover by: Mike Deodato
Variant Cover by: Simone Bianchi
UTOPIA: Chapter 3
The DARK AVENGERS / UNCANNY X-MEN crossover continues! San Francisco teeters on the brink of absolute chaos and the X-Men keep getting in the way of Norman's vision of law and order. So Norman takes his game to the next level: who are the DARK X-MEN? And will Norman's Avengers play nice with Norman's X-Men? Here's a hint: no.


X-Men: Legacy #226
Written by: Mike Carey
Penciled by: Dustin Weaver
Cover by: Terry Dodson
UTOPIA TIE-IN
Rogue, Gambit and Danger go to join the X-Men in San Francisco, only to find it in flames. The Dark Avengers have come into town and are taking no prisoners. Wait, the whole problem is that they ARE taking prisoners. Norman Osborn has the city of San Francisco in the palm of his hands and mutants are being forced to take sides. Will they side with Cyclops and the X-Men? Or go to Osborn and his Dark X-Men? What side will the returning mutants and one of the X-Men’s most powerful foes take? Part 1 (of 2).

I'm hoping this gives Mike Carey the opportunity to finally write Psylocke!

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol. 9 Premiere HC
Cover by: Tom Grummett
Consider this an intervention: You like to pretend you can tell the difference between Ronan and Ronin, but you can't keep it up. Let go of your Pride, the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe was made for people like you! Where else are you going to get comprehensive biographies on everyone from the Punisher to Arcturus Rann? You get heroes like Polaris, Power Pack, Power Princess, Prodigy, Professor X, Prowler, Kitty Pryde, Psi-Force, Psylocke, Puck, Quake, Quasar, Quicksilver, Rage, Monica Rambeau, Rawhide Kid, Rocket Raccoon, Rockslide, Rogue, Runaways, Sage and Sasquatch! And in villains, there's Plantman, Psycho-Man, Puppet Master, Purple Man, Pyro, Radioactive Man, Reavers, Red Skull, Rhino, Sabretooth, Sandman and more besides! By the time you're quoting Proteus history by heart you'll be the envy of your peers!

Uncanny X-Men #510 variant by J. Scott Campbell

Here is the variant cover to Uncanny X-Men #510. Psylocke still appears in her Asian form on this image so it leads to wonder if her British re-transformation is permanent or not.

Matt Fraction Talks Uncanny X-Men: Breaking News!

CBR News spoke with Fraction about the Red Queen and her scheme, which involves the return of a fan-favorite X-Man; as well as the writer’s future plans for “Uncanny,” which involve the introduction of a new team of “Dark X-Men.” It pretty much confirms that Psylocke is indeed back to her original body! Check the entire article for preview art and more news concerning "Sisterhood " and the upcoming Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men crossover!

The result of the ritual performed by the Red Queen and the Sisterhood appeared to have returned the spirit of Psylocke to her original body, which had been deceased. Also known as Betsy Braddock, Psylocke hadn’t been seen in the pages of “Uncanny X-Men” for several years, and Fraction wanted to bring her back to the title for a number of reasons. “It’s also part of that initiative to bring in more strong and powerful female characters. That's really been our agenda,” Fraction said. “Plus Psylocke is great. She’s got a rich and complicated history and she provided stuff that no one else on the team had in terms of character, power set, and the complications her return brings about. Those complications made for an intriguing problem and I’ve got a lot of affection for the character. When she first came into 'Uncanny' was sort of my prime era of reading the book as a fan.”

Uncanny X-Men #509 Cover Revealed!

As Fraction mentioned, Psylocke brings with her a complicated back-story that involves switching bodies with a Japanese woman named Kwannon, a death, a resurrection, and a stint protecting alternate realities with her former teammates the Exiles. “Our mission with her is really to simplify as much as possible,” Fraction said. “We’re trying to bring her back in a way that satisfies people who know who she is and where she’s been, but at the same time present this character to people who don’t have any idea of who she is. Without blowing where the rest of the arc is going things become clearer in issue #509. She is a very important canary in the coal mine. She’s a test run if you will. What they do with Psylocke, they want to do to someone else.”

X-Position: Nick Lowe

X-Books Editor talks about the future of the X-Men in this week's X-Position. He also teases about the upcoming Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men crossover. Check the entire article here.

Do you have any plans to bring back either Kwannon or the British Psylocke? Some fans seem to like the old version of Betsy a lot…

Read “Uncanny X-Men” #508 on sale this week!

Uncanny X-Men #508 Art

Uncanny X-Men #508 Spoilers

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

DON'T READ IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED!

The Sisterhood recruits Lady Mastermind, and the Red Queen assures that their plans begin that night in Tokyo. Domino visits a graveyard that Wolverine keeps in Tokyo for friends and loved ones, and she bumps into Spiral, Lady Deathstrike and Chimera stealing a coffin. They fight, and Domino is able to stab Chimera with a sword. Spiral says the "vessel is acquired", so the three women walk through a portal and disappear. Domino freaks out and calls Logan, saying that they stole the body of Kwannon! Meanwhile at the Graymalkin Industries, Beast introduces Dr. Kavita Rao as the new member of the X-Club, and the Science Team begins to discuss about undoing M-Day. In San Francisco, the Red Queen heals Chimera and orders the other girls to take their places around the "vessel", so the ritual can begin. She says the "vessel" (Kwannon's dead body) is ready to be filled with a live girl: Psylocke, who was kidnapped by the Siterhood! At the X-Men Headquarters, Nightcrawler talks Emma Frost into teaching the Russian girls, who are now living with them, when a wave of pain affects all the psychics around - Emma, The Cuckoos, Karma and Empath. The Cuckoos say there was a massive psychic event somewhere. Meanwhile, Wolverine recruits Northstar and Aurora to the X-Men. The Red Queen and the girls begin to perform the ritual: they transfer Psylocke's mind to her original British body! Betsy wakes up and asks where she is, and the Red Queen tells her: "You're home". To be continued...

Uncanny X-Men #508 Preview

Cover by: Greg Land

Writer: Matt Fraction
Pencils: Greg Land
Inks: Jay Leisten
Colored by: Justin Ponsor
Lettered by: VC - Joe Caramagna

The Story: The X-Men get up to the delicate art of living as the Sisterhood plan their imminent demise. The Science Team gets to work, trying very hard not to kill one another first. Simon Trask gains traction in the California state legislature, muscling PROPOSITION X to an emergency ballot vote. If it passes, mutants past and present, powered and otherwise, won't be allowed to breed... all this and a friend returns as a foe and ready for murder. Oh, things are getting ugly.

In Stores: April 15, 2009

X-Position: Mike Carey

"X-Men Legacy" writer Mike Carey talks about Psylocke in this week's X-Position. Check it out!

You've said several times that would you like to write Psylocke. After her comeback in Fraction's series, do you think you'll be allowed to use her?

It's not really a question of “allowed.” In fact, the X-editors are very relaxed right now about allowing the casts of the different books to swap around and inter-penetrate. It's more a question of how Psylocke will fit into what we're doing next in “Legacy.” I don't want to drag her in by her heels and have her look and feel out of place in the story. But I do want to bring her in at some point, when it makes sense to do so.

Cgar at the CBR Forums also asked Mike about the possibility of using Psylocke in future storylines. Here's what Carey answered:

Mike Carey: Basically, I'm going to bring her in when I can make it seem natural.

Emerald City ComicCon 2009: Mondo Marvel

Matt Fraction was present at Emerald City ComicCon this past weekend. He talked about Uncanny X-Men and future storylines:

“We just wrapped up the storyline called ‘Lovelorn,’ in which Colossus got a tattoo. Now we go to the storyline called ‘Sisterhood,’ where we see what all those weird women have been up to and what their plans are. Old favorites come back, new people join the team, people die, things explode, people have sex…”

A one-off issue will be coming up that features Beast and the team of “fringe” scientists he’s put together. Fraction teased, “They go back in time to San Francisco in 1906 to investigate one of the earliest mutant births they know of, and who that is just might surprise you…”

Fraction continued, “And then we’re into the summer event which is ‘Dark Avengers/X-Men: Utopia.’ Emma and Norman’s deal was that she would keep mutants quiet and off the table and he’d stay out of their business, and something’s happened to upset that cart of apples…and it’s so big, it results in a summer crossover, and not an independent book being written by Mike Carey called ‘Dark X-Men.’ [The image being floated around the internet] is actually the cover image to ‘Uncanny’ #513.”

Fraction and X-Men Editor Nick Lowe made a giant list of all the mutants in the Marvel Universe, and Fraction tried to fit every single one of them in the upcoming “Utopia.” He doesn’t believe he achieved it, but he thinks he came close.

For more Mondo Marvel announcements, read Comic Books Resources' description.

Uncanny X-Men: Sisterhood

Marvel.com: The Red Queen and her Sisterhood of Evil Mutants strike at the X-Men this month, and series writer Matt Fraction speaks.

The X-Men have no shortage of women troubles heading their way in the months ahead.

The Sisterhood of Evil Mutants make their proper debut this month with a double-dose of Marvel's Merry Mutants as writer Matt Fraction and artist Greg Land bring you both UNCANNY X-MEN #508 on April 15 and #509 on April 29!

While Fraction couldn't tell us too much about the Sisterhood before their first issue ships, he could fill us in on some of the general things they hope to accomplish.

"They're group of powerful psychics, mostly, who have been brought together by the Red Queen for a very specific purpose," Fraction notes. "The Red Queen's magic, plus the psychic abilities of the gathered women, will be combined to execute—well, I suppose it's a kind of heist. A test run, if you will, and then a heist. Sort of. A major magical working is behind the Sisterhood and the Red Queen has been planning it for an awfully long time."

Some readers may remember the Red Queen as Madelyne Pryor, Cyclops' former wife and mother of Nathan Summers, aka Cable. But Fraction quickly points out that "we're not bringing Maddie back into the fold, we're bringing the Red Queen back.

"To me there's a very distinctive difference," the writer elaborates. "This was one of the last ideas [former UNCANNY writer] Ed Brubaker and I had together, the Sisterhood and the Red Queen and what she in particular is up to and why. The non-spoilerversion is she's a fun villain with a strange objective I don't know we've seen before. Her mission, and the mission of the Sisterhood, is very, very specific and, I think, very twisted and a lot of fun."

As for what makes the Red Queen the perfect choice for the Sisterhood's leader, Fraction again could only hint at the true reason.

"I can't answer this without giving away the story," the writer coyly responds. "But whatever the reason, it absolutely tortures Scott, which is always good for a laugh."

The Sisterhood marks the second all-new threat in Fraction's run as writer, along with the Hellfire Cult, who hearken back to the X-Men's history with both the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and the Hellfire Club. For Fraction, establishing that link to our heroes' past fulfills some of his own personal requirements for what he expects in new X-villains.

"I guess as an X-fan myself I always like seeing new takes on old favorites and new twists on that kind of stuff," Fraction remarks. "We wanted to push things forward but still hold a link to the past, to still in some kind of way honor the history of the book, or at least acknowledge it."

Both in UNCANNY X-MEN and in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, Fraction has set out to prominently establish or flesh out more female characters, and this upcoming storyline will only serve to further that goal.

"Yeah, at the end of 'Sisterhood' there are more women on the board on either side of the equation," the writer relates. "And I don't know if it's up to me to gauge the success [of achieving that goal]. All I can do is try [and] write the best books I can, and I really feel those have strong women as an essential part of their DNA."

Though the X-Men have their hands full with the Sisterhood, Beast and Angel's X-Club—a group of scientists determined to figure out a way to keep mutants from extinction—have only begun their mission. But don't expect them to play too prominent a role in the immediate future.

"[They'll be sitting] around, drinking coffee and thinking during 'Sisterhood,'" according to Fraction. "After eating up so much real estate in our last arc, they recede a bit here. Not to worry, though, UNCANNY X-MEN #512 sees them front and center in an adventure through time itself."

As they continue to delve into the mysteries of M-Day, though, Fraction warns that everything may not turn out roses.

"They're here to unravel the mystery of the M-Day working, and what they find will explain everything," he elucidates. "Or kill everyone. I always get those two confused."

When the X-Club returns to the spotlight, Fraction teases it will make for a change of pace from what X-fans usually find in the pages of UNCANNY.

"[Next is] me and [artists] Yanick Paquette and Karl Story on UNCANNY X-MEN #512, which is called 'The X-Club in: The Origins of the Species.' That's a biggie-sized issue with, I think, the career best stuff for Yanick. Just amazing. He's a big steampunk fan, so the opportunity to explore the early days of mass mutantdom and weird turn-of-the-century meta-science is bringing out totally stunning results. And then we're off to 'Utopia.'

"Pray."

Scott Clarks shows "Sword of the Braddocks" Art

Artist Scott Clark has uploaded the first three pages of "Sword of the Braddocks" without any lettering over his DeviantArt page. His art is amazing!

X-Men: Sword of the Braddocks Review

Comic Books Resources has given a pretty positive review about X-Men: Sword of the Braddocks. Let's hope it has sold a good amount of copies too. This review was written by James Hunt.

When Marvel solicited this issue, it was a 40-page one-shot that, it seemed, would fold Psylocke back into the X-Men following her turn on Claremont’s version of the Exiles. Shortly afterwards, the solicitation was altered to announce that the main feature was actually a shorter length, and would be supplemented by a reprint of an old X-Men back-up strip. Whether this represents changes made after solicitation or an error in the original listings in unclear, but one thing’s for certain: this comic, much like the recent Nightcrawler one-shot, doesn’t entirely resemble the one that was originally solicited. One suspects that fans and retailers won’t put up with that for long.

Beyond that, however, the story is actually quite good. Psylocke is one of Chris Claremont's “pet” characters, so he still has a fairly good grip on how she should be written. The issue is designed to tie up a thread from Exiles, where a version of the Slaymaster –- a villain from Psylocke’s early days -– was hopping realities, killing every alternate Betsy Braddock he met, hoping to get “our” one. Because it’s Psylocke, and because it’s Claremont, she eventually defeats him in a one-on-one physical fight.

The art is done in a painted, elegant style that looks amazing, but is slightly marred by a tendency towards emphasizing Psylocke’s more, er, womanly charms, but when you buy a Claremont comic, you have to be prepared to read the words as well –- and despite criticism of his recent style, it’s all quite good, tying up Psylocke’s unfinished plot arc, and providing a rare opportunity for the character to take center stage.

The issue really treats fans of Psylocke, bringing in multiple elements from past continuity, as well as featuring an appearance by her brother, Captain Britain, in one of his welcome glimpses outside of his own title. The relationship between Brian and Betsy is well-developed and if it’s this interesting under Claremont, one can only wonder what Cornell would do with it. Consider this the start of a petition to get Psylocke into “Captain Britain”!

The backup strip is less easy to enthuse about, however. It’s written by Adam Warren, and set from an odd point in the past where Psylocke was dead, so it’s weird to see it paired up, no explanation, with a lead story where she very much isn’t. I consider myself a fairly hardcore X-Men fan, but even I find it a little hard to understand the continuity matters surrounding this short story. There’s some nice ninja-action from artist Rick Mays, but otherwise, it definitely feels like padding. The idea of backup strips is a good one, but the execution –- of this one, at least –- has a negative effect on the comic overall.