POLL: Your Favorite and Least Favorite Writers are...

FAVORITE WRITERS:

#1. Rick Remender (42%): Remender’s take on Betsy Braddock in his fan-favorite and critically acclaimed run on Uncanny X-Force remains iconic and revered. Uncanny X-Force gave us all: strong characterization, agency, tragedy and a well-rounded arc that pushed Betsy so far out of her comfort zone and into top-tier status, leading to a new renaissance for the character.

#2. Chris Claremont (14%): While Claremont’s third run on Uncanny X-Men was not as well received as his first (and not as bad as his second), there were some qualities to his carefree take on Betsy. Despite some issues with pacing and dialogue, one can’t deny that Claremont knows who Betsy Braddock is at her core. The least said about New Exiles, the better.

#3. Cullen Bunn (11%): An underappreciated gem, Bunn’s portrayal of Betsy Braddock in Uncanny X-Men feels in many ways the spiritual successor to Remender’s. Bunn’s complex and conflicting interpretation revealed a deep respect for the character and one of the few standouts during a hard time for the X-Men publishing line.

LEAST FAVORITE WRITERS:

#1. Tini Howard (48%): Wasted potential is what best defines Tini Howard’s Betsy Braddock. Fans hoped that Betsy adopting the Captain Britain mantle would take the character to the next level. Instead, Betsy was portrayed as a self-doubting, ineffective leader who barely used her powers other than swinging her sword around. Everything we loved about Betsy is gone. Her personality, her charm, her creative use of powers, her attitude, her edginess. All we have left is a shadow of her former self. Betsy is a far cry from what she used to be. And for the worse. The fact that Tini’s Otherworld epic is taking too long to conclude – 3 years and counting – while keeping Betsy irrelevant and isolated from the main Krakoan/X-Men action also left a sour taste in fans’ mouths.

#2. Leah Williams (16%): While Age of X-Man: X-Tremists was pretty much inoffensive and forgettable, Wlliams’ take on Betsy Braddock comes from her utter misunderstanding of the character. Williams views Betsy as a self-loathing woman obsessed with body modification who hated her own body. This was enough for fans to hope she never writes Betsy again.

#3. Sam Humphries (12%): After Remender’s run, the bar was set too high. While Humphries was given a hard task, his take on Betsy failed to impress fans to say the least. An adult woman living through her teen angst phase – with burglary, drinking and polyamorous relationships – was not what fans were expecting.

Cullen Bunn Reveals Original 'Uncanny X-Men' Pitch, Cosmic Book with Captain Britain

Cullen Bunn: In 2015, I was asked to take over Uncanny X-Men. We all know that yielded the Magneto-led team. My first pitch, however, was a cosmic team with Rachel Summers in charge and a new Captain Britain. My pal Bri Hurtt even worked up a few concepts. Their ship was powered by the Siege Perilous. And they would have encountered alien mutants across the universe. And—of course—Magneto would’ve played a role. Why didn’t it happen? It almost did. Then one editor really pushed a case against anything cosmic. Or maybe it would’ve just been too awesome. Everyone liked it... save one person who convinced the rest, I guess.

Cullen Bunn Talks Psylocke and Magneto

Question: Now that the cat is out of the bag, will we see Magneto and Psylocke meeting again? What happened was too big for both of them to just appear together randomly in some book in the future without ever addressing it.

Cullen Bunn: I certainly hope we see a big confrontation between them again.

Question: Is Magneto being alive going to play a part jn the story anytime soon? Will we have a chance to see Psylocke's reaction since she was the one who "killed" him?

Bunn: I think the world at large views Magneto as a natural disaster waiting to strike. So, yeah, that’ll play a part in the series for sure.

X-Position: X-Men Blues Cullen Bunn Teases Magneto’s Machinations

CBR: This week in X-POSITION, “Uncanny X-Men” and “X-Men Blue” writer Cullen Bunn returns and answers all of your questions about Psylocke, Monet, Magneto and more.

Despite putting a fight, I got the feeling that Magneto had somewhat of a death wish during his fight with Psylocke. It felt like he was okay and at peace with his life coming to an end there. Will this fight with Betsy affect him during your run on “X-Men Blue”?

I think Magneto having a death wish is pretty close to the truth. Did it feel to you like he might have been holding back a little? Like he might have been planning to die? Elixir was right there, ready to bring him back, wasn’t he? The fight will continue to have long-lasting ramifications for Magneto, both internally and externally.

First and foremost, Psylocke went and blabbed to everyone that she killed Magneto. Now everybody thinks he’s dead.

Why did you decide to end “Uncanny” with a conflict between Psylocke and Magneto? I know they have their differences, but Psylocke knew from the beginning what kind of person Magneto was.

Psylocke did know what kind of person Magneto was, but she warned him time and time again that if he cut out of line she would take him down with extreme prejudice. My decision to end the series with that moment boils down to me feeling that this put a nice bow on the series and tied everything together. From the beginning, it was about Magneto and Psylocke.

Uncanny X-Men #19 Spoilers

Spoilers: Psylocke infiltrates the War Room X, her former HQ in the Savage Land, seeking to deal with Magneto once and for all. Erik springs a trap and destroys the Room. Magneto tells Betsy he’s been expecting this confrontation from the very first moment he recruited her. Psylocke mind-controls a Tyrannosaurus Rex to attack Magneto, before hiding. Magneto wonders if Psylocke saw too much of herself in his ruthless and cold-bloodedness actions and feels somewhat remorseful about this final encounter. Betsy surprises Erik again and tells him his team is gone: a stabilized Mystique might still be a killer but knows she should stay away from Magneto; Sabretooth reverted to his old ways and Monet hasn’t been the same since her encounter with her brother, both gone; Xorn vanished after what happened in New Attilan, deeming himself too dangerous; Archangel was left in charge of the weaponized mutants, the so called sleepers; and no one knows what became of Fantomex after he went deep into The World. Betsy accuses Erik of wanting them to be X-Men, X-Force, the Hellfire Club and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants at the same time. They both keep fighting until Erik destroys Betsy’s metal katana. Psylocke forges a telekinetic katana and stabs Magneto in a deadly way. Psylocke says that he will die a slow, painful death and that mutantkind will have a chance now with Erik out of the picture. After Betsy leaves Magneto to die alone, Elixir and Exodus both come to his rescue. Elixir heals Magneto anew. Erik declines their invitation to join them, and tells them he must remain “dead” for the sake of mutantkind, but no that dead… not yet.

Uncanny X-Men #19 Preview

Uncanny X-Men #19 Writer: Cullen Bunn Art by: Edgar Salazar Cover by: Ken Lashley The Story: • When she left the ranks of his X-Men team, PSYLOCKE promised that if MAGNETO stepped out of line, she would end him. • And now, in light of the events of INHUMANS VS. X-MEN, Psylocke is going to make good on that promise! In Stores: March 15, 2017

X-Position: Cullen Bunn Promises Major Characters Returns in X-Men Blue

CBR: This week in X-POSITION, “Uncanny X-Men” and “Deadpool and the Mercs for Money” writer Cullen Bunn joins us and answers all of your questions about everything from the upcoming “X-Men Blue” series and the next issues of “Uncanny X-Men.”

Your “UXM” run has been building toward the inevitable confrontation between Psylocke and Magneto. Will the results of that showdown explain why Magneto seems to be back in the X-Men’s sphere of influence [in “X-Men Blue”] while Betsy appears to be missing?

Bunn: There is a big showdown coming up, that’s for sure. The results of that fight will at least help to set up Magneto’s role in “X-Men Blue. As for Psylocke, if she’s throwing down with Magneto, that could very well explain why you haven’t seen much of her in previews of future storylines.

Most Psylocke fans view you as being in the top three Betsy writers, alongside [Chris] Claremont and [Rick] Remender. Did you do everything he wanted to do with her, or would he like another shot at her sometime? ResurrXion Phase 2, perhaps?

Bunn: No, I didn’t get to do everything I wanted with the character. I had a big Otherworld story in mind and I had dreams of seeing Psylocke take on the mantle of Captain Britain. Who knows? Maybe one day! No matter how many issues I wrote, I would have always wanted to do more. I love the character, and would happily return to her world sometime.

Uncanny X-Men #16 Spoilers & Art

Spoilers: The main cast of “Uncanny X-Men” all take the month off as the teen Jean Grey from “Extraordinary” makes a guest starring turn, along with the Stepford Cuckoos. The issue focuses on the Jean scene from “IvX” #1, focusing on Jean and the Cuckoos’ combined attempt to keep Karnak trapped in his own mind. Things have progressed from what we’ve seen before; Karnak is now running around in a mental prison set up by the telepaths to look like New Attilan. Psylocke doesn't appear in this issue, but is among the X-Men projected into Karkak's mind by the mutant telepaths.

Meanwhile, Fantomex struck a deal with one of Cuckoos, Irma, to allow him access to Karnak’s problem-solving skills. Irma would act as the bridge between Fantomex and Karnak, feeding altered analogues of the real problems Fantomex encounters in the World into Karnak’s vision. Then, as Karnak solves the similar problems in his trance, Fantomex knows what to do in the World. This side mission is of importance to Fantomex because he has been in control of the World for a while now, and members of the nefarious Someday Corporation infiltrated the World and stole parts of its tech. Fantomex uses Karnak’s abilities to make his way to where the Someday Corporation broke in. There, he finds the device they used to hack into the World’s systems — a slug-like device. He then places his psi-shielding plates back in his mask, locking Irma out of his mind. Panicked, Irma tells the others of her secret mission with Fantomex — and they aren’t too pleased. Fantomex continues on his quest, completely moving on from the matters of Inhumans and X-Men. “Let them have their war. I’m done with all that,” he says. Fantomex removed Someday’s influence from the World’s system — and filled the void with his own id, ego and super-ego. Calling it the “God-King Virus,” Fantomex prepares himself for a massive transformation — one that he says will render him unrecognizable. “I will become the world,” he says at the end of the issue, teasing a potentially major shift in who — and what — Fantomex is moving forward.

Marvel Reveals X-Men Blue, Gold Teams, Creators & Shipping Info

CBR: “X-Men Gold,” written by Marc Guggenheim with art by Ardian Syaf, will star Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Old Man Logan and Rachel Grey, with Kitty Pryde as team leader.

Yes, Kitty will no longer be a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Guggenheim explained to IGN that the ever-popular character is returning home where she’ll lead her new team in a battle with a new incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

“There’s more going on here than just another new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, the umpteenth iteration,” the writer says. “One of the things that I wanted to get back to and really sort of drill down is what does it mean to be a mutant in the 21st century, in a world where you’ve got Inhumans and you’ve had mutants for all this time and you’ve had M-Pox and Genosha and all the things that have happened to mutants throughout the years. Why does this racism still exist? In fact, the very first page sort of sets out my anti-mutant treatise. I really tried to put on my racism hat and justify hatred of mutants for the 21st century. And the brotherhood really plays into that.”

“X-Men Blue,” written by Cullen Bunn with art by Jorge Molina, stars the time-tossed team of Cyclops, Iceman, Beast and Angel, with Magneto as their mentor-figure. Jean Grey will be present as well, but in “Blue,” she’s taking on the mantle of leader for the first time.

“Magneto is the oldest enemy of these X-Men. This was the first ‘evil mutant’ that they battled way back in X-Men #1. And now here he is taking on this mentor role with them,” Bunn told IGN. “That immediately raises a lot of questions. Why would these X-Men be working with him? What is he trying to accomplish now? Do they feel that he’s changed his ways? And that really is what I was excited about. It opened up a lot of really interesting questions for us. There’s some mystery involved in terms of why the X-Men are working with him and what they’re trying to accomplish. There’s a little bit of intrigue there because knowing Magneto, you know he’s got ulterior motives. He’s Magneto. The original five X-Men aren’t stupid. They know this. And maybe they have some ulterior motives of their own.”

As for Jean’s new position as team leader, Bunn explained to IGN, “Jean is really the catalyst for bringing them all together… I kind of feel like readers of X-Men have always felt that Jean was supposed to be the leader of the team. And now Jean is definitely taking the leadership role in this group.”

Both series will ship twice-monthly, meaning X-Men readers will be treated to four issues per month between the titles. “X-Men Blue” and “X-Men Gold” debut in April 2017 as part of Marvel’s ongoing ResurrXion initiative.

X-Position: Bunn Teases IvX’s Impact On Uncanny X-Men

CBR: This week in X-POSITION, “Uncanny X-Men,” “Deadpool and the Mercs For Money” and “Deadpool: Back in Black” writer Cullen Bunn joins us and answers all of your questions about everything from Archangel’s future to what ResurrXion has in store for his “Uncanny” run.

First, thank you for showing Psylocke much needed love and attention. My question: given that Psylocke initially joined Magneto’s X-Men because she believed in the cause, and — more importantly — Archangel. Now that she’s left the team, what will happen to their relationship? Will Archangel return to field duty?

Bunn: For now, Psylocke and Archangel are on two very different paths. Archangel is going to return to active duty. You’ll be seeing a big Archangel issue coming up that will give him a new focus and goal. As for Psylocke, in many ways, she still believes in Magneto’s cause. She just can’t bring herself to be in the same room with the man.

Regarding “IvX” issues of “Uncanny,” how will they read? In terms of, will they be more “IvX,” more “Uncanny X-Men” or a true middle ground? As a big fan of what’s come before and what (hopefully) lies ahead in this series, the idea of “IvX” having a disrupting effect has me quite anxious.

Bunn: I hope the “IvX” issues will occupy a true middle ground. Yes, the events of “IvX” play a huge role in the issues, but I’m using each issue to highlight, elevate, and resolve some of the stuff I’ve been building up to all along. These are not issues that must be read to follow the main event, although I feel like they add some interesting depth to the main series. Likewise, I think you could follow these books (for the most part) without reading “IvX.” The next few issues focus on Fantomex, Sabretooth and Monet, Xorn and Archangel, and Magneto and Psylocke respectively.

Will the Uncanny X-Men remain whole leading into ResurrXion? Will we see a shift in the roster, or worse yet, a complete disband of the team?

Bunn: Sadly, I can say nothing about this, Dylan. I can’t tell you if the book will continue, if the team will exist, or if I’ll be writing an X-book at all. I bet more information on this will be revealed soon.

Uncanny X-Men #15 Spoiilers

Spoilers: In Maryland, Psylocke reminisces about quitting Magneto’s team while pursuing and putting down a band of Omega Sentinels by herself. It is revealed Betsy is following a list of targets endangering mutantkind. Next on her hit list is Sauron in Cambodia. Sauron is using his powers to enslave mutants and humans alike. Psylocke decides she’s beyond talking about the focused totality of her power, instead she just lets Sauron feel it and defeats him. Next location: Chinatown in San Francisco. Betsy thinks Magneto’s allies might be more dangerous than his enemies, and comes across a mutant hormone growth lab run by the Nasty Boys. Psylocke wonders if they’re working for Magneto, but after scanning them, she finds out she’s just being paranoid. She knocks down every Nasty Boy and destroy their labs. On her way out, Betsy is followed by a strange man who reveals himself to be Mystique in disguise. They engage in a fight, and Mystique says Magneto is somehow behind her following Psylocke. Betsy senses Mystique’s chaotic thoughts twisting her personality and determines Magneto only sent her to follow Betsy, but Raven decided to kill her. Psylocke chooses to help Mystique, stabilizing her id, ego and super-ego, making her whole and eliminating radical mood swings. Betsy explains Mystique is still the same person, only a little more in control and trustworthy. Mystique decides to leave and promises to kill Betsy next time, while Psylocke wonders if she just made her a more valuable asset to Magneto.

Uncanny X-Men #15 Preview

Uncanny X-men #15

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Art & Cover by: Greg Land

The Story:

Psylocke and Magneto don’t see eye to eye. Whereas Magneto is willing to do anything it takes to ensure the future of mutantkind, Psylocke believes there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed. And when she stands in Magneto’s way, he may just decide that in the quest to safeguard his race, Psylocke is an acceptable sacrifice to make!

In Stores: November 9, 2016

Uncanny X-Men #14 Spoilers

Spoilers: At the Hellfire Club, Psylocke scans the sleeper’s mind and detects an attack on an anti-mutant rally in Washington is imminent, however Betsy refuses to find out the mastermind behind the attack as to not kill the sleeper. Monet steps in and states she will do what it takes to accomplish her mission, managing to discover Exodus is behind it all. Betsy and Erik confront each other again, and Psylocke takes off with the X-Men to stop the attack. Magneto heads to Someday Corporation to meet Exodus. Erik demands him to release the sleepers, but Exodus is adamant he’s only following on Magneto’s steps and on behalf of mutantkind. Exodus explains he turned the sleepers into weapons on mutants’ side, which upsets Magneto as he has never forced anyone to fight his fight. After a brief struggle, Magneto knocks out Exodus, severing his control over the sleepers, which make them stop the attack in Washington. Back at the Hellfire Club, Psylocke cut ties with Magneto and leaves the team. The X-Men send the sleepers to Tibet to be watched over by Xorn. Xorn laments Betsy has left as she was a good influence on Magneto. Erik remembers Betsy telling him she’s not going far as she will be keeping an eye on him as an avenging angel.

Uncanny X-Men #14 Preview

Uncanny X-Men #14

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Art & Cover by: Greg Land

The Story:

• Magneto and his team of X-Men discover who’s been weaponizing mutants and aiming them at mutantkind’s enemies.

• But once they do, the question becomes: Will they stop their longtime adversary once more…or JOIN HIM??

In Stores: October 5, 2016

Uncanny X-Men #13 Spoilers

Spoilers: The X-Men and Hellfire Club faces off against a crowd of angry, manipulated mutants. But just as the crowd of aggressors overwhelms the X-Men, the attack pauses. The Someday mutants are in contact with a mysterious telepath who instructs them to halt and then teleports them all away. The X-Men return to the Hellfire Club’s mansion, where Psylocke reveals that she felt a psychic presence “buzzing” all around them during battle: she knows someone is pulling the Someday mutants’ strings. And it’s not the corporation, either; an investigation of the research facility revealed Someday employees violently stuffed in stasis chambers and forced asleep via psychic means. Magneto’s shape-shifting agent Mystique stowed away with the Someday mutants disguised as one of their own, and her reconnaissance led her to stumble upon the man that liberated the weaponized mutants from Someday’s clutches: Exodus.

Civil War II: X-Men #4 Spoilers

Spoilers: In New Atillan, Rachel sends the Inhumans to sleep while Magneto makes his way towards Ulysses. Back in Manhattan, Storm’s team and Magneto’s team keep fighting each other: Storm vs. Archangel, Psylocke vs. Nightcrawler, Old Man Logan vs. Sabretooth, Magik vs. Monet and Gambit vs. Fantomex. Regardless of team choices, Kurt saves Storm and warns Betsy that Mystique is about to attack her as she tends to Warren. Back to Atillan, Magneto is alone with Ulysses. The inhuman tries to talk Magneto out of killing him and explains that this situation won’t turn out the way Erik thinks. Back to the X-Men, after more fighting with each other, Magik teleport Storm’s team to New Attilan to stop Magento. The Uncanny team then jump in E.V.A. and head to New Attilan as well hoping they gave Magneto enough time. Ulysses offers to show Magneto the short term future if things continue: both X-Men teams fighting and killing each other. In New Attilan, Rachel tells the X-Men to stand down as she has memory wiped all the guards of their intrusion and left Ulysses in the care of the Inhumans, while Magneto has seemingly left because what Ulyssed showed him changed his mind. Elsewhere, Magneto has words with Medusa and understands that she knew what Ulyssed would should him. Medusa says he’s not welcome there anymore and that he will be seen only as an enemy from now on, to which Erik agrees. Nightcrawler then returns to Storm’s team, as well as Psylocke returns to the Savage Land with the Uncanny team. Betsy lashes out at Magneto and questions his approaches. Rachel warns them that she’s leaving, but Erik insists she be around as he’s not sure Betsy will be by his side for much longer.

Uncanny X-Men #13 Preview

Uncanny X-Men #13

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Art & Cover by: Greg Land

The Story:

The X-Men join THE HELLFIRE CLUB?! To investigate a string of violent attacks perpetrated by mutants, the Uncanny X-Men ally themselves with their (former?) foes. But what they’re about to uncover may be too much for even their combined might to handle…

In Stores: September 21, 2016

Civil War II: X-Men #4 Preview

Civil War II: X-Men #4

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Art by: Andrea Broccardo

Cover by: David Yardin

The Story:

• When a new Inhuman manifests the ability to profile the future, threatening to tip the scales of the Mutant/Inhuman conflict out of his favor, MAGNETO takes decisive action to safeguard the future of his people.

• But will his actions only make the future he fears most a reality?

In Stores: September 21, 2016

Uncanny X-Men #12 Spoilers

Spoilers: Months ago – Following the Secret Wars incursions, Magneto approaches Psylocke in the ruins of Genosha and asks her to be his partner in his endeavors to protect mutantkind. Eriks brings Archangel with him and tells Betsy she could help mutants and Warren at the same time; Betsy accepts.

Present – At the Hellfire Club, Magneto tells Betsy the Inner Circle are valuable allies. Black Tom Cassidy is the White Bishop, Briar Raleigh is the Black Bishop, Monet is the White Queen, Sebastian Shaw is the Black King, and Magneto is the White King. They hope Psylocke accepts to be their Black Queen. Erik explains that the Club’s agenda coincide with their own. The Hellfire Club’s spies have been digging up secrets of Someday Enterprises. Raleigh hands over a mutant’s brain matter used for cerebral encryption by Someday Enterprises. Later, Betsy finds out the piece of gray matter was used to deliver messages only a psychic could pick up. The X-Men, Black Tom and Hellfire Club goons head to Someday’s Research Station at the Atlantic Ocean. They are ambushed my mutants who were weaponized by Someday and are now used as puppets.

Months ago – At the Hellfire Club, Magneto welcomes Brian Raleigh and introduces her to his new inner circle: Shaw, Black Tom and Monet.

X-Position: Bunn Reignites The Hellfire Club In Uncanny X-Men

CBR: This week in X-POSITION, “Uncanny X-Men,” “Civil War II: X-Men” and “Deadpool and the Mercs for Money” writers Cullen Bunn answers your questions about everything from Elixir’s future to Archangel’s past and everything in between.

After seeing the line up for the ANAD Hellfire Club, why did you choose Black Tom Cassidy as a member? He has not been relevant since Austen’s run on the “X-Men.”

Bunn: Originally, Black Tom and Juggernaut were going to be members of my Hellfire Club. For various reasons, I had to remove Juggernaut, but I’ve always liked Black Tom, so I left him in the mix. He’s a lot of fun to write, I’ve found. It was time to pull him out of mothballs.

Maybe I missed something while reading, but how did the drone Archangel come to be in the first place? When Archangel died in “Uncanny X-Force,” a blank slate Warren Worthington remained. How did we end up with Warren and the drone as two separate entities during the 8-month gap?

Bunn: At some point during the 8-month gap, Warren came to the conclusion that his wings were things of evil. After he hooked up with Akkaba, those wings were harvested to grow the Death Flight of Archangel clones. One of those “clones” escaped. This was the Archangel from the beginning of the series.

I have read before you were a huge Rachel Grey fan, a trait rarely found in X-writers these days. In just one issue you already shown you care and know a lot about the character. So my question is: What are your plans for Rachel Grey? Is she just a guest or is she going to stay in your book? And why did you choose to bring her now?

Bunn: It’s true that Rachel Grey is my favorite X-character. My original plan for the “Civil War II” book was to showcase a lot of mutant characters we haven’t seen much of, but that changed along the way. In the end, I had to cut back on the number of guest stars, but I kept Rachel in the role I had planned. You’ll have to see how “Civil War II: X-Men” ends to see if Rachel is sticking around or not. Whether she does or not, I consider her appearance in that book as a way of easing her back into continuity in a bigger way.