Brevoort Teases Betsy Braddock’s Return at SDCC; Thorne's Pitch Officially Dead

Earlier today at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel officially unveiled Age of Revelation — the next major X-Men era set ten years in the future, where Doug Ramsey has inherited Apocalypse’s legacy and reshaped the world under a dark vision of mutant supremacy.

While 16 new titles were announced for this bold new timeline, Betsy Braddock was notably absent from all covers, teasers, and solicitations released so far. For fans of Betsy, it was a disappointing silence — until one key moment.

LZ, co-host of the podcast Another Relaunch, asked Tom Brevoort directly about Betsy Braddock during the panel, and shared the following on social media:

I asked about Polaris and they said she’s coming in Sinister Six!! Brevoort then says he wants to tell a story for Magneto and Polaris together because it hasn’t been done enough!! 🙌🏾. I asked about Betsy too and they said they had a talk about her next move on the way here! https://t.co/h9XJVwOfNy

— LZ (@UncannyLZ) July 24, 2025

LZ further clatified: "He said he gets asked A LOT about Betsy and that they were talking about a pitch on their way to the convention that they’ll probably end up doing for her. He wouldn’t say what it was."

It’s not a confirmation — but it’s the most hopeful sign yet that Betsy is on Marvel’s radar, and that something new might be in the works.

In the meantime, in less encouraging news, X-Force writer Geoffrey Thorne confirmed on the CBR Forums that his own pitch for a Betsy book has been rejected. He wrote:

"The Betsy pitch is officially dead. I was going to wait on telling you guys but I thought that would be kind of cruel. I found out yesterday. Sorry folks. And, no, I have no idea what, if any plans Marvel has for her. At some point in the next few months I'll put up a MY TAKE post on the Patreon. Go have a look at my IRON FIST take to see how it might look. Sorry, guys."

We’ll be watching very closely. Keep emailing the X-Office at officex@marvel.com 🦋

Geoffrey Thorne’s Final X-Force Notes — What Could Have Been for Betsy Braddock and More

Geoffrey Thorne, writer of the most recent X-Force run, shared his final thoughts and detailed annotations on what he had planned for the book before its cancellation. Among the most intriguing revelations was what he intended for Betsy Braddock in future arcs.

For Betsy fans, this was especially bittersweet — Thorne outlined an entire storyline centering on her, which unfortunately we may never get to see. Below is his full commentary regarding Betsy’s planned arc:

“The following arc would have been Betsy-centric, dealing with denizens of Otherworld doing some unpleasant things on 616 Earth, garnering Betsy’s attention forcing her to step in. We would have learned why she’s reluctant to access her Captain Britain abilities and not return to Otherworld.

Obviously, the other members of X-Force would have been pulled into this mess (except Forge at first who is being a dick about it) and would have culminated with at least one massive change to Betsy’s status quo. As with the notions about Piotr, my thoughts about what can and probably should be done with Betsy have been expressed to the Powers That Be. presumably they’re noodling it. If they reject it, I’ll sketch out the bones here for those that are interested in such things. There would have been magic (Sage’s bane), and there would have been at least two universe-shifting revelations.”

It’s clear Thorne had big plans for Betsy, involving Otherworld, magic, and significant changes to her status quo. Whether Marvel decides to pick up his pitch or let him reveal it in full remains to be seen.

🔎 Other Highlights from Thorne’s Notes:

• He developed deep empathy for Colossus and planned to give him a vacation from the endless mutant conflicts, with a new take on his character.
• The full X-Force story was planned as a 15-issue arc divided into 3 parts, but it was truncated due to cancellation and crossover demands.
• Planned spotlights included Sage’s backstory and mental health struggles, Rachel’s liberation from the Phoenix legacy, and more nuanced dynamics between Sage and Forge.
• A key reveal would have shown why Rachel and Betsy were holed up in the Braddock estate (Rachel mind-wiping a whole town) and that Tank’s true identity was Colossus.
• The Solution — the antagonist group — was conceived as a terrifying, decentralized ideology rather than a traditional villainous organization, echoing real-world terror networks.
• Deadpool was slated to make at least one more chaotic appearance, targeting Forge.

Thorne closed his notes by expressing gratitude to the fans who supported the book and leaving open the possibility that his pitches might still be used someday.

Whatever comes next, it’s clear that he put a lot of thought into giving each character depth, especially Betsy. Fingers crossed that his ideas for her eventually see the light of day.

Geoffrey Thorne Pays Tribute to Warren & Betsy

Geoffrey Thorne: Full disclosure, Ben Raab, wrote of one of my favorite X-mini series, PSYLOCKE AND ARCHANGEL: CRIMSON DAWN which featured Archangel and Psylocke (Betsy). He's sort of a friend of mine. Even though I loved the mini, I've actually never much liked the Archangel version of Warren or the Elektra knockoff version of Betsy so, here, I put them together (visually, at least) in the forms I prefer.

X-Force #10 Spoilers - Final Issue

Spoilers: In Estrella, South America, La Diabla—assisted by “Colossus” and the Brute That Walks—successfully defeats the entire X-Force roster. A mysterious figure, revealed to be La Diabla’s superior, communicates with her, hinting that she’s following someone else’s orders. Using her alchemy, La Diabla transforms the Brute back into Dr. Avery. As Forge, Betsy, and Rachel lie unconscious, “Colossus” suggests killing Rachel first—only for John Wraith, a.k.a. Kestrel, to teleport in and whisk Rachel to safety. Suddenly, Sage reemerges, flanked by a squad of X-Sentinels resembling Havok, Cyclops, Angel, and Beast. While “Angel” rescues Betsy, the other Sentinels engage the villains—though “Havok,” “Cyclops,” and “Beast” are quickly disabled.

The surviving X-Force members regroup near Sage’s VTOL, but the X-Sentinel “Angel” is abruptly destroyed by the Brute That Walks. La Diabla, Brute, and “Colossus” immediately resume combat against the X-Force. Meanwhile, the mysterious villain contacts La Diabla once more, stating he has plans for Forge and ordering her to open a portal. The mastermind is revealed: Moses Magnum, the architect behind the fracture network. Forge analyzes the Analog and understands Magnum’s goal—and to everyone’s shock, he defects, choosing to join Magnum. Before leaving, Forge removes his anti-telepathy headband, allowing Rachel and Betsy to read his mind and uncover the truth.

Magnum, La Diabla, Brute, “Colossus,” and now Forge travel to Subterranea, an ancient kingdom beneath the Earth once home to the Deviants—specifically, the city of Dys. There, Moses Magnum outlines his twisted philosophy: both humans and mutants have failed—humans in eradicating mutants, and mutants in protecting themselves. His plan is to tear a breach in the continuum and unleash otherworldly monsters, forcing humanity and mutantkind to unite as one race. For that, he needs Forge to finish building the Resonator, a device powered by Magnum’s own energy that would keep the portal open permanently. X-Force arrives in Dys aboard the Blackbird. Tank removes his mask and finally reveals his true identity: the real Piotr Rasputin, Colossus.

The imposter “Colossus” exposes herself as Zanda, former ruler of the African nation of Narobia. She shapeshifts into a giant lizard and battles the real Colossus one-on-one. Rachel confronts the Brute That Walks. She reaches out to Dr. Avery telepathically and, while she can’t undo La Diabla’s mental bindings, she offers him clarity—visualizing Avery as greater than the beast. This shift gives him the strength to master his rage and regain control of his form. Elsewhere, Betsy Braddock faces La Diabla head-on. With her psychic butterfly sigil blazing, Betsy dismisses La Diabla’s tricks and schemes as hollow. She declares that she has always known she was eldritch. Brandishing her golden Starlight Sword, Betsy cuts through La Diabla’s alchemy with ease—asserting that she is the magic.

At that moment, Wraith teleports in with Sage. Sage reveals she finally understands Forge’s true intentions—that sealing the fractures, removing the anti-telepathy headband, and leaving the Analog behind were all moves to guide X-Force to this very point. Forge asks if Sage brought what he requested. She confirms—and throws Surge’s gauntlets into the Resonator, overloading and destroying the machine permanently. Solution locked. Moses Magnum, La Diabla, and Zanda teleport away in defeat. Forge explains that he kept everyone in the dark because X-Force was his machine, built to operate according to his design.

In the final moment, Surge resurrects herself in the form of coherent plasmatic energy, shocking her teammates. Forge swears he didn’t know this would happen. Sage, looking weary, tells him that after everything he’s done—X-Force is over.

X-Force #10 Preview

X-Force #10
Writer: Geoffrey Thorne, Fabian Nicieza
Art by: Marcus To, Edgar Salazar
Cover by: Stephen Segovia

The Story: CELEBRATING 300 ISSUES OF X-FORCE WITH STARTLING REVELATIONS!

•  FORGE has assembled X-FORCE to fix the world’s problems, but at last, THE SOLUTION reveals itself!

•  WHO or WHAT is the Solution, and what does it mean for the fate of the world? New villains, old friends and a terrible decision that will change them all forever!

•  PLUS: A special anniversary tale featuring X-FORCE’s past by Fabian Nicieza!

Note: This issue contains a key appearance by CLASSIFIED.

In Shops: Apr 23, 2025

Marvel’s Hellfire Gala Continues, Geoffrey Thorne & Marcus To Also Involved

AIPT!: Marvel Comics has revealed today that Krakoa may be no more, but the Hellfire Gala will live on in a new one-shot X-Men: Hellfire Gala Vigil #1. Releasing on July 2nd, the one-shot features writers Jed MacKay (X-Men), Gail Simone (Uncanny X-Men), Eve L. Ewing (Exceptional X-Men), Alex Paknadel (Sentinels, Astonishing X-Men), Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing (NYX), Geoffrey Thorne (X-Force), Jason Loo (Dazzler), Murewa Ayodele (Storm) and Stephanie Phillips (Phoenix). Artists include Javier Garrón, Netho Diaz, Sara Pichelli, Federica Mancin, Luciano Vecchio, Declan Shalvey, Roi Mercado and Marcus To.

“We’ve been working towards the Hellfire Vigil for a year now, and all of the assorted X-creators came together to make this a moment of significance for the X-Men and their world as a whole,” Executive Editor Tom Brevoort explained.

“If you’ve been wondering when somebody was going to encounter somebody else, the answer is right here in this book! It’s a capstone to events that began in From The Ashes and sets up major movements that will be playing out across the coming months. Plus it’s full-packed with great art and great character moments.”

The annual gathering will strike a different note this time around, with mutantkind gathering to reflect on the loss of the mutant nation Krakoa. As they look back on the past, they’ll reignite hope for the future, and readers can look forward to a night of joyous celebration, delicious drama, and, of course, super hero high fashion! Like previous Hellfire Galas, the glamourous party will be filled with reunions, returns, and revelations, all setting the stage for the next year of X-Men storytelling! Always one of the most talked about comics of the year, the Hellfire Gala is now a beloved staple of the X-Men mythos, even inspiring the new season of the hit video game Marvel Rivals, and fans won’t want to miss this bold new installment!

One year ago, at the final Hellfire Gala, the dream of a unified mutant nation was forever shattered by a cowardly sneak attack by anti-mutant forces. To mark the moment and to proclaim loudly and strongly to all concerned that mutantkind still stands, the time has come for X-Men of all stripes to come together in solidarity and celebration. Featuring the meetings and moments that fans have been asking for since FROM THE ASHES began, be there for a keystone moment marking the movement of one era into the next and setting up story threads that will play out across the X-line in the near future!

Keep Betsy Braddock’s Story Alive – Send Your E-Mails to Marvel!

The letter page in X-Force #9 was filled with an outpouring of love for Betsy Braddock, and editor Mark Basso took notice. He remarked that such overwhelming support suggests Geoffrey Thorne’s take on Betsy might just be the favorite interpretation of the character in X-Fandom.

If you want to see Betsy continue after X-Force ends, now is the time to act! Send an email to the X-Office at officex@marvel.com and let them know you want her in a new book. Be sure to include Okay to Print in your message for a chance to have your letter featured in X-Force #10.

Not sure what to write? Just copy and paste the banner below and hope for the best! Let’s make sure Betsy’s journey doesn’t stop here!

X-Force #9 - X-Manhunt Part 6 Spoilers

Spoilers: After being pursued by both the Alaska X-Men and the Louisiana X-Men, Professor X telepathically contacts Sage, requesting an extraction. She obliges and sends the teleporter John Wraith, a.k.a. Kestrel, to retrieve him from Utopia, San Francisco. Once Xavier is secured, Sage transmits coordinates for Kestrel to meet her at a safe house in Mexico City. Using a teleportation device, she transports herself there and waits for Kestrel to bring Xavier to her.

The safe house is actually a secret laboratory known as the Toybox, once belonging to the Mad Thinker, where an artificial intelligence manages the facility. After overriding the AI, Sage gains access and brings Xavier and Kestrel inside. Xavier has brought a Krakoan egg with him. Kestrel is suspicious of his intentions, but Sage reassures him that Xavier was the first friend she ever had.

Sage quickly pieces together that Xavier had access to DNA and a Cerebro backup, created an egg, matured the body, and delayed the hatching until he could physically unlock it. However, she struggles to understand how this is possible since Krakoan resurrection was meant only for mutants. Xavier simply states that this particular resurrection was something he did for himself. Sage understands and warns him that he has only thirty minutes before the X-Men arrive.

Xavier uploads the Cerebro backup into the egg, and from it hatches the resurrected Shi’ar Empress, Lilandra Neramani. Reunited, Xavier pleads for her help in saving their daughter, Xandra. Sage provides them with transport for their next destination, and Xavier thanks her. Sage responds that it’s the least she can do after he saved her soul years ago.

Meanwhile, in Estrella, South America, X-Force teams up to take down an out-of-control Brute That Walks. Betsy immediately targets La Diabla, recognizing her as the real threat, but is quickly overpowered. The team splits up—Rachel tries to psychically restrain the Brute while Tank engages in a brutal fight with Colossus. Betsy keeps La Diabla occupied, allowing Forge to sneak up on her.

Forge asks for Betsy’s psionic boost, which manifests as a massive butterfly effect with eyes inside its wings. Together, their combined attack breaks through La Diabla’s defenses, seemingly overpowering her. However, La Diabla retaliates with her alchemy, and with the aid of Brute That Walks and Colossus, she successfully subdues and defeats all members of X-Force.

X-Force #9 Preview - X-Manhunt Part 6

X-Force #9

Writer: Geoffrey Thorne

Art by: Marcus To

Cover by: Stephen Segovia

The Story: SAGE and PROFESSOR X go way back, to another war and another time. But now, in his hour of most desperate need, will Sage use her talents to aid Professor X’s quest… or put a stop to his manic mission? The penultimate chapter of X-MANHUNT brings X-FORCE into the fray!

In Stores: March 19, 2025

X-Force Ends with Issue #10

Marvel's X-Force, written by Geoffrey Thorne, will conclude with issue #10 in April 2025. Thorne confirmed the cancellation on the CBR forum, stating, "Yeah. Sadly... We're done at #10. Not sure why." 

The title was absent from Marvel’s May solicitations, fueling speculation, especially with NYX also missing. The series, launched in July 2024, featured a new take on the team with Forge leading Captain Britain, Askani, Sage, Tank, and Surge. Marvel has yet to comment on the decision.

X-Force #8 Spoilers

Spoilers: As the X-Force’s X-Jet soars over South America, it is suddenly intercepted by Colossus, seemingly under La Diabla’s control. Colossus attempts to tear the jet apart, but Tank intervenes, throwing him off. The X-Jet explodes, forcing Forge, Betsy, and Rachel to evacuate. Forge calls upon a Cheyenne spell and dons his exoskeleton.

Meanwhile, Tank and Colossus crash to the ground and engage in a brutal brawl. Colossus taunts Tank, who retorts that Colossus is not Piotr Rasputin. The fight is cut short when La Diabla intervenes, teleporting Colossus away. Betsy and Rachel regroup with Tank, and Betsy draws a protective magic circle around them with her blade, shielding them from La Diabla’s alchemy.

La Diabla manifests before them, this time revealing her face, sneering as she mockingly praises Betsy’s Elle and Vogue fashion spreads. She conjures spectral versions of the Fantastic Four, who, being non-corporeal, bypass Betsy’s protective barrier and attack X-Force. Rachel unleashes her power against them, buying time. However, La Diabla’s alchemy multiplies her spectral Fantastic Four, overwhelming the team.

As the battle intensifies, La Diabla unveils her secret weapon—Dr. Howard Avery, whom she had previously abducted. Just as the situation turns dire, Forge arrives in his exoskeleton, rescuing the team. Betsy manifests a massive psychic shield, crushing La Diabla’s spectral creations in one decisive strike.

In retaliation, La Diabla forces Dr. Avery to transform into a monstrous, fur-covered behemoth—the Brute That Walks. X-Force bands together to take on the creature.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, Saga is stationed at Forge’s Aerie, attempting to track the downed X-Jet. As she multitasks through various analyses, she is contacted telepathically by Professor Xavier, who calls her by her true name: Teresia Karisik. Xavier requests her aid.

X-Force #8 Preview

X-Force #8

Writer: Geoffrey Thorne

Art by: Marcus To

Cover by: Stephen Segovia

The Story: COLOSSAL REPERCUSSIONS! Can X-FORCE survive a fight with…COLOSSUS?! The mysterious LA DIABLA has X-FORCE on the ropes, and she’s brought some unexpected allies! PLUS — what does FORGE’s ANALOG device have to do with the FRACTURES threatening the planet… and La Diabla’s designs?! The season’s most surprising X-book packs a few more turns…

In Stores: February 19, 2025

               

Geoffrey Thorne's Annotations for X-Force #7

Geoffrey Thorne's Annotations: A few more annotations in this one than the last although I did want to put them together for a couple of reasons. Three, actually.

1) We have a fabulous guest artist taking over the ill chores while Marcus is off having some personal time. Welcome Mr. James Towe for both of these issues.

2) Both of these issues represent a gearshift from the previous arc which was 100% "run-and-gun."

3) Both these issues take place in "virtual spaces." In issue 6 that's VR and, here, it's the mindscape/astral plane. If we're going to have a guest artist, I generally prefer for their issues to coincide with a style and/or venue change in the story in order to minimize the visual jolt for the audience. With #6 and #7 we had both. So.

Let's crack on.

Mindscapes in Marvel comics are, like many, many things, less defined than perhaps they ought to be. Their characteristics are wobbly by default as writers over the years have "defined" them however they've wanted to suit their stories.

I don't care for that but, as with all Big Two comics, we have to use the tools available and abide by the established rules of the road. At least, I do.

So, here, we have a private minds cape, a mental pocket dimension created by Betsy Braddock to house the psyches and psionic energies of herself and her lover Rachel Summers. It's a sort of private getaway telepaths can use to, well, get away. We've seen Emma Frost use this for illicit encounters with Scott Summers.

Betsy's, for Rachel, is a facsimile of the old Excalibur lighthouse, a place Rachel spent the bulk of her time in 616 and in which she had weird fun adventured and a family not friends. I figured that was the time and place she had to have been happiest since coming to 616 so that's what Betsy figures as well.

Some fans have already twigged the reappearance of the OG Psylocke outfits in this issue. And, yes, that's purposeful but not for the reasons one might think. Over the years of being merged with Kwannon, nearly every time we saw Betsy's mental/astral image it was identical to her trademarked physical appearance, i.e. an Asian woman.

This, of course, makes zero sense. Regardless of the body she was stuck in, Elizabeth Braddock grew up as a caucasian woman of British and Otherworldly extraction. There's no way her internal self-image would be asian.

So, here, we fix. (Also, anything that puts me in mind of Alan Davis art is Good.)

Also, as it's the mental plane, I thought it would be fun to have Betsy's look shift, depending on how she sees herself in the moment. So, when it's time to murder somebody, her mental self-image reverts to this [the Australian Outback armor].

Put together with her current Big Ass Sword construct, this version of Betsy just screams Fantasy Knight (and this was before she was even Captain Britain).

X-Force #7 Spoilers

Spoilers: Aboard the X-Jet, Forge is battling La Diabla in his VR simulation while Tank unwittingly plays chess nearby. In another compartment of the jet, Betsy and Rachel meditate together, synchronizing their powers.

In Betsy and Rachel’s private mindscape, Betsy—dressed in her iconic pink bodysuit—has created a mental space modeled after the Excalibur lighthouse in Cornwall, serving as a “happy place” for Rachel. Betsy expresses concern about Rachel’s powers following her death at the hands of Charles Xavier, but Rachel reassures her that she’s recovering and will be fine soon.

Their conversation is interrupted by Marvel Girl—Rachel’s past version from the Reload era—who has timeslipped into the present. Marvel Girl is surprised to see Betsy in her original body, let alone dating Rachel. Suddenly, Rachel’s body begins to crack under the strain of her immense power. Betsy explains that Rachel is struggling to contain it.

At that moment, Mother Askani—Rachel’s future version—arrives alongside other past versions of Rachel (from Days of Future Past, House of M, Prestige, and Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire). Together, they converge in the present.

Mother Askani explains that Rachel sacrificed herself to save mutantkind, but without the Phoenix Force—which Jean Grey fully claimed and took into space—Rachel created her own fire, resurrecting herself without the Phoenix or the Five. However, Rachel’s body cannot yet contain all this energy, resulting in the cracks. While she heals, the excess energy has been siphoning into Betsy Braddock. Mother Askani adds that she and Rachel’s past selves have been timeslipping into the present to seal the cracks and wounds in Rachel’s body. According to her, the process is almost complete.

The private mindscape is then invaded by La Diabla, who expels Rachel’s future and past selves back to their respective times and places. Betsy manifests dual psychic knives and prepares to fight La Diabla, but the villain immobilizes her with alchemy. La Diabla observes that Betsy is more than just a mutant, remarking on eldritch forces swirling within her. She also notes Rachel’s inability to contain her full power. However, La Diabla is focused on Forge and banishes Betsy from the mindscape, leaving Rachel trapped and paralyzed.

Betsy wakes up aboard the X-Jet, where Forge explains La Diabla’s identity. Betsy warns that they need to rescue Rachel from the mindscape immediately, or she risks collapsing and unleashing a psychic detonation that would kill every mind within a thousand-mile radius. Forge deduces that La Diabla’s symbol was specifically designed to block Betsy. To counter it, Forge crafts a techno-spirit rattle, combining his shamanistic knowledge with his mutant abilities.

Using the spirit rattle, Betsy reenters the mindscape, now wearing her Outback-era armor and wielding a massive psychic sword. She ambushes La Diabla, driving her sword through the villain’s chest and engaging in a fierce battle. La Diabla is shocked by their resilience and hints that Betsy and Forge are more than just their mutations. In a climactic moment, Betsy destroys La Diabla psychically, expelling her from the mindscape. Betsy and Rachel reunite and awaken in the real world aboard the X-Jet.

Tank greets them cheerfully, but Forge scolds them, pointing out that if they had shared their problem earlier, he could have modified their X-Force uniforms to handle their excess psionic energy. As the team discusses their next steps, the X-Jet is struck by what appears to be a missile. It’s revealed to be Colossus, who tears a hole in the aircraft and threatens to kill them, seemingly under the control of a headband resembling Malice’s choker—albeit without the skull emblem.

X-Force #7 Preview

X-Force #7

Writer: Geoffrey Thorne

Art by: Jim Towe

Cover by: Stephen Segovia

The Story: THE POWER OF LOVE! The romance of BETSY BRADDOCK and RACHEL SUMMERS has been fraught with challenge, but can they navigate the mysterious problem with Rachel's powers - and still survive the machinations of the alchemical menace known as LA DIABLA?! Edge-of-your-seat action and revelations in the next issue of X-FORCE!

In Stores: January 1, 2025

Geoffrey Thorne Talks La Diabla Plus X-Force #7 Preview Art

ComicBook spoke to Geoffrey Thorne about adding a new villain to the X-Men mythos, someone else pulling La Diabla’s strings, how La Diabla has been watching X-Force since the very first issue, and his future plans for Tank. ComicBook can also exclusively reveal interior pages for X-Force #7, which feature La Diabla taking an interest in Betsy Braddock and Rachel Summers.

ComicBook: La Diabla seems like the perfect foil for Forge since she deals in alchemy and Forge is all about science. Walk us through her creation and what La Diabla is hoping to achieve with these fractures?

Geoffrey Thorne: La Diabla is formidable and very much designed to give both Forge and Sage fits. I wanted to put some new villains with new agendas and new powersets into the mix and La Diabla is just the first. As X-Force learns more about her, so will the audience but she is absolutely not to be trifled with or underestimated.

As for the rest, “spoilers,” is all I can say.

La Diabla says she “met a boy” who is later teased when she makes her exit after attacking Forge and Sage. What can you tell us about this mystery person and their connection to Forge?

I can’t tell you anything except La Diabla is not her own boss. She’s the Darth Vader to an Emperor we haven’t yet met. Or… have we?

Issue #6 ends with Betsy and Rachel suffering an attack from La Diabla while they’re in the middle of one of their psychic sessions. Why has La Diabla switched her focus to these two? And how will she test their relationship going forward?

La Diabla’s beef is with all of X-Force (with Forge getting special focus for some reason). She’s been monitoring them AT LEAST since Issue #1 and she’s had it up to here with their shenanigans.

Tank has been the wild card of X-Force so far. What do you have planned for the bruiser in upcoming issues?

Oh, quite a lot, I suspect.

X-Force #6 Spoilers

Spoilers: After Surge’s death and Sage’s departure, the remaining X-Force members—Forge, Betsy Braddock, Rachel Summers, and Tank—spent the next month sealing fractures across the globe, including those in the Mariana Trench, Numidia, and Tibet. Aboard the X-Jet, Forge remains haunted by Surge’s death. Seeking clarity, he activates his virtual reality program featuring holographic simulations of Storm and Mystique. “Storm” tries to reassure him that he is not a bad man, while “Mystique” taunts him, insisting the X-Force members are just expendable pawns in his larger schemes.

Meanwhile, Sage infiltrates Forge’s Aerie in Texas and hacks into his virtual reality. She expresses lingering resentment toward Forge but reveals that she has spent the past few days analyzing data from the fractures they’ve encountered. She’s discovered a common link: Dr. Corazon Estrada, a scholar specializing in quantum physics and alchemy, was present at each fracture site—Japan, Wakanda, Cambodia—just days before they occurred. The twist? Dr. Estrada supposedly died in a car accident five years ago. Sage and Forge deduce that Estrada faked her death and has now resurfaced, tied to these fractures.

At that moment, Corazon Estrada hacks into Forge’s simulation, identifying herself as "La Diabla." Displeased with their interference, she takes control of Forge’s simulations, pitting “Storm” and “Mystique” against Forge and Sage. Sage manages to purge “Mystique” from the system, enraging La Diabla, who retaliates by forcefully ejecting Sage from the simulation. “Storm” turns on Forge, forcing him to confront his guilt over Surge’s death. Accepting his role in the tragedy, Forge shuts down the virtual reality, purging La Diabla from the system. Before disappearing, she ominously warns that the game isn’t over.

Forge awakens on the X-Jet and urgently alerts Tank that they are under attack. Meanwhile, Betsy and Rachel, who had been meditating together with their powers synchronized, appear to be trapped in a catatonic psychic trance.

X-Force #6 Preview

X-Force #6

Writer: Geoffrey Thorne

Art by: Jim Towe

Cover by: Stephen Segovia

The Story: FORGE REUNITES WITH STORM AND MYSTIQUE! The mysterious forces circling X-FORCE since issue #1 begin to come into focus…the fractures were just the beginning! Meanwhile, for all of the pain he's endured, losing STORM may be the biggest regret of FORGE's life. But as Forge reunites with ORORO and MYSTIQUE, this "love triangle" might break more than just a few hearts! Action. Love lost. New foes. Shock surprises. X-FORCE has it all!

In Stores: December 4, 2024

Geoffrey Thorne Talks Betsy Braddock

The Comics Cube with Duy Tano: You’ve mentioned earlier that we have a lot to look forward to regarding Betsy Braddock. Can you give us a preview of what we can expect?

Geoffrey Thorne: I love Betsy. Once issue #5 is done, it culminates in a death and someone leaving the team. We've introduced a few threads—like who the hell Tank is, why Forge is concealing his thoughts from his own allies, and why Rachel needs [Betsy’s] boost to flex. All of that is going to start getting explained or at least addressed in the next five issues.

I like Captain Britain because I’ve liked Betsy for years. I think there’s a lot of potential in her character because she’s secondary, unlike mainstays like Scott, Jean, Logan, Rogue, and the rest. I enjoy those [secondary] characters because you can do more with them. I think there’s a space Betsy can occupy, and I might be the one to figure out what that is. She needs to be unique. We need to resolve this Captain Britain thing. Whether I get to do it or not, it needs to be resolved.

X-Force #5 Spoilers

Spoilers: Tempest (Alternate Storm) reacts sharply upon seeing Forge, as her own Forge abandoned her with a child. She orders her Avengers to attack X-Force. Betsy and Rachel quickly read their minds, realizing they’re from another universe, and devise a plan to stop them. Betsy amplifies Rachel’s powers, complete with her signature butterfly effect, and Rachel pretends to be the Phoenix—a figure these Avengers revere in their own reality. Once both teams reach an understanding, the Avengers explain that their Nuklo destroyed their Man-Thing, destabilizing ley lines that began releasing destructive energies, devastating cities and killing hundreds in their world.

As the 616 Man-Thing begins to reform, Sage deduces that Nuklo’s next target is another dimensional nexus. Forge theorizes that Nuklo is attempting to link three dimensional points to permanently keep the dimensional rifts open. Running analytics, Sage predicts Nuklo’s heading toward a nexus point in Quebec, Canada, which Loki originally opened years ago (in X-Men/Alpha Flight #1-2, 1985). Meanwhile, creatures are emerging from these portals to attack various regions on Earth.

Upon arriving in Quebec, X-Force and Tempest’s Avengers join forces, battling their way through monsters to reach the nexus. Just as Nuklo is about to open it, Storm and Iron Knight (James Rhodes) decide to attack him directly, knowing he’s vulnerable to electricity. Nuklo retaliates, apparently killing Tempest and Iron Knight. Realizing she may be the key to sealing the rift, Surge prepares to intervene, despite Sage warning her that the power required will be too much for her to endure. Forge charges Surge, who accepts her fate, acknowledging that some choices must be made for the greater good. She unleashes her power, vanquishing Nuklo, but the immense energy consumes her, resulting in her ultimate sacrifice. Forge accepts this outcome as necessary, but Sage confronts him, accusing him of sacrificing Surge and quits the team.