X-Force #4 Art

X-Force #4 Spoilers

Spoilers: With X-Force out of commission, Tank takes it upon himself to face Nuklo alone. When a mysterious symbol appears, Nuklo simply vanishes. The members of X-Force regain consciousness and find the Temple of the Dragon's Breath materialized in front of them. Forge declares they've failed, but the fracture is ongoing, so there's still a chance to prevent it. Betsy gets frustrated with the vagueness in Forge’s words. Sage steps in to explain what the temple is. Forge mentions that something is interfering with the analog, and Betsy insists that he open his mind so she can understand better, which he refuses. Meanwhile, Surge inspects the temple and confirms it’s empty.

X-Force enters the temple and finds the Well of All Things—a pinprick-sized portal intersecting multiple dimensions that manifests on Earth in Cambodia. Tank notices the same symbol that teleported Nuklo drawn on the temple wall. Forge checks the analog, and the fracture in Cambodia seems to move along a line toward the Everglades in Florida. X-Force deduces that what happened in Phnom Penh is now happening in Florida, a six-hour flight away. Betsy assures them that she can teleport everyone there, since Otherworld touches all dimensional nexuses, and both the Well of All Things and the Everglades are such nexuses. Betsy dons her Captain Britain armor and opens a portal, leading them into Otherworld. Rachel and Betsy discuss the hope that "she" (likely Saturnyne) won't notice they’ve entered Otherworld. Betsy urges them to march into the forest, where she opens another portal from Otherworld to the Everglades.

The team arrives in Hart Home, Florida, where they find monsters attacking civilians. Rachel senses Nuklo nearby. Sage detects around 100 dimensional rifts opening in the area. Surge tracks Nuklo, who is heading toward the swamp. X-Force reaches the swamp and pools their powers to attack Nuklo, while more rifts open up. Out of the swamp emerges the powerful Man-Thing. Betsy assures the team that Man-Thing, as the guardian of the nexus and protector of dimensional crossroads, sees Nuklo as a threat. While X-Force is busy fighting Nuklo, another Nuklo appears, this one battling Man-Thing. The two Nuklos merge, forming a larger, more powerful Nuklo. Despite his strength, Man-Thing struggles against him. Just as X-Force seems to be out of options, a bolt of lightning strikes Nuklo. It comes from an alternate Storm, who arrives with her Avengers—a team of alternate versions of Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, and Captain America. Storm warns them that X-Force's incursion into their territory ends now.

Geoffrey Thorne Talks X-Force

In a recent podcast interview with Traversing the Stars, X-Force writer Geoffrey Thorne elaborated on how the team funds its operations, revealing that several of its members are incredibly wealthy. Forge is "crazy rich—Tony Stark rich. He had an entire plaza in Texas that was like his personal Avengers Mansion or Stark Industries headquarters, complete with holographic floors and floating robot assistants." Forge's inventions and patents have made him very wealthy. He now owns an estate in Montana while retaining his original Texas headquarters.

Elizabeth Braddock (Betsy) is another affluent character in the series. "She’s a peer of the realm, meaning she comes from British nobility. They have estates in Essex and London, and even a lighthouse in Cornwall. She’s definitely wealthy."

Additionally, Sage is "also secretly rich." She's been siphoning money from people who "don’t deserve it" and stacking up cash in multiple bank accounts around the world. With these characters' wealth, X-Force doesn't face financial limitations.

Thorne also discussed Betsy Braddock's powers as Captain Britain and how they've evolved. In terms of Captain Britain and Askani, both are telepaths and telekinetics, each with their own power signatures. For Captain Britain, formerly Psylocke, the butterfly effect that accompanied her telepathy has been retained, though it now mutates depending on her mood and the situation. These visual cues help demonstrate what they can do.

Betsy Braddock’s journey as Captain Britain has been interesting. Initially, she was primarily a telepath with developing telekinetic powers. Through a series of unusual events, she took on the mantle of Captain Britain, a role her brother once held. As Captain Britain, Betsy’s powers now blend magic with her telepathy and telekinesis. She wields a construct shield and sword, and can also perform psychic blasts.

However, creating these constructs requires her to channel the totality of her psionic power, limiting her ability to use other abilities simultaneously. When she’s wielding the constructs, she’s fully engaged in combat. Ironically, it may be more dangerous for her enemies when the constructs aren't visible, as that’s when her full psionic potential is available.

Thorne shared his thoughts on writing Betsy Braddock, particularly after the significant changes she's undergone during the Krakoan era. He expressed a growing fascination with the character, even to the point of considering pitching a solo book for her. While he doesn't have the time or bandwidth for it yet, he finds her compelling because she uniquely combines magic with her mutant abilities—a distinction shared only with characters like Magik and, to some extent, Scarlet Witch.

Captain Britain’s role is magical in nature, appointed to a position in Otherworld, a realm that blends both magic and science. However, Thorne clarified that Betsy doesn’t wield magic in the same way as Doctor Strange, for example. As Captain Britain, she’s more of a magical champion, capable of performing the tasks associated with that mantle. She isn't casting spells like a sorcerer but instead operates almost as if she herself is a magical object. Whoever holds the title of Captain Britain embodies this magical essence.

What Thorne finds particularly intriguing is how Betsy’s magical responsibilities mix with her mutant powers, which are inherently natural and science-based in the Marvel Universe. Mutants have powers by their very nature, and reconciling that with her magical role adds a unique layer to her character.

X-Force #4 Preview

X-Force #4

Writer: Geoffrey Thorne

Art by: Marcus To

Cover by: Stephen Segovia

The Story: The Nexus of All Realities is in danger – meaning if X-FORCE can’t seal this Fracture Node, they’ve got more to worry about than just one ol’ Earth! What extradimensional forces stand ready to take down FORGE’s team? And the Nexus’ guardian, the MAN-THING – is he friend or foe?

In Stores: October 9, 2024

X-Force #5 Betsy Braddock Variant by Clayton Crain

Geoffrey Thorne Teases Betsy Braddock’s Future in X-Force

Geoffrey Thorne responded to fans on the CBR forums who felt Betsy Braddock was being reduced to Rachel's girlfriend. He assured readers there’s more in store for Betsy in X-Force.

Geoffrey Thorne: Betsy is not—absolutely not—"about Rachel." Well, not only about Rachel. No more than Rachel is "about Betsy" exclusively. She loves Rachel, but both of them have their own things going on. Trust me, you think you want me to spell everything out right away, up front, but I promise, you don't want that. Some of you feel burned by the last few years of Betsy. I can't help that, and I can't "fix" it in one or two issues—certainly not in a team book. I have plans for Betsy. We'll see if Marvel lets them happen. But even if they don't, in X-Force, she WILL get her due. Things are brewing in EVERYBODY'S camp. Wait until next issue.

In the meantime, Senior Editor Tom Brevoort confirmed that X-Force #10, being the 300th issue in legacy numbering, will be a larger-than-normal anniversary issue.

Excalibur Omnibus Vol. 3 Now Available: Dive Into the Braddock Siblings' Past!

Excalibur Omnibus Vol. 3 is now on sale, available in both digital and hardcover formats! For the first time ever, Excalibur Annual #2 is included in digital format, offering fans a deeper look into the childhood of the Braddock siblings.

This annual, written by Richard Ashford and penciled by John Royle, explores the dynamics of Betsy and Brian growing up in Braddock Manor under the shadow of their mean older brother, Jamie.

Don’t miss this essential collection, packed with classic stories that dive into the rich history of the Braddock family and their adventures!

X-Fans Demand More Betsy Braddock in the Letter Pages of X-Force, NYX and Uncann X-Men

X-Force #3 Art

X-Force #3 Spoilers

Spoilers: In Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, Nuklo is wreaking havoc on the city. While X-Force is en route, Forge explains to Sage how the analog works. Upon their arrival, the team finds the city in ruins and many injured civilians. Forge notes that the fracture they’re looking for is still far off, thousands of miles to the north. Surge argues with Forge and disembarks from the X-Jet, insisting on prioritizing civilian aid. Meanwhile, Sage briefs the rest of the team, explaining that Nuklo is a mutant with accelerated growth, energy generation, strength, and durability, but with the mental capacity of a toddler. Forge points out that Nuklo isn’t the fracture they’re searching for, but they decide to stop him regardless.

Tank surprises Nuklo and engages him in hand-to-hand combat, but Nuklo easily overpowers him. Betsy manifests a giant telekinetic sword and strikes Nuklo in the chest while Rachel rescues Tank. Rachel then joins Betsy and attempts a psi-lock on Nuklo’s mind. Together, they enter Nuklo’s psyche. Inside, Rachel is attacked by Avengers-like figures that serve as psychic antibodies. Betsy and Rachel press on and discover an old Avengers mansion, which represents the core of Nuklo’s mind.

As they delve deeper, Betsy and Rachel briefly argue, with Rachel expressing doubts about Forge, while Betsy insists she trusts both him and Sage. They also discuss Tank’s identity, questioning who he really is and whether he’s even a person at all. Finally, they find what represents Nuklo’s core: a toddler who has been artificially regressed to this mental state by an unknown third party. The toddler lashes out at Betsy and Rachel, overwhelming their minds.

Meanwhile, Forge and Sage exit the jet and contact Surge to join them. Forge and Surge attack Nuklo together, but their combined efforts aren’t enough to withstand his power. Nuklo defeats the entire X-Force, leaving only Tank, who regains consciousness, as the last one standing to face him.