Betsy Braddock, Chapter I – Childhood and Early Years

Before the X: We’re excited to introduce a new feature that explores Betsy Braddock’s story before she joined the X-Men. These works, originally published by Marvel UK, might not be as familiar to all. This detailed biography of Betsy Braddock is grounded in the actual facts depicted in canon. The initial chapter delves into Betsy’s childhood and early years, presented in chronological order. We’ve compiled every available piece of information, including actual events, tales told by other characters, memories, flashbacks, and even insights gained from The Hand’s brainwashing, offering a glimpse into Betsy’s upbringing. Additionally, we consulted articles on Education in England and Pilot Licensing to provide context, shedding light on the chronology and connecting the dots between each event. With a total of five chapters released weekly, the upcoming one will explore Betsy’s origins as the sister of Captain Britain. We hope you enjoy the journey.

Chapter I / Chapter II / Chapter III / Chapter IV / Chapter V

CHAPTER I - Childhood and Early Years

Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Braddock entered the world in the early hours of April 23 in England, sharing a birthday with her twin brother, Brian, although Betsy held the title of being a few seconds older. Born to Sir James Braddock and Lady Elizabeth Hartwood, she was the younger sister of James ‘Jamie’ Braddock, a figure nearly a decade her senior. The Braddock family, residing in the affluent town of Maldon, Essex, enjoyed a life of opulence within the ancestral Braddock Manor. The estate stood proudly on land that had been a part of the Braddock heritage since before the Roman invasion of Britain. [Captain Britain v2 #1 / Captain Britain v1 #8, #9 / Excalibur v2 #3 / Uncanny X-Men v1 #463, #464 / Excalibur v4 #4]

Sir James Braddock, a denizen of the magical realm of Otherworld and a member of the Captain Britain Corps, fulfilled a divine duty assigned by the God-wizard Merlyn. His task was to sire a savior, and Lady Elizabeth from the universe known as Earth-616 was chosen as the genetically-compatible mate. Although Jamie’s Otherworld genes were subverted, the twins, Betsy and Brian, inherited extraordinary powers, indicating their destined path of glory as descendants of Otherworld’s warrior caste. [Captain Britain v2 #7 / Excalibur v2 #3 / Excalibur v1 #55]

The Braddocks’ privileged life in the protective confines of Braddock Manor shielded them from the hardships of the outside world, fostering in Betsy and Brian a facade of British reserve. Betsy’s bedroom, adorned with a hint of oriental decor, exuded femininity. The family enjoyed the services of numerous attendants, including a butler, a groundskeeper named Mick, and their dedicated housekeeper, Emma Collins, who had been part of the family since the twins’ childhood. Serving as both a nanny and an indulgent caretaker, Emma often spoiled the Braddocks. The twins were particularly fond of her special soup, but Betsy’s preferred culinary delight was walnut cream cake. [Excalibur v1 #55 / Captain Britain v1 #9, #13 / Mighty World of Marvel v2 #16 / Excalibur v1 #19, #47]

The family’s business, Braddock Enterprises, led by Sir James, was a stalwart in the realm of computer science and robotics. Operating from Braddock Manor, the estate included farms that provided employment to numerous families in neighboring villages. Additional properties in the family’s portfolio comprised a Summer Cottage in Cornwall on England’s south coast, Jamie’s flat in Chelsea, Brian’s townhouse in London at 1 Merlin Mews, Betsy’s Lake House, the Empress Matilda Docks in Rotherhithe, London, and a private plane. [Excalibur v1 #1, #19, #31, #59, #61, #62 / Mighty World of Marvel v2 #16 / Captain Britain v2 #1 / Captain Britain v1 #34 / New Excalibur v1 #18]

Betsy’s childhood was marked by joy and camaraderie. She and Brian shared a close bond, affectionately referring to each other as ‘Bee,’ while also looking up to their elder brother, Jamie. Like a skinned-knee tomboy, Betsy could often be found scraping in the garden and used to cry when forced to wear dresses. Sir James and Lady Elizabeth, often absent due to their commitments, entrusted the care of the twins to teenage Jamie, inadvertently burdening him. Secretly resentful, Jamie considered himself the flawed prototype before the arrival of the ‘terrific twins.’ Betsy faced teasing from Jamie, who would playfully threaten to throw her toy rabbit, Mr. Poo, into the river. The twins often sought refuge in a secret hideaway within Braddock Manor, observing Jamie’s transformation into a less benevolent figure. [Captain Britain v2 #1 / Uncanny X-Men v1 #456 / Excalibur Annual #2 / Excalibur v1 #18 / Excalibur v4 #1, #13]

As time passed, Betsy and Brian began attending prep school, possibly at Fettes College in Edinburgh. Betsy’s upbringing along the Scottish border involved hiking the coastal highlands and breathing the crisp Atlantic air. Financial setbacks altered the family’s fortunes, distancing them from their once affluent peers. Isolated at Braddock Manor, Betsy often felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness, exacerbated by the prevalent belief that the house was haunted. In her perception, her parents seemed disconnected, residing in a separate world that didn’t acknowledge or care about their existence. [Excalibur v1 #53 / Ultimates 2 v1 #4 / Daredevils v1 #1 / Uncanny X-Men v1 #256 / New Exiles v1 #1]

As the twins matured, their distinct personalities emerged. Betsy embraced adventure and playfulness, while Brian delved into the depths of physics, a pursuit that irked his more mischievous sister. Betsy’s childhood dreams were infused with the desire to run like hounds on the chase, soar like a hawk on the hunt, and fight like a force of nature. Flying had been a recurring dream since her earliest memories. Unconventional for a girl of her time, Betsy eschewed dolls and horseback riding in favor of imagining herself as a fighter aircraft pilot. While Brian immersed himself in his studies, Betsy found solace in playing with Jamie, particularly in the ruins of St. William’s Tower, her cherished childhood play spot. [Uncanny X-Men v1 #256, #456, #464 / Daredevils v1 #1 / X-Men v2 #20, #103]

The vibrant and lively Betsy and the ever successful Jamie rekindled their bond, embarking on their own adventures while Brian buried himself in books. A popular racing car driver, Jamie attracted a string of girlfriends, none of whom endeared themselves to Betsy. However, the aristocratic tones of Godfrey Calthrop, one of Jamie’s friends, stirred a reaction in her. Sir James often took Jamie and Betsy on foxhunts, an activity that left Brian preferring the solitude of indoor pursuits. Betsy’s first successful fox kill earned her Jamie’s pride but fueled Brian’s jealousy, intensifying his sense of emotional neglect in the shadow of his accomplished siblings. Rebelling against the family dynamics, Betsy found herself shipped off to a sheep farm in New Zealand at the age of 14, a lesson in responsibility orchestrated by Sir James and Lady Elizabeth. It was during her teenage years that Betsy grappled with an eating disorder and body dysmorphic disorder. [Uncanny X-Men v1 #256, #464, #473 / Excalibur Annual #2 / Uncanny X-Force v1 #23 / Excalibur v1 #54 / Uncanny X-Force v2 #6 / The X-Tremists v1 #3]

Sir James’ affiliation with the London branch of the Hellfire Club, situated in Grosvenor Crescent, Mayfair, added a layer of intrigue to the Braddock family life. Holding the title of Black Bishop, Sir James occasionally brought both Betsy and Brian to the club. While Betsy reveled in the brilliance of the parties, enjoying the gathering of Britain’s best and brightest, Brian consistently steered clear of such engagements. The leather and lash parties became formative experiences for Betsy. In their teenage years, Brian would escort Betsy to society events to fend off unwanted attention from girls. Betsy’s strict upbringing in a finishing school context made her hesitant to engage in relationships during this period, with even kissing being a rare occurrence. [Excalibur v1 #9, #21, #96, #97 / X-Men v2 #29 / Uncanny X-Men v4 #12 / Excalibur v4 #1 / X-Men Annual v2 #1995]

At the age of 18, the earliest permissible age, Betsy commenced training for a Commercial Pilot License. Surpassing both practical and theoretical requisites, she obtained her pilot’s license before mastering the skill of driving, dedicating every available moment to the skies. Betsy’s career took flight as a charter pilot, specializing in private jet charters. Simultaneously, her passion for singing led her to undergo formal vocal training at the Royal Academy of Music in London. The desire to perform in front of an audience had always been a dream. In addition to her aeronautical pursuits, Betsy showcased her prowess as a skilled ski racer, conquering winter slopes outside Braddock Manor and completing the Olympic slalom course in near-record time. [X-Men v2 #103 / Captain Britain v1 #8 / Psylocke v1 #1 / Uncanny X-Men v1 #319 / Captain Britain v2 #14 / New Mutants Annual #2 / Pilot licensing in the United Kingdom / What’s the minimum age for a commercial airline pilot?]

Upon concluding her secondary education at 18, referred to as the sixth form/Key Stage 5 in the UK, Betsy left Braddock Manor to pursue higher education. The university and course of study remain unspecified. Tragically, during her time away at college, both of Betsy’s parents, Sir James Braddock and Lady Elizabeth, met their demise in an explosion that devastated the private laboratory at the Manor. The grieving process led to their burial beyond the west wing of the Manor, with a monument erected in their honor in Otherworld. Betsy fondly remembered her father’s infectious smile and unassuming brilliance. However, the death of her mother haunted her in recurring nightmares, making Betsy feel like a child again as she grappled with the loss. The siblings drifted apart after their parents’ demise, with Betsy and Brian maintaining contact, while Jamie, now the head of Braddock Enterprises, became a distant figure heard of only through the papers. Brian engaged in a summer internship at the Darkmoor Energy Research Centre, while Betsy grappled with a profound sense of loneliness during this period. [Captain Britain v2 #1 / Captain Britain v1 #14 / Excalibur v2 #3, #4 / Uncanny X-Force v1 #35 / Uncanny X-Men v1 #460 / Excalibur Annual #2 / Excalibur v1 #55, #59 / The X-Tremists v1 #2 / Education in England / Key Stage 5 / Higher education in England]