Betsy Braddock, Chapter II – Beginnings

Before the X: In this second chapter, we delve into Betsy Braddock’s early days as the sister of Captain Britain. Chris Claremont introduced Betsy in Captain Britain #8 (1976) with his favorite plot device: mind control. Betsy’s debut arc was strong, and her role was decent. However, as Claremont left the book and Gary Friedrich took over, Betsy’s prominence dwindled, relegating her to a generic supporting character. Initially a charter pilot, Betsy later transitioned into a fashion model in Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain #243 (1977) by Jim Lawrence. During this run, she discovered Brian’s identity as Captain Britain and encountered Captain America. Chronologically, the flashback in Uncanny X-Force #3 (2013) aligns with the end of this period, depicting Betsy’s struggles with her fashion career and the full development of telepathy. Notably, the flashback states Betsy was 16 years old at the time, contradicting her established backstory. She should have been in her early twenties (20-22), considering her pilot license and college attendance. The next chapter will cover Betsy’s S.T.R.I.K.E. and supermodel days. Stay tuned for the continuation of Betsy Braddock’s journey.

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

CHAPTER II - Beginnings

On a snowy day in London, Betsy reached out to Brian at Thames University, where he was studying, to deliver the distressing news of Jamie’s severe accident. Taking charge, Betsy drove Jamie’s Mercedes and transported Brian to the airport. With her Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister plane prepared, Betsy piloted Brian from London to Braddock Manor in Maldon, Essex. Despite their closeness, the twins occasionally exhibited an air of unfamiliarity. During the flight, Betsy began experiencing visions of monsters, triggering a plane crash that rendered her unconscious. Brian, transforming into Captain Britain, heroically rescued his sister. Dr. Synne emerged, disclosing that his powers had induced these haunting illusions. [Captain Britain v1 #8]

As assistance from Braddock Manor approached, Dr. Synne, cornered, had no choice but to retreat. Jamie and Mick, the groundskeeper, transported both Betsy and Brian to the safety of the Manor. Upon their reunion, Synne once again seized control of Betsy’s mind, distorting her perception to see her brothers as monstrous beings. In response, Betsy, influenced by the illusions, seized a decorative axe and launched an attack. Brian, compelled to become Captain Britain once more, used a nerve pinch to overpower his sister, incapacitating her for the moment. [Captain Britain v1 #9, #10]

The brothers transported Betsy to Morder Research Centre for treatment, oblivious to the fact that the staff, under the leadership of Dr. Ramsey, answered to Dr. Synne. The sinister plan was to manipulate Betsy’s mind and turn her against her own siblings. Hours later, Jamie maintained a vigil by Betsy’s bedside when she abruptly emerged from her induced coma. The reason behind her awakening was the diversion of energy, originally intended for inducing the coma, to strengthen Dr. Synne, who was engaged in a simultaneous battle with Captain Britain. [Captain Britain v1 #10, #12]

Days later, news reached the Red Skull about Mastermind, the advanced computer crafted by Sir James Braddock. The Red Skull aimed to seize control of this technological marvel, leading to Betsy and Jamie being taken hostage in anticipation of Brian’s potential challenge. Bound at Morder Research Centre, the siblings pleaded with Brian to prevent the guards from executing them. Captain Britain and his newfound ally, Captain America, successfully located and liberated the captive siblings. This marked the day when Betsy discovered that her brother, Brian, was, in fact, Captain Britain. Secretly, she couldn’t shake the lingering question of why Brian was chosen over her. [Captain Britain v1 #15, #18, #20, #21 / Uncanny X-Men v1 #256]

As Braddock Manor fell victim to a bombing orchestrated by Tod Radcliffe, deputy director of S.T.R.I.K.E. and a traitor working for the Red Skull, Betsy sought refuge in Jamie’s upscale flat in Chelsea, London. From there, she and Jamie anxiously observed the news coverage of the battle between Captain Britain and Lord Hawk in Piccadilly Circus, fearing for Brian’s safety. Later that night, as Merlyn and Roma transported Brian to Otherworld to test his courage, Betsy awoke from a nightmare, sensing her brother was in grave danger. It marked the initial emergence of what seemed like psychic powers for Betsy, potentially triggered by Dr. Synne’s earlier mind control. In the days that followed, Betsy and Jamie learned from newspapers that Captain Britain had seemingly attempted to attack Queen Elizabeth II during her Jubilee celebration in Portsmouth. Brian clarified that he was under hypnosis by the Manipulator, a deposed African dictator. [Captain Britain v1 #31, #34, #39]

Embarking on a new chapter, Betsy departed from the charter business and ventured into modeling. Brian frequently visited her at the studio during lunch breaks. It was during one of these visits that Brian shared details about the serial killer Slaymaster, known for murdering collectors and stealing valuable items from their collections. Betsy was taken aback when the photographer revealed that rockstar Luke Lane, one of the victims, collected pretty girls. Betsy, considering him too cool and unconventional to collect anything, found the revelation surprising. She also attended Brian’s graduation at Thames University, possibly having completed her own college education around the same time. When Brian’s plane from New York to London crashed, he spent two years as a hermit on the Cornish coast without his memories, and he was presumed dead. For Betsy, the uncertainty surrounding Brian’s fate was unsettling. During this period, she began experiencing peculiar flashes of psychic power, akin to glimpses into the future. [Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain #243 / Captain Britain v2 #1 / Daredevils v1 #3 / Hulk Comic UK v1 #1, #3]

As Betsy's modeling career soared, she made a bold decision to dye her blond hair purple, a choice that set her apart in the fashion crowd. In her early 20s, she ventured to New York, embracing the realization of her dreams and experiencing life away from home for the first time. Her modest apartment, though small, radiated coziness and reflected her unique personality. With a cat as her companion, Betsy adorned her room with posters featuring Captain Britain and the English alternative rock band Suede. However, a turning point arrived when Betsy’s recurring ‘migraines’ evolved into a full-fledged telepathic ability. Overwhelmed by the unfiltered thoughts of 16.3 million people, she found herself incapacitated in her apartment for an entire month. Alone, financially strained, and burdened by her newfound gift, Betsy grappled with the challenges of her burgeoning telepathy. [Uncanny X-Force v2 #3]