Betsy Braddock, Chapter IV – Jaspers Warp

Before the X: In this fourth chapter, we delve into the pivotal event known as the ‘Jaspers’ Warp,’ a Marvel UK storyline featuring Captain Britain. The adventures covered here spanned from Daredevils #8-#11 (1983) to The Mighty World of Marvel #7-13 (1983-1984). Notably, these stories mark the only mainstream Marvel Universe work by Alan Moore, with Captain Britain and Betsy Braddock being the only major Marvel characters Moore wrote on a regular basis. During these events, Betsy faced life-altering traumas. First, she experienced the death of her lover, Tom Lennox, through their shared psychic rapport. Second, she endured imprisonment in a concentration camp. In the camps, Betsy formed an unusual friendship with Victoria Bentley, a supporting character from Dr. Strange, though this pairing received no further development. Artist Alan Davis, who penciled Moore’s entire run, assumed writing duties and reintroduced Betsy with enhanced powers in The Mighty World of Marvel #16. Now capable of generating psi-bolts to stun others, Betsy emerged as a more active hero. Join us in the next chapter as we continue to explore Betsy Braddock’s extraordinary journey.

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

CHAPTER IV - Jaspers Warp

On a chilling January night at Braddock Manor, Betsy, Brian, and their eclectic group of guests—Tom Lennox, Saturnyne, and the aliens of The Special Executive—gathered to watch a televised speech delivered by Sir James Jaspers, M.P., cautioning against the danger posed by superheroes. Betsy noticed an unsettling glance from the alien Fascination towards her lover, Lennox. Despite Tom’s pleas for them to leave the house while they still could, Betsy paid him no heed. In that moment, she experienced a precognitive vision of a dark future—a concentration camp, a sky obscured by smoke, heads on pikes, captured superheroes, screaming people, and one of them was her. Captain Britain, Captain America, Spider-Man, and Betsy herself—all met their demise. Unbeknownst to the Braddocks, they were mere pawns in a master game orchestrated by Merlyn. [Daredevils v1 #9]

Later that night, Captain UK fell prey to the Fury—a lethal cybiote designed to annihilate all superhumans—in the surrounding bushes of Braddock Manor. Betsy, using her mental powers, sensed Brian’s fear. The unexpected arrival of the cybiote disrupted Merlyn’s carefully laid plans, leaving both Betsy and the alien Cobweb in a catatonic state. The heroes rallied to bury the Fury in the caves of Braddock Manor, with Brian tenderly holding a stunned Betsy in his arms. The members of The Special Executive decided to distance themselves from Captain Britain’s mission, leaving Betsy, Brian, Lennox, and Saturnyne to face the unfolding events at Braddock Manor alone. [Daredevils v1 #10, #11]

Amidst the unfolding chaos orchestrated by Sir James Jaspers’ anti-superhero campaign, which won him a resounding election victory, Betsy and Brian chose to keep a low profile to survive the perilous times. Pretending to be ordinary humans, they attempted to navigate the challenges brought about by the Jaspers Warp, where superbeings across Britain were confined to concentration camps. However, their attempts to blend in were shattered when Brian was exposed as a superhero during a routine food line. Forced to confront the Beetles—Jaspers’ enforcers—Betsy and Brian managed to escape, sparking a glimmer of hope among the imprisoned superbeings who caught wind of their daring getaway. [Mighty World of Marvel v2 #7]

Following this incident, Betsy, Brian, Linda, Lennox, Saturnyne, and Alison Double abandoned Braddock Manor, seeking refuge in a London cellar. Betsy frequently utilized her precognitive abilities to determine the safest times for the group to venture out of hiding. As Alison’s health declined, Betsy, relying on her psychic powers, collaborated with Saturnyne to raid a drugstore and procure the necessary medicine. Betsy harbored deep resentment for the transformed England, now plagued by concentration camps, storm troopers, and curfews. In the midst of the upheaval, she lost all sense of time, unable to recall how long they had been living in this dystopian reality. [Mighty World of Marvel v2 #8]

The following day, Betsy’s heightened senses detected the approaching Beetles closing in on their hideout. Lennox, aware of the danger, instructed Betsy to leave with the others while he sacrificed himself to buy them time. Attempting to escape through another exit, Betsy and Alison Double were both captured by the Beetles, leaving Saturnyne and Linda to manage a narrow escape. Lennox, tragically shot multiple times, succumbed to his injuries. Betsy, connected through their psychic rapport, experienced his death vividly, feeling every bullet on her mind. The shock left her in a state of tears, lying helpless on the floor. In the realm of Otherworld, Merlyn removed the pieces of Betsy, Lennox, and Double from his chess game. [Mighty World of Marvel v2 #9]

Subsequently, Betsy and Alison endured imprisonment in a concentration camp until the demise of Jaspers. During their time in captivity, Betsy formed a bond with Victoria Bentley, a young woman possessing formidable mystic powers and an ally of Dr. Strange. Upon the liberation of the concentration camps, Victoria took on the responsibility of caring for Betsy, recognizing the depth of trauma from the loss of Tom and the mental scars it left. Betsy and Alison relocated to Victoria Bentley’s castle. As reality gradually restored itself six months later, with only a few people, including Betsy, retaining memories of Jaspers’ Warp, she struggled to fully recover from the psychic shock triggered by Tom’s death. Victoria played a crucial role in guiding Betsy to channel Lennox’s death and utilize her powers in a more assertive manner. [Mighty World of Marvel v2 #13, #14, #16]

Three months later, Betsy and Alison returned to Braddock Manor, where they were warmly welcomed by Brian and Emma Collins, their longtime nanny. Observing Betsy’s subdued state, Emma kindly offered to bake her favorite cake, walnut cream. Brian introduced his sister to Meggan, a mutant residing at Braddock Manor. Brian shared his intention to reopen the Braddocks’ farms. Betsy, still haunted by the madness of the concentration camps and Lennox’s death, expressed her lingering turmoil. When the twins were unexpectedly ambushed by mysterious bounty hunters, Betsy unleashed a powerful psychic blast to assist Brian. Although the attackers vanished, an uneasy feeling lingered, hinting that new challenges were on the horizon. [Mighty World of Marvel v2 #16]