PSYLOCKE | CAPTAIN BRITAIN // like a butterfly: Captain Britain by Mike McKone

Monday, August 3, 2020

Captain Britain by Mike McKone

79 comments:

FSaker said...: Beautiful!

McKone's faces usually look the same (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), but he gave Betsy a very distinctive face from his usual art.; August 3, 2020 at 8:36 AM
randybear said...: I have such a soft spot for McKone as the original Exiles is so nostalgic for me. His CB is so awesome! I'd love an Exiles reboot with Betsy leading and Sage could be involved too.; August 3, 2020 at 10:36 AM
FSaker said...: I like the idea of Exiles coming back (and if McKone draws it, that's even better), but if Betsy appears in it, it would be better if it's an alternate Betsy. I prefer the main Betsy to remain with the X-Men.; August 3, 2020 at 10:56 AM
randybear said...: Eh at this point ill take anything else. I doubt there's room for Betsy on a mainline xtitle anymore at this point when most writers would rather write Jean, Emma, Psylocke.

Besides shes barely even involved with the main Krakoa ongoings in Excalibur; August 3, 2020 at 11:27 AM
FSaker said...: ...Good point.

You know what, the entire Excalibur team could become the new Exiles (replacing Apocalypse with Sage, maybe), being the team tasked by Krakoa to visit alternate realities for... you know, reasons. I'd fully support that.

This could even allow Betsy to use the Psylocke codename again, as she wouldn't be shown in the same reality as Kwannon. And the team could always return from their journeys on time for the next X-over. And we know how Hickman likes alternate realities (I mean, even the current reality is an alternate reality to the one that existed before HoX/PoX...).; August 3, 2020 at 12:12 PM
X-Man said...: @Randybear her involvement level with Krakoa might change with X of Swords. We shall see :) I didnt like her being in Exiles before to be honest. I think most writers wouldn't mind writing her, I just think the Excalibur one is to obsessed with making X-Men characters like D&D characters. X-Men fans and D&D fans are not the same audience (though a lot like both). I think Marvel is trying to "Make Kwannon happen" more than they are interested in writing her more than others imho. I actually like her more in Hellions than Fallen Angels, but I am annoyed at the missed oppurtunity to further seperate her and Betsy into their own individual characters by having Kwannon still have a portion of Betsy's psionic abilities instead of developing her own empathic powers. Especially when they are using the empathic powerset anyway by throwing Empath on the team (slaps head lol).; August 3, 2020 at 1:44 PM
X-Man said...: @FSaker. Doesn't Logan and X-23 currently use the Wolverine codename? If so, Betsy should be able to use Psylocke too. They probably dont because they assume people may mix them up, especially since Kwannon is now being drawn once again imo like a white woman. They were doing ok with making her look Asian at first and based on how she looked in the last issue of Hellions, I would say they back tracked a lot with that sadly.; August 3, 2020 at 2:08 PM
FSaker said...: @X-Man, Do they? I haven't read anything with either of them lately, so I don't know. I do know X-23 got the Wolverine codename when Logan was dead, but I don't know if she kept it after he returned.

But I agree, both Betsy and Kwannon could use the Psylocke codename at the same time. But I doubt Marvel would do that.

Then again, I do like Betsy as Captain Britain, so if she remains with this identity, I have no objections.; August 3, 2020 at 2:27 PM
randybear said...: If they insist on giving Kwannon the butterfly signature they should just call her Butterfly or something stupid lol and Betsy could remain as Psylocke. I don't understand why they think people would be so confused. if youre a fan and you're invested in the xmen or you're interested in the xmen a little confusion shouldnt be an issue if youre attempting to familiarize yourself with the characters and lore. Also Google is a thing.; August 3, 2020 at 4:39 PM
X-Man said...: @FSaker I found this article. I think it's basically saying they are both Wolverine now. https://www.google.com/amp/s/comicbook.com/marvel/amp/news/marvel-x-men-wolverine-logan-daughter-x-23-laura-kinney-name/

@Randybear ita. I started out with Betsy in the Asian body and
Once someone taunted her every week about not having her original body (which actually did confuse me a little but only because the two bodies/faces looked so similar lol) and it prompted me to research Betsy's history and gasp I understood it all lol.

I honestly would have kept Dissambled Betsy with her psionic and martial arts skills, and Kwannon also with martial arts skills using a similar powerset to the ones they are displaying in the comic she is anyway with Empath lol.; August 3, 2020 at 5:33 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: Good. No artist can nail the right color for Betsy's hair. Too blueish and no purple. And the new Captain Britain costume too busy. Her original Captain Britain was fine.

@X-Man I'm thinking it's time Marvel gives back the butterfly to Betsy and find something else for Ninjalocke. Betsy must know ninja stuff and swordplay, is it bad for a White or Black woman to learn ninja skills?; August 4, 2020 at 4:12 PM
FSaker said...: Indeed. If Kwannon is supposed to fill the void left by the 1990s ninja Psylocke, she doesn't need the butterfly, as Psylocke barely used it during the 1990s.

As for a white or black woman using ninja skills, well, there's Elektra (and Colleen Wing, but let's be honest, no one cares about her). If she can use ninja skills, there shouldn't be any problem for Betsy as well.; August 4, 2020 at 5:33 PM
X-Man said...: Agreed guys. Kwannon definitely displayed ninja skills when she was in Betsy's body, while Betsy simultaneously displayed them in Kwannon's body, I'm not sure why it can't be done when they are in their original bodies just like before.; August 5, 2020 at 12:46 AM
randybear said...: Agreed. Her hair is normally colored more pink/magenta and her CB outfit always miscolored on certain parts. The editors are so damn lazy; August 5, 2020 at 2:18 AM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: They are stupid to think a White woman like Betsy can't learn ninja moves.

Elektra and the daughters of the dragon, Silver Sable, T'Challa do the same. Daniel Rand, Matthew Murdock whitest ninjas.

Cultural appropriation my @$$. When the Hand and Mandarin used Betsy like a piece of meat wasn't that racist? When they messed Betsy's face so bad wasn't that racist? When Nyarin used Betsy's body as a bouncer and hitman and to relief his desires wasn't that a big no no?

For all the horrible things they've done to Betsy, Marvel owes her an apology and give her back her belongings, butterfly and all.; August 5, 2020 at 4:20 AM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: To make Betsy borrow her brother's belongings is a cheap and lazy move. Siblings don't snatch each other's wigs.; August 5, 2020 at 4:24 AM
FSaker said...: Then again, Betsy is much more interesting as Captain Britain than Brian. Superpowers aside, I never considered Brian as a very interesting character; he was just another white man with vanilla personality (his bookworm scholar status could help him stand out, but most writers don't even mention it). Betsy brings much more complexity, being a woman, a mutant and someone torn between her duties to the United Kingdom and her loyalty to Krakoa.

If Tini Howard gave her a little more attention, I could even see Betsy taking Carol Danvers's spot as Marvel's Wonder Woman (especially now that mutants are allowed in the MCU).; August 5, 2020 at 10:48 AM
X-Man said...: @faker I guess personally for me, the problem I have isnt necessarily that she is Captain Britain, it's how she became it. Ditto for Kwannon becoming Psylocke. I dont like how once again Betsy was forced into something she didnt ask for and had basically no say in, I also hate how Brian was stripped of his title (vanilla or not, I think he has proven himself lol) and I dislike how Betsy is kinda ok with just keeping it despite how it all came to be lol.

Imo, It would have made much more sense if Betsy had gotten the Sword Of Might (they even mention how she has always favored swords when talking about it. Slaps head lol). My other wish would have been for whatever Betsy received, that it would have enhanced her psi talents instead of the same abilities that Brian had (like it affects the user differently or something).

I really dont want to lose Betsy as a psi warrior to become a Superman like character (especially since we already have Rogue on the team). I love her as a physical fighter to be clear, but I dont want to see super strength etc etc. I dont feel that is her. I rather an enhanced psychic with formidable physical combat skills.

Lastly I hate how Kwannon got Betsy's codename. I rather have seen a passing down of the name, not snatching it because she is upset that Betsy was using her body (and ignoring the fact she had used Betsy's body until she died lol).

I guess it's basically a case of I think this all has potential, but I have some serious issues with how a lot of it has been handled. I hope X of Swords is good :); August 5, 2020 at 12:18 PM
FSaker said...: @X-Man, Good points. But it doesn't seem to me that Betsy is being forced into being Captain Britain; sure, Brian made her use the Amulet of Right to escape Morgan, but she can drop it any time she wants, doesn't she? I'd say that while being Captain Britain isn't her dream, she seems okay with it. And while she does get super strength as Captain Britain, she seems to rely more on her psi-sword than on her knuckles, being depicted as a modern-day knight rather than a caped crusader.

As for Kwannon, I fully agree with you. I don't have a problem with she becoming the new Psylocke, but she should have gotten the codename by Betsy giving it to her, rather than her taking it from Betsy without asking. Unfortunately Kwannon was a big self-entitled jerk in Fallen Angels; hopefully now that she's in Hellions, there may be a moment where both women talk things out and this passing of the torch is conducted in a friendly way.; August 5, 2020 at 1:50 PM
randybear said...: Well she held into the mantle probably because Brian was taken by Morgan and it was the best and easiest way for her to traverse between 616 and Otherworld and before she could save Brian she had to commit to the Queen and now she's essentially obligated; August 5, 2020 at 2:21 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: I look like I'm against Betsy Captain Britain. I wouldn't if I didn't know that Captain Britain don't go with the X-Men. For the time Betsy is stuck in a tank mode with magic connections and that cringey code name her days with the X-Men are few. It's like inviting Carol and Juggernaut to be X-Men, it don't fly.

As Psylocke, Betsy had a solid place in any X-Men team. Right now she is put in a corner where magic rules. Before she was infiltrator, spy, strategist, action hero, psychic, she was versatile and smart. The Ninjalocke will steal more than the butterfly and Psylocke name, she will steal Betsy's place.

Fans are drooling over Ninjalocke thighs and boobs in Hellions.; August 5, 2020 at 4:13 PM
randybear said...: Yeah Captain Britain just isn't a marketable character casuals will dismiss her as corny or some sort of counter to Captain America (when the two are nothing alike at all)

Her costume doesn't mesh well with the other Xmen she sticks out like a sore thumb. She just looks too bright and heroic and the yes the XMen have super hero costumes too but Betsys is just next level as far as like Superman, Thor, Captain America etc; August 5, 2020 at 5:09 PM
Finn said...: Back then their ninds and memories/abilities were mixed/combined and now supposedly they are each their own , one Asian the other British , one ninja the other a knight? I guess ....; August 6, 2020 at 6:01 AM
Finn said...: Sorry I meant : minds*; August 6, 2020 at 6:02 AM
Finn said...: Personally I preffer XMen than D&D so I dont read Excalibur and I miss Betsy , In my head I imagine Kwannon is still Betsy in the XMen titles. I miss having Betsy back with her team! Plus personally, I dont like her as Supergirl. She was way better as a ninja warrior.; August 6, 2020 at 6:10 AM
randybear said...: I mean, Kwannon essentially is Betsys persona so its easy to pretend its still Betsy. There's nothing unique about Kwannon shes 100% in aesthetic and her stoic badass demeanor.; August 6, 2020 at 8:25 AM
X-Man said...: @Fsaker no I agree. I meant I didn't like how it was forced on her and she had no choice initially, and now I dislike how the role is really Brian's (who seems to be going through depression or something) and she is kinda fine with keeping it, despite it seeming like Brian isnt his usual self. Even Rogue called her out on it lol. They could have just given her the Sword of Might (making more sense because the sword seems more for an anti-hero, which I see Betsy more of than "superhero" like Brian). Granted now I don't even know if we have been reading the "real" Betsy, based on Janie's revelation in the last book.

I disagree with you guys on Kwannon having Betsy's personality though. Maybe possibly more in Hellions, but that still is just a few issues in. In Fallen Angels, I found her to be a very whiny, hypocritical, victim blaming character. I definitely was not a fan of a whiny "woe is me" assassin. (Not even sure why the writer liked that combo for Kwannon) That imo is not Betsy at all. Jmo :); August 6, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: I'm so desperate and sad. Another year of Betsy in her brother's skin and I'll jump off a roof.

Who thought it was marketable for a famous X-Woman to be called Captain Britain? A total disaster. And to know others have cool code-names it's freakin disturbing.; August 6, 2020 at 2:39 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: If Betsy flops as Captain Britain what her name should change to?

BRITANNIA?

PSYMOTH?

GALLANTRIX?

DUCHESS?

GLOYN?; August 6, 2020 at 2:43 PM
randybear said...: Jordan white! He has ruined Betsy on so many levels. He's so fucking lazy and struck gold when Hickman was finally ready to 2rite Xmen it happened when White took over xoffice so I don't give White ANY credit for the success for DoX as this has been in the cards for a long while now.

And i doubt Betsy will ever recover from this dreadful status quo but if she does and Psylocke codename isn't available then she should go Lady Braddock (ala her codename in Careys Age of X event) or simply Betsy Braddock similar to Jean Grey, Kitty Pryde, Rachel Summers etc

Yes those 3 have codenames but they normally referenced by their full names.; August 6, 2020 at 3:45 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: I caught chatter about White and Psylocke. A name that fits Betsy like a glove is wasted on a wet dream. Cebulski's wet ninja dream. Hmph! Akira Yo-shit-a.

Lady Braddock or Lady Butterfly sound fine. Randy I choose Carey's Age of X over HoX and PoX in a heartbeat and Betsy's uniform from the Age of X reality. I believe they want to scrap Betsy's Disassembled uniform. If she ditches the armor the Age of X style is the best for her.

How about GODIVA? Is it taken in the MCU? Betsy has the best hair and that's undisputed.; August 6, 2020 at 4:37 PM
randybear said...: Kiki yeah I loved her Age of X uniform too! Only gripe is its very detailed but monochromatic maybe if it was revised to use the color scheme of her Dissambled look and it would be perfection.

Its such a shame some of Betsys best costumes never last long. They always quickly put her back in the hand outfit. Its so pathetic.; August 6, 2020 at 5:39 PM
randybear said...: XMan I didnt read FA but I've been reading Hellions so thats my take is shes written pretty similar to how Betsy was when she was still a ninja. That stoic, cool, confident warrior.

Now Betsy is a wimp who forgot what fun is and has no idea how to utilize her powers in any way shape or form outside of wielding her sword and shield and crying about how she doesn't understand anything going on around her.

I recently reread the first 6 issues (I got the new trade) Betsy literallt does nothing. Change my mind.

I read through it and she had zero impact on the outcome of the story. Zero. She is fucking useless under Tini Howard its pathetic and anyone who says Betsy is amazing as CB is fucking lying cause she's hasn't done anything worthwhile or memorable; August 6, 2020 at 7:21 PM
FSaker said...: Then again, this applies to every other Excalibur character not named Apocalypse, right? I mean, Rogue spent four or five issues left in a coma, while Gambit went from the chivalrous adventure junkie he's always been to a whiny, annoying guy.

Betsy isn't amazing as CB, but this may not be a sign that she would be any better if she remained as Psylocke. She'd probably still be on Howard's book (British Psylocke wouldn't fit on Hellions, and that book only came several months after Dawn of X started, anyway), and would still be an afterthought to Apocalypse's master plan. So, rather than wanting her to become Psylocke again, we should first expect her to be properly written (which hopefully may begin with X of Swords); if she isn't, it doesn't make a difference what codename she uses or what uniform she wears.; August 7, 2020 at 9:09 AM
FSaker said...: And I do hope Howard comes to realize how lucky she is; to me, she has the best selection of characters in her book (come on, Betsy, Rogue, Gambit and Jubilee is a dream team for every 1990s X-fan, and Rictor is very charismatic as well). Apocalypse is a cool character, but she should remember there are five other heroes in her hands who her fellow writers would definitely appreciate writing, and so should she.

(that all said, I do agree that it would make more sense to have Betsy carrying the Sword of Might than the Amulet of Right, and if that was the case she probably wouldn't even need to change her codename... oh well, choices); August 7, 2020 at 9:19 AM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: FSaker Howard is obsessed with Apocalypse the papa smurf of Krakoa. Betsy, AnnaMarie and Remy are the stooges of papa A.

Betsy has good manners. Keeping the amulet from Brian isn't her. Not to blame, was papa A's trap.

Excalibur has moments of D&D adventure and tons of fortune parlor talk. The characters are flat and boring. Regardless of writing, Betsy sticks like a sore thumb in Captain Britain duds. Her case is not Magik who kept her identity and got a great costume. Why can't Betsy deserve the same.; August 7, 2020 at 12:07 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: Was the new Union comic published? If not Britannia is ripe for Betsy. Though I won't yield Psylocke to the ninja hag.; August 7, 2020 at 12:11 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: And Britannia's costume is excellence. Silva always delivers. Rumor has it that costume was meant for CB Betsy.; August 7, 2020 at 12:13 PM
randybear said...: FSaker that's a lame logic that the others are pointless so its okay. You don't push a character into a major status quo only for them to be a total fail in the role for nearly a year now. This isn't a good look for Betsy and it's no wonder most are lukewarm towards CB Betsy at best.; August 7, 2020 at 12:44 PM
randybear said...: kiki yeah I love Britannias costume it's such a shame Betsy didn't get anything as awesome in her final design. I just hate the cape so much.; August 7, 2020 at 12:45 PM
FSaker said...: Honestly, I think she looks very cool as Captain Britain. But it's true that her uniform does look out of place with the other X-Men.

But it still looks better than the uniforms from other X-Men, like poor Jean Grey: she has two different uniforms nowadays (the Marvel Girl dress/mask combo and the green and yellow version of her Disassembled uniform), and BOTH look horrible.; August 7, 2020 at 12:49 PM
FSaker said...: randybear, I didn't say it's okay for her to be pointless since the others are pointless as well; what I said is that we can't say she's been pointless because of her new status as Captain Britain when the other Excalibur members kept their codenames and are just as pointless.

Betsy being pointless is a problem related to how she's being written. That has been the main issue, and that's what I think should be our main complaint to Marvel.

Just like you guys, I also prefer her as Psylocke; I just don't think her becoming Captain Britain has been the problem with her nowadays.; August 7, 2020 at 12:54 PM
randybear said...: I never said her being CB was pointless. I was making the point that Betsy had zero influence on advancing the plot since becoming CB and its very sad start for a major status quo change for the character. Essentially what I'm saying is that Marvel is doing a poor job of selling this iteration of Betsy.

And actually to your point, with her being CB and inheriting the suits abilities its hampered the xoffice desire to expand on her psychic powers and instead continously focus on the idea she is just a knight in armor.; August 7, 2020 at 4:02 PM
FSaker said...: Yes, I know you didn't. It seems there was some miscommunication; we both agree that Marvel is doing a poor job of selling this iteration of Betsy. And that's not okay.

I'm not against Betsy being Captain Britain; to me, she can be Captain Britain forever, or she can return to her identity as Psylocke, and both options are fine. What I don't want to happen, and it's unfortunately happening, is Betsy not getting the proper characterization she deserves. I do like to see her as a knight in armor, but like you said, that should never be all there is to her; she's MUCH more than that.

That said, the last issue of Excalibur got some praises here, so it seems she may be getting back on track. Hopefully that will be the case from now on.; August 7, 2020 at 5:38 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: Betsy before the race change wasn't an ethnic stereotype. The British lady stuff was minimum. After her transformation the stereotyping became a nuisance. Dragons, sake, sushi, kimomos, katanas, wagasas, chopsticks were Betsy's ''thing''.

After the rage against cultural appropriation, Marvel thought it's a good move to return Betsy to her proper cultural heritage. Marvel pushes Betsy as the knight in armor to make up for the long yellow-wash. To separate Betsy from the oriental and lock her in a knight shell.

The writing for all of the Excalibur characters is awful. There are moments in other books the writers give the chance for the characters to show their personalities. Betsy by Tini Howard is a man on a mission, emotionless and stiff. That said I don't want the Leah Williams wimpy Betsy either.

Betsy becoming Captain Britain is not the bad thing. Losing what she was on a mandate and given a tacky costume with a white apron might damage her stock.; August 7, 2020 at 7:05 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: @FSaker I don't mind Jean's mod dress with cat mask. Her X-Men Red and Disassembled repaint makes her look like a mango.

I'd be warmer on CB Betsy if the Britannia costume was hers. It looks more confident and elegant.; August 7, 2020 at 7:13 PM
X-Man said...: @Randybear. Oh that makes sense. Yeah Kwannon is definitely better written in Hellions. She was insufferable in Fallen Angels lol. I do find it funny each time she appears she decides she wants Betsy's name. The first time in Betsy's body it was Betsy's real name and now her former codename. Smh lol.

I do think Marvel is invested in Betsy by having her be a central character in X of Swords. I am just perplexed by some of their decisions lol.

I still think the Sword of Might fits Betsy much better. Brian is the "hero", Betsy is the anti-hero Warrior. I just want to see when we last read the real Betsy at this point.; August 7, 2020 at 8:23 PM
X-Man said...: @Finn true, but when Kwannon removed her "essense" from Betsy and gave back the half of Betsy's psychic telepathic powers she
Posessed, that made Betsy "whole" and not intertwined mentally.

She still knew martial arts after that and British Betsy still knew martial arts in Dissassembled.

My assumption is Betsy learned martial arts via her brainwashing from the Hand in addition to any skills she learned being mentally merged with Kwannon. It would explain why she still knew the skills after Kwannon removed her essence.

My guess is Betsy still knows martial arts hand to hand combat (as she still is more a physical fighter than before, and never trained to be a knight lol), but is using her physical fighting skills in a different way, in some misguided attempt not anger Kwannon.; August 7, 2020 at 8:53 PM
randybear said...: XMan initially Betsy simply inherited the fighting skills but she maintained them through the years by constant training in the danger room etc Plus in New Exiles she directly trained under Ogun.; August 8, 2020 at 4:59 AM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: @X-Man where was it written that Betsy won't use martial skills to appease her stalker? Betsy does as she pleases. Unless she is hostage of incapable creators.; August 8, 2020 at 6:04 AM
randybear said...: The only time we saw Betsy do anything that resembled some sort of marital arts as CB was in FA where she was training and Kwannon watched and they were in synch with their movements.

Other than that I doubt she will be a martial artist anymore her costume is too bulky to accommodate movements like that.; August 8, 2020 at 10:56 AM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: @randybear in short Betsy is an upturned turtle without oomph. (ಥ﹏ಥ); August 8, 2020 at 11:15 AM
FSaker said...: Not related to the Psylocke/Captain Britain discussion, but I finally got to read the first issues of both House of X and Powers of X.

Wow. I was expecting a great story, and it still managed to surprise me in the best way. Very bold, very risky... and the risks paid off! Best comic book I've read in... over a decade, maybe?

It's also a great starting point for new readers. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised (or displeased) if this story, rather than the same-old O5 debut, got chosen to introduce the X-Men in the MCU (but possibly removing the Powers of X parts that take place in distant futures).; August 8, 2020 at 2:13 PM
Alex said...: @X-Man,
that's how I always saw her martial arts abilities during the body swap. Even if they still went with the idea that it was just Betsy's body transformed I figured the Hand programed it into her like in The Matrix. Just downloaded it magically into her along with the body mod.

With it being canon for years now that it was a swap I figure she just got Kwannon's martial arts skills & muscle memory & from there just danger room/Ogun trained to keep them up.

Considering the CB uniform is more bulky for ninjutsu or standard Eastern martial arts I'd love to see her train in something else. A broad isn't handled like a katana so it would be cool to have an artist/writer do more research into English historical CQC.

Considering her background I wouldn't expect her to be trained in the use of a broadsword but def types of fencing.

If Kate can be trained in multiple combat styles I'm sure they could do that for Betsy.; August 8, 2020 at 7:49 PM
X-Man said...: @Kiki my apologies, I had written a post earlier and I think I accidentally deleted it.

This one will be not be as detailed, but I'll try to touch the same points.

They didnt particularly write that Betsy wont use her martial arts skills, but reading both Excalibur and Fallen Angels, they have kinda tried to have Betsy feel guilty about the body swap and Kwannon go along with blaming her.

The beginning of Excalibur has Betsy thinking she stole Kwannon's life and in Fallen Angels, Kwannon spends a good portion of the book whining about Betsy (to the point she almost admits to Sinister she wants to kill her) smh. At one point, Betsy even tries to talk to her and she gives Betsy the cold shoulder and walks away.

Anyway, in Fallen Angels one thing Kwannon dislikes is that she and Betsy are apparently connected to the butterfly. Kwannon says she hates that Betsy has a connection to the butterfly (because of course they had to make up some backstory where Kwannon is connected to it ad well. Smh), and hates the fact that their fates may have been intertwined. Kwannon is even so bold as to speak "for Betsy" and say what the butterfly represents for Betsy vs herself (Kwannon).

Now I noticed at the same time Kwannon is complaining about Betsy and the butterfly, that Betsy has stopped manifesting said butterfly. Jordan White I believed even mentioned Betsy would be stopping.

My guess is Betsy (who I will assume had survivor's guilt, because I'm not entertaining anything else lol) stopped using the butterfly knowing Kwannon's feelings on it, and also probably stopped using martial arts for the same reasons :(

Betsy definitely should be doing as she pleases, but I think Kwannon definitely has a hindering effect on Betsy sadly.

I'm hoping the better writing in Hellions, will change the dynamic of their relationship.

Anyway, that's why I thought she might not be using those martial arts skills currently, but nothing has been specifically stated on the matter from what I have seen.; August 9, 2020 at 1:29 AM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: @X-Man I haven't touched Fallen Angels and I don't plan to monetize Ninjalocke's existence. The quick review solidified my disgust for her. She can be a character if Cebulski allows like decent ones eg. Karma, Armor but she stays a Betsy clone.

Betsy is written to bend the knee and feel guilty for reasons. She would never do that cause she owns her bright and dark side and shown it with Slaymaster, the Hand, Shadow King, Mojo, Jamie and Nova. Marvel is projecting with patronizing themes at the expense of Betsy. Fans know how much a victim Betsy has been since her creation and don't fall into this trap.

Ninjalocke looks a whiny b on this choice to hold onto anger like a brat and claim another's property. Accounting attitude kills characters and Ninjalocke will stay a pin-up fantasy on covers, toys and video games.

I doubt Cebulski will allow Zeb Wells to create a new persona for Ninjalocke cause he prefers her as an Asian Betsy shell. Hill tried to give her a new costume to look like Neo and samurai powers but Cebulski forced him out. Saw it on previews and thought it was a step forward though the butterfly wings coming out her butt proved me right.; August 9, 2020 at 6:00 AM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: @FSaker HoX and PoX was a new beginning. If only it didn't remind of the stuck up Inhumans. And the fight of metahumans with cyborgs and A.I. Kinda what Stan Lee did with Master Mold and Morrison with Sublime.

The rep of the X-Men goes downhill. They hang out with villains in the name of mutant blood and world starts to confuse them with criminals.

And Hickman can't have thought out every little detail. Continuity errors will show up. 10 Moira lives can't cover all timelines the X-Men have lived and created. Some geek is out there researching to make a fool out of him.; August 9, 2020 at 6:21 AM
X-Man said...: @Kiki wise decision. I only got it cause Betsy was in it briefly and stupid me thought it was going to be an honorable passing of the name lol. Instead I got complaints about Betsy possessing the butterfly (which she had for years) and just terrible writing. It is sad, cause the Fallen Angels writer was very nice and even responded to my inboxes when I told him my issues. I asked him if their history was being retconned, and he told me everything that happened before still stood.; August 9, 2020 at 12:03 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: @X-Man Hill has years of experience on his back. Postal is his best work and Netherworld comes second. His Outsiders is good for which I had some gripes. Cebulski at Marvel he sat Hill down and gave him THE SPEECH. It's like I'm hearing Cebulski say ''don't mess with my ninja wet dream or else...''. Hill had a plan I'm sure he did. Editors interfered and stopped any change for Ninjalocke. It might've been a new costume, a new code name, set of powers and the butterfly speech was ordered from above cause it didn't stick with the rest of Hill's script.

For Betsy the butterfly means gradual evolution through pain. Betsy started weak and unsure like a caterpillar who is hungry for strength. The bad things she's gone through made her skin hard like a cocoon. Her battle scars, the lost eyes, the lost body, the lost identity, the thirst for killing, the bad influence was Betsy's cocoon. I'm sure that's why Betsy rarely used the butterfly when she was inside Kwannon cause that body jail was her cocoon to transform into the butterfly warrior Betsy wanted from day one.; August 9, 2020 at 2:48 PM
X-Man said...: @Kiki that might make sense. His responses to me always were nice, intelligent, and well thought out. That always confused me, because it didnt match the storytelling in that book at all. It never occured to me that someone else may have forced his hand. Your explanation of the butterfly and what it represents for Betsy is much better than the one in Fallen Angels :); August 9, 2020 at 8:30 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: @X-Man it makes sense. I didn't wiretap the X office but I smell a con from miles away.

My explanation for the butterfly of Betsy comes from following her for years. She's calm, wise, kind and her words pack a punch when she wants to. The other X-Men punch things headfirst, Betsy observes the situation and wins with her brains. She is the tactical mom of the group many found boring before the race swap but she is the Elizabeth Baltimore mom from the Long Kiss Goodnight. A cute butterfly that can whip up a storm.; August 10, 2020 at 3:51 AM
Tobias Chatti said...: Nice art.; August 10, 2020 at 10:11 AM
Tobias Chatti said...: Marcus To?; August 10, 2020 at 10:12 AM
FSaker said...: @Kiki, I have to disagree with you on HoX/PoX.

Regarding Hickman's planning, sure, there may be continuity errors (though I don't remember any major continuity errors being found in his Fantastic Four and Avengers runs, and he said he was being extra careful with the X-Men). Does that invalidate his story? To me, not really, unless it's a glaring error (like the ones Bendis often committed in his stories). It's still a great story.

As for the X-Men's reputation going downhill for associating themselves with villains... when was it ever high in the Marvel universe? Even in the times when they tried to present themselves as a superhero team defending humankind (like in Whedon's run, or when they tried to establish themselves as San Francisco's official superheroes in Fraction's run), they were still hated by the same people they were protecting. And as Moira's previous lives indicated, one major flaw of mutantkind was that it was always too busy fighting itself rather than joining forces to prosper as a civilization.

Now, does that mean it is the best idea? Probably not, as the protagonists messing things up is actually a signature in Hickman's stories (we've had Reed's council with his alternate counterparts turning on him, the Illuminatti hiding the Incursions from the Avengers, then the Avengers deciding to hunt down the Illuminatti rather than trying to find a solution to stop the Incursions, and so on). We know that there are at least four people at Krakoa hiding their own agendas (Mystique, Apocalypse, Sebastian Shaw and Mr. Sinister). Then again, X is already aware that he can't trust everyone in the island, and there's Moira to provide advice should anything bad happen (and since she's keeping a low profile, sthe villains are unaware of her).

So far, Hickman seems to be doing a great job. Hopefully he'll still be doing a great job by the time his run ends - and judging from his work with the Fantastic Four and the Avengers (and the fact that Hickman admitted he likes the X-Men much more than he liked these other teams), I'm optimistic about that.; August 10, 2020 at 11:07 AM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: @FSaker is his plan safe from fluff? Too much is happening can he keep focus on Moira and her ten lives? Or his original story turns to something he can't control? Maddy was planned to be a natural lookalike, was replanned to be Jean with amnesia, was changed to Sinister clone and ended Goblin Queen.

I've read he writes the ending first and then the rest. May be hearsay. Time will show whether his story be good and straight to the hall of fame. He's not alone though, got writers to control. Can't one of them slip a bomb that explodes in the story. I don't know.

Will the villain inclusion and his big ambition with Krakoa favor the X-Men? Say all falls the X-Men will be villains and they will lose team connection. Hank is becoming a dark Beast and Vulcan is made to kill everyone.; August 10, 2020 at 2:54 PM
Unknown said...: The thing till now is that they put Betsy in a costume and nothing. The character simply don´t appear.There´s no joi de vivre in her anymore. And proving that Marvel doesn´t know what to do with Kwannon they put her as a leader (and knowing marauders like Betsy which is ridiculous - she never had contact with them). And still without reference to the period in which it was Revanche. The name, uniform, nothing matches. She was Nyorin's killer. The uniform was after the change with Betsy. The character itself could be interesting. With 3 pages (being pessimistic) I could fix these shits, but Marvel doesn't know what to do. What Betsy least needed was another radical change. Even more, this change was not effective. What powers does it have? What did she demonstrate? In nothing. She´s running after Apocalipse and... nothing...; August 11, 2020 at 11:15 AM
randybear said...: Agreed. Kwannon wearing the hand outfit makes no sense plot wise. Kwannon was Yakuza and rivaled the Hand. Why the fuck would she be wearing their uniform?? Lol

Yet I've had people argue with me on Twitter that the outfit and everything else was originally Kwannons lol; August 11, 2020 at 12:26 PM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: @Unknown @randybear the reasons that have me desperate and sad about Betsy and her future. Marvel heard and took Betsy out the Asian hag. They did a sloppy job. They let her be herself as Psylocke for seven months and a big change comes and snatches all. Unfair don't come close to what's happening.

As if anything Betsy has is Ninjalocke's! The butterfly, hand outfit, knives, swords was Betsy. People weren't around when the Hand and Mandarin changed Betsy to look Asian. There was no Kwannon in 1989. Nicieza puked Kwannon in 1993 and she came to be.

Howard got no clue who Betsy or the other X-Men are. She doesn't give an ish. All she cares about is papa blue. Betsy and the crew follow ''A'' like puppies.; August 11, 2020 at 5:11 PM
Nate X said...: Man, Betsy fans are the only ones wasting time talking about that Kwannon. You're literally the only ones who keeping bringing up the bitch. Just pretend she and her low-selling books don't exist like everyone else.; August 11, 2020 at 9:27 PM
FSaker said...: Unknown has a point. Yeah, Kwannon has stolen Betsy's identity and the psychic butterfly (and the "ninja bathing suit", but I guess most of us didn't want Betsy to keep that anyway), but it's not like she's doing great in Dawn of X, either. Fallen Angels was a mess, and while Hellions seems to be getting a better impression, she's still stuck in a book with Havok, Sinister and a bunch of Z-list former villains. Stealing from Betsy didn't get Kwannon very far in the end.

...Which is kinda sad, in a way; both women could be doing much better than they are doing now.; August 11, 2020 at 11:52 PM
Tobias Chatti said...: It's Mike McKone says the heading. I'm dumb. Will it be a Kotobukiya figure of this?; August 12, 2020 at 10:31 AM
randybear said...: That would be awesome in Kotobukiya style. But I doubt it'll ever happen. Xmen licenses holders tend to stick to just the 90s versions; August 12, 2020 at 10:38 AM
Tobias Chatti said...: Sucks! 90s is in the 90s why people get stuck? This art is cool for Kotobukiya and action figures. A percentage of people are right to feel tired of the hand Psylocke.; August 12, 2020 at 11:31 AM
Tobias Chatti said...: Original Psylocke and Outback action figures are so expensive to buy online. The pieces of Davis Betsy and Outback Betsy are rare collectibles. Can't find them nowhere.; August 12, 2020 at 11:34 AM
Kiki M. Ishola said...: Hello! Plain as day Marvel can't hide their bias towards a sexist ninja caricature. Sex sells and Disney turns a blind eye on these toys.; August 16, 2020 at 9:37 AM
randybear said...: Facts. Plus they could easily still sell ninja Psylocke yous and not have that version in the comics.
1. Hardly anyone reads comics
2. Casuals who buy these toys don't know whats going on with these characters anymore its just nostalgia to collect
3. 99% of Psylocke merch is the 90s swimsuit so they can't say they keep her in the comics in order to produce different varieties of toys for her if they just stick to the Lee design lol; August 17, 2020 at 11:20 AM
Tobias Chatti said...: No! I want Betsy collectibles in her original form. The pink Betsy and Outback Betsy are very good candidates for Kotobukiya sculpting. And Asrar Betsy is the best and doesn't get anything made. The market is full of swimsuit Betsies it had enough of that. The prices of classic Betsy and Outback come expensive because demand exists but the pieces are rare. Toy companies are jerks to Betsy.; August 19, 2020 at 9:53 AM
Tobias Chatti said...: And to collectors.; August 19, 2020 at 9:53 AM
Tobias Chatti said...: If they flood the market with swimsuit Psylockes because she is another person now what I say for toy companies is real.; August 19, 2020 at 9:56 AM

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