Geoffrey Thorne’s Final X-Force Notes — What Could Have Been for Betsy Braddock and More

Geoffrey Thorne, writer of the most recent X-Force run, shared his final thoughts and detailed annotations on what he had planned for the book before its cancellation. Among the most intriguing revelations was what he intended for Betsy Braddock in future arcs.

For Betsy fans, this was especially bittersweet — Thorne outlined an entire storyline centering on her, which unfortunately we may never get to see. Below is his full commentary regarding Betsy’s planned arc:

“The following arc would have been Betsy-centric, dealing with denizens of Otherworld doing some unpleasant things on 616 Earth, garnering Betsy’s attention forcing her to step in. We would have learned why she’s reluctant to access her Captain Britain abilities and not return to Otherworld.

Obviously, the other members of X-Force would have been pulled into this mess (except Forge at first who is being a dick about it) and would have culminated with at least one massive change to Betsy’s status quo. As with the notions about Piotr, my thoughts about what can and probably should be done with Betsy have been expressed to the Powers That Be. presumably they’re noodling it. If they reject it, I’ll sketch out the bones here for those that are interested in such things. There would have been magic (Sage’s bane), and there would have been at least two universe-shifting revelations.”

It’s clear Thorne had big plans for Betsy, involving Otherworld, magic, and significant changes to her status quo. Whether Marvel decides to pick up his pitch or let him reveal it in full remains to be seen.

🔎 Other Highlights from Thorne’s Notes:

• He developed deep empathy for Colossus and planned to give him a vacation from the endless mutant conflicts, with a new take on his character.
• The full X-Force story was planned as a 15-issue arc divided into 3 parts, but it was truncated due to cancellation and crossover demands.
• Planned spotlights included Sage’s backstory and mental health struggles, Rachel’s liberation from the Phoenix legacy, and more nuanced dynamics between Sage and Forge.
• A key reveal would have shown why Rachel and Betsy were holed up in the Braddock estate (Rachel mind-wiping a whole town) and that Tank’s true identity was Colossus.
• The Solution — the antagonist group — was conceived as a terrifying, decentralized ideology rather than a traditional villainous organization, echoing real-world terror networks.
• Deadpool was slated to make at least one more chaotic appearance, targeting Forge.

Thorne closed his notes by expressing gratitude to the fans who supported the book and leaving open the possibility that his pitches might still be used someday.

Whatever comes next, it’s clear that he put a lot of thought into giving each character depth, especially Betsy. Fingers crossed that his ideas for her eventually see the light of day.

Geoffrey Thorne Pays Tribute to Warren & Betsy

Geoffrey Thorne: Full disclosure, Ben Raab, wrote of one of my favorite X-mini series, PSYLOCKE AND ARCHANGEL: CRIMSON DAWN which featured Archangel and Psylocke (Betsy). He's sort of a friend of mine. Even though I loved the mini, I've actually never much liked the Archangel version of Warren or the Elektra knockoff version of Betsy so, here, I put them together (visually, at least) in the forms I prefer.

X-Force #10 Art

X-Force #10 Spoilers - Final Issue

Spoilers: In Estrella, South America, La Diabla—assisted by “Colossus” and the Brute That Walks—successfully defeats the entire X-Force roster. A mysterious figure, revealed to be La Diabla’s superior, communicates with her, hinting that she’s following someone else’s orders. Using her alchemy, La Diabla transforms the Brute back into Dr. Avery. As Forge, Betsy, and Rachel lie unconscious, “Colossus” suggests killing Rachel first—only for John Wraith, a.k.a. Kestrel, to teleport in and whisk Rachel to safety. Suddenly, Sage reemerges, flanked by a squad of X-Sentinels resembling Havok, Cyclops, Angel, and Beast. While “Angel” rescues Betsy, the other Sentinels engage the villains—though “Havok,” “Cyclops,” and “Beast” are quickly disabled.

The surviving X-Force members regroup near Sage’s VTOL, but the X-Sentinel “Angel” is abruptly destroyed by the Brute That Walks. La Diabla, Brute, and “Colossus” immediately resume combat against the X-Force. Meanwhile, the mysterious villain contacts La Diabla once more, stating he has plans for Forge and ordering her to open a portal. The mastermind is revealed: Moses Magnum, the architect behind the fracture network. Forge analyzes the Analog and understands Magnum’s goal—and to everyone’s shock, he defects, choosing to join Magnum. Before leaving, Forge removes his anti-telepathy headband, allowing Rachel and Betsy to read his mind and uncover the truth.

Magnum, La Diabla, Brute, “Colossus,” and now Forge travel to Subterranea, an ancient kingdom beneath the Earth once home to the Deviants—specifically, the city of Dys. There, Moses Magnum outlines his twisted philosophy: both humans and mutants have failed—humans in eradicating mutants, and mutants in protecting themselves. His plan is to tear a breach in the continuum and unleash otherworldly monsters, forcing humanity and mutantkind to unite as one race. For that, he needs Forge to finish building the Resonator, a device powered by Magnum’s own energy that would keep the portal open permanently. X-Force arrives in Dys aboard the Blackbird. Tank removes his mask and finally reveals his true identity: the real Piotr Rasputin, Colossus.

The imposter “Colossus” exposes herself as Zanda, former ruler of the African nation of Narobia. She shapeshifts into a giant lizard and battles the real Colossus one-on-one. Rachel confronts the Brute That Walks. She reaches out to Dr. Avery telepathically and, while she can’t undo La Diabla’s mental bindings, she offers him clarity—visualizing Avery as greater than the beast. This shift gives him the strength to master his rage and regain control of his form. Elsewhere, Betsy Braddock faces La Diabla head-on. With her psychic butterfly sigil blazing, Betsy dismisses La Diabla’s tricks and schemes as hollow. She declares that she has always known she was eldritch. Brandishing her golden Starlight Sword, Betsy cuts through La Diabla’s alchemy with ease—asserting that she is the magic.

At that moment, Wraith teleports in with Sage. Sage reveals she finally understands Forge’s true intentions—that sealing the fractures, removing the anti-telepathy headband, and leaving the Analog behind were all moves to guide X-Force to this very point. Forge asks if Sage brought what he requested. She confirms—and throws Surge’s gauntlets into the Resonator, overloading and destroying the machine permanently. Solution locked. Moses Magnum, La Diabla, and Zanda teleport away in defeat. Forge explains that he kept everyone in the dark because X-Force was his machine, built to operate according to his design.

In the final moment, Surge resurrects herself in the form of coherent plasmatic energy, shocking her teammates. Forge swears he didn’t know this would happen. Sage, looking weary, tells him that after everything he’s done—X-Force is over.

X-Force #10 Preview

X-Force #10
Writer: Geoffrey Thorne, Fabian Nicieza
Art by: Marcus To, Edgar Salazar
Cover by: Stephen Segovia

The Story: CELEBRATING 300 ISSUES OF X-FORCE WITH STARTLING REVELATIONS!

•  FORGE has assembled X-FORCE to fix the world’s problems, but at last, THE SOLUTION reveals itself!

•  WHO or WHAT is the Solution, and what does it mean for the fate of the world? New villains, old friends and a terrible decision that will change them all forever!

•  PLUS: A special anniversary tale featuring X-FORCE’s past by Fabian Nicieza!

Note: This issue contains a key appearance by CLASSIFIED.

In Shops: Apr 23, 2025

X-Force Cameo in X-Manhunt Omega #1

Keep Betsy Braddock’s Story Alive – Send Your E-Mails to Marvel!

The letter page in X-Force #9 was filled with an outpouring of love for Betsy Braddock, and editor Mark Basso took notice. He remarked that such overwhelming support suggests Geoffrey Thorne’s take on Betsy might just be the favorite interpretation of the character in X-Fandom.

If you want to see Betsy continue after X-Force ends, now is the time to act! Send an email to the X-Office at officex@marvel.com and let them know you want her in a new book. Be sure to include Okay to Print in your message for a chance to have your letter featured in X-Force #10.

Not sure what to write? Just copy and paste the banner below and hope for the best! Let’s make sure Betsy’s journey doesn’t stop here!

X-Force #9 - X-Manhunt Part 6 Art

X-Force #9 - X-Manhunt Part 6 Spoilers

Spoilers: After being pursued by both the Alaska X-Men and the Louisiana X-Men, Professor X telepathically contacts Sage, requesting an extraction. She obliges and sends the teleporter John Wraith, a.k.a. Kestrel, to retrieve him from Utopia, San Francisco. Once Xavier is secured, Sage transmits coordinates for Kestrel to meet her at a safe house in Mexico City. Using a teleportation device, she transports herself there and waits for Kestrel to bring Xavier to her.

The safe house is actually a secret laboratory known as the Toybox, once belonging to the Mad Thinker, where an artificial intelligence manages the facility. After overriding the AI, Sage gains access and brings Xavier and Kestrel inside. Xavier has brought a Krakoan egg with him. Kestrel is suspicious of his intentions, but Sage reassures him that Xavier was the first friend she ever had.

Sage quickly pieces together that Xavier had access to DNA and a Cerebro backup, created an egg, matured the body, and delayed the hatching until he could physically unlock it. However, she struggles to understand how this is possible since Krakoan resurrection was meant only for mutants. Xavier simply states that this particular resurrection was something he did for himself. Sage understands and warns him that he has only thirty minutes before the X-Men arrive.

Xavier uploads the Cerebro backup into the egg, and from it hatches the resurrected Shi’ar Empress, Lilandra Neramani. Reunited, Xavier pleads for her help in saving their daughter, Xandra. Sage provides them with transport for their next destination, and Xavier thanks her. Sage responds that it’s the least she can do after he saved her soul years ago.

Meanwhile, in Estrella, South America, X-Force teams up to take down an out-of-control Brute That Walks. Betsy immediately targets La Diabla, recognizing her as the real threat, but is quickly overpowered. The team splits up—Rachel tries to psychically restrain the Brute while Tank engages in a brutal fight with Colossus. Betsy keeps La Diabla occupied, allowing Forge to sneak up on her.

Forge asks for Betsy’s psionic boost, which manifests as a massive butterfly effect with eyes inside its wings. Together, their combined attack breaks through La Diabla’s defenses, seemingly overpowering her. However, La Diabla retaliates with her alchemy, and with the aid of Brute That Walks and Colossus, she successfully subdues and defeats all members of X-Force.

X-Force #9 Preview - X-Manhunt Part 6

X-Force #9

Writer: Geoffrey Thorne

Art by: Marcus To

Cover by: Stephen Segovia

The Story: SAGE and PROFESSOR X go way back, to another war and another time. But now, in his hour of most desperate need, will Sage use her talents to aid Professor X’s quest… or put a stop to his manic mission? The penultimate chapter of X-MANHUNT brings X-FORCE into the fray!

In Stores: March 19, 2025

Tom Brevoorts Comments on X-Force and Betsy Braddock

Why did you cancel X-Force? When will I see Betsy Braddock next?

Tom Brevoort over Substack: Got a bunch of comments along these lines this week, and I have to say that they make me chuckle just a little bit. I mean really, how do you think we feel? We didn’t want to cancel it—we put a lot of work into these books—we’re not ending them just to mess with you or to deprive you of the entertainment you so clearly seek! No, the only reason that we ever pull the plug on a series is that it isn’t being purchased in great enough numbers to be profitable in the way we need it to be. That isn’t the audience’s fault, but neither is it the creators’ fault nor the editors’ fault. You can do everything right and still not pull in enough of an audience—it’s a tough marketplace out there. Not everything is going to work, and especially work ad infinitum. But that doens’t mean that any of these books are a waste of time or effort. it simply means that, for whatever reason, this wasn’t the right moment for whatever the thing was. So you dust yourself off and try something else. As for Betsy, we’ll just have to see where she might turn up again in the future.

So you know the drill—keep sending emails to the X-Office at officex@marvel.com to request Betsy Braddock and show your support. If you’re not sure what to write, simply copy and paste the banner below and hope for the best!

X-Force Ends with Issue #10

Marvel's X-Force, written by Geoffrey Thorne, will conclude with issue #10 in April 2025. Thorne confirmed the cancellation on the CBR forum, stating, "Yeah. Sadly... We're done at #10. Not sure why." 

The title was absent from Marvel’s May solicitations, fueling speculation, especially with NYX also missing. The series, launched in July 2024, featured a new take on the team with Forge leading Captain Britain, Askani, Sage, Tank, and Surge. Marvel has yet to comment on the decision.

X-Force #8 Art

X-Force #8 Spoilers

Spoilers: As the X-Force’s X-Jet soars over South America, it is suddenly intercepted by Colossus, seemingly under La Diabla’s control. Colossus attempts to tear the jet apart, but Tank intervenes, throwing him off. The X-Jet explodes, forcing Forge, Betsy, and Rachel to evacuate. Forge calls upon a Cheyenne spell and dons his exoskeleton.

Meanwhile, Tank and Colossus crash to the ground and engage in a brutal brawl. Colossus taunts Tank, who retorts that Colossus is not Piotr Rasputin. The fight is cut short when La Diabla intervenes, teleporting Colossus away. Betsy and Rachel regroup with Tank, and Betsy draws a protective magic circle around them with her blade, shielding them from La Diabla’s alchemy.

La Diabla manifests before them, this time revealing her face, sneering as she mockingly praises Betsy’s Elle and Vogue fashion spreads. She conjures spectral versions of the Fantastic Four, who, being non-corporeal, bypass Betsy’s protective barrier and attack X-Force. Rachel unleashes her power against them, buying time. However, La Diabla’s alchemy multiplies her spectral Fantastic Four, overwhelming the team.

As the battle intensifies, La Diabla unveils her secret weapon—Dr. Howard Avery, whom she had previously abducted. Just as the situation turns dire, Forge arrives in his exoskeleton, rescuing the team. Betsy manifests a massive psychic shield, crushing La Diabla’s spectral creations in one decisive strike.

In retaliation, La Diabla forces Dr. Avery to transform into a monstrous, fur-covered behemoth—the Brute That Walks. X-Force bands together to take on the creature.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, Saga is stationed at Forge’s Aerie, attempting to track the downed X-Jet. As she multitasks through various analyses, she is contacted telepathically by Professor Xavier, who calls her by her true name: Teresia Karisik. Xavier requests her aid.

X-Force #8 Preview

X-Force #8

Writer: Geoffrey Thorne

Art by: Marcus To

Cover by: Stephen Segovia

The Story: COLOSSAL REPERCUSSIONS! Can X-FORCE survive a fight with…COLOSSUS?! The mysterious LA DIABLA has X-FORCE on the ropes, and she’s brought some unexpected allies! PLUS — what does FORGE’s ANALOG device have to do with the FRACTURES threatening the planet… and La Diabla’s designs?! The season’s most surprising X-book packs a few more turns…

In Stores: February 19, 2025

               

X-Force #7 Secures Second Consecutive Month in Sales Rankings

The January 2025 comic book sales rankings, based on data from over 125 stores using the ComicHub system, show X-Force #7 dropping to 96th place after ranking 87th in December 2024. This decline is due to its early January release, which resulted in only four days of tracked sales for the December ranking, with the majority of its sales shifting to January. The rankings cover a five-week period from January 5 to February 1, 2025, and reflect consumer sales across a variety of global store locations. While the drop may seem significant, it is primarily a result of the release schedule rather than a change in sales performance.

Marvel Premiers X-Men: X-Manhunt Official Trailer

X-Force Sales Recap: December 2024 Rankings and Year-End Highlights

In December 2024, X-Force #6 ranked #41 in comic book sales, a slight drop from its #34 position in November, reflecting stable performance. The data, collected from over 125 stores using the ComicHub system, covers sales from December 1, 2024, to January 4, 2025. X-Force #7, released on January 1, 2025, only had three days of sales tracked, resulting in a lower ranking at #87. Given that the strongest sales typically occur in the first week, X-Force #7 may reappear in January’s rankings but could remain in a low position due to its limited initial sales window.

X-Force #7 achieved its highest ranking since X-Force #3 by landing at #8 on the Bleeding Cool Weekly Bestseller List. The list, compiled from actual sales data provided by ComicHub, reflects sales from January 1, 2025, to January 3, 2025, across up to 150 direct market comic stores.

In the full-year 2024 rankings, X-Force #1 secured the #67 spot, making it the second best-selling non-flagship title of the year, trailing only behind Wolverine. See below.

Geoffrey Thorne's Annotations for X-Force #7

Geoffrey Thorne's Annotations: A few more annotations in this one than the last although I did want to put them together for a couple of reasons. Three, actually.

1) We have a fabulous guest artist taking over the ill chores while Marcus is off having some personal time. Welcome Mr. James Towe for both of these issues.

2) Both of these issues represent a gearshift from the previous arc which was 100% "run-and-gun."

3) Both these issues take place in "virtual spaces." In issue 6 that's VR and, here, it's the mindscape/astral plane. If we're going to have a guest artist, I generally prefer for their issues to coincide with a style and/or venue change in the story in order to minimize the visual jolt for the audience. With #6 and #7 we had both. So.

Let's crack on.

Mindscapes in Marvel comics are, like many, many things, less defined than perhaps they ought to be. Their characteristics are wobbly by default as writers over the years have "defined" them however they've wanted to suit their stories.

I don't care for that but, as with all Big Two comics, we have to use the tools available and abide by the established rules of the road. At least, I do.

So, here, we have a private minds cape, a mental pocket dimension created by Betsy Braddock to house the psyches and psionic energies of herself and her lover Rachel Summers. It's a sort of private getaway telepaths can use to, well, get away. We've seen Emma Frost use this for illicit encounters with Scott Summers.

Betsy's, for Rachel, is a facsimile of the old Excalibur lighthouse, a place Rachel spent the bulk of her time in 616 and in which she had weird fun adventured and a family not friends. I figured that was the time and place she had to have been happiest since coming to 616 so that's what Betsy figures as well.

Some fans have already twigged the reappearance of the OG Psylocke outfits in this issue. And, yes, that's purposeful but not for the reasons one might think. Over the years of being merged with Kwannon, nearly every time we saw Betsy's mental/astral image it was identical to her trademarked physical appearance, i.e. an Asian woman.

This, of course, makes zero sense. Regardless of the body she was stuck in, Elizabeth Braddock grew up as a caucasian woman of British and Otherworldly extraction. There's no way her internal self-image would be asian.

So, here, we fix. (Also, anything that puts me in mind of Alan Davis art is Good.)

Also, as it's the mental plane, I thought it would be fun to have Betsy's look shift, depending on how she sees herself in the moment. So, when it's time to murder somebody, her mental self-image reverts to this [the Australian Outback armor].

Put together with her current Big Ass Sword construct, this version of Betsy just screams Fantasy Knight (and this was before she was even Captain Britain).

X-Force #7 Art

New Year's Day is BETSY BRADDOCK DAY!