Astonishing X-Men #6 Art

                

Astonishing X-Men #6 Spoilers

Spoilers: As the psychic infection spreads throughout London, the Shadow King claims victory against Xavier in the Astral Plane. Farouk reveals he has cheated by using an additional power source to boost his powers. Xavier surprises him by reveling he too has cheated and unveils the presence of Rogue, Fantomex and Mystique, who attack the King. Back to London, Archangel shoots feathers at both Logan and Gambit as the Ministry of Defense considers bombing out London to prevent the infection from spreading. Psylocke overhears the Ministry informing the clean room protocol has been activated and learns what it means by reading the mind of one soldier. Back at the Astral Plane, Xavier ponders that each X-Men had a role to play and they were perfect for this battle. The Professor notices that Farouk is too busy simultaneously defending himself against the X-Men, spreading the infection in London, controlling Gambit and Logan and keeping Charles chained. Xavier uses this opportunity to free himself and kill the Shadow King. Fantomex talks about sacrifice and doing something big everyone will remember. Meanwhile in London, Gambit and Logan come to their senses. Psylocke contacts Archangel and tells him that the Shadow King is gone, but they both notice the people of London remain infected, including Bishop. Betsy tells Warren that he needs to stop the Ministry’s plane from dropping a bomb on London. Psylocke is then surprised by Fantomex. He takes off his mask and reveals he’s Charles Xavier now. Xavier says everything will be alright.

Rogue & Gambit #1 Preview

Astonishing X-Men: A Man Called X

Marvel.com: Ever since Cyclops apparently killed Professor X back in 2012’s Avengers vs. X-Men #11, Charles’s consciousness has been forced to cling to life in the astral plane. What kind of impact has this had on him? How will it affect his decisions moving forward?

On January 3, writer Charles Soule and artist Phil Noto begin to answer those queries with Astonishing X-Men #7! In “A Man Called X,” the mutants finally get their reunion—but it may not be exactly what they’ve expected.

We contacted Soule via telepathy to hear more about what to expect in the new issue.

Marvel.com: How has Professor X changed since we saw him last? Will we see a different Charles when he returns?

Charles Soule: As we’ve seen in Astonishing X-Men thus far, Xavier’s spirit, or soul, or life force (depending on how you want to think about it) got taken after his death by one of his oldest and most powerful adversaries—Amahl Farouk, The Shadow King. Farouk brought Xavier’s spirit to his home, in the bizarre parallel dimension called the Astral Plane, where anything you imagine becomes real. So, since his death, Xavier has been held prisoner on the Astral Plane, with The Shadow King toying with him in all sorts of terrible ways. Even worse—time runs differently in Farouk’s dimension, so even though it’s only been a few years since Cyclops killed Xavier in the Avengers vs. X-Men story, for poor Professor X it feels like it’s been millennia.

Marvel.com: What can you tease about how he’ll make his comeback?

Charles Soule: When we pick up the story in Astonishing X-Men, Farouk and Xavier get embroiled in a sort of psychic chess game, with a group of X-Men (Old Man Logan, Psylocke, Fantomex, Rogue, Gambit, Bishop, Angel, and Mystique) as the pieces. The Shadow King plays the game to pass the time, and also to hopefully build himself a pathway out of the Astral Plane so he can wreak havoc in our world. Xavier does his best to beat him…but The Shadow King holds all the cards. We’ll see how it goes.

Marvel.com: Charles has a plan…but it sounds like not everyone supports it. What kind of push back will he face?

Charles Soule: As the story has developed, we’ve seen that the battle on the Astral Plane has had effects that have rippled out into our world, especially in London, where the story takes place. Some sort of psychic infection has been spreading rapidly among the city’s populace (including Bishop!), and the human authorities with the British Ministry of Defence look set to take drastic action to stop it from going any further. Beyond that, Gambit and Logan have both been possessed by The Shadow King and have gone around murdering people, and Archangel looks to be on the verge of losing his mind.

So…things are bad. If Xavier might somehow fix all this, it’ll take drastic measures. We’ll see if the cure will be worse than the disease.

Marvel.com: A lot of readers consider Xavier a favorite. What have you enjoyed about bringing him into this story?

Charles Soule: I like the fact that he’s really very morally grey. He’s not Magneto, but he’s not as far from him as he’d like to think—and the stories we’ve seen with him really bear that out. Xavier is brilliant, incredibly gifted, and always 10 steps ahead. That’s the kind of character I love to write. Also, I just missed him in the stories. Professor X is cool.

Marvel.com: What else would you like to mention?

Charles Soule: We have some fantastic artists coming up on the series for its back half, including my longtime partner on the Poe Dameron series, Phil Noto, for issue #7, and someone I’ve been dying to work with on issue #10—ACO.

Issue #6 ends Act I of the series, “Life of X,” but then we move right into Act II: “A Man Called X,” which flips the story a bit and makes it about something new that will feel completely organic with what we’ve already seen. And then there’s Act III…which will be the culmination of the whole thing. It’s been a blast to construct a series like this, and I hope people enjoy seeing where it goes.

Witness the return of Charles Xavier in Astonishing X-Men #7, by writer Charles Soule and artist Phil Noto, on January 3!

Astonishing X-Men #6 Preview

Astonishing X-Men #6

Writer: Charles Soule

Cover & Art by: Mike del Mundo

Phoenix Variant Cover by: Kris Anka

The Story: Life of X Conclusion!

We are trapped in the SHADOW KING’s web. All strands have led here. We have seen sacrifice, battle, manipulation, lies and the darkest truths. Now, at last, CHARLES XAVIER and his X-Men will save one world and lose another.

In Stores: December 6, 2017

Betsy Braddock, Chapter III – S.T.R.I.K.E.

Before the X: In this third chapter, we explore Betsy Braddock’s ascent to supermodel stardom and the beginning of her enduring superhero career. While Chris Claremont may have introduced Betsy, it was the acclaimed writer Alan Moore who truly shaped her character. After a six-year hiatus since her last appearance in 1977, Moore revitalized Betsy in Daredevils #3 (1983), giving her iconic purple hair, a secret agent backstory, and establishing her as a telepathic hero. For the first time, Betsy exhibited distinct character traits that set her apart from her brother. Moore’s run, covered in the first half from Daredevils #3 to #8, portrayed her as fierce and even ruthless, going as far as suggesting that Brian should kill Slaymaster. The flashback in X-Treme X-Men #3 (2001) added depth to Betsy’s early days as a supermodel and secret spy. Additionally, fashion magazine covers in Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn #1 (1988) highlighted Betsy’s celebrity status during that period. Join us for the continuation of Betsy Braddock’s journey in the next chapter.

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

CHAPTER III - S.T.R.I.K.E.

Returning to England, Betsy Braddock ascended to become one of the world’s most prominent supermodels. A sought-after ‘face,’ she graced the covers of renowned fashion magazines globally, commanding both the runways from Paris to Milan and the covers of Vogue, Hello!, Playboy, Woman, and Chic. Embraced by her own fashion circle and favored by top designers, Betsy earned the esteemed title of Britain’s most beautiful woman. Notably, one of her early model shoots unfolded in the picturesque backdrop of Valencia, Spain. During this time, Betsy Braddock would often frequent the Violet Velveteen nightclub in Leeds, England, to catch performances by terrible bands. [X-Treme X-Men v1 #1, #3 / Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn #1 / X-Men: Sword of the Braddocks #1 / Excalibur v4 #19]

Two years later, as Betsy’s telepathic powers continued to intensify, she attracted the attention of Agent Matthew from the Sci-Tech Division at S.T.R.I.K.E., the British counterpart to S.H.I.E.L.D. The agency, in the process of establishing a Psi-Division, sought Betsy’s involvement. Intrigued by the prospect of understanding her mind and its capabilities, Betsy accepted the role. As a Special Agent, she received basic training in hand-to-hand combat and firearm usage. Within the Psi-Division, Betsy collaborated with fellow psychics, including Alison Double, Avril Davis, Tom Lennox, Vicki Reppion, Kevin Mulhearn, Denis Rush, Andrew Hornby, Leah Mickleson, and Stuart Hattrick. The work provided a unique avenue for Betsy to explore the depths of her psychic abilities. [Daredevils v1 #3 / Captain Britain v2 #13 / X-Treme X-Men v1 #3]

Early in her illustrious secret agent career, Betsy received a crucial assignment from S.T.R.I.K.E.: infiltrate the infamous Hellfire Club’s ‘Master House’ to capture the attention of the Lord Imperial, Sir Gordon Philips, and the emerging Black King of the New York Chapter, industrialist Sebastian Shaw. The Braddock family’s connection to the club, coupled with Betsy’s modeling career, made her an ideal candidate for the mission. Young, confident, and fearless, Betsy dove into the task, aiming to gather intelligence. However, Tessa, Shaw’s servant, recognized the danger Betsy was in and warned her of the Inner Circle’s attempts to corrupt a soul as brilliant and innocent as hers. Advising Betsy to leave for her own safety, Tessa’s words lingered as a cautionary reminder. During this period, Betsy also pursued a romantic relationship with her fellow psi, Tom Lennox. [X-Treme X-Men v1 #3 / Daredevils v1 #5]

After two years of service at S.T.R.I.K.E., the agency faced infiltration by a criminal espionage network led by the crime lord Vixen. Detecting the threat through their psychic abilities, the Psi-Division members realized the danger and became targets. Vixen enlisted the services of the assassin Slaymaster to eliminate them. In the ensuing confrontation, Kevin, Denis, Andrew, Leah, and Stuart lost their lives. Betsy and the remaining survivors, understanding the gravity of the situation, chose to go into hiding. Simultaneously, after several adventures in Otherworld and Earth-238, Brian was finally returned to Earth-616 with his memories intact. With the twins’ psychic rapport reestablished, Betsy sensed Brian’s return and knew that her brother was home. [Daredevils v1 #1, #3]

Betsy urgently contacted Brian at Braddock Manor, revealing the imminent danger to her life. They arranged to meet at a McBurgers in Oxford Street, marking their first reunion in four years. The changes were striking: Betsy was astonished by Brian’s increased height and strength, while Brian was taken aback by Betsy’s purple hair and her revelation of being a telepath working for S.T.R.I.K.E. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted as Betsy sensed Slaymaster’s brutal attack on her friends Avril and Vicki at a nearby comic shop. Working with Tom Lennox, Betsy created a diversion to aid Captain Britain in defeating Slaymaster, though she harbored the hope that her brother had put an end to the assassin. In the aftermath, Brian extended an invitation for Betsy, Lennox, and Alison Double to stay at Braddock Manor. The apparent bombing of the manor turned out to be an illusion created by the Mastermind computer. [Daredevils v1 #3, #4]

Soon after, the Omniversal Majestrix Saturnyne enlisted the alien mercenaries known as The Special Executive to apprehend Captain Britain. As the aliens infiltrated Braddock Manor, their plan involved removing Betsy and Lennox from the equation. During the chaos, Lennox was incapacitated, and Betsy, awakened in the middle of the night due to their shared psychic rapport, confronted the alien Cobweb. Overwhelmed by the intricacies of Cobweb’s mind, Betsy had no choice but to shut off her own mind, collapsing unconscious on the floor, while the aliens successfully kidnapped Brian. [Daredevils v1 #5]

The following day, tension simmered between Betsy and Lennox as they engaged in a heated argument. Lennox advocated for leaving Braddock Manor, deeming Brian’s lifestyle clinically insane and believing they were better off evading pursuit from S.T.R.I.K.E. Betsy, fueled by her fury, countered him vehemently, her primary concern being the whereabouts of her kidnapped brother, taken by inhuman creatures whose minds weren’t even human. The doorbell’s ring interrupted their dispute, heralding Brian’s return in the company of Saturnyne and the alien members of The Special Executive. Betsy, taken aback, was left startled by the sudden turn of events. Braddock Manor’s intrigue heightened with the arrival of Linda McQuillan, also known as Captain UK, bearing a grave warning: British politician Sir James Jaspers had initiated a superhero legislation campaign. The unfolding events mirrored those of McQuillan’s own Earth, leading to the grim climax of the deaths of all superpowered beings. [Daredevils v1 #8]

Charles Soule Twitter Q&A

Q: Will Psylocke and Angel get romantic? Are they a couple or not?

Charles Soule: They care deeply for each other.

Q: Will the Astonishing team ever crossover with the Gold, Blue, or even Red X-Men team?

Soule: Probably not.

Q: Is Astonishing X-Men still a 12-issue maxi-series?

Soule: Yes.

Q: Any more X-Men plans after your Astonishing run wraps or is that it?

Soule: Yes.

Q: Any chance the key to the Shadow King & Xavier's chess game in Astonishing X-Men is Maggott?

Soule: No.

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]