Betsy Braddock: Psylocke Appreciation 2018

[CRaymond]

No.

She was quite underused,yes,but hardly without personality.If you're truly interested in a horribly treated Psylocke,try the Claremont version from 2000 all the way up to 2009.

That’s wild. I always felt Claremont and Davis had the best grasp of her characterization. What do you feel they got wrong about her in that era?

That was the House of M resurrection right?

[Selene]

That’s wild. I always felt Claremont and Davis had the best grasp of her characterization. What do you feel they got wrong about her in that era?

That was the House of M resurrection right?

Seriously,she was under his control for 8 years and her only development was the shifts in her power set during that time.Absolutely nothing in terms of compelling character development and good storytelling.I was also annoyed by how her voice suddenly became more "pedestrianised" after her resurrection and her bizarre friendships with Nightcrawler and Rachel,whom she barely had any contact with previously(nothing wrong with that last one,it's just that it reeked of lazy writing).

The 90's have had their problems,but at least they blessed us with her relationship with Warren,her rivalry with the Shadow King and Sabretooth and her ties to the Hellfire Club.Who even remembers anything between 2000 and 2008 beyond the power switch and her resurrection?

[CRaymond]

Thank you for the clarification, and I totally agree. While I DID enjoy the issues just prior to HoM, I stopped reading when Meggan decided to become a multiversal bandaid. It read like the awkward exit the Star Trek Voyager writers came up for Kes.

[Tazirai]

I wonder what other characters, particularly women, were treated like this during the 90's. 90's Betsy was horribly treated compared to her 80's version when first coming from the X-men. It left an awful taste in my both and made me realized as a teen that the only thing she had going for her was her body. Everything else felt like an after thought. That changed for me when Remender (before UA and you guys are aware of how I feel about that) came on board during X-Force and wrote a Betsy i've been wanting to see. After that things just kept opening for her with other books and writers even if it was subpar. At least there was no more getting knocked out or insert some sort of western asian stereotype. Not sure what your thoughts are about it. Disagree or Agree Tazirai?

So here's my dirty little secret. When I discovered the story arc where Betsy was cosmetically altered to look somewhat Asian. I thought it was an odd tale, but the writing was great, even with her "Always being an Action Nut-retcon" by Claremont. I thought the Lady M suit was amazing, even the Thong was cool during their time in Madripoor, Like I said I'm not against women being barely clothed, My art is adult, and many are barely clothed. Saturn Girls Costume in the 70's made Betsy's look tame in Comparison. BUT the distinction as you said is how the women were used.
Whereas Storm, Emma and Jean were used exceedingly well, Jubilee had great Issues, Dani Moonstar got an Upgrade, and so did Karma for a time.

You also had your Psylocke's and Susan Storms who were there to pose and be angry and look good. Psylocke literally turned into the sexy Dragon Lady and got lost in tons of Storylines an dimportant cross-overs. Susan got her personality and outfit changed within a year and a half. Psylocke got stuck with her "ICONIC" look for decades. NO Hero or Heroine gets stuck with the EXACT look that long, except miss Pose-a-tron.

I literally quit reading or caring about Psylocke because she became a different person. That wasn't Betsy Braddock, that was some woman who had **** happen to her, instead of having her own agency.
Then I gave her a shot when she came back to life, then quit again once that arc was over, because she then became miss I SMASH MOUNTAINS. Then proceeded to get beat up constantly. UGH!

Remender got his hands on her and I loved it. Then I started to accept, hey she may still be icky with the Asian body thing, but I grew to accept it. Then under his Pen, Spurrier, Wilson, Bunn, etc. I learned to love her again, because she became a character and actor under her own agency. Sure she still did dumb **** every now and then, but all characters do that, every single one. But she became Betsy Braddock again.

I didn't mind her getting Ko'ed for helping the team or just taking the L to make sure her team won. Then Humphries got his hands on her, and turned her into dumb cursing 90's video game girl. Then that was over lol.

Psylocke has been VERY consistent and grown Progressively lately and I agree with you 100%.

[Tazirai]

No.

She was quite underused,yes,but hardly without personality.If you're truly interested in a horribly treated Psylocke,try the Claremont version from 2000 all the way up to 2009.

I hated Psylocke that entire Decade mostly. And it upset me that the person who gave her such a powerful voice in a frail body, was the one who mistreated her the worst.

That’s wild. I always felt Claremont and Davis had the best grasp of her characterization. What do you feel they got wrong about her in that era?

That was the House of M resurrection right?

He did her well for a decent amount of time, then forgot who she was. Davis didn't. Davis still loves the character. I think Claremont is coming to love her again also.

[CRaymond]

Davis still loves the character.

Davis has such warmth when he gets ahold of the Braddock family. Her Kwannonization might not have been his ideal situation, but he always drew her with respect and distinction. I’d love to see what he’d do with a Psylocke miniseries.

[LoganAlpha30X33]

I think that Betsy just got stuck at times behind Jean and Storm in terms of characterization and such...

[CRaymond]

I think that Betsy just got stuck at times behind Jean and Storm in terms of characterization and such...

Honestly she shouldn’t. Psylocke is popular but she’s not even in the top 12 of essential X-Men.

And frankly I think it’s a mistake to think of her as a strict “X-Men” character.

[Psy]

Literally it goes. Outback Psylocke, then Psi wars, then Dark Angel Saga. Everything else in between was pretty much garbage. The mishandling and boring already been told stories of her return in 2005 were atrocious. Claremont had her powers all over the place, one second she could barely move a cauldron then the next she could smash mountains but not pick up a dime and then a few issues later could manipulate molecules to make herself appear invisible. The only development he did was he trained her with Ogun out of time and improved her fighter status. Also why the hell was he always trying to make her the New Jean. Power swap with Jean, power signature blend of each others, Jamie tying her fate with Rachel, making her a weapon for the anti Phoenix. Claremont was sloppy and pretty much told the same stories he always told and changed the paint color.

[Tazirai]

Honestly she shouldn’t. Psylocke is popular but she’s not even in the top 12 of essential X-Men.

And frankly I think it’s a mistake to think of her as a strict “X-Men” character.

Agreed. Even though many have forgotten. She didn't start as a mutant nor an X-man. Her powers origins were vague after Dr. Synne Brainwashed her and Jamie. That's what kickstarted their abilities so late in life. Jamie in his thirties and Betsy in her mid 20's.
She could have just as easily been the Sersi or Moondragon of the Avengers. She should be International and travel around some.

Yeah, I keep telling folks. Psylocke's "Popularity" is there, but limited.
You take a Black woman with White hair in Street clothes with a cloud behind her. "STORM!"
It's almost immediate.
Her more rabid fans are US. On Message boards, gamers, etc. General Public, not so much. She has the potential to get the Scarlet Witch or Wasp treatment. She's gotta move past 90's Bad Girl Tropes.

[Psy]

One more pro and con for Clarmeont during then. He did get rid of the wretched crimson dawn. How ever he had her hookup with AoA Sabretooth. So......

[Tazirai]

One more pro and con for Clarmeont during then. He did get rid of the wretched crimson dawn. How ever he had her hookup with AoA Sabretooth. So......

I still to this day, do not understand the popularity of her Crimson Dawn Tat. /shrug.

[Arachne]

It was the style at the time, but red and purple just do not go together.

Thought I'd show you guys my chibi Psylocke:

Psylocke.jpg

[Drey]

It was the style at the time, but red and purple just do not go together.

Thought I'd show you guys my chibi Psylocke:

Psylocke.jpg

Awwww, that is adorable. Good job!!!!

[Arachne]

Thanks.