Betsy Braddock: Psylocke Appreciation 2018

[Izanami]

The goofy SHIELD PsiOps teams.
http://tazirai.tumblr.com/post/12212...he-spaceknight

Whoa, I just had an intense flashback to everything 1950s that came out in terms of sci-fi. I wasn't even born in the '50s but here we are.

[LoganAlpha30X33]

A local tv station lately has shown the old black and white Flash Gordon tv show and movies and such...bad sci-fi...anyway I wondered over in Warren's thread if the Warren that attacked them was the Death or darker persona in Warren's head given flesh and the real Warren was elsewhere locked up so that Betsy therefore couldn't get through to him and tempt him back to the X-men's side or free him from Nate's control...

[Shadowcat]

It’s safe to say her light was dimmed in the 90’s, especially after Jim Lee left. Nicieza and Lobdell really didn’t know what to do with her, and she hardly got the development Jean and Emma got during that time. A nugget or two of development does not mean she flourished. She rose in popularity in the video games. She was a non-entity in the comics during this time.

[Havok83]

It’s safe to say her light was dimmed in the 90’s, especially after Jim Lee left. Nicieza and Lobdell really didn’t know what to do with her, and she hardly got the development Jean and Emma got during that time. A nugget or two of development does not mean she flourished. She rose in popularity in the video games. She was a non-entity in the comics during this time.

that is not because Jean Grey was around. I know people didnt like it but she was getting developments with her relationship with Warren, Kwannon mess, Crimson Dawn and new shadow powers during that time. She even got a mini out of it.

[CRaymond]

Yeah I'd wager the 90s were Psylocke's best decade. Maybe not with "good" stories, but definitely in publicity and notoriety.

[WhiteQueenEmmaFrost]

It’s safe to say her light was dimmed in the 90’s, especially after Jim Lee left. Nicieza and Lobdell really didn’t know what to do with her, and she hardly got the development Jean and Emma got during that time. A nugget or two of development does not mean she flourished. She rose in popularity in the video games. She was a non-entity in the comics during this time.

Emma was in Generation X and moved from being villain to hero. Jean was pretty much just Jean for much of the 90s (which was a relief).

Psylocke had some of the best moments in the 90's. She took on Sabertooth (which was more nostalgic than anything they're pushing today) and there were consequences, but she was involved in some major storylines and events. She got more development and changed more than Emma or Jean during the 90s.

that is not because Jean Grey was around. I know people didnt like it but she was getting developments with her relationship with Warren, Kwannon mess, Crimson Dawn and new shadow powers during that time. She even got a mini out of it.

I think there was a TPB with her and Warren that bundled how they both went through changes in their body and minds. It pretty much showed why they were perfect for each other.

[Psycwave]

I'd agree in the 90's she was at her most popular but I feel the 00's (or is it this current era of the 10's?) is probably her best time story wise. After she came back during Fraction's Uncanny she had the Yost mini, becoming a more prominent player on Gillen's Uncanny, Uncanny X-Force was a major catalyst, the all women X-men book, even Humphries and Spurrier's X-Force had some high moments for her. She started to gain more stories that moved her forward, added some great depth and honed in on those leadership skills.

[Havok83]

I'd agree in the 90's she was at her most popular but I feel the 00's (or is it this current era of the 10's?) is probably her best time story wise. After she came back during Fraction's Uncanny she had the Yost mini, becoming a more prominent player on Gillen's Uncanny, Uncanny X-Force was a major catalyst, the all women X-men book, even Humphries and Spurrier's X-Force had some high moments for her. She started to gain more stories that moved her forward, added some great depth and honed in on those leadership skills.

It would be the 10s starting with UXF. I don’t think the 00s which started with her power switch and subsequent death were kind to her. I didn’t like how she was used when brought back and then exiled off to Exiles in that decade

[Psycwave]

Whew, Exiles was such an uphill battle. AoA Sabes and Psylocke was a TRYING time. Stressed.

[Drey]

Whew, Exiles was such an uphill battle. AoA Sabes and Psylocke was a TRYING time. Stressed.

I could never with this pairing. And I never will.

What some describe as a low point in Psylocke's history was my introduction to her. OZT was in full swing and The Crimson Dawn mini was just hot off the press for me to fall in love with her. It was partly superficial I admit. A telepathic, ninja superbabe, with access to magick power would appeal to most 15 year olds. But her confusion regarding her identity, mood swings, etc. also appealed to me. We've all been through the angsty teen phase. Anyway, the love that Warren had for her and the sacrifice that he made to free her was sooooo adorable.

Psi-War will probably always be a favorite of mine. That really cemented Shadow King as her arch nemesis when it used to be Ororo, X'ian, and Charles's at one point or another before that. Anytime I get to see Betsy vs. SK is a treat.

Remender really brought a balance back to Betsy though. CC's Betsy after her resurrection had moments, like HoM, returning to the mansion and getting the best of Emma, etc. but nothing concrete. Her appearance in New Excalibur was life, before disappearing into the Exiles book.

[Frobisher]

Whew, Exiles was such an uphill battle. AoA Sabes and Psylocke was a TRYING time. Stressed.

Christ, remember when they get to base and Sabes is like, “I hope you like the new costumes I designed”, and hers is basically some PVC leggings and a bra?

[Havok83]

Christ, remember when they get to base and Sabes is like, “I hope you like the new costumes I designed”, and hers is basically some PVC leggings and a bra?

Psylocke had such boring costumes in the Japanese body. X-treme and the Anka UXF design were the only true standouts

[LoganAlpha30X33]

Not all were bad and they weren't worse than some of the ones that Sage had to wear when CC last wrote her...

[Tazirai]

The 90's to me were the worst time to be a fan of hers. Her development as an actual character just stopped. I've mentioned before just giving up on her. Sure she got popular for the fightings games and crap, but that's not development. Most of those fighting games fans are the ones suprised she wasn't always Japanese. Because she got popular, but without the context. Just hot Asian dragonlady trope. Even in the early 00's she was little more than a powerset. Remender really brought out the story beats, and even in the Thong, became more of a character again.

Although I loved Slaymaster becoming her Nemesis, it was little more than torture porn of him running around alternate universes killing a bunch of different versions with no context or actual fight, than the "One that got away!"
They really didn't even develop THAT relationship as to the why he wishes to pursue HER, instead of say Sabertooth, he technically got away too.

But as much as I first despised it, Farouk is a Nemesis, and they have great tit for tat. He pushes her to become stronger, than AOA Jean simply saying ...

omega_p.png

[Tazirai]

Whoa, I just had an intense flashback to everything 1950s that came out in terms of sci-fi. I wasn't even born in the '50s but here we are.

This was the 80's, but with 50's influence. ROM is literally a Gem that no one remembers, but influenced the Marvel comics to this day.
Where'd you think those Space Knights came from lol.