Cyclops and Psylocke’s relationship has come a long way.
Think about it. Thirty or so years ago, a version of Psylocke that was a hybrid of Betsy Braddock and the assassin Kwannon tried to seduce Scott Summers by licking motor oil off his face, scaring him so badly that he ran away to Alaska (Fun fact: This was my first-ever X-Men comic). This began a two-Psylockes story so convoluted writer Fabian Nicieza had to take a second crack at it later that year.
Now look at them. Betsy and Kwannon are back in their respective bodies, and Kwannon, as Psylocke, and Cyclops are work proximity associates, to the point where, apparently, Scott trusts her with his dirty jobs, and the two can be left alone together while Scott’s wife is out in space being a psychic space bird god. That’s progress!
Anywho, Marvel on Saturday announced an ongoing Psylocke solo series, written by Alyssa Wong (Deadpool, Doctor Aphra) and drawn by Vincenzo Carratù (Dead X-Men, Astonishing Iceman), due to launch Nov. 13. The series positions Kwannon as a one-woman X-Force (ironic since her former body-roommate, Betsy, is on the actual X-Force), carrying out Cyclops’ wetwork when he needs it. According to Marvel’s press release, the book will delve more into Kwannon’s backstory, including her upbringing by The Hand, and include appearances by her lover and former Hellions teammate, John Greycrow.
This is the 13th series announced for the X-Men’s From the Ashes era, after X-Men, Phoenix, NYX, X-Force, Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, Exceptional X-Men, Wolverine, Dazzler, Storm, Sentinels and Mystique, plus, if you want to stretch it, Avengers, which will include Storm. It is the fifth solo series to be led by a woman character.
Check out the cover by Mahmud Asrar below, and keep scrolling for Marvel’s pre-announcement-panel press release.
Just now at the Marvel Comics: X-Men: From the Ashes Panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Editor in Chief C.B. Cebulski, Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, and a host of X-Men creators gave fans the scoop on what’s to come in the exciting new era of X-Men comics storytelling, including the reveal of all-new solo ongoing series—PSYLOCKE! Launching in November, PSYLOCKE will be written by Alyssa Wong, known for their acclaimed work on Star Wars: Doctor Aphra and Deadpool, and drawn by rising star Vincenzo Carratù, the artist currently delivering explosive vampire slaying action in Dracula: Blood Hunt.
PSYLOCKE will tie into the character’s current status quo established in Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman’s X-Men #1 where she lends her deadly expertise to Cyclops’ team of X-Men operating out of Alaska. However, there are missions that aren’t suitable for the X-Men and require Psylocke to embrace the teachings of her dark past!
After taking on the mantle of Psylocke, Kwannon became one of Krakoa’s breakout stars in titles like Hellions and Uncanny Avengers. Now, the telepathic and telekinetic ninja goes solo! Her upcoming adventures feature appearances by her lover Greycrow, shed light on her brutal upbringing with the Hand, and introduce a twisted super villain called the Taxonomist!
SHE WAS MADE FOR VIOLENCE! Trained to be an assassin since birth, Kwannon chose to be an X-Man. But there are still some jobs too dirty for the X-Men. And some paths have to be walked alone. When the mission is brutal, Psylocke unsheathes her blades to punish those who prey on mutants. Exploding out of the pages of X-Men, join Psylocke into the underbelly of the Marvel Universe, carving out her own place in a world that would rather see her under control!
Check out the PSYLOCKE #1 cover by Mahmud Asrar and stay tuned for more SDCC news throughout the weekend!
Dan Grote is the editor-in-chief of ComicsXF, having won the site by ritual combat. By day, he’s a newspaper editor, and by night, he’s … also an editor. He co-hosts The ComicsXF Interview Podcast with Matt Lazorwitz. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two kids and two miniature dachshunds, and his third, fictional son, Peter Winston Wisdom.
