View source for Psylocke

{{short description|Fictional superhero from Marvel Comics}}
{{Infobox comics set and title
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
<!--Character section-->
| image          = Excalibur (Vol. 4), No. 19 (Textless Variant).jpg
| converted      = y
| caption        = Textless variant cover of [[Excalibur (comic book)#Volume 4 (2019–2022)|''Excalibur'' (vol. 4)]] #19, featuring both characters associated with the codename Psylocke: [[Betsy Braddock]] (left) and [[Kwannon (character)|Kwannon]] (right).<br>Art by [[Mahmud A. Asrar|Mahmud Asrar]] and [[Matt Wilson (comics artist)|Matthew Wilson]].
| publisher      = [[Marvel Comics]]
| debut          = '''[[Earth-616]]:'''<hr>{{ubl|'''[[Betsy Braddock]]:'''|''[[Captain Britain]]'' (vol. 1) #8|(Dec. [[1976 in comics|1976]])|Debut as Psylocke:|{{no wrap|[[New Mutants|''New Mutants Annual'']] (vol. 1) #2}}| (Oct. [[1986 in comics|1986]])|'''[[Kwannon (character)|Kwannon]]:'''|''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' (vol. 2) #17|(Feb. [[1993 in comics|1993]])|Debut as Psylocke:|''[[Fallen Angels (comics)#Volume 2|Fallen Angels]]'' (vol. 2) #1|(Nov. [[2019 in comics|2019]])}}<hr>'''[[Earth-6160]]:'''<hr>{{ubl|'''[[#Sai|Sai]]:'''|''Demon Days: X-Men'' #1|(Mar. [[2021 in comics|2021]])|'''[[#Kanon Sainouchi|Kanon Sainouchi]]:'''|[[Ultimate X-Men (2024)|''Ultimate X-Men'' (vol. 2)]] #7|(Sept. [[2024 in comics|2024]])}}
| creators       = [[Chris Claremont]] (writer)<br>[[Herb Trimpe]] (artist)
| characters     = {{ubl|'''[[Earth-616]]:'''|[[Betsy Braddock]]|[[Kwannon (character)|Kwannon]]|'''[[Earth-6160]]:'''|Sai|Kanon Sainouchi}}
<!--Series section-->
| cvr_image      = Psylocke01.jpg
| cvr_caption    = ''Psylocke'' #1 (2009) featuring the body-swapped Betsy Braddock version of the character, art by David Finch and Jason Keith.
| schedule       = Monthly
| format         = [[Limited series (comics)|Limited series]]
| genre          = [[Superhero comics|Superhero]]
| date           = Nov. [[2009 in comics|2009]] - Feb. [[2010 in comics|2010]]
| issues         = 4
| main_char_team = '''[[Betsy Braddock|Psylocke (Betsy Braddock)]]'''
| writers        = Christopher Yost
| pencillers     = Harvey Tolibao
| inkers         = Paul Neary
| colorists      = Jay David Ramos
}}

'''Psylocke''' is the name of two connected characters appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]], commonly in association with the [[X-Men]]. Both characters are portrayed as [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutants]], a subspecies of humans born with an "[[X-gene (comics)|X-gene]]" that grants [[Superpower (ability)|superhuman abilities]].

In the [[Earth-616|primary continuity]] of the [[Marvel Universe]], the first character to use the Psylocke moniker is '''[[Betsy Braddock]]''' (created by [[Chris Claremont]] and [[Herb Trimpe]]), a British [[Telepathy|telepath]] who is introduced as a [[supporting character]] for her twin brother [[Brian Braddock|Brian]]. Betsy adopts the codename "Psylocke" upon joining the X-Men, and later takes on the appearance of a Japanese woman and the abilities of a ninja in a story written by Claremont and illustrated by [[Jim Lee]]. This redesign was [[Retroactive continuity|retroactively established]] years later to be the result of a [[body swap]] with the ninja assassin '''[[Kwannon (character)|Kwannon]]''' (created by [[Fabian Nicieza]] and [[Andy Kubert]]). Following 29 years of publication history, both women were returned to their respective bodies, and Betsy assumed the mantle of [[Captain Britain]] from her brother while Kwannon became the second Psylocke.

The [[Ultimate Universe]] features two original versions of Psylocke: [[#Sai|'''Sai''']] and [[#Kanon Sainouchi|'''Kanon Sainouchi''']] (both created by [[Peach Momoko]]).

In addition to their presence in numerous X-related team titles over the decades, both iterations of Psylocke have been featured in various limited series and one-shots. In 1997, Betsy Braddock, as Psylocke, appeared in the 4-issue team-up series ''Psylocke and Archangel: Crimson Dawn''. Additionally, she starred in the one-shot ''X-Men: Sword of the Braddocks'' #1 in 2009 and the solo 4-issue series ''X-Men: Psylocke'' in 2010. During the [[Krakoan Age]], Kwannon as Psylocke appeared in various team books such as the ''[[Hellions (Marvel Comics)|Hellions]]'' (2020) and ''[[Marauders (comic book)|Marauders]]'' (2022) and then starred in the one-shot ''[[Blood Hunt (comics)|X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke]]'' #1 in 2024. As part of the [[X-Men: From the Ashes]] relaunch, Kwannon as Psylocke is set to star in a new solo [[Ongoing series|ongoing]] series starting in November 2024.

==Publication history==
===Betsy Braddock===
{{main|Betsy Braddock}}
Created by writer [[Chris Claremont]], Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock first appeared in ''[[Captain Britain]]'' #8 (Dec. 1976), with ''Captain Britain'' #10 (Dec. 1976) as her first cover appearance, published by the [[Marvel Comics]]' British imprint [[Marvel UK]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=282}}</ref> In ''[[New Mutants|New Mutants Annual]]'' #2 (1986), Claremont integrated Betsy Braddock into the [[X-Men]] franchise. After being rescued by the [[New Mutants]] and taking up residence at their mutant-training academy, Braddock is formally invited to join the X-Men and officially adopts the codename Psylocke, becoming an enduring fixture of the team over the next three decades.<ref name="issue2">''New Mutants Annual'', vol. 1 #2</ref>

In a 1989 story, an amnesiac Betsy is kidnapped by [[Hand (comics)|The Hand]], who brainwash her and physically alter her to take on an East Asian appearance.<ref name="issue256–8">''Uncanny X-Men'' #256–258 (1989)</ref> Under the name Lady Mandarin, she briefly becomes the Hand’s supreme assassin. While her memories return, she retains her new appearance and skills, including the ability to manifest the focused totality of her telepathic power in the form of a “psychic knife.” A 1993 story by [[Fabian Nicieza]] would retroactively establish that Braddock’s changed appearance was the product of a [[body swap]] between Braddock and the assassin [[Kwannon (character)|Kwannon]].<ref name="issue31–32">''X-Men'', vol. 2 #31–32</ref>

In the Claremont-written ''[[X-Treme X-Men]]'' #2 (2001), the character dies, her [[comic book death]] lasting until 2005's ''Uncanny X-Men'' #455. During the [[Hunt for Wolverine]] storyline, the psychic vampire Sapphire Styx absorbs the entirety of Braddock’s soul, leaving her body dead.<ref name="issue4">Hunt for Wolverine: Mystery in Madripoor (2018)</ref> After destroying Sapphire Styx from the inside with assistance from a fragment of Wolverine’s soul, Braddock reconstitutes her original body with the villain’s remaining soul power.<ref name="issue4"/>

During the [[Dawn of X]], Braddock subsequently took up her brother Brian’s former title of Captain Britain, forming a new iteration of [[Excalibur (comics)|Excalibur]] with [[Apocalypse (character)|Apocalypse]], [[Gambit (Marvel Comics)|Gambit]], [[Rogue (Marvel Comics)|Rogue]], [[Jubilee (character)|Jubilee]], and [[Rictor]], to protect the Kingdom of [[Avalon (Marvel Comics)|Avalon]].

===Kwannon===
{{main|Kwannon (character)}}
In Kwannon’s first appearance, using the codename Revanche, she traveled to the United States to confront Braddock, believing herself to be the real Betsy Braddock due to amnesia caused by the body swap.<ref name="issue17-18">''X-Men'', vol. 2 #17-18</ref> She discovered that she was formerly The Hand’s prime assassin before incurring brain damage and falling comatose as a result of a battle with her lover Matsu’o Tsurayaba, a high-ranking member of the Hand.<ref name="issue31">''X-Men'', vol. 2 #31</ref> In hopes that, due to Kwannon’s low-level psychic abilities, the powers of the high-level telepath Betsy Braddock would be able to save her life, Tsurayaba sought the help of the sorceress [[Spiral (character)|Spiral]], who instead transferred the women’s minds into each other’s bodies rather than simply recovering Kwannon.<ref name="issue32">''X-Men'', vol. 2 #32</ref>

After accepting that she is not the original Betsy Braddock, Kwannon becomes a member of the X-Men, shortly thereafter contracting the [[Legacy Virus]].<ref name="issue2x">''X-Men Annual'', vol. 2 #2</ref> As the disease progressed, Kwannon’s psychic abilities increased, allowing her to clarify her own distorted memory.<ref name="issue27-28">''X-Men'', vol. 2 #27-28</ref> Choosing to die on her own terms, Kwannon confronts Tsurayaba, who complies with her request to kill her rather than waiting to succumb to the disease.<ref name="issue31">''X-Men'', vol. 2 #31</ref>

Following the [[Hunt for Wolverine]], when Braddock was restored to her original body, Kwannon was reborn in her original body as well.<ref name="issue4"/> Claiming the codename Psylocke for herself, Kwannon became a citizen of the mutant nation of [[Krakoa]]. After the apparent murder of her long-lost daughter by a threatening artificial intelligence called Apoth, Psylocke assembled a new team of [[Fallen Angels (comics)|Fallen Angels]] with [[X-23]] and [[Cable (character)|Cable]].<ref name=issue1f>''Fallen Angels'', vol. 2 #1</ref> After finding out that Apoth was using children to disseminate a technological drug called Overclock, [[Mister Sinister]] modified Overclock to allow Psylocke to interact with Apoth in a cyberspace, killing Apoth, whose remains she delivered to Mister Sinister in exchange for his assistance in keeping this extrajudicial mission a secret from the Krakoan Quiet Council.<ref name=issue5-6>''Fallen Angels'', vol. 2 #5-6</ref>

Following the Apoth incident, Psylocke was assigned to monitor Mister Sinister’s new team of ''[[Hellions (Marvel Comics)|Hellions]]'', composed of mutants considered too violent or troubled to assimilate into [[Krakoan Age|Krakoan]] society.<ref name=issue1h>''Hellions'' #1</ref> The character was later featured as a team member in the ''[[Marauders (comic book)|Marauders]]'' (vol. 2) as the team was refocused on their mission of mutant rescue.<ref name=ma01>''Marauders Annual'' #1</ref> Following the fall of [[Krakoa]], Kwannon will headline in the upcoming [[ongoing series]] ''Psylocke'' (vol. 2) written by [[Alyssa Wong]] with art by Vincenzo Carratù. This solo series will be spun out of events in Jed MacKay and [[Ryan Stegman]]'s ''[[X-Men (comic book)#Volume 7 (2024–present)|X-Men]]'' (vol. 7) where Psylocke is a team member.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=SDCC: Psylocke to headline solo title from Marvel in November 2024 |url=https://www.thepopverse.com/comics-psylocke-x-men-kwannon-marvel-alyssa-wong-vincenzo-carratu-san-diego-comic-con-2024-sdcc/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Popverse |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |date=2024-07-27 |title=New 'Psylocke' X-Men series details revealed |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2024/07/27/psylocke-x-men/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=AIPT |language=en-us}}</ref>

==Race swap controversy==
Psylocke was initially the code name of Elizabeth Braddock, a British woman. However, in a Marvel storyline of 1989, [[Acts of Vengeance]], she was "physically transformed into an Asian woman by a villain seeking to brainwash her and turn her into an elite assassin for a group of ninja warriors."<ref>Deman, p. 55.</ref> This has been criticized as racially insensitive or stereotypical by multiple fans and critics. For example, Anna Lam calls her new form a "fetishized Asian sex object in the style of the classic [[Dragon Lady]] of the 1930s."<ref>Quoted in Deman, p. 55.</ref> Chris Claremont, the writer of the story, has said that this transformation was originally simply a disguise but became semi-permanent because most fans embraced it.<ref>Deman, p. 55.</ref> The artist for the story is [[Jim Lee]], a [[Korean Americans|Korean American]].

The subsequent storyline of 1993, written by Nicieza, mitigates the issue because subsequently the East Asian Psylocke and the white Psylocke are two distinct women (Kwannon and Betsy Braddock, respectively).

==Collections==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! width=20%| Title
! width=50%| Material collected
! width=15%| Publication date
! width=15%| ISBN
|-
| ''X-Men: Psylocke''
| ''Psylocke'' #1-4, ''Uncanny X-Men'' (1963) #256-258
| align="center"| 2010
| align="center"| {{ISBNT|978-0785144397}}
|-
|}

==Other versions==
{{further|Betsy Braddock#Other versions{{!}}Alternative versions of Betsy Braddock|Kwannon (character)#Other versions{{!}}Alternative versions of Kwannon}}

===Butterfly===
{{anchor|5 Ronin|O-Chiyo Braddock}}An original incarnation of Psylocke named '''O-Chiyo Braddock''' appears in ''[[5 Ronin]]''. This version is the English-Japanese orphan daughter of a local Japanese woman who died when she was a baby and an English expat trader who committed suicide when she was a child after his business failed. After being forced into the [[yoshiwara]] to survive, O-Chiyo grows up to become the top-ranked prostitute, codenamed "'''Butterfly'''", in a high-end brothel. She later crosses paths with a Ronin called the [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]], who becomes her regular customer.<ref>''5 Ronin'' #4 (May 2011)</ref>

===Ultimate Universe===
Two original incarnations of Psylocke from Earth-6160, '''Sai''' and her descendant '''Kanon Sainouchi''', appear in series set in the [[Ultimate Universe]].

====Sai====
{{anchor|Demon Days}}Sai appears in ''Demon Days: X-Men''. She is an adventurous Japanese samurai accompanied by a wolf named Logan who comes from a variation of ancient Japan where humans used to coexist with [[yōkai]] until the avarice within humans caused a conflict between both species.<ref>''Demon Days: X-Men'' (2021). Marvel Comics</ref>

====Kanon Sainouchi====
{{anchor|Earth-6160}}Sainouchi appears in ''[[Ultimate X-Men (2024)|Ultimate X-Men]]''. She is a senior at Idori High School, an expert fencer, and younger sister of a police officer named Tatsuya.<ref>''Ultimate X-Men'' Vol. 2 #7–8. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Ultimate X-Men'' Vol. 2 #10. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==In other media==
{{Main|Betsy Braddock in other media}}
Psylocke, primarily based on Betsy Braddock's characterization while her mind was in Kwannon's body, has been adapted in various forms of [[Betsy Braddock in other media|media]], including films, television series, and video games. [[Olivia Munn]] portrayed the character in the 2016 film ''[[X-Men: Apocalypse]]''.

The Sai incarnation of Psylocke from ''Demon Days: X-Men'' appears as a playable character in the video game ''[[Marvel Rivals]]'', voiced by Alpha Takahashi.<ref>{{cite web |last=Deschamps |first=Marc |date=September 23, 2024 |title=Marvel Rivals Is Adding a Surprising Version of Psylocke |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/marvel-rivals-psylocke-playable-character-ps5-xbox/ |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |location= |publisher= |access-date=2024-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hashimoto |first=Marika |date=September 24, 2024 |title=Psylocke Joins the 'Marvel Rivals' Hero Roster |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/games/psylocke-joins-the-marvel-rivals-hero-roster |website=[[Marvel Entertainment|Marvel]] |location= |publisher= |access-date=2024-01-08}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{X-Men characters}}
{{Captain Britain}}
{{Excalibur}}

===Bibliography===
* Deman, J. Andrew (2023). ''The Claremont Run: Subverting Gender in the X-Men''. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-4773-3075-3.

[[Category:Marvel Comics female superheroes]]
[[Category:Fictional swordfighters in comics]]