|
 We've all been known to go though one or more changes throughout our lives. I've been an actor, a producer, a writer, a paralegal, a web designer, a programmer and like most of the X-Men, I'm not even thirty yet! As I look around at the world, I can't help but to see a human race of evolving peoples, all with different titles, changing names, jobs, etc. That being said, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH with Psylocke!
At the time of her debut, in the 1980's Chris Claremont created a nervous yet powerful new member of the X-Men who was able to take on Sabretooth alone. Unfortunately, Psylocke failed to connect with a majority of X-Men Fans which lead to her inevitable revamping. It was the early 90's; Havok, Rogue, Colossus and Psyclocke, forced to walk through the Siege Perilous at the cost of an erased memory and a new start at life, were on the verge of embracing this transition as they marched through the gates. Psylocke emerged, after having been brainwashed by Japanese Terrorists, as Lady Mandarin. At some point during her stint in captivity, her body and mind merged with Japanese assasin and mistress to mob leader, Kwannon. Betsy became half Asian as Kwannon became half British. In addition to her over sexuality,Kwannon's assasin personality also was half transfered into Betsy manifesting itself in Betsy's psychic knife, the totality of her psychic power. Psylocke had become a character for the 90's, part ninja, part fashion model, part spy, part X-Man, part assasin, but all beautiful and, by all acounts, all deadly.
 After Jim Lee became the famed artist for the X-Men in the 1990's, Psylocke's popularity exploded when she attemped luring a newly married Cyclops into an affair and was drawn oh so anatomically correct. She quickly rose to the ranks of Storm, Jean Grey, and Rogue. Psylocke was everywhere. She began a relationship with Warren Worthington, III, when he was Archangel which lasted almost until Chris Claremont was back writing Uncanny X-Men. His hands firmly grasped on the chracter he created twenty years prior, Claremont had Jean Grey absorb all Psylocke's telepathy, becoming that much more powerful. Psylocke, having lost all telepathic abilities, had absorbed Jean's powers of telekinesis. Having plunged her deeper into the realm of ninja assasin, Psylocke's psychic knife became telekinetic katana swords. She became one of the most powerful, most seasoned X-Men. Her relationship with Archangel failed and, before one with Neil Shaara (Thunderbird III) would've born fruit, Psylocke was killed in battle. It wouldn't be long before she was resurrected by her brother, Psylocke was back in action. The question would then become, "does anyone care?"
 By the time she rejoined the X-Men, Psylocke had been through more transformations than Madonna. Her once clearly written strong personality and voice, were convulted by her insane past and ten different personalities. Again failing to connect with readers in the new millennium, Psylocke was reassigned to the Exiles, where, today, she is still a current member on their roster. The questions now becomes, as the fad of ninja's have faded with the 90's, and dark gritty realism have seeped their way into comics, can Psylocke reconnect with the fans she had so many of in the 90's? Is it too late for this character to find her voice and footing in post M-Day X-Men? We, at X-Men Fan Site, don't think so. Here are a few ideas on how Psylocke can get her groove back.
- The Phoenix Force burns away what doesn't work. Whether it be the Cuckoos, Emma Frost, Quentin Quire, or Jean Grey, if Psylocke ever faced the Phoenix, the Phoenix Force could unleash it's power on her, effectively "cleaning Betsy up," taking out the Kwannon that is inside of her and giving her back her telepathy.
- Miniseries are often a tool used by Marvel to flesh out a character, shed new light on them, and take them on a journey alone. In her own miniseries, Psyclocke could go on some quest, but would need to strip down to basics and reassess herself before she would leave for her journey.
 She could be killed off. There's nothing like permanent, immenent death to make fans think about a character differently and look fondly on their past blunders, knowing it would never happen again.- A personal tragedy could force Betsy into rethinking the way she lives her life. Perhaps she too has lost touch with her inner emotions and true voice and will go back to or evolve whatever it is into a newer, stronger, more realistic and human Psylocke.
- Give her a lover. A new man in Betsy's life would certainly bring out a different side of her and with the right writing, it could be a side we all love again.
Despite a character that has become far too contrived and dated, Psylocke's fans are eagerly awaiting the return of an all-new, all-different Betsy, one who they relate to, root for and look to see month after month. Like all of us, Betsy has worn more than her share of hats in her lifetime. We, the fans, just want to see how she looks when she takes them all off, wipes off her makeup, and finally let's her hair down.
Related Articles
|
(I need to remind myself that a lot)