X-Men’s Psylocke Finally Remembers She’s A Badass

This article contains spoilers for Excalibur #25.

The X-Men‘s Psylocke has finally remembered she’s a badass. The sister of Brian Braddock, Psylocke is one of the X-Men’s most powerful and skilled psychics; in fact, she even received a power-up that meant she was operating at Omega level for a while. Always something of an action junkie, when she plunged into the mystical Siege Perilous she was bonded to the body of a ninja assassin named Kwannon. She was separated from that body – but soon gained another power-up.

Psylocke is the new Captain Britain, making her a physical powerhouse. Unfortunately, Captain Britain’s powers are bound to her self-confidence, and Betsy Braddock has found herself singularly lacking in that regard; the role of Captain Britain has pulled her very identity in two, as she tries to figure out whether her primary loyalty lies with the United Kingdom or with the mutant nation of Krakoa. Matters have hardly been helped by the increasing animosity between the U.K. and Krakoa, which seems close to turning into outright war.

Tini Howard and Marcus To’s Excalibur #25 sees Betsy Braddock finally remember she’s a badass. The X-Men are fighting for the peace of the mystical realm of Otherworld, which is being threatened by King Arthur and Merlin. Ironically, the powerful sorcerer unleashes a spell he expects to cripple Psylocke, blocking the magic that makes her Captain Britain. King Arthur assumes he can deal with any woman – but he’s seriously underestimated Psylocke, the person who fought Sabretooth when she was new recruit to the X-Men, who remembers all the training of a ninja assassin, and who possesses enough power to penetrate the mind of any mere men.

While King Arthur is a legendary warrior, he is absolutely outclassed by Psylocke. He literally only gets to swing his blade at her once before Betsy Braddock effortlessly enters his mind, leaving him falling to his knees and writhing on the floor in mental torment. Even more remarkably, Psylocke doesn’t manifest her psychic knife for her attack; she doesn’t need to summon the focused totality of her psychic powers to defeat King Arthur. She simply needs to place a hand upon his head.

Many readers have been frustrated at Psylocke’s characterization in Tini Howard’s Excalibur. The conflict lying at the heart of Betsy’s identity has reduced her, leaving her easier to manipulate than ever before. However, Merlin may have actually helped when he stripped Psylocke of the mantle of Captain Britain because in that moment Betsy’s identity became clear. The power of Captain Britain can be taken from her, but her natural mutant powers cannot. Psylocke is a mutant and an X-Man first and foremost, as King Arthur learned to his cost.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
(4894 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

More From Thomas Bacon