Since her creation, Kwannon aka Psylocke has been haunted by the ghosts of her past and the body swap, the mutant woman Betsy Braddock (see my review of Psylocke #8 for a detailed explanation of Kwannon’s backstory and the body swap). Robbed of her individual freedom and stripped of her agency, Kwannon’s lack of bodily autonomy while another woman lives her life in Kwannon’s body is the most pervasive aspect of Kwannon’s publication history. It is something that Kwannon has been forced to overcome and accept as she moves forward with reclaiming her identity and ownership over her own body. Psylocke sees Kwannon disturbed by the aspects of her past she wishes she could forget.
Psylocke #10 is the final issue in a historic run for the character that positions Kwannon as an X-Men character worthy of carrying a solo book on a level that is typically reserved for characters like Wolverine and Cable. It speaks to Kwannon’s longevity and status in Marvel comics and the appeal that she has generated. One of Marvel’s most prominent East Asian characters being spotlighted like this is significant because Asian characters have often been underrepresented in Western media, and when they are represented, it is often in stereotypical portrayals that are harmful and inaccurate. Marvel’s Asian characters, in particular, have been portrayed with racist and orientalist depictions. Alyssa Wong’s Psylocke series is notable for being the first ongoing series with Kwannon/Psylocke written by an Asian-American writer. Wong’s writing of the character has brought authenticity to the character that has often been lacking in Kwannon and Psylocke’s publication history.
At the end of Psylocke #9, Kwannon found out her childhood friend, Mitsuki, is alive, and used supernatural entities called yokais to take over the Kyoto branch of the Hand. Kwannon was then possessed by an ancient spirit called the Lady in White so that Mitsuki could carry out her quest for vengeance. The Lady in White’s possession of Kwannon is a manifestation of Kwannon’s biggest fears: losing control of her body and having her autonomy and agency taken from her again. In the issue, Kwannon describes this fear by saying, “My worst nightmares are always shaped like this–Losing control of my body again. Having my personhood ripped from me until I am nothing but a weapon. Being used to hurt the people I love…and even those I don’t”.
Marvel Comics
What Kwannon is experiencing while possessed by the Lady in White is Kwannon being forced to confront her biggest fears and the most painful aspects of her past, both as her time as a soulless killer working for the Hand and as someone living in the shadow of Betsy Braddock’s time in Kwannon’s body. Kwannon’s narrative arc since the body swap was reversed has been to assert herself as a fully autonomous individual separate from Betsy Braddock, and now Kwannon finds herself in the undesirable position of no longer being in complete and total control of her body and her actions. It is a painful reminder of what has been taken away from her, and what she threatens to lose if she fails to free herself of the Lady in White’s possession. It is this fear that inspires her to draw the strength from within that is necessary to exorcise herself from the Lady in White’s will and regain control of her body and soul. The issue ends with Kwannon, liberated from the Lady in White, feeling whole and renewed, ready to take on her future one day at a time.
Overall, Psylocke #10 is a satisfying conclusion to a series that has always been synonymous with high-quality art and superb storytelling. Watching Kwannon succeed in overcoming her traumatic past is both inspiring and humanizing for the character. Looking at the series as a whole, Psylocke has been impactful in how Wong approaches Kwannon as a character struggling to reconcile her past, present, and future selves. Kwannon’s character arc in the book is meaningful in terms of how she comforts her past, and navigates the path to healing with the help of supporting characters Devon and John Greycrow. Hopefully, despite the title’s cancellation, we will see Devon and Greycrow in future stories that center on Kwannon as a central character. Psylocke may be over, but fans of the character can still look forward to her appearing in future issues of Jed MacKay’s X-Men run, where Kwannon is a significant member of Cyclops’ X-Men team. The character is also solicited to appear in X-Men: Age of Revelation Overture #1 in October, so fans will also have that to look forward to.
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