I often get asked by X-Men fans who my favorite X-Men are, and Psylocke usually makes the top 10 for a number of reasons. She uses her psychic powers in truly creative ways, including telekinetically crafted weapons. She’s a ninja, which was the thing to be back when I was a kid (I grew up on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers, so you can see the appeal.) She was a mainstay in some of my favorite video games, particularly Marvel vs. Capcom. And it didn’t hurt that she was part of Cyclops’ “Blue Team”, aka the X-Men team that most people think of when they think of X-Men. So it’s no surprise that I was drawn to Psylocke: Ninja #1, which explores what shaped Betsy Braddock into the fighting machine fans known and love.
Psylocke: Ninja begins with Betsy sending Colossus, Havok, and Dazzler through the Siege Perilous after receiving a psychic vision of the mutant heroes dying at the hands of the cybernetic Reavers. Her journey brings her into the vicinity of the Hand, who transfers her mind into the body of one of their deadliest assassins, Kwannon. Newly reborn, Psylocke is tasked with delivering a deadly blow against the Hand’s enemies, the Chaste.
Psylocke: Ninja #1 is the second series that Tim Seeley scripted following the success of Rogue: The Savage Land, and like that series, Seeley manages to deliver a story that fits within the halls of continuity while also standing on its own. Fans of Chris Claremont’s X-Men will love how this story fleshes out details that were previously left to the imagination, and newcomers will enjoy the deep dive into Psylocke’s, well, psyche. Seeley perfectly separates Psylocke’s past and present lives, showcasing how Betsy is fueled by the desire to protect her loved ones while Psylocke is coldly focused on her mission.
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It also doesn’t hurt that Psylocke: Ninja #1 is a visually stunning book, courtesy of Nico Leon. Leon brings the same dynamic energy that fueled his work on Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Return to this comic, with the standout sequence early on, when Betsy travels through the Siege Perilous. Eagle-eyed fans will notice the nods to Psylocke’s history that Leon slips into the background, and they’ll also appreciate the way she manages to get the drop on the Chaste in the final pages. Dono Sanchez-Almara deserves credit for utilizing unique hues of purple and pink in the background, paying homage to Psylocke’s powers and also showing the shift in Ariana Maher’s lettering; while Betsy’s narration starts out with a light purple hue, it changes to a bolder, more focused hue once she transforms into Psylocke.
Psylocke: Ninja #1 is mostly setup, as it builds up to a major reveal that will please fans of another Marvel hero. While this is no doubt meant to hook fans so that they pick up the second issue, there could have been a little more meat to the overall story. Regardless, Psylocke: Ninja #1 is a solid start, fueling its throwback vibes with strong scripting and dynamic art. It’s also a reminder of why Psylocke has become a fan-favorite X-Men character.
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