Psylocke has been a good entry in the new era of X-Men, exploring her past while cementing her place in the present. Given her complicated history, seeing Alyssa Wong break new ground is nice. With each new issue, we’re getting a little more of her backstory. The series also has a smaller cast than most X-Men titles, as Kwannon only has John Greycrow and Devon Di Angelo by her side. In the latest issue, we learn whether or not Greycrow is dead.
Psylocke #3 picks up where we left off, with Kwannon staring at Greycrow’s severed arm, dripping blood down her door. Strange blue butterflies flutter around her, and soon, she’s attacked by cyborg animals with sharp blades and needles!
This immediately leads to another great double-page splash by the artist Vincenzo Carratu, with Psylocke flipping, slashing, and jumping away from imminent death and taking apart the cyborgs. Her agility and fighting skills aren’t the only thing on display, as this leads to Pyslocke using her powers to see what happened to Greycrow in his cabin. The visuals easily back up Psylocke, and she deserves her own book.
The action is great.
Credit: Marvel
As far as the events of this issue, however, the plotting could use some work. About half of the issue is devoted to resolving the last issue’s cliffhanger, with the second half setting up the main villain. There’s action to be had here and there, but it feels unnecessary and slows down the plot progression. When you put this comic down, you’ll realize the story isn’t moving forward much. Throw in some eye-rollingly annoying love triangle stuff that starts and stops before you even notice, and the issue feels light on satisfying storytelling.
Still, the mystery surrounding the villain and why he wants Psylocke to pay him a visit is interesting. There’s potential for Kwannon’s backstory to grow.
Psylocke #3 delivers captivating action and gorgeous artwork, highlighting Kwannon’s skills and potential as a leading character. However, the issue struggles with pacing and plot progression, leaving readers with an underwhelming narrative despite its intriguing setup for future developments. With tighter storytelling, this issue could truly shine.
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