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Psylocke Reading Order (Betsy Braddock, Kwannon)

She became a popular X-Men character in the nineties, known for her psychic abilities and her signature telepathic blade. Today, we’re talking about the mutant Psylocke. Or should I say mutants, as the codename has been used by two closely connected women: Betsy Braddock and Kwannon.

Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe in 1976, Betsy Braddock was first introduced as the sister of Captain Britain and a telepath before eventually joining the X-Men. In the late 1980s, she underwent one of the most infamous transformations in Marvel history, emerging in the body of the Japanese assassin Kwannon.

For decades, Betsy Braddock operated under the name Psylocke — a British woman living in another woman’s body, combining telepathy with formidable fighting skills. She served as an X-Man, a covert operative, and at times an assassin, while forming complicated romantic relationships along the way.

Death and resurrection finally separated them, allowing Betsy to reclaim her original body and take on the mantle of Captain Britain, while Kwannon returned and made the identity of Psylocke her own.

As suggested by one of our readers, today we take a closer look at Psylocke with this essential reading order to help you retrace her complex history.

Psylocke Reading Order: The Starter Menu

X-Men Hickman

Who is Psylocke? Introducing the different versions of the X-Character

Like all X-Men and other Marvel Characters, there are several alternate versions of Psylocke. However, Psylocke is a codename that is presently associated with different characters in the minds of readers or gamers. Before diving into the comic book history of the character, this is a short presentation of the Psylocke you may have recently encountered:

  • Betsy Braddock – Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe. She made her debut in Captain Britain #8, as a supporting character for her twin brother Brian. She took on the codename Psylocke upon joining the X-Men in 1986 in The New Mutants Annual #2. Three years later, she takes on the appearance of a Japanese woman and the abilities of a ninja, and would stay in that body for the next 29 years. As of right now, Betsy is Captain Britain.
  • Kwannon – Created by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert. Betsy Braddock in the body of a Japanese woman became a popular character, so the creative team needed to find an explanation. Enters Kwannon in X-Men #17 (February 1993), who used the codename Revanche at the time and who was body swapped with Betsy Braddock. She returned to her original body in aHunt for Wolverine storyline (2018) and became the second Psylocke.
  • Kanon Sainouchi – Created by Peach Momoko, this is Psylocke’s version from Earth-6160 or the New Ultimate Universe.
  • Sai – Created by Peach Momoko and Zack Davisson, she is also an alternate version of Psylocke that first appeared in King in Black #4 (in the backup story). She is part of what can be called the Demon-verse, created by Momoko who reinvents the Marvel universe through a Japanese folklore lens. She is the version used in the Marvel Rivals game. Sai is a legend in the Ultimate Universe, with Kanon claiming to be her descendant.

Sai, a Short Reading Order

If you are playing Marvel Rivals and want to read about the Psylocke from the games, here’s the collected editions reprinting her comic book appearances from Peach Momoko: 

X-Men Hickman

Your Essential Psylocke Reading Order

Psylocke is one of the most popular X-Men characters. To discover the complete history of the X-Men and the many collected editions out there, check out our X-Men Comics Guide (in several parts!). Following is a selection of the best of and recommended reading for Psylocke!

X-Men Reading Order - X-Logo

Reading digitally?
You can find almost every issue mentioned in this guide on Marvel Unlimited.

X-Men Reading Order - X-Logo

I. Betsy Braddock before Psylocke (1976-1986)

This is optional. Betsy Braddock made her first appearance in Captain Britain (1976) #8 and learned that her twin brother Brian is Captain Britain in #21. At the same time, she also becomes a recurring figure in the Daredevils series in which she dyes her hair purple, becomes a supermodel, and joins STRIKE‘s psi division (starting with issue #3). She continues on the second Captain Britain series, where she lived some traumatic experiences before taking on the Captain Britain’s mantle for the first time in issue #13 (and coming to an end in the next and final issue). All of these issues have been reprinted in one (difficult to find I’m sure) Omnibus:

  • Captain Britain Omnibus
    Collects Captain Britain (1976) #1-39, Super Spider-Man & Captain Britain #231-247, Hulk Comic #1 And #3-46, Incredible Hulk Weekly #47-55 And #57-63, Marvel Super-Heroes (1972) #377-388, Daredevils #1-11, Mighty World Of Marvel (1983) #7-16, Captain Britain (1985) #1-14 And Marvel Tales (1964) #131-133 – Plus Marvel Team-Up (1972) #65-66, New Mutants Annual #2 And X-Men Annual (1970) #11.

This Omnibus also collects New Mutants Annual #2, the first issue where she is using the Psylocke codename!

X-Men Reading Order - X-Logo

II. Betsy Braddock/Psylocke joins the X-Men (1986-1992)

Betsy Braddock was kidnapped by Spiral and Mojo, who brainwashed her and remade her in their own image, giving her cybernetic eyes. As Psylocke, she appeared on Mojo’s new television program, Wildways. After Warlock saved her, she decided to stay at Xavier’s School to learn how to use her powers better. She officially became an X-Man in Uncanny X-Men #213. As an X-Man, she met Dr. Doom and the Fantastic Four, participated in several X-Events, and faced off against the Brood, Mister Sinister, the Goblin Queen, and many others.

In 1989, Betsy Braddock went through her most transformative experience when Chris Claremont and Jim Lee redesigned her as a Japanese assassin in her famous signature swimsuit-style outfit, with ninja skills and the ability to manifest her telepathy in the form of various weapons. At the time, Chris Claremont thought of this change as something magical. However, the writer left the X-Men before having the opportunity to establish this explanation. Betsy Braddock’s history became more complicated in the 1990s…

  • Uncanny X-Men Omnibus Vol. 6
    Collects Uncanny X-Men (1981) #210-231, X-Men Annual (1970) #11, Mephisto Vs. (1987) #3-4, Spider-Man Vs. Wolverine (1987) #1, Fantastic Four vs X-Men (1987) #1-4, X-Men vs Avengers (1987) #1-4; material from Marvel Fanfare (1982) #38, Best of Marvel (1987), Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition (1985).
  • X-Men: Inferno Prologue Omnibus
    Collects X-Factor (1986) #27-32, X-Factor Annual (1986) #3, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #228-238, New Mutants (1983) #62-70, New Mutants Annual (1984) #4, X-Men Annual (1970) #12; material from Marvel Age Annual (1985) #4, Marvel Fanfare (1982) #40
  • X-Men: Inferno Omnibus
    Collects Uncanny X-Men #239–243; New Mutants #71–73; X-Factor #33–40, material from Annual #4; X-Terminators #1–4; Power Pack (1984) #40, 42–44; Avengers (1963) #298–300; Fantastic Four (1961) #322–324; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #311–313; Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #146–148; Web of Spider-Man (1985) #47–48; Daredevil (1964) #262–263, 265; Excalibur (1988) #6–7; Mutant Misadventures of Cloak and Dagger (1988) #4
  • X-Men by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects Uncanny X-Men #244–269, Annual #13; Classic X-Men #39.

    • After receiving a precognitive vision, Psylocke forces the X-Men to escape through the Siege Perilous in Uncanny X-Men #250-251, which is a mystical gateway to the Multiverse, although the experiences vary widely among its travelers (it’s complicated!)
    • Uncanny X-Men #255-258 is part of the Acts of Vengeance storyline. Betsy has emerged from the Siege Perilous in Okinawa, Japan in Kwannon’s body. She is discovered by the Hand and believed to be Lady Mandarin for a short time.
    • Uncanny X-Men #261 and #268 focus on the Wolverine, Jubilee, and Psylocke team-up.
    • The new Psylocke: Ninja mini-series from Tim Seeley and Nico Leon takes place during this period.
  • Excalibur (1988) #55-56
    Collected in Excalibur Epic Collection: Curiouser and Curiouser or Excalibur Omnibus Vol. 2.

X-Men Reading Order - X-Logo

III. The Life and Death of Kwannon (1991-1997)

There are more X-Men than ever! So much in fact that two field squads were created at the start of the nineties. Psylocke joined the Blue team led by Cyclops and would even become flirtatious with him for a short time. Chris Claremont left the X-Men after the third issue, and Jim Lee after issue #11. Fabian Nicieza (Deadpool co-creator) took over and would go on to try to give an explanation for Betsy’s Japanese physical appearance.

He co-created Kwannon with Andy Kubert. The character debuted in X-Men (Vol. 2) #17. This is where things became complicated for the X-Men and X-readers. Originally, Kwannon was a low-level telepathic ninja assassin for the Hand. After she nearly died in battle, her lover, the professional assassin Matsu’o Tsurayaba, recruited the sorceress Spiral to transfer Kwannon’s mind into Psylocke’s apparently empty body, which was found on one of the Hand’s islands. Spiral went the extra mile and manipulated the genetic coding between the two women. Both women were now being seen as having traits of each other, and they were nearly impossible to tell apart.

  • X-Men: Blue & Gold – Mutant Genesis Omnibus
    Collects X-Men (1991) #1-16 and Annual (1992) #1; Uncanny X-Men (1981) #281-297 and Annual (1992) #16; Ghost Rider (1990) #26-27; X-Factor (1986) #84-86; X-Force (1991) #16-18 and Stryfe’s Strike File #1; and material from X-Factor Annual (1992) #7; X-Force Annual (1992) #1; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #89; and X-Men: Odd Men Out

  • X-Men: Blue & Gold – Bloodties Omnibus
    Collects Uncanny X-Men (1981) #307-314, Uncanny X-Men Annual (1992) #18, X-Men (1991) #26-35, X-Men Annual (1992) #2, Avengers (1963) #368-369, Avengers West Coast (1989) #101, Cable (1993) #6-8, X-Men Unlimited (1993) #3-5, X-Men: The Wedding Album (1994) #1, What If? (1989) #60, Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (1994) #1-4, X-Men Ashcan Edition (1994) #1.

    • X-Men Annual (1992) #2 reveals that Kwannon has the Legacy virus.
    • X-Men (1991) #31-32 are the two issues trying to make sense and give a conclusion to the Psylocke and Kwannon swapping-body story.

Kwannon’s story came to an end in issue #32. For the next 25 years, Betsy Braddock continued to live in Kwannon’s body. She actually became quite a popular X-character during this decade, thanks to her many appearances in the comics and several video games! In all cases, after this convoluted mess, Betsy would go on to start a relationship with Archangel and headline a miniseries with him:

  • Uncanny X-Men #319
    Psylocke starts a relationship with Archangel in this issue.
  • Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn (1997) #1-4
    Collected in X-Men: The Trial of Gambit Omnibus

X-Men Reading Order - X-Logo

IV. The Death, Resurrection, and Exile of Psylocke (2001-2010)

Chris Claremont returned to Marvel Comics in 1998 as an editorial director and writer. He took on the X-Treme X-Men title following the revamp of the X-Line at the time by Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada.

Psylocke was part of this team led by Storm, before being abruptly killed! The story goes, Claremont wanted to use this temporary death to re-establish her as British again. However, this was also the time Marvel editorial had a “dead is dead” mandate (which also affected Colos,sus) and Betsy would stay dead for several years. Claremont brought back Psylocke to life, but not when and how he first intended. She would then become a regular character in his Uncanny X-Men.

Optional. Following a fight against the Shadow King in New Excalibur #8, Psylocke disappeared in a flash of light! Where did she go? As Chris Claremont started his run on Exiles, X-Woman Psylocke joined the famous alt-reality team.

After two years out of her reality, Psylocke was brought back when Madelyne Pryor attempted to resurrect Psylocke’s original body in Matt Fraction’s Uncanny X-Men. She quickly thereafter headlined her own miniseries written by Christopher Yost and drawn by Harvey Tolibao, also featuring Matsu’o Tsurayaba and Wolverine.

X-Men Reading Order - X-Logo

V. Psylocke, X-Force Member (2010-2019)

There have been many iterations of the X-Force. When Psylocke found herself joining the team, she became part of Wolverine’s strike team, a group of mutants ready to employ lethal force to protect mutantkind in Rick Remender’s celebrated run on Uncanny X-Force. It’s during her time in this team that she rekindles her relationship with Archangel and becomes close with Fantomex.

Following Avengers Vs. X-Men, Betsy became the co-leader of the new X-Force team alongside Storm, Spiral, Fantomex, Bishop, and Puck. The series, written by Sam Humphries and illustrated by Ron Garney, explores her messy and complicated relationship with Cluster.

At the same time, Cable was also leading his own outlaw X-Force team and the two teams would merge into one. Confronting her own thirst for blood, Psylocke decides to continue with Cable and the X-Force.

Following the discovery that the Terrigen mists, which give powers to the Inhumans, were now toxic to mutants, Magneto took on the leadership of the X-Men and recruited Psylocke to serve as his partner and conscience. She accepted the offer that gave her the opportunity to work with Archangel, and maybe help him.

She concludes this era as a member of Astonishing X-Men where she makes peace with Fantomex.

X-Men Reading Order - X-Logo

VI. The Resurrection of Kwannon in the Age of Krakoa (2019-2024)

Where’s Wolverine? A team of female X-Men went to Mandripur to find his body as part of the Hunt of Wolverine event. In the end, this Mystery in Madripoor has more importance for Psylocke as the conclusion of the story led to Betsy Braddock rebuilding her original body and Kwannon being brought back in her own!

While Kwannon’s return from the dead has not gone smoothly and she has, at first, difficulties recollecting her memories and fully recognizing the X-Men, she is completely back in the Age of Krakoa. As Betsy took on the mantle of Captain Britain in Excalibur (and you can follow her adventures here), Kwannon Psylocke must confront her past in Fallen Angels and then, act as the field leader of the Hellions, working with Empath, Havok, and Orphan-Maker to tackle missions no one else will touch.

After the Hellions’ downfall, Psylocke was recruited by Captain Kate Pryde to join the crew of her Marauders. She also participates in a mission led by Captain Marvel to rescue Rogue, before the 2023’s Hellfire Gala that launched the collapse of the Krakoan nation, a time where she can be found as a member of the Uncanny Avengers.

X-Men Reading Order - X-Logo

Kwannon From the Ashes and Beyond (2024-)

After the fall of Krakoa, Psylocke went to Japan, but her time off was interrupted by legions of vampires overrunning the Marvel Universe in Blood Hunt! Once the Heroes of Marvel put an end to the ascension of vampires, Cyclops reformed the X-Men, and Kwannon chose to join the team while acting as a mercenary on the side to help innocent people in her own solo title from Alyssa Wong and Vincenzo Carratù:

As of right now, Psylocke is still part of the X-Men team by Jed MacKay.

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