The psychic ninjaPsylockeremains one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable characters within X-Men lore, largely because of her costume. She’s been adapted for the screen (big and small) and is notably featured in video game form thanks to Marvel Rivals, while thecomics keep giving her power upgrades.
Marvel continues to go out of its way to give audiences Psylocke content to feast on, but fans are more obsessed with her costume than anything else. The costume has remained a fixture of Psylocke’s depiction for several decades now, and as time progresses, Marvel has found new ways to steadily update that same costume.
8Psylocke’s Brainwashed Armor as Lady Mandarin
The Uncanny X-Men #257 by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee
When Betsy Braddock is first forced intoher infamous body swappingwith Kwannon courtesy of The Hand, the ninja sect primed (or, more appropriately, brainwashed) Betsy into becoming their perfect assassin while in Kwannon’s body. One issue after The Mandarin and Matsu’o Tsurayaba’s brainwashing experiments are cmoplete, she receives her new armor and name: Lady Mandarin.
Psylocke already showcases her dangerous potential in a dream sequence where she successfully kills the X-Men to retrieve the Mandarin’s Ten Rings. She proves even more lethal in this armor by taking out the Lords of Hong Kong’s Underground singlehandedly.She’s every bit the killer assassin The Hand trained her to be, and as Lady Mandarin, she looks the part.
7Her 2024 Series Effectively Updates Psylocke for the Modern Era
Psylocke #1 by Alyssa Wong and Vincenzo Carratu
Psylocke’s prototypical bodysuit remains iconic, yet controversial to readers who believe it reveals too much skin. There was a time when revealing outfits were the norm in comics. Today, it’s frowned upon through a modern lens.Psylocke’s 2024 comic effectively self-corrects this complaint.The new spin-off seriesallows Psylocke to maintain the classic purple-black color scheme with a twist.
This time, she dons for herself a similar dark bodysuit, this time with sleeves and covered legs, with a jacket that brings the whole ensemble together. Then, of course, there are purple additions like thigh holsters and straps to hold her weapons. It’s not overly censored to the point of being distracting, but still manages to satisfy critics.
6Psylocke’s Hood and Mask is Unique
Uncanny X-Men #510 by Matt Fraction and Greg Land
More often than not, with exceptions like Lady Mandarin, it’s rare to see Psylocke wear any kind of headwear with her outfits. Even if she does wear headwear like a helmet, it’s unlikely to ever see her wearing a mask. One of the exceptions to the rule is how she appears in this comic.
Psylocke is working forbig-time Marvel villain, Madelyn Pryor, as part of her Sisterhood alongside Spiral, Lady Deathstrike, Chimera, and the Mastermind Sisters.The slight alteration makes for one of Psylocke’s more unique appearances. It’s particularly notable for how herself and the Sisterhood are able to brutally overwhelm Wolverine in combat.
5Psylocke Becomes the Lady in White
Psylocke #9 by Alyssa Wong and Vincenzo Carratu
Psylocke returns to Japan to make peace with the late Mitsuki, only to find Mitsuki alive and well. When explaining how she survived Master Hayashi’s maiming, Mitsuki speaks of a mysterious spirit who “appears to humans as a beautiful woman with snow-white skin and hair, wearing a stunning white kimono.”
The Lady in White and Psylocke bear a striking resemblance to each other, something even Mitsuki points out. As part of an elaborate trap and ritual that Mitsuki shockingly conducts with Master Hayashi, The Lady in White forcibly possesses Psylocke, giving hera new look and codename.The deceptively pure essence in all-white hides her truly sinister underlying purpose.
4Ultimate Psylocke is Rooted in Japanese Culture
Ultimate X-Men #7 by Peach Momoko
The Earth-6160 version of the Ultimate Universe introduces Kanon “Sai” Sainouchi, the Ultimate equivalent to Kwannon. Most of Peach Momoko’s additions to the character (right down toa cleverMarvel RivalsEaster Egg) are extremely subtle.That’s what’s so impressive about this variant, Momoko captures Psylocke’s essence merely through body language and maintaining her purple color scheme.
She carries the same personality to a tee as Kwannon always did in Earth-616, Marvel’s main continuity. In both appearance and attitude, Kanon feels both faithful and a one-of-a-kind interpretation deeply rooted in Japanese folklore and culture. It’s one of the many high points about Peach Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men that makes the series such a must-read for Marvel fans.
3The Other Ultimate Psylocke Deserves Praise as Well
Ultimate X-Men #32 by Mark Millar and Adam Kubert
Before the 2020s rebranded the Ultimate Universe for Earth-6160, the early 2000s had its own Ultimate Marvel hailing from Earth-1610. This time, Elizabeth Braddock is originally possed by David Haller, a.ka. Legion, a.k.a.Professor Xavier’s evil son. At the last possible minute, she breaks through the possession, resulting in an apparent death from the power struggle.
Some time later, Betsy is reborn when she mentally connects with a woman named Kwannon who had spent the last 10 years in a coma. In exchange for finally passing over, Betsy reincarnates into Kwannon.While her backstory honors her original origins, the dominant purple honors her frequent color scheme for this outfit.
2Age of Apocalypse Paints Psylocke as a New Kind of Ninja
X-Men: Age of Apocalypse (2005) #4 by Akira Yoshida and Chris Bachalo
Although Psylocke does not appear in the original “Age of Apocalypse” storyline of the 90s, she does make an appearance when Marvel decides to revisit the arc in the mid-2000s. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the story in 2005, Marvel introduced Psylocke into the fray, joining the X-Men’s crusade against the Guthrie family andMister Sinister’s Sinister Six.
Psylocke’s outfit is tied deeply into her roots as a ninja assassin, giving her a mask that covers all but her eye area.The outfit itself maintains the familiarity of her usual bodysuit with straps, but the mask is enough to give this alternate reality Psylocke her own distinctive flair.
1The White X is Prominent in Psylocke’s Uncanny X-Force Costume
Uncanny X-Force (2013) by Sam Humphries and Ron Garney
During her 2013 run with the X-Force alongside Storm, Psylocke’s outfit was oddly reminiscent to the onscreen leather outfits that the X-Men would wear for the FOX franchise. She’s covered in black leather from below the neck right down to her toes. Most interestingly is how the suit completely discards her classic purple colors in favor of white.
Any non-black color that is usually coated in black is, instead, replaced by white. It’s a fascinating choice for a character so consistently tied to the color purple over the course of her career. That being said, it nonetheless delivers an all-new interpretation ofPsylocke, which is fitting when the series itself offers new, edgier layers to the character.
