Since her creation, Kwannon aka Psylocke has been troubled by the exchange of body with ghosts of her past. Kwanon’s lack of physical autonomy, who has been stripped of her individual freedom and stripped of her agency, is the broadest aspect of Kwanon’s publication history that other women live her life in Kwanon’s body. It is something that Kwanon has overcome and is forced to accept as she moves forward by regaining her identity and ownership over her body. Psylocke sees Kwanon being disturbed by aspects of the past, which she hopes to forget.
Psylocke #10 is the ultimate issue of the historical execution of characters that positions Kwannon as an X-Men character worthy of carrying solo books at the level normally reserved for characters such as Wolverine and Cable. It speaks to Kwanon’s longevity and status in Marvel comics, and the charm she has created. Asian characters are often underrated in Western media, so one of Marvel’s most prominent East Asian characters is important. Marvel’s Asian characters in particular are portrayed in racist and orientalist portrayals. Alyssa Wong’s Psylocke series is famous for being the first ongoing series with Kwannon/Psylocke, written by an Asian American writer. Wong’s character writing brought authenticity to characters that were often lacking in the publishing history of Kwanon and Psillock.
At the end of Psylocke #9, Kwannon learns that his childhood friend Mitsuki is alive and uses a supernatural being called Yokais to take over the branch of Kyoto. Afterwards, Kwanon was owned by an ancient spirit called a white woman, allowing Mitsuki to do her quest for vengeance. The woman who owns White’s Kwanon is a manifestation of Kwanon’s biggest fear. Losing control over her body, she brings her autonomy and agency again. On this issue, Kwanon said, “My worst nightmare is always shaped like this body control. I tear my personality from me until I’m nothing more than a weapon.
Marvel Comics
What Kwannon experiences while owning a White woman is that Kwannon is forced to confront her biggest fears and the most painful aspects of her past. The arc of Kwanon’s story after the body swap turned around was to assert itself as a completely autonomous individual separate from Betsy Braddock. It is a painful reminder of what was taken from her and that she threatens to lose if she fails to release herself from the woman with White’s property. This fear is necessary to encourage her to draw strength from within, and to drive herself out of the woman at White’s will, regaining control of her body and soul. This issue ends in Kwanon, free from the white woman, feeling whole and updated, ready to take on her future at once.
Overall, Psylocke #10 is a satisfying conclusion to the series, which is always synonymous with high quality art and great storytelling. Watching Kwannon succeed in overcoming her traumatic past is exciting and humanized for the character. Looking at the entire series, Psylocke influenced the way Wong approaches Kwannon as a character who struggles to soften his past, present and future selves. The Kwanon character arc in the book makes sense in terms of how she comforts her past, navigating the path to healing with the help of Devon and John Greylow. Hopefully, despite the cancellation of the title, Devon and Greyclaw will be seen in future stories centered around Kwanon as the central figure. Psylocke may be over, but fans of the character look forward to her in future issues with Jed Mackay’s X-Men Run, a key member of Cyclops’ X-Men team. The character has been recruited to appear in X-Men: Age of Revelation Overture #1 in October, so fans are looking forward to it too.
“Psylocke” #10 is a complete circle that ends in an epic series
Psylocke #10
Overall, Psylocke #10 is a satisfying conclusion to the series, which is always synonymous with high quality art and great storytelling. Watching Kwannon succeed in overcoming her traumatic past is exciting and humanized for the character. Looking at the entire series, Psylocke influenced the way Wong approaches Kwannon as a character who struggles to soften his past, present and future selves.
Alyssa Wong not only scares her, but also knows what motivates her to become the best version of her.
The art of Vincenzo Carato and Fernando Sifientes bring dynamism and vibrancy to the book that makes each page exciting and fascinating
The series’ satisfying conclusions are consistent with the work as a whole and the long, often complicated publication history of Kwanon
