Psylocke: Ninja #5 – A Spirit of Anger

Betsy Braddock’s mind has been violently fused into the body of Hand assassin, Kwannon. In that moment, Psylocke is born. Flashing back to the pivotal events of Uncanny X-Men #251, readers begin to see how Psylocke comes to be. Dispatched on a brutal mission to locate and eliminate Elektra from The Chaste, the psychic interaction throws both Betsy and Elektra into turmoil. Betsy seeks refuge by teaming up with Wolverine and Jubilee in Madripoor, only to have to recover Jubilee. While Betsy is trying to save everyone, Elektra and the Snakeroot Clan have borne down on Psylocke. Will Elektra join Betsy in a bid to save Jubilee?

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer: Tim Seeley
Artist: Nico Leon
Color Artist: Dono Sánchez-Almara
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Cover Artist: Derrick Chew

Writing

Tim Seeley, take a bow. Psylocke: Ninja #5 wraps up another really satisfactory “lost chapter” series from Seeley. The story is heartfelt and meaningful as we get a chance to see if Psylocke and Elektra can realize there’s more they share than the differences between them. Seeley aptly used Elektra as an examination of the darkness that can still be found inside of us, even when we think we’ve got it beat.

Relationships have been at the center of this series since it launched, and Seeley keeps that pace with this final issue. From the relationship between Kwannon and Tsurayaba to Betsy and Elektra, this series is so good because of how well we see these characters interact with each other. The story is well done and meaningful, but it’s the interplay between the characters that makes a difference.

Art

Nico Leon and Dono Sánchez-Almara get a lot of action to play with in this issue, and they do a spectacular job with it. Leon seems to have a spectacular sense for where the reader’s eye should focus in each panel, using greater details to draw readers to that area.

Dono Sánchez-Almara really gets to play with a variety of colors this issue. The presence of the Snakeroot Clan, as well as Psylocke and Elektra, really opens up what he can do with colors. Sánchez-Almara does some really great work coloring cliffs in this issue as well, so that you can’t help but pay attention to the line work from Leon. Ariana Maher gets to really shine with some unique SFX in this issue, as well as guides us easily through the story. My eyes flowed through the panels naturally, always knowing where to go.

Final Thoughts

Now that it’s over, I can’t wait for the trade paperback for Psylocke: Ninja to come out. This has been a unique and fun look at key moments in Psylocke’s history. Seeley takes what is perhaps one of the most convoluted retcons in comic history and crafts a meaningful story that fills in some gaps along the way. If you haven’t been reading this issue to issue, you absolutely must check it out now that the series has wrapped up.

Overall Grade: 9.5 / 10

Now that it’s over, how did you like the Psylocke: Ninja series? Let me know in the comments