The concept of a brainwashed superhero committing atrocities is borderline cliché, but in UXM #257, Claremont finds space to complicate such a portrayal by adding a new and simple character element: self-aware, character-consistent, unrepentant joy. #xmen 1/8
Though much of her initial cultivation occurred in the works of Alan Moore, it was Claremont who first created Betsy Braddock in the pages of Captain Britain, and Claremont who much later brought the character to North American audiences in the pages of X-Men. 2/8
Once imported, Claremont cultivated a novel and captivating character element for Betsy – that beneath her polite, privileged, highly effeminate exterior lurked the heart of a callous and vicious warrior. 3/8
Betsy kills 5 people on-panel in UXM #257, giving her, in one sequence, a higher on-panel human kill count than any other X-Man. Just to hammer this point home: we see her kill more humans here than we see Wolverine kill over the course of 16 years of UXM. 4/8
Her reaction isn’t stoic indifference, but rather (through expressive posture by Jim Lee) child-like glee. She hugs herself while staring at the sky and declaring “I won I won I won!” She is jubilant; moreso than we’ve ever seen the reserved Betsy prior to this. 5/8
This image of Betsy living her best life through slaughter is compelling when placed in the context of who she was and who she has always wanted to be. 6/8
At the same time, seeing the character then give away this violent bliss thereafter for the sake of heroism adds a strange sense of martyrdom to the character, who becomes (for the remainder of the run), sad and pensive but for a few brief moments. 7/8
Lastly, we should note that C does something similar with other characters through the Siege Perilous, giving them what seems like their heartsmost desire only to have them eventually turn their backs on it in order to return to their truer desire: to be X-Men. 8/8
You can follow @ClaremontRun.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: