Review : Psylocke (2024) Issue 1

Comic Shelf Card

Psylocke (2024)

Issue 1

Writer

Alyssa Wong

Cover Artist

Mahmud Asrar

Artist

Vincenzo Carratù

Colorist

Fer Sifuentes-Sujo

Letterer

VC’s Ariana Maher

Publisher

Marvel Comics

Release Date

November 13, 2024

Content Rating

Rated T+

Read As

Single Issue

Reading Context

First Psylocke comic; relatively new to X-Men Comics continuity

Story Arc

Opening issue / solo-series launch / X-Men (2024) Spin-off

Review Spoilers

Minor Spoiler

Synopsis

Psylocke goes on a solo mission while the rest of the X-Men team goes to Columbus, Ohio to deal with a 4K incident.

Nerdy Take

Marvel’s description for Psylocke #1 reads like the back cover of a book I would buy on impulse:

“SHE WAS MADE FOR VIOLENCE! Trained to be an assassin since birth, Kwannon chose to be an X-Man. But there are still some jobs too dirty for the X-Men. And some paths have to be walked alone…”

But I bought this comic book based on the Stanley “Artgerm” Lau variant cover, not the original cover. The variant grabbed me immediately, and since this was my first introduction to Psylocke, I went in with no context. X-Men animated shows and movies is my only connection. I have not been keeping up with the current X-Men comics.

The first issue does a solid job introducing Psylocke without making you feel like you need a full X-Men dossier just to understand what is happening. The story gives you enough background through inner monologue and conversations with other characters, and those details are worked in naturally rather than dumped on the page.

You get a clear sense of who Kwannon is: controlled, dangerous, haunted, and not especially interested in being softened for anyone’s comfort. One page in particular gives a glimpse into her childhood and how she feels about the violence that shaped her, which adds weight without dragging the story down.

As a first issue, it works well as a standalone read. It gives you action, mood, character, and enough unanswered questions to make the next issue tempting. By the end, I wanted to know where Psylocke goes next, and who is unfortunate enough to be standing in her way.

The art and colors are one of the biggest strengths of the issue. Vincenzo Carratù’s action scenes give Psylocke a sharp, graceful brutality, and the color work leans beautifully into purples and pinks that echo her powers without making every page feel visually repetitive.

The shadows, highlights, and psychic effects help tie the whole book to Psylocke as a character. She looks powerful in motion, especially during fight sequences, where the page layouts help sell speed and impact.

The lettering also supports the reading flow well. The all-caps font was legible, and the bold words add emphasis without becoming distracting. Speech balloons and thought bubbles are placed clearly, so the action never becomes hard to follow.

There is also a great early page turn that pulls the reader straight into a splash page, and one sequence uses the gutters especially well to show Psylocke moving through a crowded room. It is the kind of visual storytelling that makes you stop for a second and appreciate the craft before turning the page.

My biggest complaint is more about expectation than execution. If someone is judging this comic by the original/main cover and expects the interior Psylocke to have that same softer, rounder, button-nosed look, they may be surprised. The interior art has a sharper, more angular feel that better matches the brutal, underworld tone of the story.

That difference was not a dealbreaker for me, especially because I bought the issue based on a variant cover. But for readers who choose comics mainly by the main cover art, it is worth noting that the interior style does not quite match that first impression which I'm learning as a new comic book reader is just how it goes sometimes.

Psylocke #1 is beginner-friendly enough for a new reader, stylish enough to stand out, and strong enough to make me want issue #2.

Psylocke Is on the Team, But Not Quite in the Room

Opening panel outside The Factory in Alaska within a borderless panel of Cyclops and the other X-Men gathered in a room waiting for Psylocke. The establishing shot works well because the location is clearly stated, and Cyclops is recognizable enough that even as a new reader, I understood he was the one in charge. I was surprised to see Juggernaut among the team, and the other X-Men looked distinct enough to make me curious about them. But not the X-Men team when I was a kid.

What stood out most is that everyone is waiting on Psylocke, and the dialogue makes it sound like this is something she does often. Before she even fully explains herself, the issue frames her as part of the team but also slightly outside its rhythm. When Quentin questions her about what she was doing in Palmdale, California, the page pauses on Psylocke with a blade against a pink and purple background. That visual cue immediately told me we were slipping into a flashback, and it made her silence feel loaded instead of empty.