The X-Men's Psylocke is finally getting a new costume. Let's face it, Psylocke's most famous costume isn't actually all that good; it's literally just a blue/purple version of Elektra's. And yet, in spite of that, Psylocke wears that dark ninja swimsuit wherever she goes - even on missions to Siberia and Antarctica. The (im)practicality was perfectly demonstrated when Fox made a comic-book-accurate version for X-Men: Apocalypse, and Olivia Munn needed a chest window to prevent herself from overheating.
The traditional Psylocke costume makes even less sense in the modern X-Men comics, where body-swapping hijinks have confused matters even more. After existing in the Psylocke body for years, Betsy Braddock has been restored to her original British body, where she's become Captain Britain; the Japanese ninja body is now possessed by its original owner, the assassin Kwannon. Kwannon is supposed to resent Betsy's having worn her body for years, yet despite that, she's still stuck with the traditional Psylocke costume. It makes absolutely zero sense in character terms.
Fortunately, AIPT has been given teaser images for Excalibur #19 that reveal both versions of Psylocke - Betsy Braddock and Kwannon - are getting some pretty cool new designs. Betsy's new look emphasizes her mysticism, while Kwannon's is much more harsh and severe. Both can be seen in the montage below.
Kwannon's is a basic adaptation of the traditional Psylocke swimsuit-style costume, although stylistically it has been modified to feature different arm pieces and straps on her legs. The costume features bright red highlights, including a fascinating adaptation of the customary Psylocke sash that looks much more striking. The only down-side is that Kannon is an assassin, so it's difficult to see why she'd create a costume that features highlights so dazzling; perhaps they are removable, allowing her to transition to stealth at speed.
The redesign of Betsy Braddock's Captain Britain is much more basic but emphasizes her role as a spiritual figure rather than as a warrior. Note the creative use of the cape to encircle her like a mystical rune. Intriguingly, on her back, she carries the Starlight Sword, a blade crafted by Saturnyne during the recent X of Swords event. This was apparently destroyed during Betsy's duel with Isca the Unbeaten, shattering Betsy across the Multiverse and resulting in the new Captain Britain Corps, so it will be fascinating to see how it has returned - and what new powers Betsy's version of Captain Britain possesses now she wields it.
Source: AIPT