The New Mutants Annual #2
New Mutants Annual #2 is the first U.S. appearance — and the origin — of Betsy Braddock as Psylocke, one of the most enduring X-Men of the Copper Age and beyond; the issue is where Mojo gives her the name 'Psylocke' and fits her with his bionic eyes, setting the trajectory of a character who would eventually join the X-Men and carry her own solo titles for decades. It also marks the first U.S. appearance of Meggan, who would go on to co-found Excalibur, and introduces the Bratpack — the Longshot-adjacent children who lend the Mojoverse its satirical media-criticism edge. Beyond its debuts, the issue is a pivotal piece of Chris Claremont's long-running project of weaving his Marvel UK Captain Britain work and Ann Nocenti's Longshot mythos into the main X-Men universe, a creative bridge that would soon produce Excalibur and years of Mojoverse storytelling. Cypher and Warlock's mind-merge (rendered here as 'Douglock' for the first time, a name that would recur in a very different context years later) gives the issue a strong internal character arc alongside all its landmark firsts.
In "Why Do We Do These Things We Do?!", the New Mutants face a surreal threat when Mojo captures Betsy, transforming her into Psylocke with new eyes, and takes several teammates hostage—including Wolfsbane, Sunspot, Karma’s siblings, and the Bratpack. With help from an unexpected ally, Captain Britain, the team must rely on Cypher’s unique connection to Warlock to break Mojo’s hold. Written by Chris Claremont and brought to life with dynamic art by Alan Davis, this annual features a standout cover by Davis and a pivotal moment that reshapes Psylocke’s path.
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The story was written by Chris Claremont with art, inks, and cover by Alan Davis — who had himself been a central Captain Britain artist in the UK — under editor Ann Nocenti and editor-in-chief Jim Shooter; colorist Glynis Oliver (Wein) and letterer Tom Orzechowski rounded out the production team. The issue went on sale June 24, 1986, with a cover date of October 1986, and fits narratively between New Mutants #44 and #45. Claremont was deliberately consolidating creative material from three distinct corners of Marvel — his own Captain Britain run, the Longshot limited series Nocenti had written, and the ongoing New Mutants book — into a single Mojoverse-anchored annual that could lay groundwork for both this title and the X-Men annuals to follow.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First U.S. appearance and in-universe origin of Betsy Braddock as Psylocke: Mojo kidnaps the already-blind British telepath, gives her cybernetic eyes, and names her 'Psylocke' — her first use of that codename anywhere in Marvel continuity.
- First U.S. appearance of Meggan (Captain Britain's girlfriend and future Excalibur co-founder), who appears here in a brief cameo.
- First appearance of the Bratpack (Straight Arrow/Alfie, Snitch/Butch, and Jubilee/Darla) as a group; these are the Longshot-connected children from Ann Nocenti's Longshot limited series, here aged up and weaponized by Mojo.
- First use of the name 'Douglock' for the merged form of Cypher (Doug Ramsey) and Warlock — a designation later repurposed for an entirely separate character in the 1990s.
- Written by Chris Claremont with full art and cover by Alan Davis; edited by Ann Nocenti; cover-dated October 1986, on sale June 24, 1986.
- The story title is 'Why Do We Do These Things We Do?!' and is set between New Mutants #44 and #45; a direct sequel appears in Uncanny X-Men Annual #10.
- Spiral and Mojo's Wildways — depicted as a children's animated TV show that literally brainwashes its young audience — crystallizes Mojo's satirical identity as an evil extra-dimensional television producer, a concept that would define the character going forward.
- The issue has been collected multiple times, including in New Mutants Classic Vol. 6, the Captain Britain by Alan Moore & Alan Davis Omnibus (2009), the Captain Britain Omnibus (2021), New Mutants Omnibus Vol. 2 (2021), and the New Mutants Epic Collection: Asgardian Wars (2023), and was translated and serialized in Spanish, French, Norwegian, and Swedish editions in the late 1980s–90s.
Cast · 34 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Mojo captures Betsy (giving her new eyes and the name Psylocke), then Wolfsbane, Sunspot, Karma's siblings, and the Bratpack. The New Mutants meet Captain Britain. Cypher merges with Warlock and saves the day. Psylocke decides to stay at Xavier's school.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).