REVIEW: ‘X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke’ Issue #1

X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke #1 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Steve Foxe, with art by Lynne Yoshii, colors by Ruth Redmond, and letters by Ariana Maher. This is part of the Blood Hunt event. Psylocke is in Japan with Greycrow as the vampire apocalypse begins and must protect civilians from several resurfaced local legends.

Like the Magik one-shot, this tie-in excellently expands the Blood Hunt event by showcasing how other countries were affected. The American-centric nature of the main book means that the world-building is left to others. X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke #1 takes a short time to build up to the outburst of action. But once it reaches that moment, it is a fast-paced onslaught that never veers from the battle. Not only is the location unique within the Blood Hunt, but the monsters that appear are also exceptional.

Foxe taps into Japanese folklore to drag distinctive vampires out of the woodwork. It creates conflicts and confrontations with X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke #1 that cannot be found anywhere else. Some moments appear important for the characters at the heart of the issue. The last part of this one-shot is a hardcore finish for the battle but quite sweet and touching at the same time.

Those characters are terrific, and a great partnership is formed between Greycrow and Psylocke. Their budding romance serves as the soul of the issue. As it starts, Kwannon and John are flirty, and the strength of their relationship can be seen getting tighter by the page. They fight brilliantly together, both possessing very quick thinking. Psylocke’s powers and leadership skills are displayed as she has to react to the situation rapidly. The monsters are genuinely scary, especially the final inclusion of the story.

The art is phenomenal. Both of the heroes have sensational designs. Yoshii makes both of them look good, which is essential when introducing one of the monsters. Those monsters are also spectacular, completely separate from any vampires found in American-based books. They are brought to life in a way that simultaneously fits the world and looks abnormal.

The detail is impeccable, with many forms and interactions of the final monster created within a minor point in time. She is pretty and enigmatic and utterly horrifying all at once. Going from a vast and monstrous creature to this different figure is a fantastic choice. It intensifies the threat whilst making her closer to Psylocke in movement.

Speaking of movement, the speed of Psylocke is matched with grace and poise. She is immeasurably fast, portrayed through motion blurring, and the monster is presented with the same artistic devices. And yet, stemming from the quiet scene at the start of the issue, the comic has a serenity.

Even in its most extreme moments, when blood is flowing, and swords are swinging, the precision with which Psylock strikes is mesmerizing. The movements of Psylocke and Greycrow are very different, making the fight visually fascinating. One is a physical swordswoman, and the other is a technological gunsmith.

The colors are gorgeous. The lighting is achingly pretty, whether the light shown is artificial or natural. The streets of Osaka are glowing with neon. A yellow and pink background to much of the issue is beautifully mixed on Psylocke’s skin. Those bright colors can take a backseat either when the comic needs to get darker to implement its horror attributes or especially when Psylocke’s own pink shades spring to life as her powers activate. The lettering is consistent with most X-Men comics during the Krakoan era.

X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke #1 stands out among a sea of vampire-hunting tie-ins. Every part of the book, from the location to the art to the enemies, provides something new. This far into the Blood Hunt event, this one-shot is hugely enjoyable and refreshing. It’s a simple read that is as scary as it is wholesome., The art is lovely, lively, and gruesome, with a fight scene that is energetic and enthralling.

X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke #1 is available where comics are sold.