Summary

• Psylocke battles vampires and other monsters in Osaka, Japan, defending the city in X-Men: Blood Hunt - Psylocke #1
• The Slit-Mouthed Woman, a mythic monster from Japanese folklore, represents Kwannon's past pain and betrayal, which she overcomes to become a protector by defeating the mythic threat.
• Psylocke's victory over the Slit-Mouthed Woman signifies her growth and determination to protect innocent lives, a thrilling character evolution coming id the chaos of Marvel's Blood Hunt crossover storyline.

Warning: Contains spoilers for X-Men: Blood Hunt - Psylocke #1!!

As Psylocke discovers there’s something more disturbing than blood drinkers lurking in the shadows, however, and is now battling her way through monsters from folklore as she defends Osaka. The vampires may be dangerous, but Kwannon's blade has other terrifying targets.

In X-Men: Blood Hunt - Psylocke #1, night descends on Osaka, Japan, and Psylocke is one of the few heroes ready to come to the city's defense, after a powerful psychic signal alerts her to nearby distress and sends her racing into the city, where a bloodbath awaits.

Across the world, other heroes are already fighting off a cascade of vampires, but Kwannon and John find themselves face-to-face with serpentine beasts and legendary monsters whipping the populace into a frenzy. Though they manage to fend off the first wave, Psylocke makes it her personal mission to continue protecting the city.

"Blood Hunt" Pits Psylocke Against Folklore Monsters, As Well As Vampires

X-Men: Blood Hunt - Psylocke #1 – Written By Steve Foxe; Art By Lynne Yoshii, Ruth Redmond, & Ariana Maher

After losing control of her own body and mind in the swap with Betsy Braddock, Kwannon knows the pain of betrayal and manipulation and has learned to move beyond it.

Blood Hunt has offered plenty to be frightened of, but the mythic monsters Psylocke encounters are on a new level. As Kwannon and her parter John Greycrow enter Osaka, they're attacked by an enormous snake-like creature with a demonic face and forked tongue, but defeating it only grants a moment of peace before "Kuchisake-onna", or the Slit-Mouthed Woman, appears. Kwannon recognizes her and the influence she's exerting over the "other creatures". The two immediately spar, but Psylocke's words are mightier than her katanas. She won't excuse a victim for becoming a monster, because she fought toward a different path for herself.

The legend of the Slit-Mouthed Woman is one of victimhood, whether she's a maimed courtesan, prey, or forgotten beggar. She twists the wrongs of the world into fuel to hurt others, but Kwannon doesn't sympathize with giving into that drive. After losing control of her own body and mind in the swap with Betsy Braddock, Kwannon knows the pain of betrayal and manipulation and has learned to move beyond it. Rather than put more pain into the world, she turned herself into a guardian and protector. The Slit-Mouthed Woman is a reminder and image of all the urges she overcame.

Blood Hunt is far from over, but Psylocke has proven she can overcome her demons to become a protector of innocent lives amid the bloodshed.

Defeating The "Slit-Mouthed Woman" Signifies That Kwannon Is Moving Forward

A Pivotal Character Moment Among The Chaos Of "Blood Hunt"

While Psylocke defeating the Slit-Mouthed Woman serves a practical purpose, since she carved a bloody path through Osaka that had to be stopped, the battle is also deeply symbolic for Kwannon. She has overcome her own inner struggles and the pain inflicted on her. She didn't just survive; she became a better person and chose that path for herself when it would have been so easy to go the way of Kuchisake-onna instead. Blood Hunt is far from over, but Psylocke has proven she can overcome her demons to become a protector of innocent lives amid the bloodshed.

X-Men: Blood Hunt - Psylocke #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.