Gambit (1998 comic)

Gambit is a 26-issue comic book series published by Marvel Comics from December 1998 to February 2001. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Steve Skroce, it is the third series starring the X-Men character Remy LeBeau / Gambit, following him as he goes on missions for his handler Jacob "Jake" Gavin Jr. / Courier. As the two work for and investigate Gambit's evil alternate self "The New Son", their relationship is complicated by Courier being turned into a girl ("Jacqueline/Jackie") by Mister Sinister. The series received generally positive reviews from comic critics.

Publication history

Gambit (collected as X-Men: Gambit) lasted 25 issues, one special, and two annuals (for a total of 28), cover-dated from February 1999 to February 2001.[1] Initially simply written by Fabian Nicieza and drawn by Steve Skroce, following Gambit and Courier, Skroce would receive a co-plotter credit midway through the series, while the final (epilogue) issue would be plotted by Scott Lobdell, scripted by Joe Pruett, and drawn by Georges Jeanty. The 2001 miniseries Gambit & Bishop: Sons of the Atom was advertised as a direct continuation of Gambit at the conclusion of its final issue,[2] while Courier would return in the 2024 Fall of X series Cable (again written by Fabian Nicieza and drawn by Scot Eaton), still stuck with the body of a girl, only able to transform into the forms of other women.[3]

Characters

• Remy LeBeau / Gambit – a card-wielding mutant who was adopted by the Thieves Guild, able to create, control, and manipulate kinetic energy.
• Jacob "Jake" Gavin Jr. / Courier – a shapeshifter able to detach and remotely move his own body parts,[4] who is trapped in the body of a woman by Mister Sinister after he steals his powers,[5] going by the alias Jacqueline ("Jackie").[6]
• Sun / The New Son – an evil version of Gambit from an alternate reality where he was never joined the Thieves Guild.
• Anna-Marie / Rogue – the power-and-lifeforce-absorbing adoptive daughter of Mystique and Gambit's love interest.
• Ororo Monroe / Storm – a thunder and lightning-controlling mutant goddess and Gambit's former friend.

Critical reception

The series received generally positive reviews from comic critics. AIPT Comics rated the series 7.0/10, calling it "a slow read to be sure [but the] verbose writing style aside, there are some fascinating tidbits about Gambit".[6] Slings & Arrows lauded Nicieza's "verbose form of writing" and Skroce's art as "better than what's perceived as Marvel's 1990s look",[7] complimenting Georges Jeanty for "pull[ing] out all the stops for the art" following Stroke's departure, concluding to call the plot "over-extended, but tie[d] together well".[8]

Prints

See also

• List of X-Men comics