Gambit Appreciation 2021

[Malachi]

Gambit is in the current Little Marvels Unlimited story but he mostly gets dunked on so far. Anyone know if he's in #1 of Inferno?

No Gambit in Inferno. It's pretty restricted to what one would call the main players of the Hickman era.

[Gripstir]

Gambit is in the current Little Marvels Unlimited story but he mostly gets dunked on so far. Anyone know if he's in #1 of Inferno?

I love the way characters are drawn in that book, really cute stuff

[Malachi]

While home sick I found myself with some extra time and I decided to reread all-new X-factor.

I remember not enjoying it much back when it was released and I wanted to see how I view it now.

The first 6 or so issues read much better then I remember. Tight and with a clear direction. It had momentum. Sadly though when some of the jokes don't land it's very noticable. A clear drawback with relying on humour in his dialouge and charterisation the way that PAD does.

Danger was good addition and the team of Polaris, Quicksilver, Gambit and Danger feels like a good unit. What doesnt' work are the next 2 additions. WIth Warlock we risk alientating Danger and him from the rest of the team. They immidiatly become embroiled in a romance plot that I personally find sort of cute and interesting. The problem isn't the plot it's that it comes at the expense of pretty much any other team interaction for them.
Then we come to Cypher. Who just isn't a good fit. He becomes stuck in Danger and Warlocks romance that becomes a triangle and that takes up much of the continuing team interaction.

Ultimatly the book suffers because of two things.

1)A clear overarching plot that connects the arcs. Snow is just to vague and never becomes more then a character that is private and mysterious without really starting anything.

2) No real team bonding to invest ourselves in. Polaris has some character development and growth but it's more between her and herself. Pietro and her get some good chances to build a relationship but that is it. That is the big take away from 20 issues that Pietro and Lorna got a bit closer.

When it comes to Gambit he starts out good but after the second arc with Danger and the thieves guild he fades more for every issue. Look at the usage of his narration and you see a clear correlation. In the end he is just there.

His powers aren't used much. Especially not in the last 10 issues. Witch is a shame because the art with the inking is really good with his energy signature.

He never builds a relationship with any of them. His and Pietro quips but even that is mostly in the first issues. He interacts mostly with Lorna but nothing is really done with that. Some halfhearted flirting that leads nowhere. If used today in a team they might mention that they where in the same team but there isnt' any history from that to call upon.

We have one incident where someone is captured. One when someone is inversed. Both happen to Gambit. If there is anything to say about how PAD viewed Gambit I think that says it all.

[staptik777]

While home sick I found myself with some extra time and I decided to reread all-new X-factor.

I remember not enjoying it much back when it was released and I wanted to see how I view it now.

The first 6 or so issues read much better then I remember. Tight and with a clear direction. It had momentum. Sadly though when some of the jokes don't land it's very noticable. A clear drawback with relying on humour in his dialouge and charterisation the way that PAD does.

Danger was good addition and the team of Polaris, Quicksilver, Gambit and Danger feels like a good unit. What doesnt' work are the next 2 additions. WIth Warlock we risk alientating Danger and him from the rest of the team. They immidiatly become embroiled in a romance plot that I personally find sort of cute and interesting. The problem isn't the plot it's that it comes at the expense of pretty much any other team interaction for them.
Then we come to Cypher. Who just isn't a good fit. He becomes stuck in Danger and Warlocks romance that becomes a triangle and that takes up much of the continuing team interaction.

Ultimatly the book suffers because of two things.

1)A clear overarching plot that connects the arcs. Snow is just to vague and never becomes more then a character that is private and mysterious without really starting anything.

2) No real team bonding to invest ourselves in. Polaris has some character development and growth but it's more between her and herself. Pietro and her get some good chances to build a relationship but that is it. That is the big take away from 20 issues that Pietro and Lorna got a bit closer.

When it comes to Gambit he starts out good but after the second arc with Danger and the thieves guild he fades more for every issue. Look at the usage of his narration and you see a clear correlation. In the end he is just there.

His powers aren't used much. Especially not in the last 10 issues. Witch is a shame because the art with the inking is really good with his energy signature.

He never builds a relationship with any of them. His and Pietro quips but even that is mostly in the first issues. He interacts mostly with Lorna but nothing is really done with that. Some halfhearted flirting that leads nowhere. If used today in a team they might mention that they where in the same team but there isnt' any history from that to call upon.

We have one incident where someone is captured. One when someone is inversed. Both happen to Gambit. If there is anything to say about how PAD viewed Gambit I think that says it all.

still better than Betsycalibur tho

[NicoPony]

Feel better soon, Mal! I’d say speedy recovery but maybe it’ll give you more time to re-read another series.

I enjoyed X-Factor more on the second read with some time and distance too.

Bad:
The Georgia plot got too much focus too early on when the characters were still getting their sea legs.
Everyone kind of had the same voice. Not everyone has to be sarcastic and pithy.
Crybaby writer who didn’t get his way stops the game and stomps off the the ball, ending the series with no resolution.

Good:
Lorna showed growth and progress after interacting with each of her teammates in turn. In the T’iefs Guild episode, she rips Danger into pieces from the get go. By the end of the series, she was willing to take pause and reason with a crocodile monster. I think she learned that from Gambit.
Gambit with kid gloves off could potentially kick Polaris’ butt using his usual tactics of misdirection.
Danger unintentionally being the main source of comedy.
The art. The art the art…
Gambit and Quicksilver dynamic.

[Sylarmax]

Remembering that Gambit is the only member of the xmen that in canon has been able to completely defeat Gladiator, (those possessed by Phoenix do not count) also showing how he is the mutant that handles the most dangerous energy when he wants to be and does not control his charges and explosions For Gladiator the other mutants that handle energy are not a major problem for him, not even Vulcan as Kalark already demonstrated.

[Malachi]

Feel better soon, Mal! I’d say speedy recovery but maybe it’ll give you more time to re-read another series.

I enjoyed X-Factor more on the second read with some time and distance too.

Bad:
The Georgia plot got too much focus too early on when the characters were still getting their sea legs.
Everyone kind of had the same voice. Not everyone has to be sarcastic and pithy.
Crybaby writer who didn’t get his way stops the game and stomps off the the ball, ending the series with no resolution.

Good:
Lorna showed growth and progress after interacting with each of her teammates in turn. In the T’iefs Guild episode, she rips Danger into pieces from the get go. By the end of the series, she was willing to take pause and reason with a crocodile monster. I think she learned that from Gambit.
Gambit with kid gloves off could potentially kick Polaris’ butt using his usual tactics of misdirection.
Danger unintentionally being the main source of comedy.
The art. The art the art…
Gambit and Quicksilver dynamic.

Thanks Nico.

I shouldn't be to hard on PAD as his Gambit in general is good, especially in the start. The things that bother me a bit is how downplayed he becomes later on. He isn't and nor should he be a big omega powerhouse but he should be more dangerous in combat then he was.

I was a bit unfair towards his Polaris fight because in my mind, due to my reading experience, Polaris isn't that big of a deal. Witch she is now in the current X-men run.

Not sure what I should read next. Any suggestions?

[Sandmans_Raven]

still better than Betsycalibur tho

Preach.

I honestly remember enjoying the book when it first came out but yeah, the interest waned towards the end. I'm probably due for a re-read.

[Purplevit]

So Marauders got a relaunch with a new writer and team shake-up.

Would you all prefer for Gambit to get a new team book or stay with a new writer but in Excalibur?

I just want him to be saved from Tini as writer. But I would prefer him on a new darker book closer to Sinister and as far away as possible from Brit Corps.

[Purplevit]

Have a fast recovery, Malachi.
PAD's All-New X-Factor main problems were:
1.Overpowered Danger that sayed team alone at least twice at the end of 2 arcs
2. Boring and not needed Georgia
3. Random characters that were saving team from mowhere instead of actual characters of book doing something. Like mother of Georgia saved them from Memento Mori and Snow arrived to clear situation with police
4. Cypher and Warlock should be replaced with other team members

Gambit interactions with Quicksilver and Polaris were cool and the best part of book.

My suggestion to read next:

X-Men Unlimited issues with Gambit
1. Gambit vs Hydroman
2. Storm, Gambit and Jean in Cairo
3. Gambit and something in casino. Don't remeber

[staptik777]

Not sure what I should read next. Any suggestions?

Liu’s X-23 run (+ Daken Dark Wolverine #7-9 ofc )

[K7P5V]

Not sure what I should read next. Any suggestions?

Hopefully it's alright, but I'd recommend the Rogue limited series from '95 (Remy provides emotional & moral support):
https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Rogue_Vol_1

Preach.

I honestly remember enjoying the book when it first came out but yeah, the interest waned towards the end. I'm probably due for a re-read.

I know, right?! Plus, the artwork from Carmine Di Giandomenico is truly a sight to behold (IMHO):

[NicoPony]

I was a bit unfair towards his Polaris fight because in my mind, due to my reading experience, Polaris isn't that big of a deal. Witch she is now in the current X-men run.

Not sure what I should read next. Any suggestions?

Not a big deal?! Everyone wants to be Polaris so bad, do you know how many times she’s been possessed?

I just read X-Men Red and here I’ve been sitting in bemused silence and kind of laughing quietly to myself. So maybe that?

So Marauders got a relaunch with a new writer and team shake-up.
I just want him to be saved from Tini as writer.

The Marauders would have been a good team for him to be on, they all seem to have street-level powers and he complements Bishop. But…sigh. Oh well.

I’m with you, I don’t want Howard to write him. He’s been staggeringly incompetent and the dialogue…oh, the dialogue. If I have to read Gambit talking in third person twice in one sentence again, I’m going to have a conniption. I am not a big fan of that kind of fantasy, but if that’s the direction they go, him running wild stealing from magic kingdoms would be pretty fun. Just have someone else write it.

Whatever Hellions becomes, maybe he’d be good in that.

[Purplevit]

Played a little bit with Gambit 2012 covers.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1445388424345686022

[Malachi]

Played a little bit with Gambit 2012 covers.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1445388424345686022

Nice work Purp.

If I ever meet either James or Clay I will thank them for their work.