Super Hero Worship is a daily opinion column by IGN’s Senior Staff Writer Jesse Schedeen. Check out the earlier Super Hero Worship entry, Joker 2 Should Be a Big Deal for DC, So Why Does It Seem Like Nobody Cares?
Every superhero fan has their favourite X-Man. And as a result of there are such a lot of choices, there’s a pleasant little bit of selection by which characters followers gravitate in the direction of essentially the most. Obviously, Wolverine hogs greater than his fair proportion of the fandom, and Magneto is the objectively right reply, however there are many individuals who go for extra obscure mutant characters like Synch, Monet, or Forget-Me-Not. But there’s one character whose enchantment I’ve by no means fairly understood – Gambit.
That is, till 2024 rolled alongside. From animation to live-action to the comics themselves, this actually has change into the 12 months of Gambit. The Ragin’ Cajun’s inventory has by no means been hotter, and even I can’t deny he’s one of many coolest characters in a very huge secure. Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at why every thing appears to be arising Gambit in 2024.
Gambit in X-Men ‘97
Gambit’s breakout 12 months began early with the debut of the X-Men ‘97 animated collection. And it’s humorous, as a result of the unique X-Men: The Animated Series is a big a part of the explanation I’ve at all times felt apathetic towards Gambit as a personality. Gambit by no means had a clearly outlined position in that collection. He at all times appeared second fiddle to Wolverine – the X-Men’s different resident unhealthy boy with a mysterious previous and a romantic obsession with a fellow teammate. And maybe due to that, it by no means felt like the unique collection developed Gambit as a lot because it might have.
This is one space the place X-Men ‘97 clearly sought to make up for misplaced time. From that iconic second within the first episode the place Gambit costs up Wolverine’s claws, it was clear that the writers and animators knew the right way to deal with having two mutant badasses on the identical workforce. These two characters can complement each other fairly than having one overshadow the opposite.
But on the similar time, X-Men ‘97 additionally labored to present Gambit the eye he was denied within the unique collection. I’ve written earlier than how one of many collection’ biggest strengths was within the resolution to backburner Wolverine in favor of fleshing out the remainder of the workforce, and that basically appeared to work in Gambit’s favor. Season 1 will get a variety of mileage out of Gambit as not simply the workforce’s suave, carefree member, but in addition in his presumably doomed romance with Rogue. The Gambit/Rogue/Magneto triangle supplanted the basic Wolverine/Jean Grey/Cyclops dynamic. Seeing Gambit proceed his uphill battle to woo Rogue, all of the whereas realizing they will by no means actually contact, offers each characters a welcome aura of tragedy.
That leads to what’s undoubtedly Season 1’s best hour in “Remember It.” No sooner does Rogue reject Magneto’s advances and eventually select Gambit than the island of Genosha is attacked by a huge Master Mold Sentinel. Here Gambit is ready to show himself on the most important stage potential, making a courageous one-man stand in opposition to the Master Mold and heroically sacrificing his life to save lots of his folks. As far as demise scenes go, it doesn’t get a lot better than this.
Among many different issues, X-Men ‘97: Season 1 succeeds in drawing a tough line between Wolverine and Gambit and permitting the latter to totally stand on his personal two ft. And the most effective half is that the collection isn’t carried out. The season ends with a post-credits tease hinting that Apocalypse will quickly be resurrecting Gambit as his latest Horseman of Death. That’s an thrilling prospect, even when it seems we’ll have to attend till 2026 for the collection to make its return.
Channing Tatum’s Gambit
Gambit shouldn’t be a personality who was notably well-served by Fox’s X-Men film universe. Though, the identical might be mentioned for just about each X-Man who isn’t Wolverine, Magneto, or Mystique. In all of the Fox films, we solely bought one Gambit look within the critically reviled X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Still, Taylor Kitsch’s Gambit is definitely the least of that prequel’s issues. In one other, higher movie, it’s simple to see Kitsch thriving within the position. Sadly, it was by no means to be.
But depart it to Deadpool & Wolverine to lastly deliver justice to Gambit on the large display, and to do it with the actor who was denied his likelihood to star in a Gambit solo film. Amid all of the numerous Marvel film cameos in that movie, Channing Tatum’s Gambit is well the spotlight. Tatum persistently steals the present when he exhibits up in The Void. If Kitsch’s Gambit was toned down to suit the extra grounded tone and setting of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Tatum’s Gambit absolutely embraces the comedian e-book supply materials.
Tatum performs Gambit in completely deadpan kind, embracing all of the inherent ridiculousness of the character. A thief sporting flamboyant pink armor and steel boots? Check. A superhero who speaks in a nigh-indecipherable Cajun accent? Yep. Tatum’s Gambit is the one hero within the film extra foul-mouthed and stuffed with himself than Deadpool, and the outcomes are hilarious. How Wesley Snipes’ Blade, Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, and Dafne Keen’s X-23 put up together with his presence for so long as they did is an entire thriller.
The MCU definitely has the chance to do extra with Tatum’s tackle the character, notably with a deleted scene establishing that Gambit survived the ultimate battle. Could Tatum truly carry a Gambit film on his shoulders, like he was meant to within the Fox days? It’s onerous to say. There’s undoubtedly a way that a little bit goes a good distance with this interpretation of the character, and it is likely to be asking a bit a lot to count on viewers to embrace such a foolish character in a solo spinoff. But as a supporting character in an ensemble X-Men piece, Tatum’s Gambit is nice. He’s confirmed that you are able to do justice to the character by celebrating, fairly than downplaying, his extra over-the-top- qualities.
Gambit within the Uncanny X-Men Comic
The X-Men comics have skilled their very own renaissance lately, with 2019’s House of X and Powers of X fully reshaping the franchise and the mutant established order within the Marvel Universe. That formidable storyline sadly got here to an finish earlier this 12 months, and in some ways it’s been onerous to simply accept the return to a extra conventional established order.
That being mentioned, some X-Men have actually benefitted from Marvel’s present “From the Ashes” path. The Krakoan Age was a massively formidable endeavor, and it goes with out saying that not each one of many huge ensemble forged of mutants was actually in a position to shine throughout these 5 years. Gambit is one character who usually felt trapped on the backburner through the Krakoan period, however that’s modified in an enormous method with From the Ashes.
These days, Gambit is likely one of the principal protagonists of Gail Simone and David Marquez’s Uncanny X-Men. Simone has at all times proven a knack for working with misfit heroes and villains (her Secret Six run remains to be one in all my favourite DC tasks of all time), and Gambit performs on to her strengths as a author.
One want look no additional than Uncanny X-Men #1 to see why Gambit has change into one of many highlights of this new period of X-Men comics. In that concern, he, Rogue, and Wolverine are tasked with preventing a dragon sleeping atop a temple in Teotihuacan. When Wolverine’s unbreakable claws and Rogue’s super-strength show no match for this huge foe, Gambit takes it upon himself to save lots of the day. Not by overpowering the dragon, however by stealing its eye and forcing the beast to strike a cut price. Ever the thief…
Gambit has traditionally been a troublesome nut for X-Men writers to crack. Like with the animated collection, there’s usually an issue the place he feels secondary to Wolverine because the workforce’s resident badass, and there’s hardly ever been a constant sense of goal and path for Gambit through the years.
But because of Simone and Marquez, Gambit is admittedly coming into his personal as one of many massive energy gamers of the From the Ashes period. In a time when so many X-Men are mourning the lack of Krakoa and the hope it supplied, Gambit is a much-needed supply of confidence, energy, and optimism. The emphasis on his loving relationship with Rogue has additionally been a boon for the character. Simone primarily writes him because the X-Men’s designated Wife Guy, and it actually works.
Uncanny X-Men actually completes Gambit’s superhero hat trick in 2024. The comedian, the animated collection, and the live-action film all current pretty totally different takes on Gambit, however all of them achieve capturing this iconic X-Man at his finest. Thanks to those previous 12 months, I can safely say I admire Gambit as a personality greater than I ever have as a Marvel fan. And who is aware of? Maybe he’ll get that solo film but.
What do you consider Gambit’s massive 12 months? What’s your favourite incarnation of Gambit? Cast your vote in our ballot above and hold forth within the feedback.
Jesse is a mild-mannered employees author for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your mental thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
