Sadly, I saw this coming. -_- While I like PAD's previous work, and I was happy someone was giving Gambit a home, this book has been too slow and directionless to grab an audience. I mean, it's been a pretty enjoyable read for me, but I was already a fan of the characters, they were the reason I picked up this book. Sadly he picked up a bunch of characters who only have minimal current fanbases, which is a shame. Quicksilver is one thing. He'll probably be popping right back to the Avengers after this, to link with the movieverse in hopes of increasing sales. I'll admit, I've never really liked him much, but PAD wrote him amusing at least. He's about the only character that will likely land on their feet again after this though. Lorna might pop up in the all female X-men(really? couldn't give them a better name?) team, or something like that. With all the focus Magneto gets after all, even as distantly tied as they've made her from him(thankfully), it will keep her somewhere in the mix. Doug and Warlock... probably Limbo, until some other niche book picks them up. Danger... who knows? Having her end up in this even was odd. Gambit's fate is the more troubling to me. He's my favorite character(used to be second.. but then Remender/Carey destroyed Rogue for me to the point I don't even want to read her).
He's a great character, with a lot of depth and cunning and tons of story to explore, between his role in the International Thieve's Guilds(King of global network should make him pretty damn influential), the possibilities of his original powers resurfacing since having his brain fixed by Faiza and Excalibur at the end of his solo series, and his ties to so many superhero and underworld syndicates just from his own work over the years. It's frustrating that they keep putting him on the shelf, and only use him as a prop to support other characters, or outright belittle and cast him off. Sad fact is, Remender said right when he came in that he didn't like Gambit, and he seems to really have systematically made a campaign of driving down the cajun. Sadder that he is allowed to, as the man in charge. A few gracious writers have slipped through the demon's grasp though and managed to actual have positive Gambit stories in this dark era. I'm still amazed Asmus's book got through. It was an amazing read. It was like having the old Remy back again, for a while. However, with few to no big name tie ins to drw in new readers the sales never picked up enough to stay around, which sucks, since it was still beating most of the current favored in solo sales now. PAD was generous to pick the character up, and even make him the narrator of the book, but he never really bothered exploring Remy, or putting any of his resources to any use in the book.
Even after all the abuse, misuse and disrespect the character has been put through over the last few years, he still has one of the most hardcore and vocal fan bases. Most other characters would have been completely abandoned by now. He sticks in their though, but for how long? He's a great character, with a lot of personality, fun, flare, drama and adventure, and there is a wealth of stuff to write for him, if anyone took the opportunity. What's missing though, is what has always been missing from Remy though, the thing that keeps deadending him with most writers who just use him as a plot point for others. Remy needs a Purpose. In his solo runs, when he has a mission, a personal heroic endeavor where he needs to stand up and show his true abilities, thats when we get him at his best. Sadly in the other books, he's just dragged along with the purposes of others. As the King of Thieves, he has a reason and a responsibility to stand up and strike out, and gives his character carte blanche to pop up all over the Marvel world, being that dangerous, mysterious anti-hero he was meant to be. Give him a Purpose. Give him the right to be clever and conniving again. Give him back his Balls. Let him play off some current big names to build up interest, and then give him another book. He deserves it, and frankly, it would sell, if for once Marvel really promoted him even half as much as they shove Cyclops' stiff ass down our throats.
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