Comics The Official GAMBIT Discussion thread

[GreatWhiteWhale]

Hmm…

I noticed the lack of an ‘Official’ Gambit thread and figured “heck gosh golly! I’ll just go ahead and create a little ol’ thread”!

You see, the way I figure it, Gambit is probably THE Love/Hate character of the X-Men, possibly second to Storm or Jean.

You either love the flash and charm and angst, or you hate him and dismiss him as a product of the style-over-substance nineties.

I’m in the boat were I learnt to love Gambit from the original animated series and have gravitated away from the character due to lack of poor writing.

But I do believe that Gambit can be written well! I think he’s one of those characters that, with the right hook and the right direction and the rightly balanced characterization, he can be a damn enjoyable, relatable and relevant character to the X-Men mythos.

So, primarily, this thread is created to discuss what YOU think is the best Gambit, and what you think the best direction to take him in would be. What do you like/hate about him? What worked/didn’t work in the past? Do you like the flashy, nonchalant charming thief? Do you like the angst ridden, tragic romantic? Do you like the time traveling, embroiled genetic conspirator? Do you like the Thieves guild and Bella Donna? Do you like New Orleans? Do you like Rogue/Gambit? Do you like Sinister/Gambit? Do you like the suspicion? Do you like the costume? Who would be the supporting characters in your Gambit ongoing/mini? Etc etc etc… I’m sure you get the point.

[Anywho, some pics, links and info:
Most information obtained from here:

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/spotlight/showquestion.asp?faq=10&fldAuto=83

GAMBIT
Real Name:
Remy LeBeau
Former Aliases:
none
X
X
Height:
6' 2"
Weight:
180 lbs.

Eyes:

black with red pupils
Hair color:
brown
X
X




First appearance:




Uncanny X-Men #266
Joined the X-Men in:
Uncanny X-Men Annual #14
Currently in:
X-Men
X
X

Known Relatives:

Jean-Luc LeBeau (adoptive father),
Henry LeBeau (adoptive brother, deceased),
Mercy LeBeau (sister-in-law),
Theoren Marceaux (cousin),
Etienne Marceaux (cousin, deceased),
Bella Donna Boudreaux (ex-wife),
Marius Boudreaux (father-in-law, deceased),
Julien Boudreaux (brother-in-law, deceased)

Profession:

thief
Group Affiliation:
X-Men, New Orleans Unified Guild
formerly New Orleans Thieves Guild

Powers:

· interkinetic power allows him to produce bio-kinetic energy within his body and use it to convert any inorganic object's potential energy into kinetic energy on contact, making the object highly volatile and explosive on contact, internal energy also grants him heightened agility and creates static interference that shields his mind from detection
· hypnotic charm allows him to exert subtle influence over sentient minds, compelling them to believe what he says and agree with his suggestions
· full power template enables him to charge any organic or inorganic object within his line of sight, manipulate the potency of the bio-kinetic energy to cause various effects such as burning, molecular discomfort, or incineration, and utilize the advanced levels of bio-energy active when he uses his powers to augment his strength, agility, endurance, and reflexes, for short periods

To my knowledge Gambit has had 2 miniseries, 2 ongoing series and played a big part in relatively recent X-men history with the Trial of Gambit and Traitor storylines.

 

[Mike059jig]

I like gambit I think he's cool....the direction he going in right now is catchin alot of attention

 

[The Infernal]

Always loved Gambit. Though like others I'll admit he's been screwed badly in recent times. I have heard however that he may appear at some point during the Civil War. Don't know how legit that is but it was a small mention in an IGN article. Nothing much, just said he may appear.

 

[kapea]

Okay, Gambit is above-and-beyond my favorite X-Man character. Only thing is...

<rant>...he's just too cool for his own good - I mean, unless you've got a real knack for writing kick-ass dialogue (like the "...so I says to my man Thibaudeaux...you gettin' all dis, homme?" classic Remy situation), it's pretty near impossible to write stuff like that all the time. No wonder out of all the current stable of Marvel writers, pretty much only a few like Claremont (creator) and Niceza have expressed any interest in writing Gambit favorably recently. And as for the drama, it's what great storytelling is about...but how many times can you manufacture different angst-laden scenarios before it becomes a parody of itself? A person can only be tragic for so long, and the only reason this works for Gambit as a character is because of his unique backstory/history and humorous or "suave" moments that break up the drama and make him so likeable.</rant>

And I'm not sure if this has been posted at SuperHeroHype before, but I'd like to share this utterly hilarious complaint/parody of the current situation at Marvel regarding Gambit. I can't claim credit for writing this, as it was written by Stone*Man from the Gambit Guild forums, but it's worth a chuckle and I think it belongs in this thread:

Originally Posted by Stone*Man
"What If... Gambit killed the Marvel Writers?"
Written by Stone*Man

Characters:

Emperor Quesada - Editor-in-Chief of Marvel, Leader of AntiGambit Coalition

Darth Millar - Writer for Marvel, Advocater of Gambit's death

Boba Brubacker - Writer for Marvel, Spy for the AntiGambit Coalition

Caring Carrey - Writer for Marvel, friend of Gambit fans

Rogue - Once lover of Gambit in Marvel universe, now written to be a ****

Professor X - Once leader of the X-Men, now a bitter alcoholic

Gambit - Once a thief, then a hero, now Death...

Mr. Sinister - Very bored evil scientist

Emma Frost - Shady X-woman, Ex-Hellfire Club

Cyclops - X-Men field leader, Emma Frost's *****


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 1

(In New Orleans - Gambit's mansion. Gambit has finally understood what's been going on recently
and realizes he needs to become his old self. Being Death has made him too honest and thus no longer
can be a thief. If he can't be an X-Man... he HAS to be a thief... Or there will be nothing to his character...)

Gambit - I know what Gambit has to do... Gambit has to call Sinister and get him to make me my old self...

Gambit - Why is Gambit talking about Gambit to self?

(shrugs - takes out mobile phone and dials Sinisters number - 1-666-666-0666)

Mr. Sinister - Hello?

Gambit - Hey Essex Guess who?

Mr. Sinister - Apocalypse?

Gambit - ...No... it's Gambit. Since when does Gambit sound like Apocalypse?

Mr. Sinister - Oh... Gambit... Haven't seen you much in the comics recently. What's up?

Gambit - Had a lot of bad luck lately Nathaniel. I became the horsemen Death. You think you can fix that?

Mr. Sinister - Yeah... Ok... I don't have much going on right now. Come over. BYOB.

(end phone convo)

Chapter 2

(At Sinister's crib where the 2 meet)

Mr. Sinister - Gambit... You don't look so bad as a black guy.

Gambit - Shutup.

Mr. Sinister - Just drink this (hands Gambit a Monster Energy Drink). Monster Energy drinks reverse the effect of Apocalypse's alterations.

Gambit - Thanks... (drinks).... Mon ami, I'm back!!!

Mr. Sinister - Excellent... Guess you owe me again Remy.

Gambit - (charges Monster drink can with biokinetic energy and throws it at the ceiling above Sinister, which crumble on to Essex)

Mr. Sinister - Ahhh!!! Damn You! You owe me 2 dollars for the Monster!

(Gambit runs out of Sinister's lab before he is able to get out of the pile of rock and tiles)

Chapter 3

(Secret Marvel Military Base)

Emperor Quesada - ...Darth Millar come quick!

Darth Millar - Yes master?

Emperor Quesada - I've had a disturbing vision Darth Millar... I saw another return of Gambit. It seems that my former apprentice, Darth Milligan, was not thorough enough in the destruction of that rebel, Remy Lebeau. We need to eliminate him to save the Marvel Empire.

Darth Millar - Gambit will be destroyed, Master. I will hire Boba Brubacker to go searching bars for Gambit. Then he will call us back... and we will
send a Marvel super hero to go eliminate him for good.

Emperor Quesada - That's an excellent plan. Do not fail me, my apprentice...

Chapter 4

(At a New York City bar)

Gambit - I'll have a Guiness, thanks... (takes out a cigg and puffs away)

Bartender - Sorry sir you can't smoke here. It's against the law.

Gambit - What the #^(%!

Professor Xavier - Gambit is that you? (Professor X who is also in the bar walks over)

Gambit - Wow... Professor... Long time no see. What's going on?

Professor X - Eh, not very good my friend. Marvel decided to make me look like a *******. They wrote in some new Summers brother Vulcan or some ****...and he completely exposed my past secrets and mental tamperings... So Cyclops kicked me out of my house. I've been spending all my money on booze and heroin.

Gambit - sacrebleu!

Professor X - Indeed. I figured I'd talk to you since you've had similar experiences.

Gambit - Aint that the truth...

(nearby inside the bar Boba Brubacker is listening in...)

Boba Brubacker - Oh no... Professor X is here... (puts on Boba Fett helmet to prevent his mind from being read.... pulls out phone)

Boba Brubacker - Darth Millar? I found Gambit at the Mutant Bar on 36th Street, but he is also with Charles Xavier.

Darth Millar - Not a problem. We will send 2 Marvel characters to rid of them for good.... (end of phone convo)

(Boba Brubacker makes his leave)

(back to Xavier/Remy)

Professor X - Wow, you used to steal Gambit comics from the Marvel writers to give to those unfortunate children who couldn't afford the higher
comic book prices?

Gambit - Yeah I did. I just felt bad for all the Gambit fans who were broke. Unfortunately Marvel writers were angry because the sales weren't as high as they wanted.

Professor X - Are they ever?

Chapter 5

(back at Marvels Military Base)

Caring Carrey - Emperor Quesada, are you sure we should kill Gambit and Xavier? I mean... They have large fanbases.

Emperor Quesada - We don't need a Gambit or Xavier fanbase right now... The only X-Men characters we need are Wolverine, Phoenix, Storm, and Magneto... or Mystique... Ya know, the old schoolers!

Caring Carrey - But theres so many other ....

Emperor Quesada - SILENCE! Darth Millar... I sense Caring Carrey plans to write a Gambit story sometime in the future... Show him why this will never happen.

(Darth Millar shoots a fireball from his hand that smash Caring Carrey through a wall)

Emperor Quesada - Excellent... Now - Bring on Rogue and Emma Frost...

Rogue - Hi shug

Emma Frost - Hey Joe

Emperor Quesada - You will call me Emperor, *****... ok? ...Or no movie! Got it toots?

Emma Frost - I'm the White Queen I don't need this..., Emperor.

Emperor Quesada - I need you to eliminate Gambit and Professor X.

Emma Frost - I'm going to get Cyclops to do it. I'm tired, ok?

Emperor Quesada - Whatever..., *****.

Rogue - ...But I love Gambit!! Don't I?... And Professor X is my teacher!

Emperor Quesada - No... No longer... They are trying to destroy Marvel's new vision. We need them dead. They can't please you anymore. There are other mutants out there for you. You no longer need to be shadowed by either of them... (Emperor Quesada uses his hypno powers on Rogue).

Rogue - Yes, Master, I will do as you say. I need to be independent... And have sex with other men... Maybe for money... Which I will give to the Empire. Remy Lebeau and Charles Xavier will die.

Emperor Quesada - Yes... Hahaha...HahaHahaHa...HAhaAHaHAAHAA

Chapter 7

(Still at the bar)

Gambit - oui... I'll take another shot with you, Xavier.

Xavier - Damn straight... If you don't I'll read your thoughts! hahaha...

Gambit - Yeah... Well I just charged your liquor...

(Xavier gulps down some biokinetically charged whiskey)

Xavier - Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! hooooooottt!!!!!!

(fire shoots out of Xaviers mouth while he runs around looking for water while Gambit is laughing his ass off)

(Suddenly Rogue and Cyclops confront the two having a good time...)

Rogue - Hi Gambit. Prepare to die!!! (shoots flames from her hands towards Gambit)

(Gambit dodges the attack and swiftly charges up his shot glass and throws it in front of Rogue's feet. It explodes and has her fall over to the ground)

Gambit - Chere??? What are you doing!?

Rogue - the Marvel Writers need you dead... (Rogue passes out)

Cyclops - Hey Charles. I see you've been boozing it up... Loser.

Professor Xavier - I taught you everything you know... So if I'm a loser, that makes you a loser too.

Cyclops - ... Yeah, that's probably true. But At least I'm not dead.

(Cyclops shoots a high level optic beam to Xavier's neck that knocks Professor X's head off)

Gambit - Noo!!! You killed my drinking buddy!!!

(Gambit jumps Cyclops from behind and charges up Cyclops' eye visor)

Cyclops - Nooo! undo the charge!

(Cyclops' face explodes)

(Rogue wakes up for the one-liner)

Rogue - You killed Cyclops, who killed Professor X! You bastards!!!

Gambit - I'm sorry you had to see that... But the Marvel Writers have gone too far. Come with me, let us end this madness.

(Gambit uses his hypno powers to reverse the Emperors hypno effect on Rogue)

Rogue - I love you Remy. I always will. I was never in love with Bobby Drake in the movies. They forced me into it. You're my only true love. Now let us kick some Marvel ass!

Chapter 8

Emperor Quesada - Oh No! I sense something wrong. Darth Millar, we need to get out of here. Call up security!

Darth Millar - You mean The Hulk?

Emperor Quesada - Of course I mean the Hulk!

Gambit - I don't think so, mon ami.

Darth Millar - Oh so you think you can stop me? (takes out lightsaber)

(Gambit takes out telescopic adamantium bo staff)

Gambit - bring it on *****.

(Darth Millar and Gambit have a great duel for awhile)

(Gambit sweeps Darth Millar off his feet with the bo staff)

Gambit - I'll tell you what I once told Wolverine... Bang, you're dead!

(Gambit charges up his bo staff and sticks it in Darth Millar's mouth - Before Darth Millar can scream he loses his head in a pink, bloody mess)

Rogue - Go Remy!

Emperor Quesada -... NOOO!!!!!!!! How dare you!? You misfit... You degenerate... You lying cheating pink wearing cigar smelling .... I HATE YOU SO MUCH!!!

(Emperor Quesada shoots fireballs from his hands) You will not escape me Gambit! I know you stole some of our comics! You owe us 50 dollars! We will not forgive your betrayal of trust this time!

Gambit - If anyone in this scenario feels betrayed it's the Gambit fans! Don't you care about what they want? Don't you care about what Rogue wants?

Rogue - Yeah! Don't you care at all? I need a steady relationship right now... I don't want to fool around with all these mutant rejects who have a thing for me but are too lame to impress me.

Emperor Quesada - You will date who I want!

(shoots fireball at Rogue knocking her out)

Gambit - If she's hurt I'll kill you! ... Actually I was going to do that anyway!

(Gambit uses his powers of agility and speed to dodge the fireballs thrown by the Emperor. Gambit throws a charged adamantium staff directly at the Emperor but it's no use! the Emperor is shielding himself!)

Emperor Quesada - Haha! Thought you could beat me? I have shielding powers... to protect me from petty aggressors like you!

(Suddenly Ultimate Gambit appears)

Gambit - Ultimate Gambit? Aren't you dead???

Ultimate Gambit - This may be Ultimate Gambit's body... But I am Professor Xavier. When Cyclops killed me earlier ago my consciousness survived and I decided I'd inhabit Ultimate Gambit's body which was being kept at SHIELD's base nearby. I don't have Gambit's powers though... Since I'm still Xavier I still have Xavier's powers.

(Ultimate Gambit using Xavier's powers gets into Emperor Quesadas head...)

Emperor Quesada - No...! Get out of my head!!! Leave me alone!!! It can't end this way!!! Gambit must die for good!!!

Ultimate Gambit - No. Gambit will live on.

Gambit - You are right, Xavier. I am a survivor, Quesada. You underestimate me.
Now that you can't keep focus let's see you try and block this!

(Gambit charges up an Ace and throws it as hard and fast as he could... and it gets stuck on Quesada's forehead! The impact was so hard the card penetrated skull!)

Emperor Quesada - Uuuhhh...Such a headache...

(Gambit snaps his fingers and the ace of spades on Quesada's head explodes... Making the Marvel editor-in-chief nothing but a pile of ashes.)

Gambit - Thanks a lot for your help, Xavier.

Ultimate Gambit - No problem, Remy... You saved the day too... But now what?

Gambit - Well, I'll tell you what... Gambit's the new editor-in-chief of Marvel! It's time to entertain my fans who've waited so patiently for me... Starting with a Gambit movie!

Ultimate Gambit - I see promise for a better future. Maybe you can plan something nice for me as well?

Gambit - Of course, especially with your newly acquired good looks... Now let's get back to our drinking games, mon ami. All this fighting has made me thirsty.

Ultimate Gambit - What about Rogue?

Gambit - You can carry her along with us of course...

Ultimate Gambit - I figured youd say something like that.

(Gambit, Rogue, and Professor Xavier inside Ultimate Gambit's body spend the night at the bar getting ********d and live happily ever after)

The End

And finally, I'd like to ask - what the hell happened to the Gambit Guild (home of the LeBeau Library) forums?! Almost 7 years as one of the best Remy resources on the web, and it just disappears without any warning. If anyone has any information on what happened, I'd appreciate if you could give me a heads-up. Thanks!

 

[gambitfire]

i just got news from my friend about that!! WTH IS GOING ON!!! he said Marvel is responsible for this.

What is Marvel upto and how does it affect Gambit, Im scared

 

[Neptune]

Now this is my kinda thread. White wale, Gambit should definitely be written as the flashy nonchalant charming thief. He should the type of character that walks the line between good and bad. To the point where your not completely sure who's side he's on. I like that potential spy thing he has going on, the potential betrayel yet because of his charming attitude and his charisma he is able to win you over.

The writers messed that up. Now all Gambit is is Rogue whiny (ex)boyfriend. Where's the charm? the mysteriousness? the flash? the womanizing? the gambling? the devil-may-care attitude? Heck where's the smoking? He's gone soft. And not only has he been treated like crap in the comics, the movies just flat out ignored him. X-men seriously needs a good writer. I liked Gambit best when Claremont wrote X-men in the Jim Lee days. Besides the fact that Jim Lee draws the best Gambit, he was so bad ass back then.

 

[Neptune]

I also wanted to mention his fighting style. The way he plays head games with enemies is so cool. Confusing them by flirting with them, prentending to be weak or injured to come up with a plan or just talking his way out of a fight,or when you think you git him cornered and he has given up he'll stab you in the back when you aren't alert. I just love it.

 

[squeekness]

There is a Gambit thread, but in the X-World forum. It should probably be moved here because while it might have started out with some discussion as to who should play him in the movie, it has since gone more into the comics, talking about the recent Horseman storyline. It is also loaded with pictures posted by myself and Moi if anyone wants to take a peek.

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189666

 

[squeekness]

And finally, I'd like to ask - what the hell happened to the Gambit Guild (home of the LeBeau Library) forums?! Almost 7 years as one of the best Remy resources on the web, and it just disappears without any warning. If anyone has any information on what happened, I'd appreciate if you could give me a heads-up. Thanks!

I still maintain that Marvel probably forced them down becuase they had illegal scans of comics on their site.

 

[Prognosticator]

So he's been in an x-book lately because....(blink/blink)

 

[Prognosticator]

it's too bad, he is pretty cool, but he suffers from everyone saying he's so cool and underappreciated.

Well, then you have overexposure of being underexposed b/c fans think he's the greatest but the majority of them only know him from the cartoon.

Paradox.

Here's a challenge to you "thoroughbread" Gambit fans, name the five best stories he's had a major role in...

 

[ZachToTheFuture]

i like gambit just because he doesnt wear underwear on top of his tight clothing

oh and because he talks just like my grandma

 

[squeekness]

Here's a challenge to you "thoroughbread" Gambit fans, name the five best stories he's had a major role in...

I liked the first Gambit solo 4 parter, Victims with him and Wolvie, I liked the arc in which he was first introduced because I liked the idea of him and Storm being thieves together. I liked the first half of his first ongoing book when Nincienza was writing and Skroce was drawing. I liked how he had to steal some objects, even having to go around the X-men to do it. I even liked the short time that he was blind. They had him at one point looking at a card and "seeing" something, like maybe he had a pyschic connection with the cards. That was a fabulous idea that was discarded as soon as it was tossed out. Not good.

 

[javon]

Um..when did Gambit get this "Charm" power to say stuff and get away with it? I have heard of it but I thought nothing of it.

 

[squeekness]

It was spelled out in the two part X-treme X-men X-pose special that had come out. Mostly it's implied. It is also mentioned in Ultimate X-men 7.

 

[javon]

I havent got to read X-men Unlimted #7 yet. Although I have read X-treme.

 

[squeekness]

Ultimate X-men #7. LOL. Alot of fanfic writers,including myself,really play up on theharm or empathy. I wonder if that's where some of the charm rumors started.

EDIT: Ultimate X-men # 13 , excuse me. I had the wrong issue number.

 

[The Infernal]

it's too bad, he is pretty cool, but he suffers from everyone saying he's so cool and underappreciated.

Well, then you have overexposure of being underexposed b/c fans think he's the greatest but the majority of them only know him from the cartoon.

Paradox.

Here's a challenge to you "thoroughbread" Gambit fans, name the five best stories he's had a major role in...

I guess he's underappreciated and overexposed. The lesson is, if you're going to include him then have it meaningful.

 

[GreatWhiteWhale]

For me, the great Gambit story was the "Trial of Gambit" running through aproximately Uncanny 337 to 350.

It had some great Gambit moments, like Storm stumbling across him mourning the Morlock Massacre, the fights with Joseph, the "last rites" when him and Rogue finally consumated their love because they had lost their powers. It was a really touching image of Gambit in chains just holding Rogue in his arms.

To me, that was when they got Gambit right, he was tortured by his past mistakes, and while he tried to cover up his emotions by being 'flashy' his love for rogue and regret for what he had done really showed through.

Another great Gambit story was a follow up in X-Men Unlimited #18 (volume 1), where Gambit tries to reconcile with the X-Men but they completely reject him and he's completely lost without his support and just tries to go back to the old thief he was but the hero shines through... ... ..

Spoiler

And then it turns out to be a bloody fever dream he is having because he is passed out in the antarctic wasteland

Also, surprisingly, I liked Chuck Austens Ultimate Gambit from #13 and #14, he was just a charming street rat that didnt care about the larger picture, just wanted to do the right thing and live a fun life.

BKV reinventing him in Ultimate #50 is probably the worst thing they could have done with that character.

Never read any of the ongoings, but i heard they were pretty decent, liked the mini-series but theyre not hugely memorable for me. Like many, i found a liking for Gambit from the animated series and would be interested to read the comic issues that inspired the character for the cartoon.

Not a huge fan of what Milligan did to Gambit during his run, although i never read it, I feel that Milligan missed the boat in understanding Gambit's purpose within the X-Men mythology, however, this can always be undone.

 

[The Cajun]

I've always wanted to read the 'trial of Gambit'. Was it ever released in TPB form?

I also heard the first Gambit solo series was pretty good.

 

[squeekness]

Both of the Gambit ongoings were good. He had two minis before that and I thought the first one was a little better. I don't know if the trial of Gambit is avaialble in TPB, my first guess would be no because it is too old. If it was done in Uncanny, then they would be included on the 40 Years of X-men DVDRom.

 

[Neptune]

I don't know what it's called but i like the story arc where Gambit has just joined the X-men and theý're teleported in to space by Lila Cheney. The X-men are going to save the professor in the Shi'ar empire.
That Gambit was such a fresh and interesting character. I liked how brash he was. He took on gladiator, a evil professor X, infiltrated the Star Jammers space ship (classic scene) and in the very begining they show him sparring with Wolverine. Which is also one of my favourite scenes.

 

[The Cajun]

Both of the Gambit ongoings were good. He had two minis before that and I thought the first one was a little better. I don't know if the trial of Gambit is avaialble in TPB, my first guess would be no because it is too old. If it was done in Uncanny, then they would be included on the 40 Years of X-men DVDRom.

Thanks. Does anyone know if it was done in Uncanny? I've wanted to read some early Gambit stuff for a while now.

 

[GreatWhiteWhale]

Yeah it was all done in Uncanny, it ended with issue #350 which was double-sized and pretty awesome, it ran around about the time of 'Zero Tolerance and post-onslaught/heroes reborn. A plus is most of the art is by Joe Madueria, and he draws and awesome Gambit and Rogue, and pretty much every other character.

 

[The Cajun]

Any chance of this Uncanny DVD rom coming out in UK? Seems like the best way to read some early Gambit material.