Gambit (1998 comic)

Last updated
Gambit
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication dateDecember 1998 – February 2001
No. of issues28
Main character(s) Remy LeBeau / Gambit
Jacob "Jake" Gavin Jr. / Courier
Creative team
Written by
Penciller(s) Steve Skroce
Georges Jeanty (epilogue)
Editor(s)Mark Powers
Jason Liebig
Collected editions
Volume One ISBN   978-0785196853
Volume Two ISBN   978-1302913755

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.

Contents

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, [2] while the final (epilogue) issue would be plotted by Scott Lobdell, scripted by Joe Pruett, and drawn by Georges Jeanty. [3] The 2001 miniseries Gambit & Bishop: Sons of the Atom was advertised as a direct continuation of Gambit at the conclusion of its final issue, [4] 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. [5]

Characters

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". [8] Slings & Arrows lauded Nicieza's "verbose form of writing" and Skroce's art as "better than what's perceived as Marvel's 1990s look", [2] 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". [3]

Prints

Issues

IssueTitlePublication dateEstimated sales (first month)
#1"The Man of Steal"December 23, 1998117,437, ranked 5th in North America [9]
#2"Stormbringers"January 27, 199986,130, ranked 10th in North America [10]
#3"Monsters Like Us"February 24, 199966,559, ranked 17th in North America [11]
#4"Old Wounds, Fresh Blood"March 24, 199963,525, ranked 18th in North America [12]
#5"Of Mice and Men"April 28, 199959,689, ranked 22nd in North America [13]
#6"Muddy Waters"May 26, 199954,004, ranked 31st in North America [14]
#7"Dirty Troughs"June 23, 199951,939, ranked 29th in North America [15]
#8"Destined to Repeat It"July 28, 199949,286, ranked 44th in North America [16]
#9"To Thine Own Self Be True"August 25, 199946,399, ranked 36th in North America [17]
#10"Waiting for the Princess"September 22, 199943,235, ranked 47th in North America [18]
#11"The Hamster Run"October 27, 199944,251, ranked 42nd in North America [19]
#12"The Sunset Dawn (Book 1): The Time Trap"December 1, 199941,480, ranked 43rd in North America [20]
#13"The Sunset Dawn (Book 2): The Black Womb"January 5, 200043,326, ranked 35th in North America [21]
#14"The Sunset Dawn (Book 3): Tomorrow Starts Today"January 26, 200038,978, ranked 44th in North America [22]
#15"Folding City"February 23, 200036,734, ranked 44th in North America [23]
#16"The More Things Change"March 22, 200043,376, ranked 29th in North America [24]
#17"Assassination Game", Part 1 of 3: "The Pin Cushion"April 26, 200036,946, ranked 53rd in North America [25]
#18"Assassination Game", Part 2 of 3: "Working the Treadmill"May 31, 200037,126, ranked 59th in North America [26]
#19"Assassination Game", Part 3 of 3: "Beasts of Burden"June 28, 200038,160, ranked 49th in North America [27]
#20"In Dreams"July 26, 200037,543, ranked 49th in North America [28]
#21"A Sheep in Wolves' Clothes"August 23, 200035,155, ranked 49th in North America [29]
#22"Follow the Leader"September 27, 200035,364, ranked 54th in North America [30]
#23"Shell Game"October 25, 200036,605, ranked 49th in North America [31]
#24"Sunrise, Sunset"November 22, 200035,351, ranked 60th in North America [32]
#25"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"December 28, 200035,361, ranked 53rd in North America [33]

Annuals

IssueTitle Cover date Release date Estimated sales (first month)Rated
Gambit 1999 #1"With or Without You"September 1999July 21, 199938,434, ranked 72nd in NA [16] 12+
Gambit 2000 #1"Endgame?"October 2000August 16, 200029,119, ranked 75th in NA [29] 12+

Collected editions

TitleMaterial collectedPublication dateISBN
X-Men: Gambit – The Complete Collection, Volume 1Gambit (vol. 3) #1–11, #1/2. Annual '99, Marvel Authentix: Gambit #1, material from X-Men Unlimited (vol. 1) #18March 8, 2016 978-0785196853
X-Men Origins: GambitX-Men Origins: Gambit #1, Uncanny X-Men #266–267, X-Men (vol.2) #33, Gambit (vol. 3) #25 and material from Nation X #2September 27, 2016 978-1302902476
X-Men: Gambit – The Complete Collection, Volume 2Gambit (vol. 3) #12–25, Annual 2000December 24, 2018 978-1302913755

See also

References

  1. Fabian Nicieza (March 8, 2016). "Gambit (1998–2001)". Marvel.com .
  2. 1 2 Ian Keogh (March 8, 2016). "Review: X-Men: Gambit – The Complete Collection, Volume 1". Slings & Arrows.
  3. 1 2 Ian Keogh (December 24, 2018). "Review: X-Men: Gambit – The Complete Collection, Volume 2". Slings & Arrows.
  4. Lobdell, Scott; Pruett, Joe; Jeanty, Georges. Gambit #25 "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (December 2000). Marvel Comics.
  5. Alex Zalben (January 15, 2024). "Marvel Preview: Cable #1". Comic Book Club Live.
  6. Helmy Herlambang (June 15, 2021). "Besides Loki, These 5 Marvel Superheroes Also Have Unclear Genders". Kincir.
  7. Ian Goodwillie (November 12, 2019). "X-Men: 10 Times Mutants Stole Powers". CBR.
  8. 1 2 David Brooke (December 11, 2018). "Retro Recap: 'X-Men: Gambit Complete Vol. 2' — What you need to know". AIPT Comics.
  9. "December 1998 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  10. "January 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  11. "February 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  12. "March 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  13. "April 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  14. "May 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  15. "June 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
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  17. "August 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  18. "September 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  19. "October 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  20. "November 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  21. "December 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  22. "January 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  23. "February 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  24. "March 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  25. "April 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  26. "May 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  27. "June 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  28. "July 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  29. 1 2 "August 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  30. "September 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  31. "October 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  32. "November 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.
  33. "December 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.