Gambit (1998 series)

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 . Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Ian Keogh (March 8, 2016). "Review: X-Men: Gambit – The Complete Collection, Volume 1". Slings & Arrows. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Ian Keogh (December 24, 2018). "Review: X-Men: Gambit – The Complete Collection, Volume 2". Slings & Arrows. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  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. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  6. Helmy Herlambang (June 15, 2021). "Besides Loki, These 5 Marvel Superheroes Also Have Unclear Genders". Kincir. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  7. Ian Goodwillie (November 12, 2019). "X-Men: 10 Times Mutants Stole Powers". CBR. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  8. 1 2 David Brooke (December 11, 2018). "Retro Recap: 'X-Men: Gambit Complete Vol. 2' — What you need to know". AIPT Comics. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  9. "December 1998 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  10. "January 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
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  17. "August 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  18. "September 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  19. "October 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  20. "November 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  21. "December 1999 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  22. "January 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  23. "February 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  24. "March 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  25. "April 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  26. "May 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  27. "June 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  28. "July 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  29. 1 2 "August 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  30. "September 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  31. "October 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  32. "November 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  33. "December 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron. Retrieved 2018-01-03.