Remy’s pre-X days in New Orleans are beautifully featured in this one-shot.
X-MEN ORIGINS: GAMBIT #1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Mike Carey
Art: David Yardin and Ibraim Roberson
Colorist: Nathan Fairbairn
Letterer: Rob Steen
Summary: Remy LeBeau is one of the X-Men’s biggest guns, but he started out on the other side of the equation, alongside Mister Sinister’s Marauders. From New Orleans to the Mutant Massacre and beyond, this is the story of the Ragin’ Cajun’s transformation from villain to hero - and what it cost him.
Review: X-Men Origins: Gambit #1 is a perfectly timed one-shot which gives readers a succinct backstory of one of Marvel’s famous bad boys and here’s why: One of the best things that happens from movie adaptations is that new fans discover the joy of comics. There is a new audience that has to get educated in the names of characters, artists, and writers. Such is the case when Bryan Singer brought X-Men to the big screen in 2000. The existing fan base from the 1990s had an abundance of X-comics plus the animated series. The X-Men movie trilogy introduced a basic level of the mutant universe while 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie gave some short but notable feature time to one of the favorites that was lacking in the original three. That is of course, Gambit aptly portrayed by the hypnotic Taylor Kitsch.
Newer fans may be surprised to find that Rogue is nowhere to be found in this issue. She comes into Gambit’s life much later on. This is origin story beautifully tells about Remy’s relationship with his first love Bella Donna Boudreaux. Their Romeo and Juliet pairing is evident since Remy comes from the notorious New Orleans Thieves Guild and Bella Donna comes from the infamous Assassins’ Guild and never the twain shall meet. However the leaders of the guilds take a page from history and realize that a marriage between them would undoubtedly force a declaration of peace between their people. Naturally not everyone is happy. Bella Donna’s brother Julien causes a scene at the wedding which leads to a proper dual against Remy. The Thieves are not necessarily violent though they are criminals and Remy is enlightened to the dangers of anyone who would be associated with the Assassins; his actions against Julien require punishment and he faces exile from his beloved New Orleans and his bride.
Readers will be taken on a great, although quick, adventure following Remy’s other pre-Gambit years when he is forced into the Marauders. He’s a character that struggles with making decisions that put him in compromising situations. He wants redemption and freedom but he has to pay the price.
The artwork is stellar and has a more painted texture to it than the modern digital books put out today. When you can tell a book is digitally colored because of overly shiny lighting and mismatched shading then the coloring is bad; here you can rarely see that unwanted effect and overall it’s some of the best coloring of a modern comic on today’s shelves.
If you missed the Gambit miniseries of the 1990s, then definitely grab this. The $3.99 cover price gets you everything from that mini all wrapped up in one book.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I remember reading this like 5 years ago. It’s why I fell in <3 with the little cajun. I have most of the original run, but I’m missing like maybe one or two issues. I definitely need to pick this up…