Gambit | Remy LeBeau

Gambit (Remy LeBeau) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually those featuring the X-Men, a group of which Gambit is typically depicted as a member. The character was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee. Drawn by artist Mike Collins, Gambit made his first appearances in The Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 (July 1990) and The Uncanny X-Men #266 (August 1990).[1] Belonging to a subspecies of humans called mutants, Gambit can mentally create, control, and manipulate pure kinetic energy. He is also knowledgeable and skilled in card throwing, hand-to-hand combat, and the use of a fighting staff. Gambit is known to charge playing cards and other objects with kinetic energy, using them as explosive projectiles.

Alter ego Remy Etienne LeBeau Species Human mutant Place of origin New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Team affiliations X-Men X-Factor Excalibur Marauders Horsemen of Apocalypse XSE Thieves Guild

Partnerships Rogue

Notable aliases Le Diable Blanc Ragin' Cajun Robert Lord Death Abilities Kinetic energy generation and manipulation Superhuman physical attributes via kinetic energy channeling Highly skilled martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant Expert marksman, stick fighter, and acrobat Telepathic resistance via charged potential energy Hypnotic charm Self-charging Skilled thief

Gambit is Cajun and is originally from New Orleans. He was previously part of the Thieves' Guild before becoming a member of the X-Men. Given his history, few X-Men trusted Gambit when he joined the group. There was consistently a source of stress between him and his on-again, off-again love interest and eventual wife Rogue. This was exacerbated when Gambit's connections to villain Mister Sinister were revealed, although some of his team members accept that Gambit honestly seeks redemption. His solo series of the same name consist of X-Men: Gambit, Astonishing X-Men: Gambit, Gambit: King of Thieves, and Gambit: Thick as Thieves, while his team series consist of Gambit & Bishop, Wolverine/Gambit, Deadpool v. Gambit, Rogue & Gambit, and Mr. & Mrs. X.

The character was most popular during the 1990s. He was adapted into various media throughout the years, including X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997), voiced by Chris Potter and Tony Daniels for its last season. The character later appears in the revival X-Men '97 (2024–present), voiced by A.J. LoCascio. The character also appeared in live-action films, first debuting in the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, portrayed by Taylor Kitsch. Channing Tatum was attached to star in a solo film, which remained in development hell for five years and was cancelled upon the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney; Tatum eventually portrayed the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) and is set to reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday (2026).

Early life edit Remy Étienne LeBeau[22] was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was kidnapped from the hospital where he was born, then raised by the LeBeau Clan Thieves Guild led by Jean-Luc LeBeau and given to the Antiquary as a tribute.

They referred to the child as "Le Diable Blanc" (French for "the White Devil") due to his combination of Caucasian ethnicity and devilish black and red eyes [23]. He was prophesied to unite the warring Thieves Guild and Assassins Guild. Soon after, Remy was placed in the care of Fagan's Mob, a gang of street thieves who raised the child and taught him the ways of thievery. After living as an orphan on the streets, a 10-year-old Remy attempted to pick the pocket of Jean-Luc LeBeau, then patriarch of the Thieves' Guild. Jean-Luc took the boy off the streets and adopted him into his own family.[24]

Remy's bio-kinetic charging abilities manifested early in his teens, although he kept his powers secret from his family and friends, practicing his powers away from prying eyes. When he was 15, he accompanied his cousin Étienne Marceaux on his "Tithing", the ritual initiation test of the Thieves' Guild. However, it went awry as they were assigned to steal from the powerful immortal mutant Candra, who quickly captured them. Candra recognized Remy from an encounter that had taken place in her past but in his future (due to a time travel mission to the 19th Century that Remy would take as an adult) and sold them to the deformed mutant gangster and child slave trader known as the Pig, who planned to sell them and others their age to Hydra as boy soldiers. Remy used his powers to escape their holding pen, but the physically enhanced Pig quickly caught up to them. Remy discovered his signature attack when he picked up a playing card that Étienne had dropped, charged it, and threw it in the Pig's face, taking out his eye. Finally escaping his clifftop headquarters by diving into the sea, Remy was ultimately rescued by the Guild; Étienne drowned.[25]

During his teen years, Remy was first hired by Mister Sinister, then in the disguise of Dr. Nathaniel Essex. Essex wanted his stolen diaries back from the Weapon X program. Remy and the Thieves' Guild accepted the mission and sent out Remy to retrieve said diaries. Standing in the cold, scouting the Weapon X facility, Remy could not bear the cold and swore he would steal a long, stylish jacket in New Orleans after the mission, which he did. Upon entering the facility, Remy witnessed Wolverine escaping from his adamantium procedure and found the diaries. However, deeming them to be too dangerous for Essex to have, as Remy did not fully trust him, Remy burned the diaries. He headed back home, only to find a disappointed Thieves' Guild and Essex.[26]

In an attempt to reconcile the Thieves' and Assassins' Guilds, Remy married Bella Donna Boudreaux, granddaughter of the head Assassin, whom he met at the age of eight. Unfortunately, Bella Donna's brother Julien challenged Gambit to a duel after the wedding. In the duel, Gambit killed Julien, and he was exiled from the city, ending his romantic relationship with Bella Donna.[27]

The Mutant Massacre edit After his exile from New Orleans, he wandered the world and became a master professional thief, making many contacts (and quite a few enemies). During this period, Gambit found he had an uncontrollable amount of energy flowing through him, to the point that he could not withstand it. Desperate, Gambit went to Mister Sinister for help. Sinister modified Gambit's power by removing a portion of Gambit's brain stem, making him significantly less powerful, but able to control the still considerable amount of power in him.[28] Years later, a much younger version of Mister Sinister surgically returned it, upon Gambit's request, when Gambit time-traveled to the 19th century.[29]

However, Sinister wanted the favor returned, so Gambit carried out various missions for him. For the last of these operations, Gambit gathered together a group of mercenaries which Sinister named the Marauders. Mister Sinister then ordered Gambit to lead Sabretooth, Blockbuster, Prism, and Riptide into the tunnels under New York City — while unknown to Gambit however — Mister Sinister had also ordered Scalphunter, Arclight, Harpoon, Malice, Scrambler and Vertigo into the tunnels. The group of Scalphunter followed the Morlock Tommy, and their goal was to wipe out the Morlocks. Gambit was unable to prevent the Marauders from killing a considerable number of Morlocks, but he was able to save a single child named Sarah, who would grow up to be Marrow, the leader of the mutant terrorist group Gene Nation. Gambit long kept his involvement with Mister Sinister and his mission in the massacre a secret from his fellow X-Men, much to their eventual displeasure.[30]

X-Men edit After wandering around the world, he encountered a de-aged and powerless Storm, and helped her escape from the Shadow King.[31] He then rescued her from Nanny and Orphan-Maker, helping her battle them.[32] Afterwards, the young amnesiac Storm, who had reverted to thieving to stay alive, joined Gambit, and she eventually brought him back to the X-Men.[33] Soon after, Gambit helped the X-Men, X-Factor, and New Mutants battle the Genoshans.[34] Only Wolverine expressed his doubts about the Cajun, which led to a Danger Room duel between the two. Gambit was able to triumph by using a robotic doppelganger of Lady Deathstrike to distract Wolverine while taking advantage of Wolverine's injuries, inflicted by the Reavers.[35] Gambit and the X-Men were then taken to the Shi'ar galaxy by Lila Cheney. Alongside the X-Men and Starjammers, Gambit battled Deathbird, the Imperial Guard, and a band of Warskrulls.[36] Upon their return to Earth, Gambit assisted the X-Men and X-Factor in battling the Shadow King, though he was temporarily controlled by the Shadow King.[37]

When the original five X-Men rejoined, and the team was divided into two squads, Gambit became part of the Blue team under Cyclops's leadership. Alongside the X-Men, he battled Magneto and his newly formed Acolytes,[38] Fenris, the Hand, Omega Red, and Sabretooth,[39] and then Mojo.[40] Gambit then fought Bishop and was attacked by his estranged wife, Bella Donna. Gambit recounted how he had fled from New Orleans after killing his brother-in-law in self-defense.[41] Alongside the X-Men, Gambit first encountered the second Ghost Rider. Gambit battled the Brood Queen and the Brood-possessed Ghost Rider and witnessed the apparent death of his now ex-wife, Bella Donna.[42]

Gambit became romantically interested in one of his teammates, Rogue, and started flirting with her. Despite her off-putting manner and the obstacle of her uncontrollable mutant ability that prevented anyone from touching her, he began romancing and seducing Rogue.[43] Their strong romantic relationship was originally written as a one-time, flirtatious moment; ironically, their romantic relationship is listed as one of the longest and most popular ongoing deep and close romantic relationships in the X-Men series, probably only second to Jean Grey and Cyclops.[44] Although their early "courtship" portrayed him as very "devil may care" in his flirtation with her, later issues revealed that, beneath his bravado and swagger, he truly had genuine romantic feelings for her. Similarly, despite her initial aggressive rejection of his advances, Rogue found that she was not only flattered by his attention but that she felt equally romantically attracted to him.

Many publishing years later, it had become apparent Remy had a dark secret. Sabretooth had hinted at it on numerous occasions during his "residency" at the X-Mansion, prompting Rogue to ask him to reveal whatever he knew about Gambit's past.[45] Remy was captured and brought before a mock trial held by Magneto disguised as Erik the Red.[30] Rogue was forced to kiss him again, revealing that he had gathered information on the Morlocks and assembled the team of Marauders for Mr. Sinister, who did not inform Remy of his ultimate intent for the mutant tribe. When the Marauders later began killing most of the Morlocks, it was revealed that Gambit saved a single girl from the Marauders during the massacre. This apparent revelation and absorbing Gambit's own guilty memories caused Rogue to reject him. Gambit was similarly cast out of the X-Men and was abandoned in the frozen wastes of Antarctica.[46]

Starving and haunted by the betrayal of his lover, Gambit made his way back into Magneto's citadel, where he encountered the psionic essence of a dead mutant named Mary Purcell.[47] The wraith-like Mary bonded with him, allowing him to survive until he reached the Savage Land, a hidden jungle nestled in the icy wasteland. There, Remy struck a deal with an enigmatic being known as the New Son.[48] In exchange for passage back to America, Gambit agreed to run errands with the help of his shapeshifting best friend Jacob "Jake" Gavin Jr. / Courier.[49] During this period, Remy's command over his abilities strengthened and amplified significantly,[50] although his actions lead to Courier being trapped in the body of a woman by Mister Sinister.

When Gambit's psyche absorption had worn off, Rogue spent months searching for him, to no avail. Gambit encountered Storm and Shadowcat when he attempted to steal the fabled Crimson Gem of Cyttorak for his new employer.[51] He agreed to return to the X-Men, mainly for his self-respect and for Rogue. At one point, he became the field leader of a branch of X-Men. His romantic love for Rogue was still intact, but her inability to control her powers made her break it off out of fear of hurting him.[52]

Meanwhile, the New Son revealed his true identity as an alternate universe version of Gambit himself, after organizing an assassination game for a cadre of superpowered mercenaries with Remy as the target.[53] During the final confrontation, Gambit burned out his enhanced abilities, thus returning to his original level of power. Courier asks if Gambit will miss being so powerful, asking what Gambit wants, before Gambit suddenly kisses him, saying he wants to keep everyone on their toes.[54]

Bishop's future edit In Bishop's future timeline, Bishop stumbles upon a video from the past with Jean Grey making a frantic call to any X-Men she can find. She says that the X-Men have been betrayed by "one of their own" and it appears in the video that she is the last one left and is killed in the video. Disturbed by this, Bishop seeks "The Witness", a man who is said to be the last person who has ever seen the X-Men of the past alive. He enters a citadel of sorts where he confronts an old and withered but plucky man with long gray hair sitting on a throne, with two blonde women to either side of him. When Bishop confronts him about who killed the X-Men, the Witness feigns knowing but refuses to tell, and Bishop is thrown out of the citadel.[55]

When Bishop comes to the X-Men in their original timeline, he meets Gambit and is sure that he is the same old man in Bishop's future, and that Gambit was the "Traitor" who killed the X-Men. For some time, he continues to watch Gambit's every step until he is finally convinced sometime later that Gambit is not the Traitor (with Onslaught being revealed to be the traitor). The reason behind Gambit being called the Witness in Bishop's timeline has not been revealed. In the Messiah Complex, it was revealed that the Marauders killed the Witness in their efforts to destroy anyone with knowledge of the future.[56]

2000s edit X-Treme X-Men: XSE edit When Storm leads a team of X-Men in search of Destiny's diaries, the thirteen-volume Books of Truth, Gambit volunteered to join them, but Rogue — afraid that her increasingly uncontrolled powers would bring him harm — flatly refused to allow him along. He returned to thievery instead and was soon after framed by mutant businessman Sebastian Shaw for the death of the Australian crime lord Viceroy. With the assistance of Rogue, Storm's team of X-Treme X-Men, and former Triad member Red Lotus, Gambit was able to clear his name. Soon after, Remy was captured, and his powers were used to open a portal intended for an alien invasion of Earth led by the interdimensional warlord Khan.[57]

The X-Treme team's enemy, the enhanced human Vargas, used the invasion as a chance to attempt to kill more of Storm's team, particularly Rogue, whom Destiny depicted as slaying him. Rogue's attempt at rescuing and shielding Gambit got her stuck, and Vargas used the opportunity to impale them both. Gambit was seriously wounded, but Beast's surgical skills and Rogue's pleading with Gambit on the astral plane resulted in both surviving their ordeal. Losing their mutant powers, they decided to sort out their romantic relationship by retiring from the X-Men temporarily and moving to California.[58]

Although powerless, Gambit later joins Storm in infiltrating the US President's Texan ranch to obtain information on a closed-group meeting proposing worldwide policies on mutants.[59]

Rejoining the team edit Gambit and Rogue rejoined the X-Men soon after Sage jump-started their powers, and they were placed on Havok's team. In their first mission back, Gambit was temporarily blinded by one of his energized cards that went off in his face.[60] Rogue tried to console Gambit during his recovery, but their romantic relationship became strained once more as he became more and more frustrated with his blindness and their lack of touch after Rogue's powers returned. He started lashing out at Rogue, most of the time verbally. As a result, Rogue took some time away from Gambit.[61] While he lost his vision, Gambit developed the ability to read his playing cards as if they were tarot cards, and he was able to predict the attack by the Brotherhood.[62] Some time later, during a Christmas celebration, Rogue asked Sage to once again jumpstart Gambit's powers, in the process, healing his vision.[63]

During the story arc with Golgotha, Gambit revealed some deep insecurities he had about his romantic relationship with Rogue, saying that "Maybe dis no-touching thing is getting to me... more den I thought".[64] He also told Rogue that she should get together with Logan, thinking that there was a hidden attraction between the two. As a result of the accusation, Logan kissed Rogue, but she broke it off before it caused any major damage. Gambit then began to realize what he was saying, questioning his romantic love for Rogue, but soon after began to suffer from hallucinations that he was fighting Mister Sinister.[65] However, Rogue and Gambit soon realized that Golgotha made them say things they did not mean, and before the final battle, they "kissed" through their spacesuit helmets.[66]

Once back at the mansion, Gambit and Rogue moved into the same room to try rebuilding some intimacy and began telepathic therapy with Emma Frost. They soon found out that with all the emotional baggage in their minds, they were still unable to make physical contact mentally.[incomprehensible] This would cause even more strain when the new student, Foxx, joins Gambit's team and attempts to seduce him.[67]

Rogue's foster mother Mystique was displeased with Rogue's choice of lovers and infiltrated Xavier's Institute by shapeshifting into a student called Foxx. She joined Gambit's squad in an attempt to ruin his relationship with Rogue. After Gambit resisted her charms, Mystique reverted to her true form and then offered Gambit something significantly more difficult to refuse: she transformed into Rogue and offered Gambit a Rogue with whom he could have a physical relationship, claiming that she was only trying to help relieve the increasing frustrations between the two lovers; "... if one of you could have some physical release...". Rogue eventually discovered her mother's presence in the school, and that Gambit knew she was there. Gambit denies that he slept with Mystique.[68]

Upon the return of Apocalypse, Gambit submitted himself to the villain and was transformed into Apocalypse's Horsemen Death. Gambit intended to infiltrate himself into Apocalypse's ranks to protect the X-Men from the Dark Lord's eventual betrayal, but he miscalculated, as the transformation process warped his mind and body. After becoming Death, Gambit's hair turned white, and his skin turned deep black. Despite having his mind and body twisted, Gambit retained a large portion of his former self, stating to Apocalypse, "I'm both Death and Gambit", and he also remembered his love for Rogue as he could not bring himself to kill her. Gambit and Sunfire then returned to the Xavier Institute to claim Polaris. Gambit, in an attempt to free all ties with his old self, tried to kill Rogue and would have been successful had it not been for Pulse neutralizing Gambit's powers. After the X-Men defeated Apocalypse, Sunfire left with Gambit to help him clear Apocalypse's brainwashing and live as entirely new beings, only to then be approached by Mister Sinister.[69]

Marauders edit Gambit returned to his original appearance and powers (presumably with the aid of Mr. Sinister) and reemerged as a member of the Marauders.[70] On a mission for Mr. Sinister (involving obtaining knowledge of the future), Gambit and Sunfire encountered Cable on the recently evacuated island of Providence. Before the fight, Gambit said, "I dropped that whole new look, wit' the help of a friend." He then asked Cable to use his super-computer to answer a question referring to the phrase "one minute before dawn", which tied into the then-upcoming Messiah Complex storyline. As a result, Gambit and Sunfire attacked him, eventually forcing Cable to activate a self-destruct sequence, destroying the entire island.[71] Gambit and Sunfire escaped empty-handed.

During the fight, Cable noted that Gambit's accent sounded 'forced' either for comic effect or perhaps to indicate that things may not be as 'back to normal' as they seem with Gambit.[71] As Gambit returned to Mr. Sinister's base to discuss the next step of the plan, he reprimanded Mystique for shooting Rogue when they abducted her, being placated only by Mr. Sinister's assurance that Rogue was still needed and would survive. In a confrontation with Cannonball and Iceman, he seemed to sympathize with a beaten Cannonball. He interfered when Scalphunter was about to kill Cannonball, attacking Cannonball, and by his actions, saving Cannonball from certain death. At the same time, he also destroyed Destiny's diaries, preventing Sinister and the Marauders from getting them.[72]

Messiah Complex edit During the 2007–2008 "Messiah Complex" storyline, Gambit is personally targeted by Wolverine during the X-Men's assault on Mister Sinister's Antarctic base.[73] After being tortured by the Canadian mutant, Gambit reveals that Cable has the baby before Sinister manages to regain the advantage and drive the X-Men off, with Gambit later revealed not to be harmed. Later, as Bishop attempts to kill the baby (after immobilizing Cable), Gambit and several of the Marauders quickly stop him with Gambit bringing a section of the ceiling down on Bishop. Knowing the X-Men will arrive in moments, the Marauders depart with the baby, but not before Gambit ponders what could make Bishop turn on the X-Men.[74]

Tracking Gambit using Cerebro, the X-Men find that the Marauders' hideout was on Muir Island. However, they did not know that Gambit let the X-Men track him. It appears that Gambit, along with Mystique, has plans of their own for the newborn mutant as evidenced by his lack of surprise when he delivers the baby to Sinister, who then reveals himself to be Mystique as the real Sinister lies on the floor with shock etched into his face, and the fact that Mystique told Gambit that it is time for the next step.[75]

A flashback sequence shows that Mystique used Rogue's intensified powers to kill Sinister. In the present, she explains that everything she and Gambit have done has led to this moment as foretold by Destiny. Mystique touches the baby's face to Rogue's in the hope of sacrificing the child to save her. After an energy burst, Gambit snatches the baby, saying that Rogue would never want an innocent life used to save hers. However, the child was unharmed by Rogue's touch. Gambit gives the baby to Xavier and says he wishes to stay with Rogue. Shortly after, Rogue awakens and tries to kill Mystique. However, somehow the baby cures her of her intensified powers, as well as any psyches she had ever absorbed; this leaves her with the psyche of only one other individual: Mystique. She tells Gambit she needs time alone, and if he still cares for her, he would not follow.[76][77]

{{user}} is jealous that Remy is dancing with Rogue and not them.