Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 23, 2026

Gambit (1998 comic)

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.

Last revised
Jul 23, 2026
Read time
≈ 6 min
Length
1,278 w
Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Gambit
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing 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 OneISBN 978-0785196853
Volume TwoISBN 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.

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

  • Remy LeBeau / Gambit – a card-wielding mutant who was adopted by the Thieves Guild, able to create, control, and manipulate kinetic energy.
  • Jacob "Jake" Gavin Jr. / Courier – a shapeshifter able to detach and remotely move his own body parts,6 who is trapped in the body of a woman by Mister Sinister after he steals his powers,7 going by the alias Jacqueline ("Jackie").8
  • Sun / The New Son – an evil version of Gambit from an alternate reality where he was never joined the Thieves Guild.
  • Anna-Marie / Rogue – the power-and-lifeforce-absorbing adoptive daughter of Mystique and Gambit's love interest.
  • Ororo Monroe / Storm – a thunder and lightning-controlling mutant goddess and Gambit's former friend.

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

Issue Title Publication date Estimated sales (first month)
#1 "The Man of Steal" December 23, 1998 117,437, ranked 5th in North America9
#2 "Stormbringers" January 27, 1999 86,130, ranked 10th in North America10
#3 "Monsters Like Us" February 24, 1999 66,559, ranked 17th in North America11
#4 "Old Wounds, Fresh Blood" March 24, 1999 63,525, ranked 18th in North America12
#5 "Of Mice and Men" April 28, 1999 59,689, ranked 22nd in North America13
#6 "Muddy Waters" May 26, 1999 54,004, ranked 31st in North America14
#7 "Dirty Troughs" June 23, 1999 51,939, ranked 29th in North America15
#8 "Destined to Repeat It" July 28, 1999 49,286, ranked 44th in North America16
#9 "To Thine Own Self Be True" August 25, 1999 46,399, ranked 36th in North America17
#10 "Waiting for the Princess" September 22, 1999 43,235, ranked 47th in North America18
#11 "The Hamster Run" October 27, 1999 44,251, ranked 42nd in North America19
#12 "The Sunset Dawn (Book 1): The Time Trap" December 1, 1999 41,480, ranked 43rd in North America20
#13 "The Sunset Dawn (Book 2): The Black Womb" January 5, 2000 43,326, ranked 35th in North America21
#14 "The Sunset Dawn (Book 3): Tomorrow Starts Today" January 26, 2000 38,978, ranked 44th in North America22
#15 "Folding City" February 23, 2000 36,734, ranked 44th in North America23
#16 "The More Things Change" March 22, 2000 43,376, ranked 29th in North America24
#17 "Assassination Game", Part 1 of 3: "The Pin Cushion" April 26, 2000 36,946, ranked 53rd in North America25
#18 "Assassination Game", Part 2 of 3: "Working the Treadmill" May 31, 2000 37,126, ranked 59th in North America26
#19 "Assassination Game", Part 3 of 3: "Beasts of Burden" June 28, 2000 38,160, ranked 49th in North America27
#20 "In Dreams" July 26, 2000 37,543, ranked 49th in North America28
#21 "A Sheep in Wolves' Clothes" August 23, 2000 35,155, ranked 49th in North America29
#22 "Follow the Leader" September 27, 2000 35,364, ranked 54th in North America30
#23 "Shell Game" October 25, 2000 36,605, ranked 49th in North America31
#24 "Sunrise, Sunset" November 22, 2000 35,351, ranked 60th in North America32
#25 "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" December 28, 2000 35,361, ranked 53rd in North America33

Annuals

Issue Title Cover date Release date Estimated sales (first month) Rated
Gambit 1999 #1 "With or Without You" September 1999 July 21, 1999 38,434, ranked 72nd in NA16 12+
Gambit 2000 #1 "Endgame?" October 2000 August 16, 2000 29,119, ranked 75th in NA29 12+

Collected editions

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

See also

References

References

  1. Fabian Nicieza (March 8, 2016). "Gambit (1998–2001)". Marvel.com.
  2. Ian Keogh (March 8, 2016). "Review: X-Men: Gambit – The Complete Collection, Volume 1". Slings & Arrows.
  3. 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. 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.
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  33. "December 2000 Comic Book Sales Figures". Comichron.