The X-Men’s Rogue and Gambit have been a fan favorite couple for as long as I have been reading comics. While there have been multiple twists and turns of their relationship over the years, from the will-they-won’t-they of the early ’90s to the eventual marriage, recent writers have continued to play with the dynamics between the two characters. Rogue and Gambit: Power Play is a great supplement to that ongoing romance, while keeping the plot directly connected to the ongoing drama in the larger X-line.
Collecting issues #1-5 of the Rogue and Gambit miniseries from last year, these issues focus on our two protagonists as they traverse their marital challenges while dealing with the simmering trials with Destiny on Krakoa. Learning that Rogue has been keeping secrets from him and their allies, the series pulls in a slew of X-Men and Marvel Universe alumni into this short escapade. It’s quite a who’s-who of figures for the heroes to interact with, and ends on a positive note for the couple, in a final scene that should make Rogue and Gambit fans more than thrilled to experience.
Overall, this was a unexpectedly enjoyable series; while it doesn’t make any huge changes to the X-Men line, it offers a lot more than simple banter between the two main characters. I expected this to be nothing more than a side adventure for fans, but the amount of current continuity pressed into the storyline was a pleasant surprise. You can enjoy this run without being versed in current Krakoan machinations, but it will likely leave you unclear of the stakes. Stephanie Phillips is a solid character writer, giving readers ample and appropriate banter between the married couple as they traverse between acts. It rightfully finds a tonal sweet spot between the politics-heavy plotting in current X-books with the more soap-opera elements the series has been known for.
Carlos Gomez was a good choice to provide the line work, as his characters are emotionally expressive and pin-up minded in their layouts. Seeing that the fanbase for Rogue and Gambit are an insatiable lot, they will surely walk away from Gomez’s character designs more than satisfied. The action scenes are also strong, with big splashy fights that are well paced and paneled.
As always, we get the variant covers that hit newsstands, as well as a recipe for Gambit’s famous gumbo, a fun addition that should make its way into the menu at future X-Men convention gatherings. Sadly, not all the variant covers are full-page reproductions, but at least they are all accounted for.
Rogue and Gambit: Power Play is an enjoyable, quick read that should delight fans of the two main characters through its relatable banter and engaging artwork. Even if you need a strong command of the current plot in the X-books to take appreciate everything in these pages, casual fans just looking for a matrimonial adventure with Krakoa as a backdrop should appreciate this trade.
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