Between appearances in the film Deadpool & Wolverine, season 1 of X-Men ‘97, and his recent inclusion in the NetEase video game Marvel Rivals, Gambit fans have been enjoying a Remy-aissiance as of late. Gambit has also been a major character in Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone, and is a central character in the “Age of Revelation” title Unbreakable X-Men, also written by Simone. Set 10 years in the future, this book follows Gambit and a supporting cast of characters following the devastating loss of Rogue in Unbreakable X-Men #1, who, in a battle with Galactus, used her powers to siphon the planet devourer. However, in doing so, she depleted her energy, resulting in Rogue becoming a statue. Gradually over time, a heartbroken Gambit lost his eyesight and became blind while mourning the loss of his beloved chére.
Much of Unbreakable X-Men focuses on Gambit’s grief and examines Gambit’s mental state as he tries to cope and move on with his life while dealing with Rogue’s death. The book is a meaningful exploration of the physical, mental, and emotional toll that grief takes on a person. What does someone do after losing the person who means the most to them in the whole world? How do you go on living when the person you love, who makes life worth living, is gone and never coming back? What purpose does Gambit have when Rogue, the person who gave his life meaning, is not there to bring joy and happiness to his every waking moment? These are the burning questions beating at the heart of Unbreakable X-Men.
It is worth mentioning here that there are two nearly identical versions of Rogue in the “Age of Revelation” books. One is “Rogue Red,” who leads an Uncanny X-Force team in Rogue Storm, and one is “Rogue Green”, which is the version that was turned to stone in Unbreakable X-Men. In Rogue Storm #1, Murewa Ayodele establishes that Rogue was split into two distinct personalities during an encounter with The Collector two years into the Age of Revelation. Gambit also makes an appearance in Rogue Storm #2, in which he confronts Ororo over what she did to “Rogue Red”. So far, we have yet to see the fallout of that confrontation; however, it is interesting to see a connection between these two titles in which Rogue is an important character in both books.
Another important plot point in Unbreakable X-Men, besides Gambit grieving Rogue, involves Lady Henrietta, a character that readers of Uncanny X-Men are sure to recognize. Lady Henrietta warns Gambit that the “Voice of Darkness,” aka Shuvahrak, first introduced in Uncanny X-Men #15, will soon escape confinement, and with her mutant killing army called the Tormented, she has the power to enslave the entire world under her will. A threat of this magnitude is too powerful for Gambit, Lady Henrietta, Ransom, Temper, Dome, and Spider-Girl to face alone. In order to ensure they have enough firepower to face Shuvahrak, Gambit and his allies decided to call in reinforcements in the form of the remaining Outliers who have scattered to the winds since the “Age of Revelation” began. The reunion of the Outliers is a meaningful one, which illustrates the reverence that the Outliers have for each other and the found family dynamic of the Outliers as a cast of characters.
The “Voice of Darkness” aka Shuvahrak, is free. Credit: Marvel Comics
While we do not know for sure why the Outliers disbanded and left Haven House, we do know that they separated from one another prior to Rogue’s battle with Galactus. Unbreakable X-Men #2 gives very few clues or indications as to why the Outliers chose to disband and leave Rogue and her X-Men team. Ransom does allude to a falling out that ended his friendship with Deathdream, and that Hotaru died and came back to life afterwards. We also learn in the issue that the Outliers made a vow to return to Haven House to stop Shuvahrak if she ever were to break free, similar to the Losers Club in Stephen King’s novel It vowing to return to Derry if Pennywise the clown begins killing children again.
Unbreakable X-Men is a remarkable issue in how it introduces Shuvahrak as an eldritch horror and a worthy foe for the X-Men. However, the main strength of the issue is how it portrays a broken man who has lost the person who he loves with his whole heart, but yet continues to live for the people who depend on him the most. Gail Simone effectively explores the theme of grief with one of the X-Men’s most beloved couples in a way that deeply humanizes Gambit, making him an empathetic character that readers can sympathize with and relate to.
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