Unbreakable X-Men comes to a close with a catastrophic attack on Atlantis and a climactic battle with the entity known as Shuvahrak. In the end, both Gambit and the Outliers will be tested like never before and will learn what it truly means to be “unbreakable”.
In Unbreakable X-Men #1, Remy LeBeau, aka Gambit, suffered a devastating loss that broke his heart and nearly broke his spirit as well. While battling the cosmic planet-devouring being known as Galactus, Rogue used her power absorption abilities to completely drain Galactus of his energy. However, in doing so, Rogue was turned to stone. A monument was erected in Rogue’s honor with the word “Unbreakable” inscribed on the statue to pay tribute to Rogue and her heroic sacrifice. Prior to these events, Rogue was split into two personalities, one called Rogue Green and one called Rogue Red. The Rogue Green personality was the one who fought Galactus and was turned into a statue. Meanwhile, the Rogue Red personality formed her own X-Force team to hunt down Ororo Munroe, who had gone mad with her powers, in the events of Rogue Storm.
Without his beloved Rogue in his life, Gambit nearly lost the will to live. Not only did Rogue give his life purpose and meaning, but their love was the central tenet of Gambit’s life. When Rogue died, a part of Gambit died as well. He lost the color in his hair as his hair gradually turned from brown to gray, and he lost his eyesight as well. Clearly, Gambit’s grief took a physical toll on him as well as an emotional one. The light behind his eyes has been extinguished, much like Rogue’s life was snuffed out.
While Gambit has suffered a painful and traumatic loss, one that has sapped him of the spark that allowed him to enjoy life with impassioned fervor and overzealous enthusiasm, he somehow manages to find the strength within not to fully give in to his depression. Rather than allow himself to drown in the depths of his despair, Gambit perseveres and summons the will to go on with his life despite how hard it is not to wallow in anguish. Part of his motivation for not giving up comes from his dedication and devotion to the younger generation of mutants who still look to him for guidance and direction in life. When the ancient entity known as Shuvahrak is released from the Penumbra, Gambit comes to the aid of the Outliers in disposing of the threat of Shuvahrak. In defending against Shuvahrak’s assault on humanity, Gambit finds a renewed sense of purpose and becomes a heroic character once again.
The Outliers make a vow to band together to defeat Shuvahrak, no matter the cost. Credit: Marvel Comics
During the events of Unbreakable X-Men #2, we learned that the Outliers made an agreement to return to Haven House if Shuvahrak was set free. Unbreakable X-Men #3 opens with a flashback that shows the Outliers making a blood oath to stop Shuvahrak if she were to escape her prison. It is a pivotal scene in establishing how far these characters have come since their initial introduction at the start of Gail Simone’s run on Uncanny X-Men. No longer are the Outliers confused young mutants unsure about their newfound abilities or their place in a world that hates and fears them. Now, through trials and tribulations, they have proven themselves as members of the X-Men and have fully accepted and embraced the responsibilities that come with their mutant abilities. As much as this comic is a thoughtful examination of processing grief and dealing with loss, it is also deeply rooted in the power and strength that come from community and found family. The Outliers are a quintessential example of the found family narrative present in X-Men comics. Much like the cast of the New Mutants, Generation X, or New X-Men: Academy X, the Outliers are a cast of multiracial, multiethnic individuals who are brought together due to their shared identity as mutants. They live together and fight together, as they navigate life as a member of a persecuted minority group, creating inseparable ties that will bind them together for life.
Much of the conflict in Unbreakable X-Men #3 is two-fold: Gambit fighting Namor in Atlantis, and the Outliers fighting Shuvahrak. The fight sequences in the issue are well-executed and filled with enough heart-pounding action to keep the reader engaged and pulled into the narrative. Namor’s distrust of surface dwellers is understandable and explains why he is willing to fight Gambit instead of heeding the X-Men’s warnings of Shuvahrak’s attack on Atlantis. However, with Shuvahrak being an existential threat to Atlantis, one would think that Namor would be able to put aside his hostile feelings towards surface dwellers long enough that the two factions could stand united against Shuvahrak.
Ultimately, the divergent conflicts with Namor and Shuvahrak are resolved rather quickly, as a familiar face makes a triumphant return and Shuvahrak is swiftly dealt with, somewhat anticlimactically. The issue, and the miniseries, ends with Gambit and the Outliers rebuilding their home in Louisiana following Shuvahrak’s attack, with the bond between the Outliers stronger than ever. It is demonstrative that sometimes, after a devastating loss, a community is able to regroup, regather, and rebuild, coming back stronger than ever.
Overall, Unbreakable X-Men is a story about found family narratives, how the ties that bind us are also what unite us, and no matter what gets thrown at us, the love that we have for each other will keep us strong. With those unbreakable bonds, there is no fight we cannot win, and nothing that we cannot overcome.
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