Warning: contains potential spoilers forThe Uncanny X-Men#12!
TheX-Men’slore is set for a major shift, asGambit’sfirst villain returns to wreak havoc on his life. Gambit has been a mainstay of the X-Men franchise for 35 years, yet new revelations continue to come to light about him, and in a preview forThe Uncanny X-Men#12,one of his first-ever opponents, the Vig, returns–and this new foe has ties to Gambit’s family.
Gambit was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee.
Uncanny X-Men#12 will be written by Gail Simone and drawn by Gavin Guidry. The Vig’s arrival has been hyped by Marvel since earlier this year, and he makes his debut in this preview, which opens with a young Gambit receiving a pummeling at the hands of a trio of bullies. Gambit, trying to live up to what his father told him about fighting, refuses to defend himself. Afterward, the Vig shows up, informing Gambit that he now works for Gambit’s father. As the preview closes, the VIg offers to get brutal revenge on the bullies.
Gambit’s Marvel Universe Character Arc, Explained
As Gambit’s Past Was Revealed, He Became an Even More Fascinating Character
Since his introduction over three decades ago, Gambit has evolved considerably, going from a brooding loner to a fun, swash-buckling character, as well as devoted husband to Rogue, the love of his life.
Since his introduction over three decades ago, Gambit has evolved considerably, going from a brooding loner to a fun, swash-buckling character,as well as devoted husband to Rogue, the love of his life. A common trope in theX-Menbooks of the era was “mutants of mystery.” This subset of mutants included Wolverine, Cable and Gambit. All of them had checkered, or mysterious, pasts prior to meeting the X-Men. All of them had done bad things before, but their lips were sealed–and fans could not get enough of it. Gambit was in this mold when he debuted.
Yet over time,fans learned about Gambit’s past, both the good and the bad. Gambit was revealed to be “royalty,” having descended from a line of thieves working in New Orleans, as mentioned in the preview forThe Uncanny X-Men#12. These thieves had organized themselves into clans, and Gambit was set to become head of his. In addition to revelations about Gambit’s family, his previous association with Mister Sinister and the Marauders came to light, significantly darkening up his character. Gambit, however, has grown from his experiences, and genuinely desires to do better.
The Vig Could Become Gambit’s Worst Nightmare
The Vig Has Ties to Gambit’s Family, Making This Feud Personal
Gambit’s character arc has endured him to X-Men fans, and he has stayed in the spotlight since his introduction–yet as seen in the preview forThe Uncanny X-Men#12, there is still much to be revealed about him. In this case, it is people from his past, like the Vig. Although the Vig is only seen for one panel in the preview, he manages to make an impression. Gambit already knew about the Vig, even before he came to offer assistance. Gambit knew of the Vig’s reputation: his father worked with some bad customers, but the Vig was the worst.
Love Gambit? If So, You Need to Peep the Hero’s 10 Best Costumes in Marvel History
Gambit has many reputations, including as a thief and a ladies' man, but one that has perhaps been left unsaid is a reputation as a sharp dresser.
The preview makes it clear the Vig will be a tough opponent for Gambit, on a number of levels. First, there’s the Vig’s appearance. His face, seemingly devoid of skin, is hideous, yet he himself is sharply dressed. The VIg exudes evil and menace. The Vig has a reputation among New Orleans’ worst, who all fear him. The Vig’s ties to Gambit’s family adds another, personal layer to their impending feud. Gambit’s messy past has caused him heartache and grief, and he has tried to put it behind him, yet people like the VIg are there to remind him of it.
The Vig Will Challenge Gambit Unlike Any Other Villain
Will the Vig Set Gambit Back On his Personal Journey?
The Vig’s ties to Gambit’s past make him the ideal foe, and a worthy addition to his rogues’ gallery. While the preview does not make it clear if the Vig has any powers, his intimidating figure and terrifying reputation are seemingly all he needs to be a great villain. He is a reminder that there is still a lot about Gambit fans do not know.Gambithas made great strides since joining theX-Menin escaping his past, and the Vig potentially could upend all of his progress.
The Uncanny X-Men#12 is on sale March 26 from Marvel Comics!
