
Created by Jim Lee and Chris Claremont, Remy Etienne LeBeau is the smooth talking Cajun mutant without peer, capable of charging any inorganic matter with a distinctive purple-looking kinetic energy that more often than not makes the object explode in an extravagant manner.
Originally a thief on the streets of New Orleans, a series of tragic events resulted in him cast out from his guild and his city, leading him to wandering the world, becoming a master thief, albeit a master thief whose powers were wildly out of control, something that thrust him into the icy grip of Mister Sinister.

In recent years he's continued to suffer for his willing conversion into death, which appears to have awoken a dark and evil thing inside of himself, one that in the recent Second Coming crossover almost eliminated a whole group of X-Men.
So... Yeah, tragedy kind of follows him everywhere. But over the years he has grown, matured, lost the more humiliating parts of his accent and become of the more riveting characters in the X-titles. Which certainly seems to be paying off, if you've noticed how he's one of the headlining characters in the new alternate dimension epic Age of X, out in 2011.

If you don't get Gambit, or simply haven't read much with him in it, I implore you to check out John Layman's (of Chew fame) 2-volume series from earlier this decade, which painted a picture of a very different man than the racial stereotype of the Claremont era. It's probably one of my favourite ongoings of all time, and I'm sure that it could give you all the same love for the character that I have. And if that doesn't work read Becky Cloonan's short story starring Gambit in Nation X (issue 2), which will literally make you fall in LOVE with him (damn Cloonan and her sexy, sexy Gambit).

Gambit is a character who can give you 100 ideas off the bat, and hey, you only have to use ONE OF THEM here on the site. So dig in, have fun and learn some french!
IF YOU WANT TO JOIN IN AND CONTRIBUTE A SCRIPT, GOOD PEOPLE OF THE WEB, THEN JUST POP ONE IN IN THE COMMENTS OF THIS HERE POST! THANK YOU!
Hey, nice! Being a child during the '90s, Gambit is always in the group that pops up in my head when I think of the X-Men. I'll try a little harder than usual to write something this time around.
ReplyDeleteI for one am very pleased with this choice. When I was a kid, Gambit was the epitome of cool, and as the saying goes, first impressions last. Now the trick will be to come up with something that does him justice. For some reason, the favourites are always the hardest to write.
ReplyDeleteFun with Fireworks by MK Stangeland Jr.
ReplyDelete(8 Panels)
Panel 1 Scene is evening, with the sky dark enough for fireworks to have their full effect.
JUBILEE stands at the top of a hill. A few other X-MEN are standing or sitting nearby, watching the fireworks display she’s putting on for them. There aren’t many of them present – this is not meant to be for any special occasion so much as a few of them just taking some time to have some fun. Lighting from off-panel given an indication as to the kind of display JUBILEE is putting on.
Panel 2 Panel shows the fireworks, allowing the reader to see what the people in the scene are viewing.
Panel 3 View of the sky as a variety of cards, charged with energy from GAMBIT (off-panel), fly into air. Also from off-panel, pre-explosion shots from BOOM BOOM (off-pane) shoot towards where the cards are about to be.
Panel 4 The cards and shots impact with one another, creating an array of explosions larger and brighter than either would create on their own.
Panel 5 Close up on the head of JUBILEE as she reacts in surprise to the explosions.
Panel 6 JUBILEE looks towards where GAMBIT and BOOM BOOM are standing nearby, giving each other a congratulatory handshake as they look up into the sky and admire their work.
Panel 7 A few tiny fireworks are shown around JUBILEE as she talks to GAMBIT and BOOM BOOM, indicating that she’s trying to explain the point of the fireworks while keeping the panel silent.
Panel 8 GAMBIT and BOOM BOOM look at one another as they shrug, in a ‘what’s the fun in that?’ kind of way. JUBILEE reacts with a mildly annoyed ‘really?’ look as a response.
Fin
I was thinking of doing something similar with Jubilee... back to the drawing board (or note pad as the case may be) :)
ReplyDelete"Gamblin' Man"
ReplyDeleteThe Premise: Returning to his old neighbourhood in New Orleans at the request of former friend and fellow street urchin, Lucy, Gambit gets into trouble with a local crimelord called Monsieur Blanc, whom Lucy owes money to. She and Gambit have just been taken captive by Monsieur Blanc. (I have read zero Gambit stories, so I've probably butchered the character, but I thought I'd at least give it a shot.)
PAGE ???
Five long horizontal panels.
1) Long shot. M. Blanc is on the far right with his two henchmen, walking away. On the left is Gambit and Lucy, restrained by other henchmen.
BLANC: Get rid of them.
LUCY: No!
GAMBIT(CAP): Damn. Nothing to charge up... I'm powerless.
2) Lucy is on the right, Gambit on the left. We are looking between them at M. Blanc's back as he leaves.
LUCY: Let Remy go! This is nothing to do with him!
GAMBIT(CAP): She's damn right. But I've been in worse scrapes than this...
3) The long shot from Panel 1, but now M. Blanc is looking back over his shoulder.
BLANC: Oh, darlin', you should know by now that things ain't so black and white.
GAMBIT(CAP): ...I know how to make the best of a bad hand...
4) Medium shot of Gambit and Lucy. She is panicking, he is cocky as hell with a grin that could cut diamonds.
GAMBIT: You a gamblin' man, Monsieur Blanc?
5) Close up on M. Blanc with Lucy and Gambit over his shoulder in the background. He is facing away from them, but we can see he is hooked by Gambit's question.
GAMBIT(CAP): ...and how to spot easy money a mile away.
END OF PAGE.
It took me quite some time to come to grips on what kind of Gambit story I'd like to tell. I loved him as a kid of the 90's but have since grown to loathe the character. I figured this wasn't fair, so instead I tried to remember what I liked about him. I loved him in Uncanny X-men when Joe Madureira drew him and he worked with just a couple of other X-men. Gambit as the leader of the X-ternals in Age of Apocalypse was fantastic. In a world where the X-men were outlaws, the X-ternals were the real loose cannons out of all of Magneto's little armies. So that leaves me where I am - I like Gambit off in the distance leading a small team on the fringe.
ReplyDeleteTo that end, I would launch a team book miniseries, The Extras, as a comedy/adventure series. Think Next Wave where the book is funny but also delivers on a very specific kind of ass-kicking action. Gambit has found a living sky ship developed by Reed Richards accidentally over the course of a month-long sleep as acting ambassador from Earth to the dreaming people of Zolaria.
He’s hijacked the skyship, named it Marie, and shanghai’d a couple of X-men along for the ride. Cannonball is first mate, and his sister, Husk has come along for the ride, harboring a gigantic secret crush on Gambit. Hepzibah, weary of staying in one place too long after her time with the Starjammers has stowed away on the ship and quickly becomes a member of the crew. The whole series has a very swash-buckling feel although Gambit’s outfit is the only one that really portrays this. This is issue 1, page 22. Gambit’s and his crew has been chased by a S.H.I.E.L.D. equivalent based out of England as Gambit is hunting some object that won’t be revealed until late in the series. It turns out that the ship was practically made for Gambit as the engines only appear to be rechargeable through Gambit using his power - and they don’t explode as a result.
Continued in next post, sorry I’m so wordy!
The Extras #1 - Thrill of the Hunt by Paul Vogt
ReplyDeletePage 21 (5 panels)
Panel 1. We see Gambit the bridge of the ship talking to an image of the British officer, Major Hurling, who’s been chasing them.
MAJOR HURLING:
You do realize you’re surrounded, you rapscallion.
GAMBIT:
How does one ship surround de’ other?
MAJOR HURLING:
… We brought lots and lots of smaller ships, you dolt.
Panel 2. Same viewpoint but now instead of an image of Hurling, we see on the monitor an image of the ship surrounded by lots and lots of fighters with the huge British helicarrier in the background.
GAMBIT:
Fine, dat’s enough. I’m comin’ out now.
MAJOR HURLING:
Unarmed, I’m sure, you criminal.
GAMBIT:
Fine, unarmed as much as de’ next mutant can be. At least do me da’ honor of arrestin’ me in person?
MAJOR HURLING:
I wouldn’t miss it, you thug.
Panel 3. Gambit is seen rising on a platform to the deck of the ship, arms up with a little smile on his face.
Panel 4. We see Gambit from behind with Hurling on a lowered platform from a large VTOL ship with an incredibly smug look on his face.
MAJOR HURLING:
Do you realize it took me 15 hours to hunt you down, you beast? The most advance nuclear engines the Queen can buy and I waste 15 hours chasing the ridiculous Remy LeBeau and this disgusting aberration of a ship halfway across the pond?
GAMBIT:
I have nothing to say to you.
Panel 5. We see Gambit down in the engine room with his hand on the engine as it is slowly glowing pink, he’s watching on a monitor, with an image of what’s going on above deck from the last panel. He’s got a rather large grin on his face.
GAMBIT:
But I do.
SFX from the engine:
CHCHCHCHCHCHCHCHCHC
The next page would be the ship zooming away as Husk tears off her Gambit facade and Cannonball flying out from below deck, grabbing Hurling, and then taking him captive as they make their escape.
Okay, the only way I really remember Gambit is from the 90s cartoon, so I just went with what I remembered him being like there--
ReplyDeletePAGE ONE: Four panels. The first panel’s the biggest, taking about half of the page. Panels 2-4 finish off the page, all the same size.
PANEL 1: Full view shot of Gambit sitting on a really uncomfortable and dirty looking metal bench in a holding cell. Gambit is slouching back on the bench, back propped on the bars, like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He looks straight out the panel, as if he’s staring right at you.
GAMBIT (1): No, your eyes do not deceive you, my friend. I am indeed the infamous master thief and X-Man—
GAMBIT (2): (as character logo) GAMBIT
GAMBIT (3): Now, I may not be a telepath, but I know what you’re thinking—
GAMBIT (4): “Wow! What is the most devilishly handsome mutant masterpiece doing in this putrid cell?”
GAMBIT (5): Well, sit back down, my friend, kick your legs back, and I’ll tell you the tale. It’s called—
GAMBIT (6): (Title) “The One Who Got Away…”
PANEL 2: Gambit is standing on a metal balcony, overlooking Utopia Island on a sunny day—many different mutants working together outside, tilling a garden. Far in the background is the sea. Gambit is slouching down, arms leaning on the balcony rail.
GAMBIT (cap): Now, I had been away for a while, helping my friend Scott Summers create his island sanctuary for the remaining members of my people—Utopia.
GAMBIT (cap): But after a time, something came over me—something that not even helping my friends could cure. I felt restless—
PANEL 3: Close shot on Gambit’s face—focus on his red and black eyes.
GAMBIT (cap): Homesick.
GAMBIT (cap): So I decided that I needed a break—a time to get away from my people’s problems and to unwind, so I hitched the first X-Jet back to the only place I know to do it best—
PANEL 4: Long shot of the city of New Orleans.
GAMBIT (cap): New Orleans!
@Paul: As always, you astound me with your meticulous story planning. I enjoyed the swashbuckling feel as well. I wasn't aware that Husk could disguise herself. I thought she just changed her skin "material", but you learn something new everyday :)
ReplyDelete@Jared: That was a nice simple piece, and my only concern was that Gambit didn't really sound like Gambit. I know his dialogue has toned down of late, but I think it still needs that little something to show that he's Cajun.
@Paul: You had me at "Nextwave".
ReplyDelete@Danial: I hear ya--I just wasn't sure how exactly to write a Cajun accent, and every attempt at it felt more like Rogue than Gambit. Figured it would be better to just write him straight than try and accident and fail spectacularly.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, @Paul also had me at Nextwave. Speaking of which, there is more to my script, and a certain young Tabitha Smith also shows up...:D
Thanks guys! I figured there'd be some Next Wave love around these parts :) I just can't help myself as far as coming up with big plots go. Half the fun for me is trying to come up with something new overall for the character to experience. I haven't done it with every character I've written (Superboy and The Profile were more spur-of-the-moment inspirations).
ReplyDeleteHey guys! It's been a while, but there it is!
ReplyDelete“Gambit: Memories”– script by Ivan Antonio
Context: this script revisits some of Gambit’s early history. What we see here, directly or mentioned, is a throwback to Gambit’s early ‘90s mini-series (Assassins’ league, Thiefs’ league, Belladonna, our villain). Recently, Belladonna has been shown to be in control of the Assassins’ league and sent killers after Domino. Our story begins as Gambit catches wind of this and decides to check what’s going on for himself. The story then builds up to this moment, as I see this page midway towards the end of the issue.
Panel placement up to your imagination.
Panel 1. We see Gambit ominously standing under a doorway. The room is darkened. We see only his outline and his red eyes, for dramatic effect.
Gambit: BELLADONNA.
Panel 2. Gambit walks into the room. Now his face is lit. We can make out some ordinary objects within the room: bookshelf, armchair, desk, suit yourself.
Gambit: AFTER ALL WE’VE BEEN THROUGH I’D NEVER THINK YOU’D BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER THE ASSASSINS’ LEAGUE, ÇA VA?
Gambit (cont.): WAS IT NOT ENOUGH TO SEE IT BRING RUIN TO YOUR FAMILY? COULDN’T YOU WALK AWAY AND BUILD A NEW LIFE, AS I DID?
Panel 3. We see Belladonna. She’s got her back to us (and Gambit, we are seeing the scene from his POV). Again, furnish the room as you please.
Belladonna: OH REMY…YOUR CERTAINLY GOT YOURSELF A NEW LIFE, DIDN’T YOU?
Belladonna (cont.): A NEW TEAM OF SUCKERS TO FOOL, A TRAILER TRASH GIRLFRIEND…
Belladoona (cont.): MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY EASY TO LEAVE YOUR OLD WIFE BEHIND, RIGHT LE BEAU? RIGHT THIEF?
(quick note: use a different, more sinister font starting from “RIGHT LE BEAU”. This is meant to imply a different voice, different inflexion, different speech pattern)
Panel 4. Close-up on Gambit’s face. Shock.
Gambit: SACRE…NON, IL NE PEUT PAS ÊTRE…C-CAN…
Panel 5. Close-up on Belladonna, who is revealed to actually be Candra. She has an expression of evil delight. Red eyes.
Candra: WHAT’S WRONG, THIEF? DON’T YOU LIKE CANDRA’S NEW BODY? HAHAHAHAHA!!
Panel 6. Close-up on Gambit. He looks very pissed off, and he’s holding up a card, covering half of his face.
Gambit: THIS…
Gambit (cont.): WILL NOT…
Panel 7. Same shot as before, only now Gambit’s visible eye and card are glowing.
Gambit: GO UNPUNISHED…
Gambit: PUTAIN!!
(Fun-fact: did you know that in his first appearance, Gambit used metal spikes instead of cards and that his energy was green, not pink? And that if flowed from his eyes to whatever he was charging? Weird huh?)
(Bonus fun-fact: Wanna see Cyclops straigh-up murdering someone in cold blood and acting like it's no big deal? Search Candra on Wikipedia)
@Paul - I at least have an idea what you're talking about. I can't say that I go nearly in-depth as you do, but I agree that it's fun to come up with larger plots when I'm able to.
ReplyDeletehi just wondering where you found the last panel of gambit the black and white.. i would really love to know.. thanks for your time and i like your site..
ReplyDelete@anonymous Hey, no problem. The panel was from Becky Cloonan's website Ink and Thunder.
ReplyDeleteyou can find the specific entry I got it from here:
http://inkandthunder.blogspot.com/2010/01/nation-x-2-jan-13-2010.html
and of course the comic itself in the collected edition of Nation X.
Hope that's been some help.