GAMBIT: WANTED #1 (MARVEL COMICS)
Chris Claremont is back writing an X-Men title and we all will rejoice! Claremont is tasked with giving us a backstory of one of the most popular X-Men, Gambit. Gambit: Wanted takes us back to a time before Gambit officially joined the X-Men and was still a thief in New Orleans. But when him and his family find themselves on the wrong side of a powerful women, he’ll need to rely on his mutant powers to keep himself and his family safe.
Gambit: Wanted #1 - Written By Chris Claremont - Art By Robert Gill – Colors By Bryan Valenza - Letters By VC’S Ariana Maher - Edited By Mark Basso - Published By Marvel Comics
Credit: Marvel Comics
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
STORY OVERVIEW:
Gambit goes to visit Li’l ‘Ro who is now at the Xavier School going by her real name of Ororo better known by her X-Men name of Storm. Well there she tries to get her old companion to stay and join the X-Men. But Remy isn’t ready for the hero stuff as he is a thief and his family back in New Orleans still needs him. His family is a bunch of street kids who steal to support themselves and other unfortunates in New Orleans. Upon his return he finds out one of the older girls, Elodie, has taken the leadership role since he was gone. But the other kids fear she is getting into deep with her gambling scheme. Remy goes to the casino and realizes that while Elodie thinks she is playing the room, another player a powerful women known as Suzerain may be playing her. His suspisons are proven correct because after he gathers Elodie from the casino, Suzerain hires Bullseye to track down and kidnap Remy and Elodie. As business picks up can Gambit tap into what will make him such an effective X-Men in the future?
WRITING:
This first issue does a strong job of placing readers in the exact period of Gambit’s life that Claremont wants to explore. Remy is not yet the fully formed X-Man readers know from later stories, but he is also not simply a charming thief drifting from one score to the next. Chris Claremont uses this chapter to show the foundation of the man he will eventually become: someone who lives by instinct, carries a heavy sense of loyalty, and hides a great deal of compassion behind confidence, sarcasm, and swagger. That balance is important because the story needs Remy to feel familiar without making him seem too polished too early.
Claremont’s biggest strength here is how he treats Remy’s connection to his chosen family in New Orleans. The street kids are not just background characters used to explain why Gambit steals; they help define his responsibilities and show why he has trouble walking away from the life he knows. His visit with Ororo at the Xavier School gives the issue a useful contrast. Ororo represents the future that is waiting for him, while New Orleans represents the obligations, habits, and emotional ties that still have their hold on him. That tension makes his reluctance to join the X-Men feel more personal and believable.
The issue also benefits from the way Claremont lets the plot build around temptation and danger rather than rushing straight into superhero action. Elodie’s gambling scheme gives the story a grounded conflict before Suzerain’s presence raises the stakes. Suzerain works well as a shadowy threat because she feels like someone who understands how to manipulate desperate people, and that makes her dangerous before she even makes a major move. Bringing in Bullseye is an especially interesting choice because he immediately gives the series a sharper edge. Since Bullseye is usually tied to corners of the Marvel Universe like Daredevil and Spider-Man, his appearance makes this book feel bigger and gives the first issue a slight crossover energy without distracting from Gambit’s story.
What makes the writing work is that Claremont does not overplay the nostalgia. The familiar pieces are there—the charm, the danger, the loyalty, and the sense that Remy is always keeping a few cards hidden—but the issue still feels focused on who he is in this moment. By showing his rough edges alongside his heart, Claremont gives readers a version of Gambit who is easy to root for while still leaving room for growth. As an opening chapter, this sets up the series with clear emotional stakes, a strong sense of place, and enough mystery to make the next issue feel worth following.
ARTWORK:
The artwork in this first issue complements the story impeccably, giving the reader plenty to admire while also reinforcing the themes Claremont is building into Remy’s past. Robert Gill does an excellent job capturing the essence of Gambit before he becomes the superstar X-Man readers know so well. There is confidence in Remy’s body language, from the relaxed swagger in his posture to the quick, expressive reactions that show he is always reading the room and looking for his next move. At the same time, Gill leaves enough roughness around him to make it clear that this is still a younger Remy who has not fully grown into the hero he will eventually become.
Gill also makes New Orleans feel like more than just a backdrop. The rundown streets where Remy and the street kids live have a texture that makes their world feel crowded, worn down, and dangerous, but not hopeless. Those scenes carry a sense of community and survival, which helps explain why Remy feels such a strong responsibility to the people around him. That is contrasted nicely with the more glamorous side of the city, especially the Mardi Gras atmosphere and the upscale casino setting. The bright lights, costumes, crowds, and polished interiors create a clear visual divide between the people scraping by and the wealthy players moving money and power behind the scenes. That contrast between the haves and have-nots gives the issue a stronger visual identity and helps establish what this series appears ready to explore beneath the surface-level crime story.
The character designs are also a major strength. Familiar faces from the X-Men side of the story are instantly recognizable without feeling like they are being pulled in only for nostalgia, while the new characters have enough visual personality to stand apart from the crowd. Elodie, Suzerain, and the street kids each feel distinct, which is important because the story is asking readers to quickly understand their roles in Remy’s life and in the larger conflict. Bryan Valenza’s colors enhance Gill’s linework by giving each setting its own energy. The warmer, richer tones of the casino and Mardi Gras sequences make those scenes feel lively and tempting, while the rougher street-level moments have a grittier feel that keeps the danger close. The colors help the visuals pop off the page without overwhelming the storytelling, making the issue both attractive and easy to follow.
Check Out My Review of CYCLOPS #5
Final Thoughts:
Gambit: Wanted #1 is a strong opening chapter that understands why Remy LeBeau remains such an enduring character. Rather than simply leaning on his charm or using his future with the X-Men as a shortcut, the issue takes time to explore the complicated mix of loyalty, survival instinct, confidence, and heart that defines him before he becomes a full-fledged hero. Chris Claremont gives the story a clear emotional center by tying Remy’s choices to the people who depend on him in New Orleans, while the threat of Suzerain and the arrival of Bullseye add enough danger to make the series feel immediately consequential.
The creative team also gives the book a strong visual identity. Robert Gill’s expressive character work and Bryan Valenza’s energetic colors make the contrast between the street-level world of Remy’s chosen family and the polished danger of the casino scenes stand out. That blend of character drama, crime-story tension, and classic X-Men flavor makes this debut feel both familiar and fresh. For longtime Gambit fans, this issue offers the kind of character-focused pre-X-Men story that is easy to invest in, and for newer readers, it provides a clear, entertaining entry point into what makes him such a compelling figure in the Marvel Universe.
FINAL GRADE: 9.5/10
Let me know your thoughts on Gambit: Wanted #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
