Tyler Gibson
For a long time, the charismatic Gambit was more of a rogue than a hero, a thief who prioritized personal gain and amusement over the welfare of his fellow Mutants. But he turned over a new leaf, dedicating his life to the service of others as a member of the X-Men. Money has lost its allure for him, which is just as well considering how Remy LeBeau casually tossed away a small fortune in Uncanny X-Men #5.
Uncanny X-Men #5, penned by Gail Simone and illustrated by David Marquez, marks the conclusion of the Red Wave storyline. In the aftermath of the Fall of the House of X, several X-Men found refuge with a friend of Gambit’s named Marcus. They ended up taking under their wing four new Mutant teenagers, who were being pursued by the enigmatic Sarah Gaunt.
After Gaunt blindsided Wolverine and critically injured Rogue, Gambit found himself at the helm of the remaining team members. They were under siege in Marcus’ home by Sarah Gaunt and her army. Despite being outnumbered with over 100 enemies and armed with nothing more than a standard deck of 52 playing cards, Gambit proved his resourcefulness, demonstrating his ability to weaponize anything inorganic.
The reason behind Gambit’s preference for ordinary playing cards
Fortunately, Marcus’ daughter had a vast collection of “those cards with tiny cartoon monsters on them,” a subtle nod to Pokemon. As Gambit unveiled his makeshift weaponry, his young companions debated whether to inform him of the cards’ actual worth. They ultimately chose not to, presumably concluding that their lives were worth more than the cards.
While this scene is humorous, it raises an intriguing question about why Gambit opts for basic playing cards. The answer lies in their affordability and accessibility. A standard deck can be bought at most convenience stores and supermarkets. In contrast, collectible game cards, due to their value, are typically sold at specialty stores or kept behind the counter. While it’s amusing to imagine Gambit exclaiming “Pikachu, I choose you!” before hurling a card, it’s neither practical nor economical.
Uncanny X-Men #5 is now up for grabs at comic book stores everywhere.
