From his physical changes to his new augmented powers, find out how Remy LeBeau transformed into one of Apocalypse’s Horsemen in the comics.
Now, as Gambit returns in Marvel Animation’s X-Men ‘97 Season 2, let’s take a closer look at how he fell under Apocalypse’s sway in the comics and became his Horseman of Death. We’ll also break down how Gambit recovered from his time with Apocalypse and how that dark period cast a long shadow over the X-Man’s life.
HOW GAMBIT BECAME DEATH
After the Scarlet Witch depowered most mutants, the X-Men faced several challenges. Most of the world’s few hundred remaining mutants ended up at the X-Mansion, where Sentinel guards loomed over them. As Gambit and Rogue tried to patch up their relationship, Mystique tried to break them up, since she still did not approve of the couple. During this turbulent time for the X-Men, Apocalypse returned and proclaimed himself to be the savior of mutantkind. He turned Sunfire and Polaris into his brainwashed Horsemen in exchange for restoring the two injured and depowered X-Men to full strength.
As Apocalypse parked his Ship over the X-Mansion, Gambit told Apocalypse that he was tired of the X-Men’s methods in X-MEN (2004) #183 by Peter Milligan and Salvador Larroca. Posing as a true believer to Apocalypse’s cause, Gambit really wanted to protect the X-Men by infiltrating the ancient mutant’s inner circle as a Horseman. As Gambit started going through the brutal transformation process, he refused painkillers to try and preserve his mind in X-MEN (2004) #184 by Milligan and Clayton Henry. However, the card-dealing X-Man’s plan failed when Apocalypse brainwashed him and completed his transformation into the Horseman of Death.
GAMBIT’S DEATH POWERS
Once Gambit became the Horseman of Death, his powers changed dramatically. On a regular day, Gambit can charge up ordinary objects, like playing cards, with kinetic energy to make them explode. But as Death, Gambit’s energy-charging abilities changed to give him a “death charge” that vaporized his targets as soon as his cards struck them. Gambit also developed the power to manipulate the potential energy of anything near him and transform it into a toxic substance, as he did by turning air into toxic gas in X-MEN (2004) #185.
In addition to his new powers and mental conditioning, Gambit also went through a dramatic physical transformation. As Death, Gambit had onyx skin and white hair. While Gambit usually has a subtle hypnotic charm that influences those around him, as Death he also developed the ability to corrupt people near him. And when Gambit corrupted somebody, their skin and hair began resembling his.
DEATH VS. THE X-MEN
As soon as Apocalypse unveiled Gambit’s transformation to the X-Men, the Horseman of Death attacked his former teammates. Under Apocalypse’s control, Death knocked down Rogue with a single blow, but he hesitated to attack her again. Still, the Horseman unleashed his full fury on Iceman before Mystique got the better of him. As Apocalypse retreated, Death dosed Rogue with poison gas and ran away.
While his original personality struggled to assert itself, Gambit told a disapproving Apocalypse that part of him still loved Rogue. But despite his lingering affections, Death still stood by Apocalypse when the ancient mutant threatened to wipe out most of humanity at the United Nations. When they faced the X-Men again, the mutant heroes defeated Apocalypse, and Sunfire, who had now regained control over his mind, abducted Gambit in X-MEN (2004) #187.
HOW GAMBIT BEAT DEATH
Even though Apocalypse had fully brainwashed Gambit, Sunfire took Remy to an isolated temple in Japan to free him. Sunfire initially tried to reason with Gambit, encasing him in a giant ball of “cleansing” fire. When Gambit emerged from the flames, he retained Death’s physical form, but he was free from Apocalypse’s control. However, after serving the ancient villain, neither Gambit nor Sunfire felt like they belonged with Apocalypse or the X-Men – and so they decided to retreat.
While in Japan, the pair was recruited by Mister Sinister, who offered to undo Apocalypse’s augmentations in exchange for their help. Gambit agreed to help the mad scientist once more, who had previously helped him learn to control his powers. While Sinister restored Gambit and Sunfire, he forced both mutants to join his new Marauders as full members, where they briefly battled against their old teammates.
DEATH RETURNS
Once Gambit rejoined the X-Men, he appeared to be his normal self again, or at least until Death came knocking. On several occasions, the remnant of his time as Apocalypse’s servant resurfaced. For instance, when the telepath Input tried to manipulate Gambit’s brain, he activated a latent piece of Apocalypse’s programming, briefly turning him into Death once more in X-MEN LEGACY ANNUAL (2009) #1 by Mike Carey and Mirco Pierfederici. After killing Input with a burst of lethal dark energy, Gambit returned to normal.
On a mission to rescue Magik from Limbo, Gambit transformed into Death again as he entered the hellish dimension in X-MEN: HELLBOUND (2010) #2 by Chris Yost, Harvey Tolibao, and Tom Raney. Death felt at home in Limbo and named himself the realm’s new ruler. With his corrupting influence, Death turned Dazzler, Northstar, and a small army of Limbo demons into his followers. As Limbo’s legions fought, Cannonball faced Death in a fierce battle that ended when Magik and Pixie stabbed him with their Soulblades. Death fell unconscious and Gambit regained control over his body.
DEATH’S LAST STAND
Even as Death threatened to return, Gambit continued his life with the X-Men and finally married Rogue. Together, the newlyweds moved to the new mutant island nation of Krakoa, where Apocalypse had also accepted Professor X’s invitation for a new beginning. The ancient mutant even served with Gambit on Krakoa’s magic-focused team called Excalibur. But on a mission through a mystical portal called the Siege Perilous, Gambit died and transformed into a giant house of cards filled with images of Gambit variants from across the Multiverse in KNIGHTS OF X (2022) #5 by Tini Howard and Bob Quinn.
As Betsy Braddock, A.K.A. Captain Britain, Askani, and a small team of X-Men walked through the structure, Death resurfaced and attacked them with a full deck of explosive cards. But when Betsy struck Gambit with her psychic blade, his original personality returned. With help from Askani, Captain Britain subdued the Death persona as Gambit imagined Sunfire burning it out of him. And when the excruciating process was over, Gambit emerged alive and restored, with Death reduced to a mere memory.
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From Marvel.com