Rogue and Gambit are depowered, and Manifold is kidnapped! Find out their next step in Rogue and Gambit #2 by Marvel Comics!

ROGUE AND GAMBIT #2

Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Carlos Gomez
Colorist: David Curiel
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Editor: Sarah Brunstad
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 5th, 2023 

Previously in Rogue and Gambit: Destiny contacted Rogue for a secret mission to find and convince Manifold to help her. Gambit joins her on her mission despite having some reservations about his mother-in-law. However, Manifold is working with the Avengers and wants nothing to do with Destiny. He is tracking Reuben Brousseau, a mutant hater and metahuman kidnapper. Manifold, Rogue, and Gambit interrupt the sale of Lady Deathstrike. They are attacked, and their powers are drained by a strange device. At the last moment, Manifold teleported Rogue and Gambit away, saving them at the cost of himself.

RETURN OF PASSION

Rogue and Gambit #2 starts with the title characters walking the desert, trying to find out where they were teleported to. Since Rogue is depowered, they realize they can share a touch and a passionate kiss. Eventually, they find a way to a saloon where Rogue is instantly recognized. The couple shares a dance and a couple of drinks while waiting for their powers to return. Suddenly, Black Panther arrives to question the kidnapping of Manifold, blaming them. After Black Panther accuses Rogue, the patrons come to her defense, and a brawl starts.

Gambit ties a patron’s arm to a stove to buy time and starts a fire. When Black Panther goes to save the day, they escape. However, the bar explodes, and both Gambit and Rogue share guilt about the situation. They then head to Krakoa to talk to Forge for help.

THE ETHICS OF A THIEF

As I was reading Rogue and Gambit #2, I realized I don’t have a firm grasp of the recent characterization of Gambit. Setting the saloon on fire caught me off-guard. I get that he thought Black Panther could save the bar before it exploded, but it seemed unnecessarily reckless. On top of that, we get a glimpse into the married life of the title characters. I expected this action to strain their relationship. But despite a brief reprimand, it seemed like Rogue accepted the situation. The book had to reach the Forge plot point to work, so maybe the creative team will address this in future issues.

I find this book extremely relatable as a married person who doesn’t get much alone time with my wife. With the kids and my work schedule, it is challenging to have those romantic moments. Rogue and Gambit are in a similar position as I am. Looking at some of these conversations is like a mirror into my own life. Art imitates life, and it is an exciting perspective. I still have yet to develop my mutant powers, though.

The art was solid but didn’t grab my attention too much. The stand-out images were Rogue and Gambit riding into the sunset and finding Forge on Krakoa. But I had no other visual component in this issue that stuck out to me. However, it also didn’t detract from the main plot.

BOTTOM LINE: INVESTED

I am invested in Rogue and Gambit #2. It is not a perfect book, but I think I am the targeted audience, and it is unlike any other series I have read in recent X-Men comics. The characterization of Gambit and the plot’s direction confuses me a bit. Still, overall, I am invested in finding out more. 4 out of 5 stars for Rogue and Gambit #2 by Marvel Comics.

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Rogue and Gambit

77%

77%

Invested

Rogue and Gambit #2 show us the difficulty of marriage in a superpowered world, a theme I don’t often see in the X-Men universe.

• Writing

  8
• Art

  7
• Coloring

  8
• User Ratings (2 Votes)
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