In light of my interview with Fabian Nicieza this month (Check it out!!
NOW!),I decided to go easy on the X-books this month, and save something big for MY
anniversary of writing this column. So this month, we're taking a look at the first
four issues of the new Gambit series.
Why Gambit? Frankly, I dunno, but it probably has to do with a big artist
saying he wants to do it. So Marvel concedes, and commits to a Gambit series. Before
they have a writer for said series.
Eventually, Fabian Nicieza came along, and picked up the writing
chores. The series was a go.
And you know what? It actually worked.
The series is bloody fun. I never thought I would say that about
any recent X-book. This one does it, though. It's like a big action movie
crammed into every issue.
Fabes weaves an interesting tale, with loads of subplots
interweaving each month, building higher and faster towards the eventual
payoff.
Steve Skroce, the penciler, has been a bit off though, and finally
hit a good stride with the newest issue. It was hard to follow the action
in a lot of scenes, and in a book like this, with all the action it has, is
not a good idea.
I've found myself actually looking forward to this comic every
month, and I was originally not interested in the title, saddened by what
the character had become. Fabian goes back to the characters roots, and
makes him fun once again. Not to mention, we get the suave roguish thief
we all knew and loved from pre-Lobdell.
The humor in the book is another nice touch. With the serious plots
of thieves and the like, the humor really balances out the darker elements.
And finally, Fabian has a time travel story in the works, so that's
definitely a way to keep me around.
Look! A good x-book! Read it today!
"Every gambit has its rogue element." Merlin, by way of Alan Davis,
Excaliber #50.
