ROGUE AND GAMBIT #1 RING OF FIRE, PART 1
Bring on the nostalgia! The creative team of the premiere issue of Rogue and Gambit, writer Kelly Thompson, artist Pere Pérez, and colorist Frank D'armata, have hit quite the old school note. Bringing back old feelings between the two titular characters is always a wonder to behold, and never disappointing.
Gambit decides to pay Rogue a visit as she’s in the Danger room with Armor, Pixie, and Psylocke fighting old fashioned sentinels. Inserting himself into the training exercise, he lends a hand (poker pun!) to the ladies. After witnessing Rogue take a somewhat brutal hit, the exercise is over, and the two share a tender moment as the other three ladies look on in amazement. Dismissing Gambit’s advances, Rogue makes her way out of the Danger Room, only to be called to Kitty Pryde’s office.
There have been some strange things going on with mutants at the retreat Ciudad Paraiso, and Kitty wants to send some X-Men to scope things out. Since it’s a private therapy retreat, Headmistress Kitty thinks sending a couple with past issues would be the best bet to get a team in the area. The gamble pays off (Ha! Another pun!), and soon Rogue and Gambit are on a jet headed to the retreat.
Thompson really captures the dynamic between the two lovelorn characters, and it shows in the back and forth banter. From Gambit’s charming advances and smooth talking to Rogue’s brash retorts and rebuffs, this issue feels like you’re back in the 90’s, reliving the X-Men’s golden days of the animated series. Pérez and Darmata bring the heat as each page is awash in bright colors and wonderfully drawn characters. The looks Gambit and Rogue exchange are really felt due to the work done on them, and translates Thompson’s writing perfectly.
With this issue ending on quite the cliffhanger, it will be interesting to see where the series goes. If the second issue keeps up the momentum from this one, fans of either or both characters will be chomping at the bit to see how the pair works their way out of the situations they’re put in.
