In Just 2 Weeks, Marvel Will Revisit One Of The X-Men's Most Devastating Deaths

In just two weeks, on July 1, Marvel Studios is revisiting one of the most devastating and painful deaths in X-Men history. Most of the best X-Men characters have, like all comic book heroes, died at one point or another. Jean Grey, for example, briefly died during the Dark Phoenix story only to be brought back later. Most of these deaths are heartbreaking when they happen, but some are more emotionally charged than others.

One of the most devastating deaths in X-Men history actually happened quite recently in X-Men ’97 season 1, the series that serves as a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series from the 1990s. In the middle of the season, the mutant nation of Genosha was attacked and destroyed by Bastion’s massive Tri-Sentinel. To stop the carnage, Gambit sacrificed his own life and used his abilities to unleash the potential energy of the Tri-Sentinel into a huge explosion.

There were plenty of reasons why Gambit’s death was so devastating. First and foremost, Gambit has been around for years even within X-Men ’97‘s continuity. He’s a core part of the team with very deep ties to the other members, and he was a very beloved character in the real world. Gambit’s death also came right as Rogue, his longtime romantic partner and chère, was being pulled away romantically by Magneto, whom she could have a physical relationship with. There are still a lot of raw emotions surrounding Gambit’s death both in-universe and in the real world, and Marvel is about to rip that wound back open.

X-Men ’97 Season 2 Will Deal With The Fallout Of Genosha & Gambit’s Death

Rogue embracing Gambit in X-Men '97 — Rogue embracing Gambit in X-Men ’97

X-Men ’97 season 2 is set to premiere on Disney+ on July 1, and it’s also set to bring Gambit’s death right back to the forefront of the show. The X-Men didn’t get much of a chance to properly mourn Gambit in season 1. They had to deal with the aftermath of Genosha’s destruction, hunt down Bolivar Trask, and then deal with Bastion’s Prime Sentinels and other plans while also saving the Earth from Asteroid M and dealing with Charles Xavier’s return to Earth.

The X-Men as a whole and Rogue especially are still carrying quite a bit of grief for Gambit. Though he’s dead, Gambit’s absence should be keenly felt by the entire cast of X-Men ’97, and he could end up being even more important to the show’s story in death than he was in life. On top of that, there are still quite a few tragedies from Genosha that have to be resolved, and Gambit’s memory is inherently tied to that.

Colossus, for example, will be heavily affected this season as his sister, Magik, died at Genosha. The trailer for X-Men ’97 season 2, as well, showed a massive memorial for mutants who died at Genosha, which should give the X-Men a chance to reminisce about Gambit and air out their grief. Gambit may be gone, but he’s very far from forgotten, and X-Men ’97 season 2 will remind everyone why his death was so painful in just two weeks.

X-Men ’97 Season 2 Is Building Up Gambit As A Horseman Of Apocalypse

Gambit fighting in Genosha in X-Men '97 — Gambit fighting in Genosha in X-Men ’97

There was another scene from X-Men ’97 season 1 that also indicated that Gambit may be coming back as more than a memory in season 2. At the end of X-Men ’97 season 1, during the show’s post-credits scene, the villain Apocalypse was sifting through the ruins of Genosha when he picked up one of Gambit’s playing cards from the rubble. That scene hinted at a major story from the X-Men comics and a huge new role for Gambit.

In the X-Men comics, Gambit was chosen as one of the Horsemen of Apocalypse, and it seems X-Men ’97 is gearing up to do the same. Based on the Biblical figures of the same name, the X-Men’s Horsemen of Apocalypse are four mutants chosen to do Apocalypse’s bidding during the Age of Apocalypse storyline. In the comics, Gambit willingly joins Apocalypse after the House of M storyline to restore mutantkind.

X-Men ’97 Is Officially Bringing Back These Iconic Villains from the Original Series

X-Men ’97 is finally back this summer, and it’s already off to a strong start, including the return of two memorable animated series mutant villains.

X-Men ’97 season 2 will have to change some major details of Gambit’s transformation into the Horseman of Death, but the pieces are all in place. Apocalypse could offer to restore Gambit’s life in return for his willing service, and that revival would make him the perfect fit for the Horseman of Death moniker. X-Men ’97 and its predecessor also have a long history of taking inspiration directly from the comics, and turning Gambit into the Horseman of Death would fit with that history.

Apocalypse himself is also clearly going to be the new antagonist of X-Men ’97 season 2, based both on the ending of season 1 and the trailer that has been released so far. He’ll need new Horsemen to enact his evil plans, and there are no other X-Men that fit both Apocalypse’s purposes and the thematic elements of the show as well as Gambit does. By every metric, it looks like X-Men ’97 is preparing to bring Gambit back from the dead to haunt and hunt his old friends.