Gambit's Fate As A Horseman Of Apocalypse Is Way Worse Than 'X-Men '97' Fans Think
Gambit’s transformation into Death was one of the biggest moments of X-Men ’97’s (2024) second season. Following the events of X-Men (1992), the series took the long-simmering Gambit/Rogue romance and pushed it back into the spotlight. Complicated by Rogue’s connection to Magneto, the apparent death of both men in Season 1’s attack on Genosha escalated the drama to a breaking point. While Magneto was revealed to be alive, the first season ended with the tease that Apocalypse would resurrect Gambit as his new Horseman of Death.
While it plays out very differently from the original comics storyline that morphed Gambit into that form, this beat has been one of the defining tragedies of X-Men ’97 Season 2. Thus, it’s worth looking at how that story came to an end in the comics.
Here’s everything you need to know about Gambit’s death transformation in the comics and how it could impact his future in X-Men ’97 Season 3 and beyond.
How Gambit Became Death In The Original X-Men Comics
In the original comics, Gambit’s transformation into Death didn’t follow his own demise. Instead, it was a choice that Remy made for himself during the events of the “Blood of Apocalypse” storyline. In an effort to get close to the villain to keep a better eye on him, Gambit willingly took a serum that transformed him into Death. This was also spurred on by his anger over how his dynamic with Rogue was at threat of being derailed by her adopted mother, Mystique. While Gambit retained his memories of Rogue and wasn’t directly bonded to Apocalypse like he was in X-Men ’97, he was far more devoid of personality and actively attacked Rogue.
Gambit also wasn’t saved and restored by the X-Men, who refuse to give up on him in the animated show. Instead, it was his fellow corrupted hero/new Horseman Sunfire who, in a moment of rebellion against both factions, carried Gambit away. They would return during the events of the “Messiah Complex” crossover as agents of the villainous Mister Sinister, reluctantly working alongside his Marauders in part due to Sinister’s efforts to restore them. Notably, Gambit still retains his connection to his Horseman form, with demonic dimensions like Limbo or mystical realms like Otherworld bringing that aspect back out.
Gambit's 'X-Men '97' Transformation Is Way More Dramatic
X-Men ’97 has been an intriguing adaptation of the X-Men comics continuity, combining plenty of different story beats to create fresh narratives. This includes much of Gambit’s resurrection as Death, which plays out very differently, narratively and tonally. Gambit’s choice to become a Horseman and subsequent role with the Marauders made his transformation feel more like a betrayal than in the show. In contrast, his Apocalypse-controlled identity in X-Men ’97 is much more of a tragic and frightening figure.
It’s also pulling from stories where Apocalypse tried to take over the body of characters like Cable or Cyclops, hinting at the enduring power and cruel immortality of the ancient villain. By contrast, the comics’ Apocalypse empowered multiple X-Men, including Sunfire and Polaris, during “Blood of Apocalypse,” hoping to use the chaos of the Decimation storyline to his favor. The X-Men ’97 version of events leans more into the story beat as part of Gambit and Rogue’s arc in the show, while the comics made it one of the key examples of Gambit’s more dangerous and potentially treasonous personality.
Could 'X-Men '97's Future Stories Bring Back Gambit As Death?
Gambit survives the events of X-Men ’97 Season 2, thanks to Nightcrawler’s big sacrifice to save Rogue. With Rogue trapping Apocalypse’s essence, Gambit returns as his typical self and is freed from his Death persona. While all signs point toward Death being a thing of the past for Gambit, it (maybe) could return in some capacity. Perhaps Death could be used to give Gambit something akin to Wolverine’s berserker fury, a power boost that comes with some dangerous downsides for the heroes. It could also be a potential means of return for Apocalypse, even if he seems thoroughly out of the picture in Season 2’s finale. Still, perhaps some semblance of him remains locked within Remy’s mind that could come back into play.
The differences between the source material and the new version of the corrupted Gambit story leave potential room for more invention and expansion. Gambit’s Death form could even be used against the heroes again in the future, if a properly powerful telepath like the Shadow King from Legion (2017) or Cassandra Nova from Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) were to appear. Regardless of Gambit’s Death-free status right now, the comics laid the groundwork for that aspect of himself to remain present within him, giving him a much darker role to play in X-Men ’97’s upcoming adventures.
