• Written by: Gail Simone
• Art by: Gavin Guidry
• Colors by: Matthew Wilson
• Letters by: VC’s Clayton Cowles
• Cover art by: David Marquez, Matthew Wilson
• Cover price: $4.99
• Release date: March 26, 2025

Uncanny X-Men #12, by Marvel on 3/26/25, finds Gambit helping Rogue make peace with the Outliers when he receives a summons to make the next payment on an old debt.

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Is Uncanny X-Men #12 Good?

Recap

When we last Rogue’s mutants in Uncanny X-Men #11, the team came to blows at Graymalkin Prison when Charles Xavier escaped after having a “vision” that his daughter had been kidnapped by Shi’Ar rebels. Charles got away without much trouble, so the team was forced to regroup and reconsider their options. Now that Xavier’s path is out of the team’s hands, it’s time to get back to training the Outliers.

Plot Synopsis

In Uncanny X-Men #12, Rogue wakes up from a fitful night realizing she should apologize for ordering Gambit to hit her hard in the “Danger Room.” Gambit points out that her methods may be questionable, but the results speak for themselves when they spot Jitter aggressively practicing in the Danger Toom to get better.

Later, Gambit finds a note in his coat summoning him to pay a bill. The issue cuts to a flashback when Gambit was a boy, picked on by bigger boys who were sons of members of the Thieves Guild. After one particularly rough beating, Gambit is approached by one of his father’s enforcers, Vig, who looks like a knockoff of DC’s Killer Croc in a nicer suit. Vig encourages Gambit to retaliate, and he’ll provide a cover story if there’s trouble.

Gambit finds the boys and beats them to a pulp. Later, the fathers of the beaten boys show up for revenge. Vig sends Gambit to take refuge with Mr. St. Juniors while he takes care of the men looking for revenge. Days later, Gambit learns the men were killed, and Vig tells Gambit he owes Vig 25% of everything for life.

Now, Gamibt meets Vig, who demands one of the Outliers as payment. Gambit refuses and fights Vig, beating him with an explosive deck of cards. Gambit explains the debt is permanently paid because he learned the fight with the boys was a setup by Vig to trick Gambit into owing him a debt, and the family of the killed men are coming to collect their own debt from Vig. The issue ends with the mayor receiving a visitor insisting something has to be done about “those mutants.”

First Impressions

Meh. Uncanny X-Men #12 serves as a time-wasting one-and-done to explain a hidden aspect of Gambit’s history simply for something to do to fill the shelves for a month. Gail Simone’s tale implies that Gambit pays a regular debt to a character who looks like a Killer Croc knockoff for vague reasons, vague payment details, and vague outcomes. It’s a bland story that doesn’t do anything to build Gambit’s character.

How’s the Art?

Gavin Guidry’s art is perfectly serviceable. It won’t blow you away, but the action choreography is decent enough, and the scene progressions/ transitions are solid. In short, it’s fine.

What’s great about Uncanny X-Men #12?

If you have a heart for the Uncanny X-Men’s ragin’ cajun, this one-and-done story is right up your alley. Gail Simone’s super basic plot sets up an excuse for Gambit to fight a Z-tier threat, more for honor than anything else, so it’s an average time waster.

What’s not great about Uncanny X-Men #12?

There’s nothing special, memorable, or impactful about Gail Simone’s story. Much like the run as a whole, it’s utterly forgettable.

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

Uncanny X-Men #12 is a well-drawn, basic, action-packed, one-and-done story about Gambit revisiting a rough character from his past. Gail Simone’s one-shot is fine if you just want a solo story starring Gambit, but on every practical level, this issue is forgettable.

5.5/10

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