The MCU is missing itsIron Man, with fans debating who could possibly take over the role. He may not be an obvious choice to replace Tony Stark, but the time is right for Marvel to letGambitpilot the famous Iron Man armor, just as brilliantly as he did in the comics.
The exact roleChanning Tatum will play inAvengers: Doomsdayis unknown, but the bottom line is clear: Avenger-level threats demand Avenger-level power. And in the movies or the comics, seeing Tony Stark’s aresenal of Iron Man suits left empty and unused is a massive waste of potential. That’s exactly whyGambit put his skills to work in the comics, proving he can steal, power, and fly as Iron Manusing only the power of his famous X-Men mutation.
Gambit Stole The Iron Man Armor in Marvel Comics
Gambit#13 (2013) by James Asmus, Amilcar Pinna, Allen Martinez, Rachelle Rosenberg, Clay Mann
In what remains an unlikely crossover betweenthe X-Men’s most charming mutantand the most heavily armored Avenger, Remy LeBeau was forced to return to his thieving ways inGambit#13. Breaking into one of Tony Stark’s unmarked safehouses/armor vaults, Gambit sought to harvest Stark technology from one of his Iron Man suits to help a cyborg friend in need. While said friend only needed parts,the surprise arrival of James “Rhodey” Rhodes forced Gambit to improvise.
Hiding inside the suit of Iron Man armor, Gambit managed to get the drop on Rhodey (better known asthe armored War Machine or Iron Patriot) before fleeing. Since he was technicallyjust wearing the Iron Man armor as clothing, totally disconnected from Stark’s network or on-board software, Gambit was on his own. Ordinarily that would prove a death sentence for Stark or Rhodey, but Gambit instead unlocked the most exciting use of his mutant powers seen to that point in Marvel comics.
Gambit’s Powers Can Fully Control The Iron Man Suit
Remy LeBeau’s Mutation Powered Stark’s Weapons And Flight Technology
The most iconic use of Gambit’s mutation is simple, passing kinetic energy onto any objects. Turning playing cards into grenades of mutant energy, or turning a flying car into a nuclear bomb is a gift in itself, but that’s only scratching the surface ofGambit’s wide range of mutant abilities. It’s simple enough to say thatsince Gambit is able to manipulate energy, that includes what’s needed to power the techology of the Iron Man armor. He may have to use them without the software, but it’s clearly not an issue.
X-Men Upends the Status Quo, Turning Gambit Into Marvel’s Next Wolverine
Marvel’s New Ultimate Universe shakes up the X-Men’s status quo by making Gambit a major leader of the mutant resistance and replacing Wolverine.
After just a few moments to gain his bearings inside the plummeting suit of Iron Man armor,Gambit used his mutation to channel power into the suit’s weapons, propulsion, and guidance systems(once again proving Remy LeBeau’s mind is his most underrated ability). And not only to survive, but with enough mastery to give War Machine a chase through the city before being shot down. Shoot him down Rhodey did, confirming he was unable to stop Gambit in any other way.
Will Gambit Claim The Iron Man Armor in The MCU Next?
A Pink-Hued Iron Man Armor is Just What Avengers: Doomsday Needs
The future for the MCU version of Gambit is still a total mystery, presumably earning a spot among the roster of other heroes, but nothing is being confirmed by Marvel just yet. While the film studio remains silent, the comics are wasting no time,already teasing Gambit’s potential role with the TVAto create yet another tailor-made mission for someone of Gambit’s talents (and Tatum’s). But even that universe-hopping assignment doesn’t rule out the need for somebody to put Tony Stark’s most cutting-edge technology to use in battle.
In the past, the ability to truly wield the full power of Stark’s armor has been limited to a select few, but based on the comics,Gambit is clearly ready to step into Iron Man’s technology, if not his entire role. Now we can only hope Marvel makes the same decision when it comes to the version ofGambitportrayed on film.
