As a thief and a hero, the kinetically charged Gambit has had a wild ride in comics. Though he had a tough start to his life and was raised by immoral people, Gambit has used his attitude and skills for good as a member of the X-Men.

A mutant who can mentally create, control, and manipulate kinetic energy, he is known for charging playing cards and other objects with kinetic energy to use as explosive projectiles. Before becoming Gambit, he was Remy Etienne LeBeau, a creation of writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee. Remy was introduced in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 (July 1990) and Uncanny X-Men #266 (August 1990).

After he was born, Remy was kidnapped from a New Orleans hospital by the Thieves’ Guild, then given to the Antiquary as a tribute. The Antiquary, who called him the White Devil, was convinced that he could unite the Thieves and Assassins Guilds.

While still a child, Remy started running with Fagan’s Mob, a group of street thieves. Living on the streets, Remy picked the pocket of Thieves’ Guild leader Jean-Luc LeBeau, who then adopted the boy into his family.

Remy’s bio-kinesis manifested in his early teens, though he kept the powers a secret as he worked to perfect them. When he was 15, Remy joined his cousin Etienne Marceaux on a Thieves’ Guild initiation test that went badly when they were sent to steal from the powerful immortal mutant Candra. She recognized Remy from an earlier encounter and sold the boys to Pig, a mutant gangster and child slave trader.

Remy used his powers to escape their cell, but the Pig caught up to them as they were trying to escape. It was then that Remy created his signature attack by picking up a playing card that Etienne dropped, charging it, then throwing it at Pig, taking out his eye. Though Etienne died in the escape attempt, Remy was able to get free and be rescued by the Guild.