Set in the shared Marvel Universe, the plot follows on from a previous crossover between X-Men (1991) and Ghost Rider. That story took the heroes to New Orleans, introduced Gambit's wife Bella Donna and introduced the Thieves Guild and Assassins Guild. However, both guilds were mostly slaughtered by the X-Men’s alien enemies, the Brood, and their mysterious masked ally. Bella Donna herself seemingly died when she pushed her powers too far while fighting the Brood.
The Gambit limited series reveals that there have been many survivors, and that Bella Donna is not yet dead. It also reveals that her villainous brother Julien, who Gambit thought he'd killed, is still alive. Julien and his assassins have plans, and Gambit and his adoptive family are in their way.
Gambit provides examples of:
- Back from the Dead:
- Gambit's wife, Bella Donna, seemingly died fighting the Brood in X-Men (1991). This series retrospectively reveals that she was Only Mostly Dead, although she's still unconscious and slowly dying.
- Julien, Bella Donna's brother, was supposedly killed in a duel with Gambit. Not only is he back from the dead (thanks to Candra and her elixir of life), he was actually the unnamed masked villain helping the Brood in the previous X-Men (1991) & Ghost Rider crossover.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": The Tithe Collector is only referred to by his title, not any other name.
- Funetik Aksent: Gambit and Rogue are often written this way, and the series is no exception. Many of the other New Orleans characters get the same treatment.
- Having a Blast: As usual, Gambit's powers are used to charge up playing card projectiles which then explode. They get used in a couple of other ways as well, though.
- At one point Gambit charges a lockpick, then detonates it in the lock. It's not subtle, but it's certainly effective.
- In his final close-quarters battle with the Tithe Collector, Gambit charges his opponents clothes, then throws him out a window before they detonate.
- Identity Amnesia: At the end of the story, Bella Donna is revived by the last traces of the Elixir - but awakes with no memory of her identity, or of her husband Gambit.
- I Have No Son!: Marius loudly states that Julien Came Back Wrong, and is no longer considered his son.
- In the Back: Julien is Killed Mid-Sentence as he's about to attack Gambit in the final issue, with almost a dozen arrows buried in his back.
- Killed Mid-Sentence: Julien is shot In the Back while making a final, furious Taking You with Me threat to Gambit. He does not get to take Gambit with him. He doesn't even get to finish his speech.
- Killed Off for Real: As of 2022, Julien, Gambit's villainous brother in law, has remained dead.
- Offing the Offspring: He doesn't do the deed himself, but Marius has his archers kill his son Julien in the final issue.
- Painting the Medium: The caption boxes representing Gambit's thoughts have rounded edges and tend to reflect his playing card motif. It's most notable with the boxes in portrait format, which are the right proportions and orientation for a card.
- Relocating the Explosion: The Tithe Collector gets his clothes charged up by Gambit's Having a Blast powers, then gets thrown out a window..
- Taking You with Me: In the final issue, Julien starts making this threat to Gambit. He's promptly Killed Mid-Sentence, shot In the Back by the Assassin's Guild on his father's orders.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Gambit's adoptive brother, Henri LeBeau, appears in the first issue. He's a master thief, a Badass Normal who's skilled enough to break into the X-Men's mansion. He's killed by an assassin five pages later, during his first and only conversation with Gambit.
