A lot has happened to Rogue and Gambit since their surprise wedding in X-Men Gold #30. They had their honeymoon interrupted by an intergalactic crisis, they fought beside Betsy Braddock, and then Rogue was elected onto the first Krakoa-era X-Men team. Meanwhile, Gambit traveled with Betsy to the otherworld to fight off an evil Merlin, only to end up dead for a hot minute. Now the two of them have left their respective teams behind to reconnect and relax, but unfortunately, Rogue’s adoptive mother Destiny has other plans.

If you have been a fan of the X-men for the last thirty years, then you know that Rogue and Gambit have had a long and winding road. Over the years, they have been filled with joy, frustrations, heartbreak, and plenty of laughs. Rogue and Gambit #1 delivers on the frustrations and laughs many married couples may go through. It is clear that Stephanie Phillips has studied these characters as their individual personalities shine, while the conversations ring true for ones that a married couple would have. In addition, the back and forth between Destiny and Gambit are worth the price of admission alone.

The plot is simple enough Destiny has had a vision that something bad is going to happen and she has come to ask Rogue to help her before everything wrong. Because of their history, neither Rogue nor Gambit is trusting of Destiny’s motivations. Seeing a chance to head out on an adventure with his wife, while also delaying an uncomfortable chat with his wife is all the motivation that Gambit needs to head out on the mission. Once out in the field, the two find out that they are something much deeper and more sinister going on. Phillips is able to tie the beginning and the second half of the story naturally. While it was not part of the original plan the twist avoids creating a whiplash effect that pulls the reader out of the story.

Carlos Gomez brings forward art that is bright and engaging. The movement of the characters in the action panels provides a sense of movement that keeps the reader engaged in the story. Meanwhile, the body language and use of expressions throughout help to convey the feelings of the characters and builds on the dialogue. Gomez is no stranger to working on some of Marvel’s biggest characters and his character designs match what people have come to expect from the main characters while adding unique details.

By the end of Rogue and Gambit #1, the foundation has been laid out for an adventure that feels both original and familiar enough to get the audience invested. The only question is how quickly can I get my hands on the next issue.