I'd argue that Gambit is a bit more capable in a fight than Storm if they don't use their energy/explosive/environment compromising powers. And vastly moreso than Cyclops or Johnny Storm. Also handy with the lockpicking, stealth, and charming the pants off any villainesses.
Citing
X-Men #25 (1992), the climax of "Fatal Attractions": They have to board Asteroid M to take on Magneto, and they do things very similarly: Jean and Xavier for telepathic attack, Wolverine and Gambit for stealth and tactics, and Rogue and Quicksilver for their connections to Magneto (and also for fighting prowess). Cyclops makes direct mention that "high-octane energy wielders" are out of the equation, for the reasons stated previously in this thread. Gambit's in the mix strictly as a thief and a scrapper.
I never trust numerical stats on comic book heroes when mentioned in the comics themselves, much less in a Marvel index. Writers certainly don't pay attention to such things when they come on board and make characters do things outside of what those lists establish. One writer said Quicksilver can do 190 mph and another makes him do laps around a military complex so fast he doesn't appear to be moving at all.
Oh, that reminds me (tangentially) -- what's Rogue's invulnerability level? A pretty crappy (don't make me have to start reading them before buying them) X-Men Unlimited had her getting all beat up and even wounded by
Marvel Girl
-- and it didn't look like that big a fight.
She once withstood a nuke blast over the ocean. It wasn't a huge warhead and she was a couple miles off, but the explosion only knocked her unconscious instead of vaporizing her. From what I can tell, it's really, really hard to even break her skin. She had a four-issue limited series a few years back in which her powers got shut off briefly and she was stabbed in the arm; she was shocked because it had never happened to her before.
eta: Again, though, certain writers take things like this to greater or lesser extremes. The first instance was Claremont, to give you an idea.
That's precisely what I figured. I mean, the first story was X-Babes sharing "worst date ever stories." I figured the second one had to be better...
Hmmm. back in the day, Ms. Marvel (whose invulnerability Rogue possesses) fought the Super Skrull and managed to withstand multiple blows without serious injury.
I may be about to snap my X-reading down to Ultimate, Astonishing, New and District X. The other stuff is getting insane and messy and inconsistent even for the X-Verse. I just don't want to drop Uncanny because Storm's still getting lines.
Yeah, Uncanny's not exactly fulfilling my dreams etither. I waited years for Rachel's return to the X-Verse and they stuck her in some crappy stories. Plus her costume sucks a whole hell of a lot.
Plus her costume sucks a whole hell of a lot.
She does look kinda cute in the thing she's running around the Hellfire Club in now, though, don't you think? But her normal outfit is ass.
Oh, I am kinda curious about Gambit in Unadjectival X-Men too. Pfft. But I only really
like
the ones I mentioned before.
Fuck. Do I spoil myself for IC #7?
Fuck fuck fuck.
Someone on LJ read an advance copy that their comic-book guy had, and has posted spoilers. Including whodunit.
FUCK! I'm so torn.
When does it come out, for real? Next week?
