Year of release: 1992/1994; 1995 (X-Men Classics)Figure Number: 4937
Accessories: Staff (silver) & removable plastic trenchcoat (brown)
Action Feature: Power Kick Action
Comments: Also released as a 10" figure, this was another one of this series of figures that was re-released in 1994 to capitalize on the popularity of the X-Men animated television show on Fox Television. The only difference between the two releases was in the cardback. On the reverse side of the subsequent release, later series of figures from a variety of X-Men and X-Force series were pictured. Some of these figures had not been released when the original Gambit figure was first available in 1992.
The Gambit figure is somewhat unremarkable. The kick action operated via a button on the figure's back. The major complaint of collectors was the dismal plastic trenchcoat that was used with the figure. Many have hoped that this figure would be redone with a different coat. Gambit was redone for the X-Men Classics Light-up series. Many collectors view that version as a vast improvement over this original.
Publicity photos of the Age of Apocalypse line of figures showed an Alternate-X version of a Gambit prototype. The AoA Gambit figure pulled from the first assortment of these figures. However, the figure made its appearance in a two-pack with a Rogure figure (repainted White Queen) in the Marvel Famous Couples series.
In 1995, this figure was released with the X-Men Classics line. This line featured characters from the X-Men animated television show on the Fox Network. The figure itself was identical to the original release. However, the figure came packaged with Longshot's bandolier and two of his knives (in addition to the original staff accessory). Each of the classics figures came packaged with a special trading card representing that figure. These cards were not available outside these packages, making it a first for Toy Biz.