After more than three decades as Gambit, Remy LeBeau has officially taken on a new codename in Marvel Comics—but it's tied to a transformation that's far from heroic.

In Uncanny X-Men #32, the longtime X-Men member is referred to as Wyvern after undergoing a horrifying draconic transformation during an alien invasion. While Gambit's trademark abilities still revolve around charging objects with kinetic energy—typically his signature playing cards and bo staff—the new name reflects the monstrous curse that has been slowly taking hold of him throughout the current Uncanny X-Men run.

The storyline began in Uncanny X-Men #1, when Gambit stole the Left Eye of Agamotto from the dragon Sadurang. The theft came with a heavy price, as the dragon warned that Remy would eventually be consumed by a terrible curse. That prophecy came closer to reality in issue #14, where Gambit learned he was destined to descend into madness, transform into a dragon-like creature, and even develop cannibalistic urges. While the curse granted him powerful new abilities, the consequences were far from worth it.

In issue #32, the transformation accelerates dramatically. Gambit first sprouts wings and a tail before fully mutating into a dragon-like monster by the end of the battle. Although he retains the ability to speak, he is clearly losing control of himself, prompting the new codename Wyvern.

Following the defeat of the alien invaders, Rogue decides that she and Gambit must leave their current team in search of someone capable of breaking the curse. Gambit himself suggests finding an exorcist, setting the stage for the arrival of Repent, a mysterious new Marvel character who has been teased in recent promotional material as the "X-orcist."

Marvel has revealed little about Repent beyond his demon-hunting theme. The character is depicted wielding light-based constructs and carries the title Harbinger of Demons, though it remains unclear whether he is a mutant, an ally, or something else entirely. Official previews suggest Repent's mission will be to free an X-Man from what he believes to be a homicidal possession, strongly implying that Gambit's dragon curse will be the focus of his debut.

If Repent succeeds, Gambit's time as Wyvern may be short-lived. Still, the dramatic transformation marks one of the biggest status quo changes the popular X-Man has undergone in years.

Outside the comics, Gambit is also set to return to the big screen later this year in Avengers: Doomsday, with Channing Tatum reprising the role following his long-awaited debut in Deadpool & Wolverine. However, fans probably shouldn't expect the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of Gambit to sprout wings and scales anytime soon.