Gambit's not so much of a pariah now, but there were a few years where it seemed like the writers were doing their hardest to make him unlikable. Like having him betray the team to work with Mr. Sinister, causing the X-Men to DUMP HIM IN ANTARCTICA. Stuff like that. Marjorie Liu (the current Astonishing writer) did some good things with him in the X-23 series, because she's a big ol' Gambit fangirl. I'm glad to hear she's doing more with him in Astonishing now. Maybe I should pick it up?

They needlessly and violently killed Jean in 2003, so that Scott could make out on her grave with his whore, Emma Frost. She's coming back as teenager Jean from the past, which clears the deck of a lot of her baggage and opens the way for what I hope will be some very interesting stories. And it keeps the writers from trying to saddle her with douchebag Cyclops, which makes me very happy.