Instead of just writing a normal list of honorable mentions, I decided to highlight several solid figures that either just missed the top 10 or bring something new to the game that no other piece does but didn’t have an overall good enough dial to carve out a place among the very best.
First, the almost-rans:
Lobo (Superman #042)
Every year, there’s that one piece I kinda overlook for the Top Ten, one that could easily take another’s place. This time, it’s Lobo. Boasting the free-heal trait we loved on a pair of recent Wolverine figures with a far longer, more durable dial than either, along with Indomitable and an SP granting him a melee attack that works at range for under 175 points, he’s good enough to be among the best after all.
Seriously. Swap him in. I won’t be mad.
Another:
Sauron (Lord of the Rings #208): dropped off by being 335 points and not Modern Age. Otherwise great.
OK, on to the actual list. It’s in no particular order this time, since it’s kinda impossible to actually rank these.
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Squirrel Girl (Captain America #056)
Game-Changing Contribution: All-you-can-beat Tie-up/Mastermind fodder
Cheap tie-up pieces are a gameplay staple, and this little chick is a never-ending supply of such. A decent tie-up in her own right, her ability to repeatedly spawn Monkey Joes to lock down enemies is a potential gamechanger.
other contributors who missed the prime slot:
- Falcon (Captain America #030): but lacking the never-ending factor.
- Horde tokens (Lord of the Rings): DO have the never-ending factor (mostly) but only allowed in Golden Age for now.
- Madrox (Giant-Size X-Men #001): requires dice luck
- Hydra Agent 003: hurts your team a bit to respawn
- Humanoid (Incredible Hulk #005): See Madrox
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Quake (Captain America #034)
Game-Changing Contribution: Attacking through walls and other terrain
She’s a bit puny, damage-wise, and fits on only a few themed teams. But her ability to Quake through walls and through a selected target’s Impervious will probably get her at least a look for top-flight tournament teams.
other contributors who missed the prime slot:
- Jackal (Beam Rifle) 008: Needs dice luck. But 8 range penetrating damage = good
- Scientist Supreme (Captain America 033) / Matt Murdock (Incredible Hulk 022): Only can Outwit through walls, and at shorter range
- Kitty Pryde (Captain America #055): Only does close combat…not as well as Quake does, either, despite costing like 50 points more
- Moonstone (M-001): Doesn’t work with her range powers
- She-Hulk (Incredible Hulk 204): Smashes wall after attack, causing possible mobility problems
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Aragorn (Lord of the Rings #003)
Game-Changing Contribution: Redefines the term “free move”
His dial is mostly ordinary and certainly does not glitter. It’s his Epic Action trait that’s gold, making him change all the rules of mobility and positioning. Offensively, it sometimes only gets your team into harm’s way quicker. But defensively, he’s like a get-outta-jail-free card.
other contributors who missed the prime slot:
- Aquaman (Superman 048): Only good for swimmers, but usable anytime and great for setting up attacks
- Nick Fury (Captain America 023): Not a free move but a free token remove for select keywords
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General Thunderbolt Ross (Incredible Hulk #208)
Game-Changing Contribution: Impossible to turtle against
Remember back when I said there were a couple of silver bullets holding Professor X to the lower end of the Top Ten? This guy is one of ’em. By the midgame at the latest, Ross has the ability to explode whatever turtling nuisance the rest of your team can’t get to — or to force your opponent to overextend to get to Ross before he can do it!
other contributors who missed the prime slot:
- Flash (Superman 047): Also can attack from anywhere on board, but hits much softer
Check out the rest next time.