Mourning in earnest now, even though I should be celebrating what remains of my freedom on this Independence Day here in America:

4

Aquaman (DC 75th Anniversary)

Overshadowed by my REAL favorite Aquaman (from Brightest Day), this one will still be missed for his high natural damage and water-based powers — especially now that there are a few more pieces that can grant water even on dry maps. In Golden Age, he’s liable to be crowded out by much better Atlantis pieces like the BD version and Secret Invasion Namor. Alas.

#3

Firestorm (Brightest Day)

Another one of those pieces I just wish I’d played more. His lack of any viable keywords did that damage, and will likely continue to.

#2

(tie) Steve Rogers (Captain America 031)

Gorgon (Captain America 046)

Steve is leader of my personal-fave theme Secret Avengers, which I got to finally play as a complete Modern Age team just ONCE before retirement. (I’ll tell you about it someday.) Now, the Black Widow, Beast and Steve Rogers clix used for the team are retired.

But while I can sub in any one of three decent versions of Natasha (Avengers Movie 007, 035 or The Covert Avenger) or the Fast Forces Beast (inferior though he be), Steve Rogers is the super soldier in a specific role and place in time…Cap with no red-white-and-blue shield, but a pistol. He’s not going to be remade, not with Nick Fury Jr. running the black ops Avengers now (and wearing the above uniform). Commander Rogers is forever retired.

(sniff) It’s like Cap dying all over again.

Then there’s Gorgon, this wicked, wicked Secret Warriors villain whose clix figure fascinated me. Of all the pieces on this list, he’s the one that’s somehow become a favorite anyway.

I think it’s because I like samurai swords.

________

Retirement leads to joy as well:

(tie) Hellfire Club Guard (Giant-Size X-Men 004)

Leech (Giant-Size X-Men 026)

Both these pieces were hell to deal with if you weren’t prepared for them. The Guards in particular really mucked up the works because characters barely associated with the club in question gained huge dividends from it. Anyone who’s fought a GSX Magneto gets this. Leech, on the other hand, was an equal opportunity nerf stick, with an area of effect that was at least two squares too wide IMO.

____

Tomorrow: the conclusion. (There may be another tie.)

From Modern Age to Golden Age go these, with regret:

6

Scorpion (Captain America 032)

She was one of those figs I kinda liked but could never commit to a team. Did she belong on Hydra? SHIELD? Plus she was a little mediocre in general. But she makes the list for being one of those pieces I wish I’d played more.

 

#5

Sentinel Mark V (Giant-Size X-Men G09)

This was the best of the GSX Sentinels. They’re all decommissioned for Modern Age now, replaced with the far-inferior Chaos War variety. Poor Master Mold stinks even more.

 

________

Retirement’s not ALL bad, though, because of figs like this:

Rorschach (Watchmen Crimebusters Fast Forces 001)

Similar to yesterday’s mort, this Rorschach ONLY saw play in Modern Age games because the main Watchmen set version was every bit as good, maybe better, for 18 points less. Now that both are Golden, you’ll never use this one.

____

Tomorrow: Three more.

Retirement stinks. This time, these sets get the axe from Modern Age:

• Brightest Day
• DC 75th Anniversary
• Giant-Size X-Men
• Green Lantern Movie
• Green Lantern Movie Fast Forces
• Captain America
• Watchmen Crimebusters Fast Forces
• Warriors of Asgard Fast Forces
• Street Fighter

Not counting any pieces among my favorites for their respective years of release — because OF COURSE I’ll miss seeing them in Modern Age — there’s a definite list of figs that I’m sorry to see go. Here are numbers 8 and 7.

8

 

Kilowog (Green Lantern Movie 008)

It took a LONG time to get a Modern Age Kilowog back in the game. Far too soon, he’s gone again, with no new one in sight. It’s a far cry from 2011, when the game was LOUSY with Green Lanterns galore.

So while he sorta serves as proxy for all the other GLs phasing out, this Kilowog gets the sorrowful wave goodbye for being my favorite of the lot. (Salaak nearly got the slot.)

#7

Dee Jay (Street Fighter)

Like the ‘Wog, this happy kickboxing Jamaican represents the whole Street Fighter crew, being my favorite. I never played him half as much as I wanted to, though — he just gets crowded off the highly competitive keyword teams he fits, Celebrity and Martial Artist. Golden Age may help him as he can equip the Lunge feat to combine with the SF TA for a five-square reach for a jump-in light 2-damage attack.

________

Retirement’s not ALL bad, though, because of figs like this:

Sin (Captain America 209)

At 80 points with mediocre stats, a trait requiring a Golden Age figure to activate AND a 23-points-cheaper version in the same set, there was almost no earthly reason to use this piece in Modern Age. Now, at least, she’ll see some use on Hydra teams unless there’s a cheaper, better version available like Sin (Fear Itself 009) Crossbones .

____

Tomorrow: Three more.

Another July, another round of retirement. This time, these sets get the axe from Modern Age:

• Brightest Day
• DC 75th Anniversary
• Giant-Size X-Men
• Green Lantern Movie
• Green Lantern Movie Fast Forces
• Captain America
• Watchmen Crimebusters Fast Forces
• Warriors of Asgard Fast Forces
• Street Fighter

Not counting any pieces among my favorites for their respective years of release — because OF COURSE I’ll miss seeing them in Modern Age — there’s a definite list of figs that I’m sorry to see go.

And a corresponding list of figs that couldn’t get to Golden Age fast enough for my taste.

Let it begin. Let it begin!

10

Angel (Giant-Size X-Men 031)

There was a time when Angel’s full-speed Charge and taxi skills for such a low price were rather attractive. Alas, his time quickly passed. Worse, it seems that the upcoming X-Men set won’t feature a feather-winged Warren Worthington III. Sorry to see this one go.

#9

Gatecrasher (Giant-Size X-Men 037)

This intergalactic momma also never quite got her moment to shine in Modern Age, despite the copious early Perplex and some pushability. She’s surprisingly unfeatworthy, so Golden status isn’t her forte, either.

________

and one on the crap list:

Flash (DC 75th Anniversary W-7)

Once the cream cheese of pieces, this high-dollar fig has lost the arms race in a big way. Getting him to GA is almost a mercy. See ya, don’t wanna be ya…

____

Tomorrow: Three more.