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Welcome again to the photographic record of how all the sculpts of characters with the Super Strength power can hold object tokens.

At last, we bring photos of all the new Galactic Guardians with objects in hand (or otherwise)!

 

Hollywood (Galactic Guardians 013) adroitly grasps the token in his right arm. Charlie-27 (012) is less adept — tuck it under his gun-toting elbow. Hulk (027 and 207), is very similar to Hulk Robot, who I shot back in the Incredible Hulk set edition, but I found a better way to tote that token as shown above.

 

Namor (009 & 203) is a bit tricky, until you realize the token wedges well under his crossed arms and upon the crescent part of the dial base. Blood Brother (007) balances the token more precariously than it looks. Annihilation Seeker (005) and his sculptmate Ravenous (018) grasp theirs under the right elbow. Finally, Replica (035) uses her wings to hold a heavy.

 

Gladiator (040) confidently carries his object under his left arm. Xavin (022) and sculptmate Super-Skrull (034) have the right form to hold tokens well. The Thing (038) handles his…well, we’ll see. And Stranger (043), who’s no stranger to powers, can just barely hang on to his.

Thing begs a closer shot from a different angle:

Ah. It becomes more apparent. An object token fits under his chin for a most unusual hold — but one fit for clobbering, for sure.

 

A bit surprisingly, Giganto The Mole Monster (G004) is the only Colossal in the set with Super Strength. He holds it in his hand.

You’ve GOT to balance it on his thumb and middle finger or it just won’t work.

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I want to present the balance of the Avengers figs, but I still haven’t so much as seen a Frost Giant yet, much less shot any pictures. And I didn’t have my camera handy when I finally got a peek at Volstagg, the other brawny piece left. So who knows whether Thursday’s edition will feature more than a single piece?

Check in tomorrow for a new approach to Wednesday’s New Comic Day Battle Reports.

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Welcome again to the photographic record of how all the sculpts of characters with the Super Strength power can hold object tokens.

I was hoping to post a big update full of photos of all the new Galactic Guardians with objects in hand (or otherwise) but I’ve run into more freelance deadlines and just plain old life. In fact, I’m squeezing just to get this one on.

Still, I’m pleased to present, on the eve of the Avengers movie release date, the Avengers Movie clix that can tote their tokens:

Hulk (014 and 202), Thor (201) and Captain America (204)

Hulk pretty easily holds the token in his arms, ready to SMASH! anyone within his two-square Giant Reach. Thor’s token fits almost as easily under his cape. Cap, though, BARELY grasps his (light) object: you’ve got to wedge it in under his shield and over his arm — as much as can be done — and next to his chin.

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Haven’t gotten ahold of the other Super Strong characters in the game to photograph yet: Thor (020, 200), Volstagg and Frost Giant Champion. Maybe by next Thursday. Next Token Totin’ edition, though, will be Tuesday and it will be GALACTIC!!! In the meantime, enjoy watching The Avengers this weekend (or suffer through it, if it turns out to be a “Phantom Menace”-sized disappointment)!

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Welcome again to the photographic record of how all the sculpts of characters with the Super Strength power can hold object tokens. 

I was hoping to post a big update full of photos of all the new Galactic Guardians with objects in hand (or otherwise) but I’ve run into the last minute to get my taxes done (and am dismayed by the huge payment I have to make this year after decades of nothing but refunds). So I’m just going to have to grab one from the vault:

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It’s the Wrecking Crew. At left, see how Thunderball’s chain doesn’t actually connect to the wrecking ball, making for an easy hold. In center, Piledriver holds his object with some simple arm-twisting. And of course at right the original Ultimates version of The Wrecker cradles it like a baby.

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Got a freelance job I need to finish this week, so Thursday’s update will be a minimal one like this if it comes at all. Hoping to present the GG Token Totin’ showcase in seven days! Be there! 

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At LAST I complete my final 2011-related countdown of my FAVORITE pieces of the year.

#1

Wonder Woman (D-001)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HER EVERY WEEK:

First, I got her in a supreme act of kindness; for that reason alone, I’m unlikely to give her up. Second, the sculpt is just gorgeous. But mainly, the dial set up is very Wonder Womanly — we’ve been waiting for one with the powers she possesses. Her trait can stop bullets cold; she’s got the brawn to make enemies fold, and the mid-dial Hypersonic Speed — a long-overdue and all-too-rare power on a Wonder Woman — is a great boon.

WHY I DON’T:

She seems to waste points when there’s no other Amazon on the team. Her dial’s a little short for the cost. And as unhittable as she seems from range, eventually she’s got to close in with her close-combat-centric powers, where she’s considerably more mere Woman than Wonder.

I’M PLAYING HER NEXT:

Anytime I feel like breaking out a Diana’s Wardrobe theme, she’s there. On sufficiently high-point Warrior themes, too, I’ll definitely want to use her. And, of course, she’s gold for Amazon teams.

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That finally wraps up my backward look at 2011 in Heroclix. But before I return to the usual rotation of features (remember those?) of Monday Mods, battle reports on new comic day (Wed.), the Token-Totin’ series on Tues. and Thurs. and F.U.N. Fridays, I’ve got a forward-looking Top Ten I want to present: Heroclixin’s Top Ten Wanted Characters! Be here Monday for numbers 10 and 9!

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Rushing to complete my final 2011-related countdown before April: my FAVORITE pieces of the year. Last time I promised #2 would be just a kid from Brooklyn. But it’s not Captain America (though he met him once…)

#2

The Captain (Giant-Size X-Men 054)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM EVERY WEEK:

In a sense, The Captain is just a proxy for the team he represents, Nextwave. I heart Nextwave, the farcical sendup of the mad things about the Marvel U. But the only serious challenger on even that team for a spot on this list might be Elsa Bloodstone, and I’ll never field her if I can fit on Cap instead.

Captain **** is a good flying brick with built-in Outwit defense in his SP. Even his bad clicks have something to offer (beyond their hilarity).
WHY I DON’T:

He lacks the keywords to get fielded much outside of the Nextwave team.
I’M PLAYING HIM NEXT:

Of course, on a Nextwave team (though that’s difficult, since there’s no way to do a comic-accurate squad of the full team along with their ATA). He also qualifies for the Trenchcoat Brigade (along with the rest of his team) and he’s a shoo-in for the next “Breakfast Club” scenario, in which characters can’t share any keywords.

Next: My #1 favorite figure of last year is…!

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Looking to complete my final 2011-related countdown before April: my FAVORITE pieces of the year. Last time I promised #3 would be HARD, and it don’t come much harder than unbreakable skin!

#3

Luke Cage (Captain America 014)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM EVERY WEEK:

One of my “goals” in my Heroclixin’ is to collect all the Black or African-descended characters in the game. Of course Luke Cage is one of the premier examples of such, and this piece is the most playable  version yet made.

Earlier Cage/Power Man figures usually either started OK but swiftly dropped in effectiveness or were mediocre on every click. Not this one. Not only is he good on the top-dial, but down the stretch he retains both fighting prowess and survivability. The fact that he qualifies for the powerful Thunderbolts ATA just puts him over the threshold.

 

WHY I DON’T:

In this range-focused game, a boot speed brick like him still isn’t optimal for his 100-or-so-point cost. And for all his advantages over all the previous versions, he’s got the shortest dial at 7 clicks.
I’M PLAYING HIM NEXT:

On a Heroes for Hire team or a Marvel Knights team. Or, if I get the urge to run Thunderbolts, he’s a lock for that theme. And, of course, if I ever run a “Bad Mutha” team of Black characters, he’s on it or I’m not running the team. That simple.

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 Next: Just a kid from Brooklyn.


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Looking to complete my final 2011-related countdown before April: my FAVORITE pieces of the year.

#4 is the king of Atlantis:

Aquaman (Superman 048)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM EVERY WEEK:

Well, it’s Aquaman, my favorite superhero. This alternate-universe version is the roughest, toughest Arthur Curry made in the game yet and is a boon to any Atlantis or Swim team. Despite that, he doesn’t require water terrain to make himself useful the way some earlier Aquaman figures do.
WHY I DON’T:

I only want to play him on aforementioned Atlantean or swimmer-heavy teams, due to his special powers and traits. He’s also the priciest of Aquaman figures by far.
I’M PLAYING HIM NEXT:

On an Atlantis or swim team. I also have a thought of using him on a Soldier-themed team composed of mostly swimmers like Atlantean Warriors, E OMACs and REV Badoon. And the new Flashpoint ATA is sparking ideas there, too.

Next: Somebody HARD.


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Looking to complete my final 2011-related countdown before April: my FAVORITE pieces of the year.

#5

Armor (Giant-Size X-Men 050)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HER EVERY WEEK:

I did a F.U.N. review of her back in April, too. which outlines all the reasons she jumps to mind when it’s time for team-building.

WHY I DON’T: 

I’m not a huge fan of X-teams (a problem when so many of my favorite pieces last year coming from X-Men), so she doesn’t leave the box much. When I consider Teens, the Legion of Super-Heroes tends to crowd her out.

I’M PLAYING HER NEXT: 

Who knows? Maybe on the next big X-team alongside Cyclops and the new X-Men-keyworded Namor.

 Next: Speaking of Namor…

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Looking to complete my final 2011-related countdown before April: my FAVORITE pieces of the year.

#6

Thanks to HCRealms member moonknight2099 for the photo!

Madrox (Giant-Size X-Men 001)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM (them) EVERY WEEK:

Refer back to the F.U.N. article I wrote on him last April.   It’s all still true.

WHY I DON’T:

Only a 33% chance of his power working, and the fact that he otherwise needs to invest additional points to get the most out of his other powers, and his lacking the X-Men keyword to really work well with other mutants keep him off a lot more teams than I like.

I’M PLAYING HIM (them) NEXT:

On any X-Factor team, of course. And, as newly qualifying sculpts release, he’s a fixture on my periodic  “trenchcoat brigade” theme teams.

 Next: another X-person.

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Good grief, it’s almost April. Time to wrap this up!

#7

Black Widow (Captain America 006)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HER EVERY WEEK:

Not only is she a favorite comics character of mine — particularly since the 1999 miniseries from which the above art comes from — but it’s the first time she’s really been made well. Sure, there was the adequate Ultimates version, but that’s all she was…adequate. And barely, at that.

Now we have a Widow that embodies what makes her a winning character: that she combines the best of spandex-clad superhero and James Bondian superspy tropes. Her perma-Stealth trait frees up her dial for important powers like Running Shot and Leap/Climb, and her offensive numbers are solid. Most importantly, she’s loaded with useful keywords, especially Thunderbolts, qualifying her for the excellent ATA.

WHY I DON’T:

Her defense numbers are a little low for her high 85-point cost…which is actually 93 points, because I’m almost always going to run the 8-point T-Bolts ATA on her. For that price, I need her stats to be a little bit higher, yo.

It doesn’t help that she has competition in Black Widow (#206); for only 60 points, you get a solidly useful version whose only drawbacks are lower damage potential, limited keywords and just not being as good as the other. But at 25 points cheaper, whaddayawant?

I’M PLAYING HER NEXT:

On any Thunderbolts or Spy or Marvel Knights team, she’s a lock (unless I’m using the new ATA on the latter — it’s just so wasted on her). And probably regardless of what the upcoming Avengers Movie set(s) do with the Widow, I’m probably sticking with this version for my inevitable “movie Avengers” theme team. But the team I most want her on is a Secret Avengers build, one better than those I’ve played failed with in the past.

 Tomorrow: another member of the trenchcoat brigade.