THEN & NOW: For 65 points, he could 1/2 speed MOVE and Incap everyone in sight. Somehow that was never quite good enough. Now? He loses both skills (along with his old Sidestep and Plasticity) and instead can once per game force every foe in sight/range to drop their equips and terrain. He’s also got Precision Strike and is immune to enemy Prob. 50 points.

F.U.N.? He’s somehow worse now. Losing the move skills will make it difficult to pull off the de-quip ability. So while he has maybe a niche meta spot, he’s likely to be just a pure F.U.N. fig.

AM I GETTING THIS? Of course, because I collect Black characters.

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THEN & NOW: He had to push to get either of his SPs — one for +1 AV vs. stronger foes (but -1 vs. weaker targets) and the other for Willpower and +1 DV vs. range. The legacy gives traited revival of KO’d equipment, permanent use of terrain in CLOSE attacks if he hits (1st SP), and Close Combat Expert/Prob Control (2nd SP).

F.U.N.? He’s for Damage Control themes more than winning. F.U.N. But just 50 points for all those 9 clicks of life is worth a look.

AM I GETTING THIS? I have the fig. So we’ll see.

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THEN & NOW: Originally sported traited Leadership+Perplex and an IM:Destroy Charge SP (alongside IM:Elevated) and, late-dial, a FREE attack SP for the not-bargain point values of 175 and 100. This modern update cuts both costs to 70 and 50 along with cutting the Leadership+Perplex. Instead, he heals and gets temporary Power Cosmic when he KOs targets — an easier task with his new Phase+FREE punch SP. His late SP becomes penetrating damage with +1AV and damage if the target got damaged this turn already.

F.U.N.? His aggressive costing and the melee-focused meta both mean he could slot into a competitive team. Lacking consistent Outwit protection makes him less than top tier. Low cost means he doesn’t need to be.

AM I GETTING THIS? I have the fig because I collect Hulks. So we’ll see.

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THEN & NOW: For 150 points he had POWER: Direct path move and attack everyone he ran through for 3 damage each. He also had a helmet that gave him Willpower and SAFEGUARD: Outwit, MC, Penetrating/Psychic Blast — as well as keeping him from taking damage unless the hit knocked the helmet off. (It’s complicated.) Today’s legacy doesn’t even have a helmet mechanic and he loses the SAFEGUARD:PPB. But he still has the run-over power and gains Willpower and a Mystics-like ability to deter penentrating damage. Slimmed to 80 points.

F.U.N.? Yeah, he’s not really good at all IMO but F.U.N. maybe.

AM I GETTING THIS? I have the fig. So we’ll see.

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THEN & NOW: Originally, he was either a short-lived 65-point brick (because the Masters of Evil TA was overcosted) or 120 points for some extra end clicks and Flight and a DV power granting one-time STOP (sorta), Invincible and range. Now he’s only 25 or 50 points! Main reason for the discount is his inability to KO enemies due to his “I’m A Pacifist” trait — which makes him hard to kill.

F.U.N.? Almost pure F.U.N. but he could find a home in “don’t die” strats.

AM I GETTING THIS? I have the fig because I used to hardcore collect Masters of Evil. So we’ll see.

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THEN & NOW: A staggering 230 points only got you 10 AV to start, but his SP POWER of what today would be full-speed Charge with Leap/Climb meant he was hitting for 7 clicks usually. Mid-dial he got Impervious and Willpower — and increased attack values, before sliding to terrible stats by the end. Now, with this legacy card, he drops to 75 points, gets a no-cost attack on a 5 move (with AV and damage bonus for smashing through blocking), and he gets an additional FREE attack if he was hurt or he missed. His mid-dial SP is now Reflexes + Impervious with anti-penetration/Outwit/Pulse Wave.

F.U.N.? Yes, but he will find a place in the meta because of his free attack ability.

AM I GETTING THIS? I have the fig because I low-key collect Hulks. So we’ll see.

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THEN & NOW: 100 points got you pretty much just Enhancement for SHIELD only (and Empower for Secret Warriors) because 9 AV Penetrating/Psychic Blast isn’t good. Midway in his 7-click dial, he could FREE give PPB/IT:Destroy to an adjacent pal. He really really needed today’s upgrades: 1) His first SP grants a number of d6 roll effects ranging from FREE healing to FREE damage to stealing enemy equipment and more. (Other SP is unchanged.) 2) He gets a proper price of 50 points for his support role. 3) He gets a 2nd cost of only 30.

F.U.N.? High key F.U.N. at top dial; the random factor keeps him out of being definitely meta. But some of those effects are really strong if they come at the right times. At low dial, he only has the 2nd SP which could boost any team.

AM I GETTING THIS? I have the fig and would like to try him on an old Secret Warriors theme in Golden Age. So I will actually try getting this one.

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L044 Red King
(The Incredible Hulk, 2011)

 

THEN & NOW: This old 186-point giant got a then-unheard-of Giant Reach:3 and, after pushing to click 2, KNOCKBACK that dealt extra damage to characters getting shoved into other characters. Now he’s shaved to just 80 points and improved to sport traited Leadership, Sidestep and GR:3. His SP is a much more straightforward Exploit+Outwit but he of course can’t push to it anymore.

F.U.N.? Definitely not meta. Have F.U.N. with him.

AM I GETTING THIS? I have the fig. So we’ll see.

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L17-002 Spirit Of Vengeance Red Hulk
(WizKids, 2017)

THEN & NOW: For some reason all his good stuff was on his low 200 dial (vs. 250 — they really overestimated the worth of Invincible in those days), where his attack SP granted 5 range, 2 bolts, and quasi Incap+penetrating damage. Last 3 clicks’ SP was penetrating damage equal to the target’s action tokens. No, this never combos with the other SP. Great sculpt but lousy value. Now, they’re leaning into his Circle of Four status with a Pilot trait to use Sideline figs’ powers — 4 FIGS for up to 4 POWERS. His late damage SP allows him to generate those Sideliners one at a time on their last click, while his mid (or top, depending) SP is Poison even after moving. Wayyy better at 200 or 125 costs, respectively.

F.U.N.? Looks like it. But 4 STOP clicks, even with a no-healing clause, means he could be competitive, too.

AM I GETTING THIS? I have the fig. So we’ll see.

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OK. Maybe next post will be a return to the mods, or the Black Panther review series.