No. 100

Black Widow [Captain America 006] Original rank: No. 7 of 2011

THEN: This was the first time a Widow dial ever felt complete, with the Stealth, Running Shot Leap/Climb and offense powers she deserved.

NOW: She’s been one-upped several times.

NEXT: But still being a complete Widow, she’ll be on every one of my all-Widow teams

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No. 99

Cyborg [New 52 Justice League 006] Original rank: No.6 of 2012

THEN: His anti-Stealth was unusual and welcome on my forces.

NOW: Everyone has Improved Targeting for less than his 100 points.

NEXT: This is another character I dream of running every version of on a squad

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No. 98

Aquaman [Superman 048] Original rank: No.  4 of 2011

THEN: The roughest Aquaman to date.

NOW: Though his utility for swimming teams is unabated, his 156 points feel even more overcosted than on release. For the collection.

NEXT: He’s still golden on huge Atlantis forces

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No. 97

Madrox [Giant-Size X-Men 001] Original rank: No. 6 of 2011

THEN: Finally a Madrox who could make dupes in the field after force construction!

NOW: The 5-6 roll required was FAR too unreliable to get any real use out of it. But I still run him on Madrox teams every time.

NEXT: Seriously, that Perplex of his is really useful on Madrox swarms

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No. 96

Chameleon Girl [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 031] Original rank: tied for No. 5 for 2014

THEN: I love her but her 115 price makes it hard to run her.

NOW: Nothing’s changed other than clix are even cheaper points today.

NEXT: One day I’ll get to field that humongous Legion of Super-Heroes force again, including her husband, Colossal Boy [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 032].

——

No. 95

Cloak [Amazing Spider-Man 202] Original rank: No. 10 of 2013

THEN: His Improved Movement: Everything and wildcard status added to his appeal as an African-American character for my Black Box collection.

NOW: At 85 points, he’s just as unappealing to fit on a team as ever, even though he’s still my favorite Cloak dial.

NEXT: I STILL *WANT* TO FIT HIM ON A TEAM

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No. 94

Mirage [Wolverine and the X-Men 004] Original rank: Late bloomer for 2013

THEN: She fit my Archery and Valkyrie theme teams.

NOW: She’s been supplanted by Moonstar, who does both 10 points cheaper.

NEXT: So I’m running them BOTH on every Valkyrie theme team.

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No. 93

Triplicate Girl [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 206] Original rank: tied for No. 5 for 2014

THEN: Nearly 90 points for 9 AV is bad even though I love her.

NOW: Nothing’s changed other than clix are even cheaper points today.

NEXT: She’ll be on every big Legion force.

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No. 92

Superman II [Superman/Wonder Woman 019a] Original rank: No. 6 F.U.N. for 2015 

THEN: His super Incap is pretty F.U.N.

NOW: I don’t care HOW super the Incap is: If it’s not multi-target, it’s not good. Especially for 150.

NEXT: If I can squeeze him on a Wonders of the World team without the ATA then he’s my pick over his sculptmate.

——

No. 91

Frog-Man [Superior Foes of Spider-Man 048] Original rank: No. 9 of 2016

THEN: Despite being a No. 3 F.U.N. fig that year, he usually got crowded out of the Spider-Fam teams he fit on.

NOW: He is completely crowded out of most teams. Sad. Give Froggy a chance!

NEXT: I really should give him a chance sometime. Probably on a Marvel Morts team of goofy low powered heroes/villains.

——

No. 90

The Spot [Web of Spider-Man 051] Original rank: No. 10 of 2010

THEN: A solidly F.U.N. fig.

NOW: Lives in the bottom of the box but begs to be played. He’s not really much worse today than when introduced.

NEXT: Aside from MODOK’s 11, I should re-try him teamed with Frog-Man at No. 89.

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No. 89

Luke Cage [Civil War Storyline 011] Original rank: No. 7 of 2016

THEN: He was a fixture on Anti-Registration teams in the Civil War storyline event that year. Just needed Indom to make him great.

NOW: He’s still a preferred Cage, even though he’s still not great.

NEXT: Great or not, he’s totally in the Cage Match team

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No. 88

Batman [Superman/Wonder Woman 061] Original rank: No. 9 for 2015

THEN: I thought he was a weird Batman variant that was nifty but a bit hard to use.

NOW: I STILL can’t seem to find teams to put him on .

NEXT: I take it back. He is totally on a certain explosive team I’ve had planned for some time. Now if only I could find players willing to be exploded.

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No. 87

Fitz [Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD 021]  Original rank: No. 10 for 2015 

THEN: I liked his Hoverbots but disliked his partner Simmons just enough to knock him to the alternate list.

NOW: I would probably include him and Simmons as a pair to get him on a Top Figs of the Year list or team even though it effectively doubles their cost. It wouldn’t be the first time I did so with a character I liked…

NEXT: …and anyway, Fitz and Simmons belong together. So it’s happening

——

No. 86

Element Man [World’s Finest 040] Original rank: No. 4 of 2016

THEN: Also a No. 6 F.U.N. fig that year, he provided a ton of F.U.N. in my meta building. Won me a Top 4 finish in the only ROC tournament I played in 2016.

NOW: Outside of that competitive scene, he’s been buried in the box. I like him still but don’t need to play him, y’know?

NEXT: Speaking of outside, I really need to play an Outsiders team and have him on it.

——

No. 85

Baby Doll [Batman The Animated Series 049] Original rank: No. 14 of 2018

THEN: Found her quirky but tough to work with on most squads. But as a support piece on a big team, she pulled way more than her weight.

NOW: I don’t see myself using her much now that she’s “retiring” from my Top 10 team.

NEXT: I don’t see myself NOT using her on any Gotham Underworld team I ever play.

——

No. 84

Veil [Avengers Asemble 023] Original rank: No. 10 F.U.N. for 2015

THEN: She’s a F.U.N. fig that I wish fit more teams other than Initiative.

NOW: I feel the same.

NEXT: Guess I’ll have to settle for taking some Initiative to play her

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No. 83

Goliath [Civil War Storyline 029] Original rank: No. 3 of 2016

THEN: A big target, he was less than great. I had to resign myself to losing him every game without him doing much.

NOW: He stays unplayed a lot because of his weakness, but he is still full of surprises. The key is to not let him get killed too early or too late.

NEXT: I have no idea what team to see him die on next.

——

No. 82

She-Hulk [Avengers Infinity 024] Original rank: No. 6 of 2018

THEN: I’ve wanted a version of her in her lawyer clothes for years and her stat-nerfing SP is great. But it being tied to Close Combat Expert was a problem then and…

NOW: I don’t see myself using her much now that she’s “retiring” from my Top 10 team.

NEXT: It has been a long time since I ran a team of nothing of characters in civilian clothes. She’s a lock for it

——

No. 81

Molly Hayes [Hammer of Thor 041] Original rank: Late bloomer for 2010

THEN: Hilariously toppling titans many times her point cost, she got me to make a running KO list for her.

NOW: She’s been replaced by far better new versions, but never in my heart

NEXT: I really need to add to that KO list somehow

——

No. 80

Aquaman [Trinity War 201] Original rank: No. 6 for 2015

THEN: At the time, 122 points seemed an OK price to pay for an Aquaman who brought his own water with him for Atlantis teams.

NOW: Similar teamworking versions can be had for much less, so he’s mostly shelved.

NEXT: I wonder how big a build it’ll take to run EVERY Aquaman? ‘Cause that’s the next time I run this guy

——

No. 79

Hulk [Avengers Movie 202] Original rank: No. 8 of 2012

THEN: He was the first green Hulk to feel just right for the character, even though he was too many points even in 2012.

NOW: He’s still potent, but has been done better several times since even by Hulk figs that never had a shot at making my Tops in later years.

NEXT: I have him on a massive all-Hulk squad set to battle every Wolverine I can muster in a Hulk 181 deathmatch

———

No. 78

Superman II [Superman/Wonder Woman 6-001] Original rank: No. 8 for 2015

THEN: I thought he was less F.U.N. than his sculptmate (the No. 5 F.U.N. fig of the same year), though, in truth, he’s just a lot less effective despite his lower 120-point cost.

NOW: He hulks up better than his 150-point version despite lacking range and flight (at first). So while he’s not a slam dunk better choice, he’s still considered.

NEXT: Like his twin, he’s for Wonders of the World. But this one makes a great battery for the ATA.

—————

No. 77

Mysterio [Web of Spider-Man 056] Original rank: No. 4 for 2010

THEN: As I am a mega Mysterio fan, this was the first version to really feel like the illusion master.

NOW: But he’s too pricey and has been redone better several times, so he’s the first carded Mysterio to go when I have trouble fitting an all-Mysterio team into a build. Wish he had Indom…

NEXT: It’s been a minute since I tried an all-Mysterio illusion team…

——————

No. 76

Groot [Web of Spider-Man 049] Original rank: No. 5 for 2010

THEN: “HE IS GROOT!” (Translation: He was pricey and slow but workable with his then-limited Guardians of the Galaxy teammates.

NOW: “He is GROOT.” (Translation: He’s been power-leaped a lot by newer versions of the character, many of which share his weaknesses of being a slow target. He’s still relevant by having an actual team ability (Defenders) and clothes.)

NEXT: “HE…IS…GROOT!” (Translation: I’m debating whether to go all Rocket and Groot in a head-to-head match again Inhumans.)

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NEXT: The next 25