Oh my. Amid seismic events happening both nationally and personally, I neglected to post my customary pocket checklist for the set.
Here’s the download, finally
Legacy cards … F.U.N. or nah? SMASH & DESTROY edition
Let’s review SMASH AND DESTROY’s offerings. By set number:
L013a Leader
L018 Spider-Man
- L013a Leader
- L018 Spider-Man
- L026 Hercules
- L028 Maestro
- L030 Juggernaut
- L032 Wonder Man
- L033 Green Scar
- L034 Druid
- L044 Red King
- L17-002 Spirit of Vengeance Red Hulk
———
L013a Leader
(The Mighty Thor, 2017)
THEN & NOW: He used to be a 60-point double Outwit piece — IF you jumped through a lot of hoops first. Kinda trash. Now he’s lost the SP Outwit for Prob Control that tokens enemy targets. But his main upgrade is a trait to nullify “instead of KO” effects.
F.U.N.? For just 35 points, he’s a “must consider” to counter the “don’t die” meta.
AM I GETTING THIS? I have the fig. So we’ll see.
———
L018 Spider-Man
(Spider-Man/Venom Carnage, 2020)
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.
———
L026 Hercules
(The Incredible Hulk, 2011)
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.
———
L028 Maestro
(Secret Wars Battleworld, 2018)
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.
———
L030 Juggernaut
(Uncanny X-Men, 2016)
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.
———
L032 Wonder Man
(Age of Ultron, 2015)
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.
———
L033 Green Scar
(M&M, 2006)
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.
———
L034 Druid
(Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD, 2015)
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.
———
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.
———
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.
———
OK. Maybe next post will be a return to the mods, or the Black Panther review series.
My Custom Mods [Mod 54]: Little Sure Shot
[Mod 54]: Little Sure Shot (Cosmic Justice 201)
Although the base Easy Company Soldier is one of the Black phenotype sculpts/characters I’ve vowed to collect, this LE version is not one of them. He’s a Native American.
So here’s what I did:
- Repainted skin to better match his Apache heritage
- Added signature feathers to his helmet
There. Now more Sure than ever.
NEXT MONDAY: A smol mod
F.U.N. FOCUS: Rating the Panthers (part 6: 2023)
———
I’ve spent several posts reviewing Panthers once and future on these metrics:
- SMARTS: Outwit is his signature power.
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership is a must.
- SPEED: Needs IM:Elevated and good values
- STEALTH: ‘Nuff said.
- STRENGTH: Can he hit for 3-6 clicks on top dial?
- SURVIVABILITY: Damage reducers and good values.
— both the standards of back in the day to the present — giving THE KING’S VERDICT.
———
2023
Avengers 60th Anniversary 001 Black Panther
- SMARTS: Outwit to start. A-
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership is missing, but when he rolls well on his Willpower, he also un-tokens a keyword pal within 4. Worth a grade of B
- SPEED: Traited Leap/Climb is key, but his 8 speed Charge is mid. B+
- STEALTH: Traited. A
- STRENGTH: 11 AV Charge + Blades on top, Precision Strike + Close Combat Expert in middle. No range. OK but not great. B+
- SURVIVABILITY: No reducers, just Senses. C
THE KING’S VERDICT: Middling all around for 60 points. But at 35…?
Avengers 60th Anniversary 001V Black Panther
- SMARTS: Outwit only on the bitter end. C
- SOVEREIGNTY: See above. B
- SPEED: Only has Sidestep until his last click. C
- STEALTH: A
- STRENGTH: Not great at all. C+
- SURVIVABILITY: Just 3 clicks deep. C-
THE KING’S VERDICT: Normally a low dial like this would be all right if he supplied a key power like Leadership or Outwit. But he doesn’t reliably do either. So no.
———
2024 Starter Set M24002A Black Panther 50 points
- SMARTS: Outwit nearly all dial. A
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership on most clicks. A
- SPEED: 8 Charge, no Improved Movement. B-
- STEALTH: Only on back half of dial. C
- STRENGTH: 12 AV Blades is nice to start. But he’s got 0 range, despite his “throwing energy daggers” sculpt. B
- SURVIVABILITY: Bare defense on top, Reflexes on bottom. D+
THE KING’S VERDICT: What a way to start new players with a 50-point Panther who’s ALMOST good. Maybe the 75-point Advanced version below improves enough?
2024 Starter Set M24002B Black Panther @75 points
- SMARTS: Not only keeps the Outwit but adds a defense nerf to his targets. A+
- SOVEREIGNTY: See above. A
- SPEED: See above. Worse grade because he’s way more points. C+
- STEALTH: See above. Worse for the points. C-
- STRENGTH: See above. FREE Pulse Wave is nice, but he has to get hurt first, which isn’t nice. B
- SURVIVABILITY: But at least he has traited Toughness now. A-
THE KING’S VERDICT: Close yet still short by a mile. Same as ever, eh?
———
WizKids WKMV23-008 Black Panther
- SMARTS: No Outwit. F
- SOVEREIGNTY: Two clicks of Leadership to begin. He also gives Wakanda the Fantastic Four TA for the game. B+
- SPEED: 8 Speed Charge, 0 range, no Improved Movement. C
- STEALTH: Traited. A
- STRENGTH: Blades — with Flurry and Exploit later — that shred through STOP clicks. A+
- SURVIVABILITY: Zero armor. F
THE KING’S VERDICT: He does ONE GOOD THING but it’s not good enough.
———
Short installment. That’s because the next one might be long: Is 2024 the Year of the Panther, with a whole doggone set branded with his name?
My Custom Mods [MOD 53]: THE THING
[MOD 53]: THE THING (Fantastic Four 004)
Like other the set-title-character commons in 2020’s F4 set, he had a trait called “In The Beginning…” that indicated these were the FF at the start of their careers. And Ben Grimm’s soon-to-be iconic rocky epidermis hadn’t yet emerged:
It was more lumpy-looking. So decided to mod mine to match:
- Painted him in orange acrylic.
- then did it again
- and again and again, as thickly as possible.
The result was VERY pleasing! Original on the left, mod on the right:
It, too, got to the table in the mass Hulk vs. Thing matchup with Lenny.
NEXT MOD: Going native
Legacy cards … F.U.N. or nah? SPIDER-VERSE edition
Legacy cards kinda fall into four overlapping categories:
- A card that takes an old meta piece and makes it right into a new meta piece. The least F.U.N.
- A card that takes an old piece that was lore-accurate at the time and makes it fit current/different lore. Potentially peak F.U.N.
- A card that takes an old piece that never really worked right before (or doesn’t anymore due to rule changes) and makes it right. Great F.U.N.
- A card that takes an old overpowered piece and balances it. More F.U.N.
Let’s review Spider-Verse’s lot. By set number:
MSVL025 TV’s Spider-Man
MSVL027 Spider-Girl
MSVL033 Spider-Ma’am
MSVL040 Scarlet Spider
MSVL048 Madame Web
MSVL054a Doctor Octopus
MSVL054b Swarm
MSVLG015 Spider-Mobile
———
L025 TV’S SPIDER-MAN
(What If, 2017)
THEN: He had 10 AV Exploit Weakness but with no movement other than Sidestep. He got a +2 DV boost from any foes other than Celebrity or Reporter keyword, but had to take a -2 AV the next turn. Not even his STOP click or his “heal when you heal” trait made him worth it. 70 points of terrible.
NOW: Slims down to 50 points and sports the FREE jump-elevations trait given to Spider-folk these days. He cheats Spider-Fam keywords into Celebrity theme teams, and Celebs he uses his new Telekinesis on get to no-cost attack. Finally, his STOP is improved — first time it shows, all friendlies heal 2.
F.U.N.? Keyword shenanigans always have a home in the meta. But he otherwise isn’t competitive.
AM I GETTING THIS? I have the fig. So we’ll see.
———
L027 SPIDER-GIRL
(Amazing Spider-Man, 2013)
THEN: 41 points for a fig that could Carry away a based pal. Cute SP but kinda very situational.
NOW: She gets out of KO once a game (going to click #2) with stat boosts to AV and DV. That SP is Leadership + Perplex — plus, if she has an adjacent Spider-Fam pal, she can FREE action “Read the Scrolls” and they can Perplex or Prob mapwide. Oh, and if she’s placed by a pal, she generates a pog with Charge Exploit that flips into a Prob piece.
F.U.N.? A rare legacy piece that massively upcharges in cost though: 60 points!
AM I GETTING THIS? I like Araña, and this is a more lore-accurate version than the old one. I won’t chase the card but won’t mind having.
———
L033 SPIDER-MA’AM
(Marvel 15th Anniversary What If, 2017)
THEN: Super-Incapacitate that gave something like Immobile. 40 points wasn’t much but she was still kinda overcosted.
NOW: Her super Incap offers a choice: A. Deal Immobile to her targets or B. Heal 2 adjacent pals 1 click. She can also POWER: KO a 0-point pog 6 squares away. Shaved to 25 points with Spider-Man TA to boot.
F.U.N.? Quite a bit more useful but not a meta piece.
AM I GETTING THIS? Not chasing it, but I have the fig.
———
L040 SCARLET SPIDER
(Web of Spider-Man, 2010)
THEN: An awkward mess of a piece with no moving attack on top dial so he was dependent on his EE SP that dealt Web tokens that tied targets up. Of course he could push to his speed SP that -did- give him full speed attack, but … 72 points, he was a fair amount of the team. No TA, either.
NOW: Just 45 points, he’s a don’t die piece (trait to roll d6, go to that click 1st time he’d KO), a Shape Change+power copy piece (via SP, from Spider-Man TA allies within 4 and LOF) and, on a later set of clicks, a Sidestep+Flurry SP that places him next to the target if he hits. Spidey TA and IM:Characters round him out.
F.U.N.? This is less reflective of his early lore than of his later, post-Clone Saga life. It’s also top to bottom a better piece. Pretty F.U.N., but…
AM I GETTING THIS? …I no longer have the old piece, so probably no.
———
L048 MADAME WEB
(Amazing Spider-Man, 2013)
THEN: She had Super Senses and a random dial that, on a opening d6 roll, made her either a Prob piece or an Outwit piece or a Perplexer or a “Heed My Words” piece (don’t ask). At a dirt-cheap 24 points, she wasn’t bad per se — 5 of the 6 possible d6 rolls were excellent results — but she was too undependable for my taste.
NOW: This is the first legacy to INCREASE in points. She’s now 30, because:
- She’s no longer random; you choose her dial;
- She can FREE place 2 squares and shift to her NEXT start line;
- She can “pass on” her Toughness, Prob, Perplex or Outwit to a Spider-Fam ally if she’s KO’d, and
- Her last dial’s SP is dice replacement for attacks and Super Senses.
F.U.N.? She’s definitely an “update to an old meta piece” type of legacy.
AM I GETTING THIS? I don’t need it but I have the figure so maybe
———
L054a DOCTOR OCTOPUS
(Web of Spider-Man, 2010)
It’s a great sculpt. But it’s the MONEY BAGS that make it awesome FUN.
THEN: He was one of my favorites of the year, but more for his sculpt than dial: He sported self-Perplex that worked 4x a turn, even on damage back then — which was important with his printed 1 value there. He also gave adjacent Sinister Syndicate TA pals Protected:Outwit for their speed and attack powers.
NOW: With that SP Perplex nearly worse than useless, he’s reworked to have 4 Tentacle tokens that juice his AV and DV by the number (and his damage by half) and can soak up damage by sacrificing one at a time. That’s a trait. His old Perplex SP is now Giant Reach:4, Quake and Precision; his old mid-dial Flurry SP has become CCE+EW+Prob.
F.U.N.? A truly needed legacy as the old version was ENTIRELY unplayable in any format.
AM I GETTING THIS? I had to reacquire the old fig because although it’s indeed an all-time fave, it was completely unplayable. So I gotta get this card.
———
L054b SWARM
(Deadpool + X-Force, 2017)
THEN: 120 points got you a pretty damage-resistant guy (Super Senses, only take 1 unless the hit was doubles) but that 16 DV was not good. His SP created autonomous Bee Swarm pogs (with Poison!) upon hits.
NOW: He’s half the points. Adds Poison. His damage cap is no longer conditional (or subject to Pulse Wave like before). He gains Sinister Syndicate TA. Gains self-healing by KOing his Bees. (Slowly.)
Nothing but gains and he’s HALF THE POINTS
F.U.N.? And yet somehow he’s not meta. (Probably.) Just F.U.N. (Probably)
AM I GETTING THIS? Yes.
———
LG015 SPIDER-MOBILE
(Avengers Infinity, 2018)
THEN: Former Heroclixin’ board member Taylor really liked this old vehicle. It was a 50-point Incapper (his favorite power) that could, for FREE, shine a light on Stealth and Shape Change (denying both). Then if you KO’d it, the buggy turned into special terrain that functioned as +2 hindering terrain and whose dial spewed web fluid tying up all characters within 4 and LOF. Goofy piece.
NOW: It has a Pilot trait for Spider-Man Family (natch) and Future (uh, WHUT) keywords — also able to use its pilot’s AV and damage if pilot isn’t more than 100 points — and a STOP click that heals 1/3 of the time but self-KOs the rest. The special terrain dial is ignored.
F.U.N.? Still a goofy piece. But why is it MORE points now (60)?
AM I GETTING THIS? Naw. Never got the piece; do not like the play style.
———
F.U.N. FOCUS: Rating the Panthers (part 5: 2022)
Black Panther clix have generally been underwhelming in the game’s history, missing his:
- SMARTS: Outwit is his signature power, but he sometimes lacks it
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership is a must, but he often lacks it
- SPEED: Needs IM:Elevated and good values. Often missing at least one
- STEALTH: ‘Nuff said. He usually has it but it’s surprisingly absent from otherwise best dials
- STRENGTH: Can he hit for 3-6 clicks on top dial? Usually not
- SURVIVABILITY: Damage reducers and good values. The armor is too frequently the soft spot.
T’Challa is supposed to be exceptional, though, even when not the official Black Panther. So let us ponder the question … WHAT IF…?
… THERE WERE A DEFINITIVE PANTHER DIAL
Marvel Studios Disney Plus 013 T’Challa Star-Lord
- SMARTS: No Outwit. F
- SOVEREIGNTY: Plenty Leadership. A
- SPEED: Flight is the IM:Elevated he needs (though from rocket boots more than jungle agility). A
- STEALTH: Only on back end. B-
- STRENGTH: Running Shot Penetrating/Psychic Blast is good offense. A-
- SURVIVABILITY: No reducers at all is bad defense. D
THE KING’S VERDICT: So this is from the Disney Plus “What if T’Challa got kidnapped instead of Peter Quill” some such or other. It’s not a bad rendition of Panther not being Panther. But it’s not Panther.
———
Marvel Studios Disney Plus 025 T’Challa Star-Lord
- SMARTS: This is more like it … he has lots of Outwit. A
- SOVEREIGNTY: No Leadership, but he can cheat a few keywords onto a Guardians theme team. D+
- SPEED: Flight. A
- STEALTH: None at all. F
- STRENGTH: Running Shot Pulse Wave used to be better in solo combat. Formerly A, now B-
- SURVIVABILITY: No reducers at all. C-
THE KING’S VERDICT: Nah. While this one is arguably a better piece than the 013, it’s somehow a worse rendition of T’Challa as he should be.
Marvel Studios Disney Plus 025e T’Challa Star-Lord
- SMARTS: Outwit for just first click. A-
- SOVEREIGNTY: D+
- SPEED: Only a single click of Running Shot dings him a bit. A-
- STEALTH: F
- STRENGTH: Just the single click of Running Shot dings him a lot in this metric — subsequent clicks of Precision and RCE notwithstanding. C+
- SURVIVABILITY: And it’s because with no reducers, he could EASILY be 40 points erased at once. C-
THE KING’S VERDICT: He’s priced right compared to his 100-point line, but still misses way off on the must-have qualities.
———
Marvel Studios Disney Plus 103a T’Challa Star-Lord
- SMARTS: Nothing here. F
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership, though. A-
- SPEED: No Flight or Improved Movement? Bleh. C-
- STEALTH: Nothing. F
- STRENGTH: Running Shot to start with Ranged Combat Expert later. OKish. C-
- SURVIVABILITY: Zero armor. F
THE KING’S VERDICT: This is a training dial so it’s no wonder it’s not good.
Marvel Studios Disney Plus 103b T’Challa Star-Lord
- SMARTS: None. F
- SOVEREIGNTY: Not leading. F
- SPEED: No Improved Movement. C-
- STEALTH: Nope. F
- STRENGTH: Running Shot into Hypersonic Speed is a plus. His damage is light, which is a minus. C
- SURVIVABILITY: Nothing will save him if hit. D
THE KING’S VERDICT: It’s better than the “A” version yet somehow a bit worse. Back to REAL Black Panthers, I guess…
———
Avengers Forever 012 Black Panther
- SMARTS: No Outwit. F
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership to start. A
- SPEED: Mediocre Charge range with no IM:Elevated. C+
- STEALTH: He’s got it in his special speed power. B+
- STRENGTH: The SP also gives Flurry. Blades comes with normal Flurry later. A-
- SURVIVABILITY: No reducers. C-
THE KING’S VERDICT: Not this Panther. Not at 75 points.
Avengers Forever 012V Black Panther
- SMARTS: See above. F
- SOVEREIGNTY: See above. A
- SPEED: Speed is even worse. C-
- STEALTH: See above. B
- STRENGTH: See above. A
- SURVIVABILITY: No reducers and WAY shorter life. D
THE KING’S VERDICT: 25-point Leadership is his best and really only good quality.
———
Avengers Forever 060 Ghost Panther
- SMARTS: Outwit on click 1? Check. A
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership? At all? Nope. F
- SPEED: IM:Elevated makes up for the 8 speed. A
- STEALTH: SP gives Stealth — well, as long as the SP lasts. A-
- STRENGTH: It also gives Hypersonic Speed, which is great with Blades, which he has all dial long in some form. Later, Close Combat Expert Shows up. A-
- SURVIVABILITY: Invulnerability leads off, and then Toughness — though he gets a big soft spot in the middle. A SP gives Steal Energy which could potentially stretch that dial. B+
THE KING’S VERDICT: This WarpWorld version of BP crossed with Ghost Rider is OK, but clearly fails a big metric there to be a full 125 points. But maybe at 75…?
Avengers Forever 060V Ghost Panther
- SMARTS: Lost the Outwit! NAWWW. F
- SOVEREIGNTY: And still no Leadership. F
- SPEED: Just Charge now, until the end of his dial. B-
- STEALTH: Also gone until his SP shows up end-dial. D+
- STRENGTH: Charge+Blades. He’ll really need his trait and CCE to boost his AV. B-
- SURVIVABILITY: Just Toughness now, with that same soft underbelly. C
THE KING’S VERDICT: Worse in every metric except cost.
———
Avengers Forever L024 Black Panther
- SMARTS: Starts with Perplex and can no longer simply push to Outwit. B-
- SOVEREIGNTY: Still no Leadership. And without wild card status now, even, to possibly be a boon to a team. F
- SPEED: His old dial full of Leap/Climb (which no longer gives auto-breakaway) is bolstered by a new trait poofing him into hindering 4 squares away. B
- STEALTH: Traited now; a great improvement. A
- STRENGTH: The continuing lack of actual moving attack makes it difficult to leverage his offense — which starts quite anemic at 2 damage. C
- SURVIVABILITY: Boosted by, first, his original Toughness and, second, by his new “Diplomatic Immunity” trait preventing enemy Outwit or range shots at him if he’s been attacked in a turn. And then there’s the new Spider-Man team ability. B+
THE KING’S VERDICT: The low damage more than anything nerfs his chance to be effective again. Mid all around for 60 points.
———
SIGH… another era of less than kingly Panthers. But a new era of card design beckons. Maybe a good BP would emerge…
My Custom Mods [MOD 52] THE THING
Back to the ’80s and back to the Fantastic Four!
[MOD 52] The Thing (Deep Cuts 003)
Similarly, to a number of my other Deep Cuts purchases, I wanted to paint a costume for Ben Grimm we hadn’t gotten in clix yet.
His Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation outfit from the mid-1980s was my choice. Painted it like so:
But his feet looked … weird. Like he was wearing socks made of panty hose instead of boots. So at the advice and encouragement of Heroclixin’ board member emeritus Taylor, I got some Green Stuff epoxy and tried it for the first time.
Not bad.
All set for some clobberin’ time on a map! And I used him in this 2021 game.
NEXT WEEK: Another Thing coming
F.U.N. FOCUS: Rating the Panthers (part 4: Silver Age, 2020)
2020! It was the start of a whole new decade.
———
Unlike the Golden Age, or years 2017-2018 or 2019, would it see Black Panther finally walk into having a piece with ALL his key attributes?
- SMARTS: Outwit is his signature power.
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership is a must.
- SPEED: Needs IM:Elevated and good values
- STEALTH: ‘Nuff said.
- STRENGTH: Can he hit for 3-6 clicks on top dial?
- SURVIVABILITY: Damage reducers and good values.
What would THE KING’S VERDICT be?
———
Captain America and the Avengers 037A Black Panther
- SMARTS: He doesn’t start with Outwit but gets it later. Opening SP makes him immune to enemy stat nerfs, Incap and the like. He sees through Stealth! B+
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership at start and at end. A-
- SPEED: Great Charge speed and IM:Elevated. A
- STEALTH: Trait. A.
- STRENGTH: Blades that penetrates on doubles (which is too unreliable) but lasts most of dial. AV is steady 11s to start. B+.
- SURVIVABILITY: No armor at all. C.
THE KING’S VERDICT: He’s a Team Player TA fig but with his own Stealth, he doesn’t NEED it like earlier wild card BPs. If only he started with Outwit or had any reducers, he’d be a model Panther even at 85 points.
Captain America and the Avengers 37AE Black Panther
- SMARTS: Actually starts with Outwit unlike the full cost. A
- SOVEREIGNTY: But loses the Leadership until he’s nearly out of the game. B-
- SPEED: A.
- STEALTH: A.
- STRENGTH: Loses some AV. B
- SURVIVABILITY: Only 4 clicks with no armor means a likely swift end. C-
THE KING’S VERDICT: See above but minus three clicks of life.
———
Captain America and the Avengers 037B Azzuri
- SMARTS: He has none of the relevant powers. But it’s a different character so not a totally failing grade here. D
- SOVEREIGNTY: Not only has Leadership, but a trait boosting friendly Wakandan offense on his side of the map AND his SP removing tokens from those allies when he KOs targets. A
- SPEED: Decent Charge value with IM:Elevated. But only one click of it. B+
- STEALTH: Only shows at end dial. C-
- STRENGTH: Blades/Claws/Fangs to start, Close Combat Expert to end. A
- SURVIVABILITY: No armor at all, so he’ll need to hit with those late Steal Energy clicks to stay alive. C+
THE KING’S VERDICT: This is T’Challa’s grandpa. He definitely scales when built on a proper Wakanda force, but he’s not really a great use of the prime slot. And of course not a “prime” Panther.
———
Fantastic Four 013a Black Panther
- SMARTS: A full dial of Outwit! A+
- SOVEREIGNTY: SP Leadership. A
- SPEED: No IM:Elevated, and his trait requires him to stay in the shadows anyway. Leap/Climb comes later. B
- STEALTH: It’s traited. A
- STRENGTH: His AV is fine, but 3 damage Precision Strike is too weak for a high grade here. B-
- SURVIVABILITY: He starts with high DV Reflexes, then gets Toughness. B-
THE KING’S VERDICT: This 60 points is so close to being a definitive BP with all the abilities — if a little weak at nearly all of them.
———
Fantastic Four 013b Black Leopard
- SMARTS: He thoroughly lacks Outwit, but has Perplex that scales to +2 if he’s faced with a higher stat value. And of course his stat-nerfing trait is peak. B+
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership in the first few clicks. And his trait helps a whole team a lot. A+
- SPEED: No Improved Movement at all that matters anymore. Charge is adequate, though, and his SP Perplex can potentially extend it a lot. B-
- STEALTH: Completely lacking. F
- STRENGTH: Charge BCF with a possible 12 AV against a max 17 DV for the defender? Yes please. A+
- SURVIVABILITY: No reducers, though his stat nerfing keeps most within 6 from one-shooting him. C
THE KING’S VERDICT: Though a distinctly meta version of BP, he’s far from definitive.
———
Fantastic Four Fast Forces 005 Black Panther
- SMARTS: Several clicks of Outwit. A
- SOVEREIGNTY: Two clicks of Leadership. More than adequate. A
- SPEED: 8 speed Charge is underwhelming without IM:Elevated. C
- STEALTH: Traited. A
- STRENGTH: As usual, his range is not really great but at least he has it. Charge Blades on both ends. A
- SURVIVABILITY: Starts with Toughness. Also gets Shape Change in hindering. B
THE KING’S VERDICT: Once again, this is close to being good. But the movement lacks. And at 75 points, he needs to be the whole package.
Fantastic Four Fast Forces 005E Black Panther
- SMARTS: Still has a pair of clicks of Outwit. A
- SOVEREIGNTY: But he loses the Leadership. F
- SPEED: And lacks the Charge (at first), bearing Sidestep instead. C-
- STEALTH: A
- STRENGTH: With the Sidestep, his range is actually a bit more useful. But this still drops to a grade of B-
- SURVIVABILITY: A sole click of Toughness, with aforementioned Shape Change. B-
THE KING’S VERDICT: Nope.
———
The pandemic was making the world sick, but I was sick of these disappointing Panthers.
2021-22
———
Avengers Fantastic Four Empyre 047a Black Panther
- SMARTS: No Outwit. F
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership early on (and super late on) plus the Recruiter trait to call in reinforcements from the KO area. A
- SPEED: Good Charge value with IM:Elevated. It’s what a Panther deserves. A-
- STEALTH: Somehow he has none. F
- STRENGTH: Charge then Flurry with Blades all through. A
- SURVIVABILITY: But no armor. Only Super Senses (that deals damage on misses) to save him. C
THE KING’S VERDICT: T’Challa and Shuri’s father, T’Chaka, is finally seen in clix. But he lacks a lot.
———
Avengers Fantastic Four Empyre 047a T’Chaka II
- SMARTS: No Outwit. F
- SOVEREIGNTY: But a full dial of Leadership. He can also bail a friend out of getting hit with his “Distracting Banter” trait. A
- SPEED: No IM:Elevated. B-
- STEALTH: Has it for most of his short dial. A
- STRENGTH: Charge+Flurry+Blades is pretty good. A
- SURVIVABILITY: Zero damage reducers means he might need the Banter for himself to live. C
THE KING’S VERDICT: Though he was a Heroclixin’ favorite of the year 2021, this alternate-future son of T’Challa fails as a possible successor.
———
War of the Realms Fast Forces 003 Black Panther
- SMARTS: He has Outwit top dial and end. A
- SOVEREIGNTY: No Leadership. F
- SPEED: No Improved Movement or even moving attack. F
- STEALTH: Top dial, end dial. A-
- STRENGTH: Has high AV but low damage potential on top while his AV drops on his Blades clicks 2-3 (which he’ll almost never see).D
- SURVIVABILITY: …because he’s bare defensively on top and end, with just Senses in the middle. D
THE KING’S VERDICT: This is a 25-point starter-style version to learn the rudiments of the game, sure, but bleh
War of the Realms Fast Forces 003v Black Panther
- SMARTS: Outwit for clicks 1, 2 and 5. A
SOVEREIGNTY: No Leadership. F
SPEED: Charge on the Outwit clicks is good. No Improved Movement is not. C+
STEALTH: On the Outwit clicks. (Sensing a theme?) A
STRENGTH: Blades throughout. A
SURVIVABILITY: Only a bit of Super Senses in the middle again. D
THE KING’S VERDICT: Also unworthy of the “best Panther” mantle. Hell, it’s not even good.
———
War of the Realms 006 Black Panther
- SMARTS: Only has Outwit at the end. Bleh. C-
- SOVEREIGNTY: Leadership trait. Rally effect nerfs enemy Leadership. A
- SPEED: No movement at all. F
- STEALTH: Starts with plenty. B
- STRENGTH: Starts with Blades early on, but he loses it when Flurry appears — and his damage drops. B-
- SURVIVABILITY: No armor; Reflexes and Senses have to hold. C-
THE KING’S VERDICT: Even worse than the Fast Forces ones. Maybe an alternate universe T’Challa is needed…
———
Next: AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE
My Custom Mods [MOD 51] STORM
The original field leader of the X-Men was the subject of last Monday. Here’s his successor:
[MOD 51] Storm (Deep Cuts 003)
I never cared for this costume, seen during the Utopia era of the late 2000s. But I didn’t hate this variant of it:
I DID get a little lazy and rushed to finish because I had other paints and mods I was more interested in.
And in the end, I don’t hate it.
NEXT TIME: Ain’t nothing like the real Thing