Morlock [Uncanny X-Men 008]

• Is the figure FRIENDLY and FELLOWSHIP-worthy? Only a single click of life means a fun game. And if played at the 10-point level, the opponent gets to choose which click of life to deal with. Level: HIGH
• Is this figure still USEFUL and full of UTILITY anyway?  That said, each click of life is going to be of concern. Do they pick:
  — the 5-range Energy Exploder? That 10 AV could hurt someone.
  — the Plasticity dial? With 17 Reflexes, he’s a frightfully effective tie-up for almost no points.
  — Leap/Climb + Blades/Claws/Fangs? That 10AV could REALLY hurt someone.
  — the Running Shot Morlock? 9 AV isn’t scary, but do you want to give out more shooting?
  — The Flurry+Shape Change guy? Again, it’s only 9AV, but more attacks is more attacks.
  — The Super-Strong Charger? 10 points to deal 4 clicks with a heavy is ridiculous.
  As you can see, there’s no choice they can pick that isn’t probably an advantage for you, especially with Morlock having traited Stealth as well. And at the 15 point cost, you can field multiples of your favorite dial. Level: MODERATE
• Does this figure have a NEATO or NIFTY or NICHE or NERDCORE appeal?  These guys are kinda dull, though, only fitting a single niche keyword, Morlocks. Level: MODERATELY LOW

They may be ugly, but they’re F.U.N. as heck.

Element Man [World’s Finest 040]

• Is the figure FRIENDLY and FELLOWSHIP-worthy? While he has the ability to be either a strong attacker, a faceted supporter or a defensive wall, he can’t be all of them at once. With no Willpower and only Sidestep, 17 DV Super Senses, 4 range and 10 AV to lean on, Element Man isn’t very intimidating to see on the field, despite his many other assets. Level: MODERATE
• Is this figure still USEFUL and full of UTILITY anyway? But those assets, tho. He’s got Giant Reach, Plasticity and Shape Change in a trait, making him a solid (if expensive) tie-up piece. But his real utility comes from his “A Periodic Arsenal” SP granting him use of either a standard attack or defense power — or one of both if you’re willing to take a click of damage after your turn. So, as mentioned above, in a given turn Element Man can be:
  — A STRONG ATTACKER via B/C/F or Pulse Wave or Energy Explosion or Incap or Quake or Super Strength or Penetrating Blast or Precision Strike, many of which work exceptionally well with his Giant Reach;
  — A FACETED SUPPORTER via Smoke Cloud or Barrier or Telekinesis in addition to his Outsiders team ability;
  — A DEFENSIVE WALL via Combat Reflexes or Energy Shield or Mastermind or Invincible or Impervious or Poison on top of the aforementioned Plasticity;
  And having access to Steal Energy and Regeneration give him some self-help on the clicks 1-4 he has this SP.
  His end dial loses the SP but “hulks up” to Invulnerability, Poison and 11-12 AV with Flurry and Battle Fury. Level: HIGH
• Does this figure have a NEATO or NIFTY or NICHE or NERDCORE appeal? He’s a member of the Justice League (yawn). But his tenure was mostly on the bwah-ha-ha Justice League International era, so play him with those teammates rather than the usual Superman-led squads. Also, look at Outsiders. Level: MODERATELY LOW

This is a finesse piece with great potential. Go have F.U.N. with him!

Moon Knight [Superior Foes of Spider-Man 037]

• Is the figure FRIENDLY and FELLOWSHIP-worthy? So he’s got this SP that boosts his AV for each foe that can see him. That play style alone may reassure opponents nervous about his wildcard status and potential for healing. Level: MODERATE
• Is this figure still USEFUL and full of UTILITY anyway? The aforementioned AV boost means he can be a dangerous Running Shooter and, later, Flurry piece. When he damages enemies, he gets Tribute tokens that can be spent to heal him a click at a time or save him from KO if he has 2 of them.   Level: MODERATE
• Does this figure have a NEATO or NIFTY or NICHE or NERDCORE appeal? Moon Knight is Moon Knight and therefore all four of those things. Level: MODERATE

At his somewhat steep 90 points, he’s not the best use of points. Which makes him a F.U.N. piece to wield!

Thug [Superior Foes of Spider-Man 005]

• Is the figure FRIENDLY and FELLOWSHIP-worthy? Completely devoid of powers, he’s not one to make opponents nervous. A F.U.N. game is at hand, especially since Thug is likely on the squad to fill out a themed team that otherwise couldn’t be fielded. He also can’t do theme-Probability Control.   Level: MODERATELY HIGH
• Is this figure still USEFUL and full of UTILITY anyway?  He’s got no powers. He’s only good for his 4-click dial. Which….is actually REALLY GOOD for 10 points. Use a Thug to block and tie-up or take Mastermind damage from your actual team. Level: MODERATELY LOW
• Does this figure have a NEATO or NIFTY or NICHE or NERDCORE appeal? There’s nothing inherently nerdcore about Thugs.  Level: LOW

Thug is F.U.N. mainly for his ability to facilitate other F.U.N. So he makes the list.

Grace [Joker’s Wild 046]

• Is the figure FRIENDLY and FELLOWSHIP-worthy? Bricks can be effective, but tend to be literally outgunned by range figures in this game. Grace isn’t going to make a player quake at the sight of her, and she can be dealt with like any other brick. Indeed, her play style involves her being in the thick of things. Still, she’s solid and Outsiders team ability commands respect. Level: MODERATELY LOW
• Is this figure still USEFUL and full of UTILITY anyway? But if the other force has a higher-point figure, Grace can be quite offensive indeed, being able to move her full speed then punch. With an object, we’re talking about dealing 5-7 clicks to their biggest threat for possibly a first strike. She’s also supremely well-armored for her 125 cost with all the “I” powers: Invincible, Impervious, Invulnerability. Outsiders TA enables her to blunt the stat mod powers of her targets and Indom keeps her active to lay in with Close Combat Expert. She’s almost a perfect brick.  Level: HIGH
• Does this figure have a NEATO or NIFTY or NICHE or NERDCORE appeal? She only has two keywords, Amazon and Outsiders, so there’s not much there. She could go on an informal theme team of LGBTQ characters, though.  Level: MODERATELY LOW

Grace is strong. But still F.U.N.

Batman [Batman and His Greatest Foes Fast Forces 001]

• Is the figure FRIENDLY and FELLOWSHIP-worthy? Batman figures usually score too low for this level, due to their annoying tendency to hang back and be a problematic Stealth Outwitter that other player HATE dealing with. But this Batman, though Stealthy, plays nothing like that. No shrinking violet, more like a STRIKING VIOLENT. Once players realize this is a Bat they won’t have to hide from — no range, not even Charge — they’re much more relaxed. Level: MODERATE
• Is this figure still USEFUL and full of UTILITY anyway? This is a Batman who drops into the midst of enemies, daring them to hit him, then he counters and destroys them. (That’s how I like to think of his play style, anyway.) He gets to mod his AV for each adjacent foe (a trait) and hit all at once a la Quake (a Special Power) while dealing his full damage to all of them. But that fighting is all he does. None of the usual Bat-support powers on this piece.  Level: MODERATE
• Does this figure have a NEATO or NIFTY or NICHE or NERDCORE appeal? Batman isn’t niche at all and this piece is loaded with popular keywords, so his Level is LOW.

Still rates as one of the top F.U.N. figs of the year!

In years past, this has been where your friendly neighborhood webmaster has shared his personal favorites of the past year. But a friend once rather bluntly told me: Nobody cares about that list.

It stung a bit, but I had to admit he was right. It might be entertaining — one could say Friendly and Nifty, to invoke the spirit of this blog — to some readers, but was it also Useful? No.

So Heroclixin’s last look back at the year will list the Top Ten F.U.N. figs of the year, not just our favorites, in accordance with the F.U.N. acrostic:

• Is the figure FRIENDLY and FELLOWSHIP-worthy? That is, if your opponents see this figure on your team, will their hearts utterly sink at the prospect of dealing with it? If so, it’s not F.U.N.
• Is this figure still USEFUL and full of UTILITY anyway? If so, it may be F.U.N. But it shouldn’t run TOO high on this scale, or it may overwhelm the Friendly portion!
• Does this figure have a NEATO or NIFTY or NICHE or NERDCORE appeal that goes beyond its just having good stats and powers? Does it have a special place on a team outside of the usual keywords? And does this clix capture the character’s appeal? If so, it may be F.U.N. But the answer can’t JUST be, “I like this character.”

Let’s look at an unrecognized F.U.N. fig from 2015 along the F.U.N. scale:

Scarlet Spider[s] [Avengers Assemble 005]

• Is the figure FRIENDLY and FELLOWSHIP-worthy? Their almost total lack of moving attack (they need to be next another Scarlet Spider to use Sidestep) or Willpower keeps them from being very scary at all. It takes 2 or more points at 60 apiece to get any real use out of them. And with only five clicks of life, they can be handled. Level: HIGH
• Is this figure still USEFUL and full of UTILITY anyway? There’s a lot of Flurry on this dial, and a fair amount of 3 damage. A 50% Shape Change SP makes it tough to damage them when fielded in multiples (or with other Scarlet Spider figs from other sets) and Toughness plus ending Regen makes it hard to KO them. Improved Movement helps get them where they can do the most good. Level: MODERATELY HIGH
• Does this figure have a NEATO or NIFTY or NICHE or NERDCORE appeal? There’s something about clone teams that’s pretty nifty. And considering every character named Scarlet Spider is a clone, this can be a fun informal theme to build on. Also, build around the niche Initiative keyword. Level: MODERATELY LOW

Stay tuned this week for last year’s most F.U.N. figures! We’ll wrap up the look back with our personal top 10s as well.

1. Bizarro Aquaman [Joker’s Wild 065]

Wanted this piece because Aquaman is a completist streak. But…

He nerfs swimmers, making aquatic teammates considerably more useless even though he can make temporary water terrain.

Swim is the lamest ability in the game. No one cares about fielding BizAqua to thwart it.

Drown this fool

No.2 (tie)

Raphael [Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 102]

Michelangelo [Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 103]

The TMNT starter set was really bad. But Donny has some good utility with Outwit, Defend and, later, Support, while Leo sports decent 10AV Precision Strike then Blades.

But their brothers?

Oh brother.

Rurouni KJS: Those starter Turtles tho…
R: I feel like the one really turrible one is Mikey

Sceritz: he is the worst of them but man that whole set
S: So bad.

R: It’s that 6 speed for all of them
R: Whyyyyy

S: That is a major reason
S: It came with the van right?
S: I think they want you to drive it
R: No

S: oh whoops
S: nvm they just suck
S: LOL
R: the low speed keeps them from getting in close to use Reflexes and not get shot
R: Leo and Raph anyway.
R: Mike and Don just have Willpower

S: The 2 damage and some have 9 attack..
S: guh
S: so bad.
S: Who made those?
S: who is the opposite of Steev?

Raphael has a 9 attack. For THREE STARTING CLICKS. Even Flurry isn’t much help. Then he inexplicably gets Running Shot and P/PB. But for only 1 damage. Meanwhile, Mikey is wasting points on Incap when his 2 damage might be a better choice…wait, 2 damage. That’s not good for 75 points, especially since it ALSO drops to 1 damage. He’ll need it on himself with only 9 AV and Charge…wait, why bother? It’s 1 DAMAGE.

These turtles are just soup stock.

3. Sandman [Joker’s Wild 040]

Sceritz and I were torn here.

Rurouni KJS: What about all those “terrible” Joker’s Wild figs you were gonna add?
Sceritz: Well… I may have to go back [on that]
S: I didn’t add them because together with JSA they have synergy
S: I mean they aren’t AMAZING but I can see how combining them could give them a fighting chance
R: They can do OK, sure
R: But……
R: Sandman still makes my list. Full stop.
S: Oh yes!!
S: I forgot about him!
S: I was trying… trying to get him on a team
R: There’s so much I like about him. But then I look at that SP and

Stealth is good. Willpower is good. An Outwit-like power that only works when he hits with an attack … and only works if the target has an action token at the time … is NOT good.

Even his “A Simpler Time” trait (grant Prob Control if the opponent rolls a 6) is worse than all the rest of his teammates’ identically named ones.

ALL

OF

THEM

Well, OK, Hourman’s is identical and thus as bad.

There’s only trash here.