by ·0 Comments

Ever since the Avengers movie, my longtime love for the Black Widow character has been freshly revived (even though Scarlet Johansson’s casting is my least favorite thing about the film. I’m so over it). So at first opportunity, I played a 400-point team composed soley of every single version of Black Widow in my collection:

Black Widow (Captain America 006) 85 + Thunderbolts ATA 8 + Inside Info 4

The Covert Avenger (Avengers Movie Starter 004) 75 + Lunge 5

Black Widow (Captain America 206) 60 + Nanoarmor 6

Black Widow  (Classics 2-08) 59 + Not So Special 3

Black Widow  (Avengers Movie 007) 50 + Vault 3 + Infiltrate 2

Black Widow (Avengers Movie 036) 35 + Lunge 5

And here’s how they wound up playing:

Black Widow (Captain America 006): The big gal of the crew, her Running Shot and 3 damage made her invaluable. I wasn’t scared to push her to get to Penetrating Psychic Blast, either. Being able to pick Mystics with Thunderbolts ATA — never run her without T-Bolts — served as a good deterrent against Hypersonic attackers like Supergirl. (Too bad I didn’t pick Mystics in the first round against Ms. Marvel.)

The Covert Avenger (Avengers Movie Starter 004): Really tried to make her defense-countering SP work, but the must-hit attacks failed. She did OK, but I feel like she should contribute more.

Black Widow (Captain America 206): This was a true linchpin of the team with her 2nd-click Perplex. This Widow also served well as a secondary sniper even with her paltry 4 range. Willpower helped.

Black Widow  (Classics 2-08): Mostly outclassed by more modern dials, the old Ultimates Widow still packs a mean punch with 3 damage and Willpower. Since she doesn’t have to front a team (in the sense of bringing anti-Stealth to the game), she can make some surprise shots.

Black Widow  (Avengers Movie 007) : Another who ignores enemy Stealth, though the 4 range makes that a fairly empty threat. I never got to use her Takedown power, either (chiefly due to her getting OHKO’d by a Blood Brother and thoroughly forgetting my Themed Team Probability Control to turn that improbable hit to a miss).

Black Widow (Avengers Movie 036): The littlest Widow sometimes made a big impact. From Lunging about (thanks, feats!) to using her SHIELD TA (with the 60-point Widow’s, too) to lengthen the swings of big Widow and Ult. Widow to just tying up enemies or blocking line of fire, she’s useful in a multitude of ways. And only 35 points!

by ·0 Comments

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 final update with of photos of  the rest of the Avengers Movie ‘clix with objects in hand (or otherwise). But I’ve yet to even see either a Frost Giant Champion or Laufey — or even the regular Frost Giant! — to test it out.

Still, I’m pleased to present this Avengers Movie clix that can tote his tokens: The mighty Thor (020 & 200)!

Thor’s token fits easily under his cape, though it’s not quite as secure a fit as it looks like it should be.

_____

And oh, look! I got ahold of two of the the other Super Strong characters in the set to photograph: Volstagg (the Voluminous) and Iron Man 019!

Both tuck their tokens underneath their respective elbows.

by ·0 Comments

Activity on the site’s been a little scant, lately. Too often, time I planned to use on Heroclixin’ has gotten eaten up by surprise freelance work (that doesn’t pay well enough) or just plain fatigue.

Sorry about that.

To make up, here’s a little bit of Heroclixin’ fun for ya: a team I want to play once I’ve accomplished my goal of playing my two Fast Forces cases full of unplayed pieces.


The Nazgul.

Witch-King of Angmar
Servant of Sauron x2
Black Rider x2
One of the Nine
Nazgul
Ringwraith x2
All Nine at once equals 930 points. Since LOTR figures are Golden Age, maybe I ought to add 70 points of feats, objects and resources to fill in the gap, such as:
Fortitiude: 25 points. Defense against Outwit and, perhaps more importantly, Exploit Weakness for the King.
Vampirism: 6 points. Though all qualify, it’s best on Servant of Sauron.
With the ‘Wraiths and the King and Nazgul and One all sporting Exploit Weakness, the 5-point Yellow Lantern is a no-brainer, objects-wise.
The One Ring: I mean, why NOT? 10 points.

by ·0 Comments

So this little feature grew to be one of the toughest to do, each week. Part of the reason is because I really wanted to go into detail writing about each step of the match. But time just simply doesn’t allow for it.

Lack of time and opportunity also did a number on my actual clix playing for the first quarter or so of this year. As a consequence, I have a lot of unplayed pieces.  Lately, every game I play is dedicated to running as many of those unplayed ‘clix as I can stand, whether it’s a simple 200-point pickup game or a sealed Infinity Gauntlet tournament for a coveted Elder of the Universe figure.

As a result, this space on Wednesdays will be dedicated to mini-reviews of a newly played HeroClix piece from the week before rather than full-blown battle reports. To wit:

On last Saturday, I came into the venue ready to play a Nova Corps team (the week’s scenario being “Assemble!” —  700 points of a single faction) but saw that two others of the seven players also had Nova Corps. So, having come fresh from a 2nd viewing of “The Avengers” — yes, it was that good — I swiftly rebuilt a second team around the brand-new Free Comic Book Day Thor figure:

Thor (Avengers Movie #200) 150
Iron Man (Avengers Movie #006) 160
Hulk (Avengers Movie #202) 255
Black Widow (Avengers Movie #036) 35 
Captain America (Avengers Movie #204) 100
= 700 points, unplayed pieces in boldface. No theme bonus, just movie-accurate awesomeness. It got pretty easily to the final match, where I was overmatched by an identically named team of comic-accurate Avengers: Thor and Cap from Hammer of Thor, Black Widow from Cap set, one of Galactic Guardians’ Hulks and Secret Invasion Iron Man. They took out Hulk in just three shots — WizKids really needs to implement my suggested fix to Outwit — providing the only margin of victory needed.

FCBD Thor: At the 150-point level, he made a great tag team running shooter with Iron Man, especially with his Pulse Wave option to get him in close if necessary. He seemed to take damage down to his late-dial Hypersonic Speed clicks a lot, to my opponents’ distress.

Iron Man 006: Performed well but lived by the skin of his teeth in every game. I should’ve considered pushing him to Outwit more often than I did. It might have made a big difference in the champ match I lost if I’d been able to nerf SI Iron Man’s powerful Extremis power.

Black Widow: She was key tieup in every single match except the one I lost, because she just couldn’t get to her mark. That role kept her from being used for her SHIELD team ability, though. I have to find the proper balance for that in the future.

Captain America: A bit torn between keeping him strictly on defense (the +1 DV trait to adjacent pals) and using that 11 AV right off. He also seemed to be a magnet for good enemy attack rolls. Fortunately, he never becomes useless and found a way to help the team to the end.

______

So, it’s a little less meaty than I’m used to writing. But it’s actually, y’know, done and published, so there’s that. Hopefully, I can keep this going!

Tomorrow, plan to see a normal-sized Token Totin’ entry.

by ·0 Comments

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.

_____

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.

by ·0 Comments

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.

_____

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)!

by ·0 Comments

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:

Image

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.

_____

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! 

by ·1 Comment

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.

______

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!

by ·0 Comments

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…!

by ·0 Comments

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.

_____

 Next: Just a kid from Brooklyn.