I flushed a LOT more this past weekend than I expected to. In alphabetical order:
Alfred Pennyworth (Dark Knight Rises 013) is still better than he should be, like much of the set he came from. His Perplex was key to the hodge-podge Gotham team he was on, and his 17 Defend helped him both make fellow tie-up pieces better, but also served to draw fire from more important teammates. He’ll be my pick for Alfred if I need him to do some fighting in addition to healing.
Alyosha Kraven (Amazing Spider-Man 031b) performed as well as you expect a Prime figure to. His lion pog partner just rips teams apart unless it’s dealt with — and quickly. Meanwhile, Ally here is no slouch himself. He’ll join Vixen on pretty much any Animal keyword team I build, EVER.
Arkham Asylum Guard (Batman 003b), as a source of Willpowered Perplex, was also a key piece on the Gotham team this week. It’ll be hard to pick him over the Capture version, though. He’ll be on a Gotham crooks team I’m running sometime later this month…
Atrocitus (War of Light) absolutely destroys range teams with his forcing Battle Fury on anyone within 5 squares. It’s hard to build a team with a taxi who can’t carry anyone (TK is a must) but it was also refreshing to not have to hang back and worry about getting shot up by enemies. Atrocitus could just move right into the enemy zone with minimal cover and Indomitable-push his fists in their faces with Charge + Flurry next.
Black Canary (Streets of Gotham 003) was the lone bright light of her Justice League International team, as she scored a solid hit on the enemy. Unfortunately, she was the only one really and couldn’t take down her Warriors Three opponents without help.
Blue Beetle (Streets of Gotham 006) was good for his Perplex and nothing else. Without a Bug for him to pilot, I can’t see myself reaching for him over the Crisis Blue Beetle or the Booster-Beetle duo under any circumstance.
Booster Gold (Batman 052) had the potential to lead his JLI team to victory. If only he hadn’t missed ALL FOUR of his must-hit clutch attacks to stop Fandral from Outwitting the team! Still, he’s a fine piece and will make my teams in the future.
Bruce Wayne (Batman 202b) is a greater finesse piece than the TK+Perplex version. But Barrier+Outwit isn’t exactly useless. With some outside help to his range, he slowed down an enemy Captain America (Hammer of Thor) long enough to stop the first strike handily, then countered the Captain’s SP when it was time to neuter the flag-waver for good. A lock for the “Bruuuuce!” team.
Commissioner Gordon (Dark Knight Rises 027) was key with 18 Defend and Outwit, though it was hard to get the slow-moving guy into position to use them or to leverage his decent offensive skills beyond strictly support.
Demogoblin (Amazing Spider-Man 029) was the biggest disappointment of the weekend. Though he worked OK as a taxi for his Syndicate team, he never had any opportunities for either his special Energy Explosion (too much armor, or Mystics, or lack of clustered targets) or for his “Repent!” SP (Power Cosmic opponents). Worse, everyone treated him like a huge threat and either took him out in one turn or in ONE ATTACK. This demon’s goign back to Hell or wherever!
Electro (Amazing Spider-Man 021) seemed like he was going to break the game wide open, but he’s really not that scary at all. You have to pick between popping him from object to object or making a Penetrating Blast, or bouncing shots around via “Arc Lightning.” He was a key part of the Syndicate team, and he’ll be on future incarnations, but he’s not the anchor.
Emp (Streets of Gotham 037) helps his WildCATS work, nerfing foes for the likes of Maul and Warblade to smash and slash. I want to run him on a “little big planet” team of small-sculpted characters sometime.
Firestorm (Justice League New 52 009) was all set to Pulse Wave his mark and save his team, but I positioned where he could get based and he’s no good when based. I’m not sure if I’d ever use this Firestorm without his other half again.
Gabriel Jones (Infinity Challenge) is the prototypical early Leadership piece: dirt-stinkin’-cheap and incapable of anything else. He’s for swarm SHIELD teams only, which will need the extra actions.
GCPD Motorcycle [Autopilot] was on the Atrocitus team, so its taxi use was limited and its Barrier, unneeded. Still helped to get the likes of Robin into Charge range.
Grifter (Batman 012) was a victim of Atrocitus’ Battle Fury trait and thus was highly ineffective against him. He’ll be among the first I consider for a “trenchcoats” theme and, of course, he’s made for the WildCATs.
Hush (Batman 037a) landed a ton of Shape Changes, saving him from ranged shots and his Mastermind helped him last a long time against the Battle-Furious atrocity known as Atrocitus in his face. Another trenchcoated figure of note, his performance was one of the few high points in a losing effort and won’t be forgotten.
Moon Knight (Amazing Spider-Man 032) was the lone fig outside his ally Atrocitus’ Battle Fury zone and, with enough Full Moon rolls, was able to take shots at Hush above as a result. Fantastic piece (and one of Heroclixin’s needed remakes) that will make the next comic-accurate Secret Avengers team build I play!
Onomatopoeia (Streets of Gotham 029) if not for Atrocitus (again), he might’ve been a force. As it was, he lasted much longer than he had any right to. “TAK” is the sound of him hitting the play field again sometime, probably in a trenchcoat-and-twin-guns theme with a piece on my next Top Ten list coming Friday.
The Question (Streets of Gotham 015b) SHOULD be on this list, but I mistakenly played her on the Renee Montoya dial while using the Question trait without realizing! So look for her in a future installment.
Rhino (Amazing Spider-Man 020) benefited from enemies’ hatred of Demogoblin and was always able to make them pay either by outright Charging the crap out of them or getting in base with fellow Syndicates to share his 11AV. It’ll be hard not to run the Rhino on future teams!
Robin (Batman 017) was OK once he got to his target (being unable to be carried most of the time on the Atrocitus team). But he’s the last Robin I’ll consider, given his limited utility for the cost and the existence of better Robins out there. On the other hand, he’s different enough that perhaps it’s time to run another Boy Wonders squad with him on it!
Roy Raymond, Jr. (Batman 026) was intended to tie up Atrocitus and give his fellow trenchcoaters a chance with his Outwit and Outsiders. But Guyladkin the Lion ruined that plan quick with a six-roll on BCF. Still, I strangely like this dude. He’ll see action again.
Shocker (Amazing Spider-Man 002) was another key to the Syndicate, being the less threatening-looking shooter next to Demogoblin and Electro. He’ll vibe his way back on the map.
Voodoo (Batman 054) absolutely made her team run, giving them The Sight to get past the Super Senses their opponents absolutely relied upon, and making the occasion Mind Control to get enemies into or out of position. Much better than she looks on paper.
Wong (Amazing Spider-Man 023) wasn’t even good tie or a blocker most of the time, just filler to keep the sealed Syndicate team from being 40 points under. But the manservant of Dr. Strange did beat an enemy Blade silly with a pair of solid attack rolls. Would be nice if I’d dropped Demogoblin for Strange instead.
Warblade (Batman 043) was better than expected. His free Barrier was clutch in slowing down the enemy and he turned in a solid offensive performance. He’ll mostly only see action with fellow WildCATs. Hopefully an ATA is coming that’ll make that team a better prospect.
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WHEW. That’s a lot of first-time plays. After peeking at Token Totin’ Thursday, check back on Friday for a shortened Top Ten Favorites list for March.
