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We in the U.S. look back on 9/11, the day 10 years ago that changed everything. One thing that event made stark to us is how very much we are continually indebted to the heroes in our midst — the first responders. The ones who, while the rest of us run from danger, are running toward it.

And although this describes any given superhero most of the time, too, there’s something more noble about the characters who are sworn to protect and serve when they’re not in the super-suits as well. In HeroClix, they’re represented by the Police keyword.

_____________________

Some criteria:

  • I’m looking at HEROES. No bad cops allowed. (I’m thinking of you, AA Zoom.)
    “RRRAAATTTTSS!!!”
  • I’m also ranking them according to how well they work with other Police, it being one of the more selective generic keywords.

Be here starting next Monday for the first of the Top Ten of Heroclixin’s Finest!

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Continuing the photographic record of Super-Strength characters who can hold their own object tokens. With the Superman set right around the corner, here’s his half-clone, Superboy:

 

Superboy holds it, sorta, on his chest or under his chin. No Token Totin’ next week, as it’s time for another end-of-month Top Ten list. (Haven’t quite decided what it’s going to be exactly, though!)

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Continuing this feature (replacing “My Custom Mods”) in which I talk a bit on how I selected artwork for feats and battlefield conditions that didn’t come with art, originally. This Monday, let’s look at Ordinary Day from Icons.

…

Oh, I didn’t do Ordinary Day from Icons. I forgot there even WAS an Ordinary Day in Icons. So much for BFCs in the set. Let’s move on to the feats!

 

This much-needed boon to swimmers was quickly nerfed by a ruling saying certain team abilities ignored it. (That’s been rectified, happily.)

Being an Aquaman fan, I didn’t have a great amount of trouble digging up a solid image. This one, I believe, was scanned from issue 16 of the last completed series. I then flipped it to show the character swimming deeper rather than toward the surface.

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2. Veteran Blizzard (Infinity Challenge #090)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 4
53 points

While Experienced Blizzard shares many of the same strengths — great offensive AV, Running Shot + Pulse Wave for the ability to ping away at clusters of enemies — it’s the Vet’s ability to use Masters of Evil TA to push and build Barriers for four straight rounds that puts him near the top as a Barrier specialist. AND he can use Thunderbolts, too? If it weren’t for his total septic-tanking post-Barrier, he’d be number one for sure.

 

1. Ice (DC 75th Anniversary #007)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 3
47 points

She absolutely nails all the factors: 8 range, low cost, good ability to either damage or super-Incap (via her “Freeze In Place” SP), and still being able to hit when she’s exhausted her long run of Barrier. Her only lack being usable keywords, she takes the crown as the best Barrier piece in HeroClix.

Or does she? As we began this list with a tie, so do we end with one:

1. Klaw (Captain America #210)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 3
60 points
If Ice nails all the factors, Klaw at least tacks them pretty well with a solid 8 range, even better fighting ability with Penetrating/Psychic Blast, Pulse Wave and/or RCE through his run of Barrier (even afterward!) and wildcard ability to boot. The only reason the Scientist-keyworded Klaw ties Ice for first instead of kicking her down to #2 is that he’s more expensive than any of the top 5.

Thanks for reading this, the first top 10 list I ever made (posted at HCRealms some years ago), redone for Heroclixin’! Be back Monday for the Honorable Mentions.

 

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4. Rookie Raven (Icons #028)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 2
54 points
Her life as a Barrier-builder is brief, but she makes the list as the queen of support figures. She starts with Probability Control, giving her great use on any team, and can Barrier-push directly into her post-Barrier role as the team healer (and a self-healing one if necessary thanks to the Titans TA and Regeneration). All this utility for just 54 points is a great bargain that makes the Rookie the prize over her otherwise just-as-useful EV versions.

 

3. Rookie Aleta (Supernova #043)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 3
51 points

Portable (not being a flyer like E Aleta) and self-mobile (thanks to L/C), Rookie Aleta offers a double dose of support abilities in Barrier and two clicks of TK. Her post-Barrier AV is fair at best, but an increase in damage potential can make her quite the clean-up figure — and for just barely over 50 points. Adding the Guardians of the Galaxy ATA keeps her from being Outwitted, and Defenders TA can keep her from being an easy KO (IF she hasn’t hurled all her pals away with TK). She drops from number one because Barrier is really her secondary role and stiffer competition has arrived.

Tomorrow, see who Heroclixin’s top Barrier-builders are!

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Veteran Avalanche (Clobberin’ Time #033)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 4
32 points

His free-moving Brotherhood team ability, deep Barrier dial and dirt-cheapest cost of the list win him a spot despite A) his lack of effectiveness in his secondary role as a Pulse Waver/Energy Exploder and B) his general late-dial uselessness. He also shares a keyword with another inexpensive Barrier piece on the Top Ten…

 

5. Experienced Pyro (Infinity Challenge #092 / Universe #110)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 2
35 points

He doesn’t offer much Barrier and his life is all but over beyond those first two clicks. So why does he make the list? Three reasons:

  1. He has a free-move team ability in The Brotherhood. It’s not much, but it can help him get easily into prime position for
  2. his secondary role as a sniper. Sure his damage and AV aren’t so stellar, but what do you expect for
  3. the cheap price of 35 points?
Guess even villains like to be protected. See the cream of the Barrier crop starting tomorrow.

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A couple of blondes take these spots, starting with:

8. Experienced Aleta (SN)
Range: 10
Starting clicks of Barrier: 4
75 points

Very much on the high end for a Barrier specialist, and her attack values are middling for her cost and role as a sniper. But 10 range is great for the power. Better still is that, with Running Shot and Telekinesis appearing after Barrier’s gone, she has great utility in the mid- to late-game action. Her Defenders TA could be useful. Adding the Guardians of the Galaxy ATA protects her from Outwit.

 

7. Veteran Magma (AW)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 4
51 points

A very weak opening AV (7? Seriously?) completely wastes her early-dial ability to shoot for 4 damage through RCE, leaving her nothing else to do but Barrier-push (or trade clicks via X-Men TA) for four clicks, as her stats rise. It’s only after Barrier that she becomes a genuine late-game threat who, after stalling the enemy this long, can either score a KO herself or act as a sacrifice piece the enemy can’t afford to ignore.

Tomorrow is hump day and mid-point on the Barrier list. Things begin to grow more villainous…