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.

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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!

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…!

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.

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Looking to complete my final 2011-related countdown before April: my FAVORITE pieces of the year.

#4 is the king of Atlantis:

Aquaman (Superman 048)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM EVERY WEEK:

Well, it’s Aquaman, my favorite superhero. This alternate-universe version is the roughest, toughest Arthur Curry made in the game yet and is a boon to any Atlantis or Swim team. Despite that, he doesn’t require water terrain to make himself useful the way some earlier Aquaman figures do.
WHY I DON’T:

I only want to play him on aforementioned Atlantean or swimmer-heavy teams, due to his special powers and traits. He’s also the priciest of Aquaman figures by far.
I’M PLAYING HIM NEXT:

On an Atlantis or swim team. I also have a thought of using him on a Soldier-themed team composed of mostly swimmers like Atlantean Warriors, E OMACs and REV Badoon. And the new Flashpoint ATA is sparking ideas there, too.

Next: Somebody HARD.

Looking to complete my final 2011-related countdown before April: my FAVORITE pieces of the year.

#5

Armor (Giant-Size X-Men 050)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HER EVERY WEEK:

I did a F.U.N. review of her back in April, too. which outlines all the reasons she jumps to mind when it’s time for team-building.

WHY I DON’T: 

I’m not a huge fan of X-teams (a problem when so many of my favorite pieces last year coming from X-Men), so she doesn’t leave the box much. When I consider Teens, the Legion of Super-Heroes tends to crowd her out.

I’M PLAYING HER NEXT: 

Who knows? Maybe on the next big X-team alongside Cyclops and the new X-Men-keyworded Namor.

Looking to complete my final 2011-related countdown before April: my FAVORITE pieces of the year.

#6

Thanks to HCRealms member moonknight2099 for the photo!

Madrox (Giant-Size X-Men 001)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM (them) EVERY WEEK:

Refer back to the F.U.N. article I wrote on him last April.   It’s all still true.

WHY I DON’T:

Only a 33% chance of his power working, and the fact that he otherwise needs to invest additional points to get the most out of his other powers, and his lacking the X-Men keyword to really work well with other mutants keep him off a lot more teams than I like.

I’M PLAYING HIM (them) NEXT:

On any X-Factor team, of course. And, as newly qualifying sculpts release, he’s a fixture on my periodic  “trenchcoat brigade” theme teams.

Continuing my final 2011-related countdown: my FAVORITE pieces of the year,  stating:

• Why it’s a favorite that I want to play
• Why I don’t play it all the time
• When and how I’m planning to play it next

#8

Amadeus Cho (Incredible Hulk 027)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM EVERY WEEK:

Ever since his introduction in a nifty 8-page story in the 2004 Amazing Fantasy anthology, Amadeus Cho has been a favorite character. In a comic world full of world-smashing Hulks and jaw-busting Hercs, this little Korean-American guy keeps pace by being the 7th (or 8th) smartest man in the world and able to parlay those brains in the physical world without the benefit of the money and tech that a Reed Richards or Tony Stark can leverage. This piece represents that pretty well by not only being loaded with Outwit and a bit of Probability Control, but also having a low-damage Penetrating Blast SP.

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WHY I DON’T:

He works best with a Hercules, and although the Lion of Olympus made the Top 10 list, he’s not a favorite. Cho’s 59 points are also a little steep for his fragility and short life.

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I’M PLAYING HIM NEXT:

He’s got the Avengers keyword, so he’s probably going on the next non-movie-inspired one I play. But I’m really holding out for the next Celebrity team to put him and Herc on.

Speaking of Avengers, the next person on the list is one. See you the–

Wait. What’s this?!?

"Khazad!!! Khazad ai menu!"

Gimli (Lord of the Rings 005)

As I’ve been cobbling this list of favorites together, a short but doughty red-bearded dwarf kept clamoring for a spot. “But,” I argued, “I’ve only played it once and never done it again. I haven’t even planned any teams for him to be on. How can he possibly make the list?”

Then another part of me argues back, “Don’t you always wish you’d thought of him, afterward? And haven’t you wanted to run him again, frequently?

“Isn’t the only reason he hasn’t been played more often is because of A) a dearth of LOTR-centric events coupled with B) your own desire to play any and all unplayed figures in your collection before returning to any given well?”

Yes, dammit. YES. True to his stubborn dwarf nature, Gimli refuses to go away, and thus finds himself a surprise tie with Amadeus Cho just as I was finishing the young genius’ writeup.

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM EVERY WEEK:

C’mon, he’s a dwarf. The jokes write themselves. More to the point, I always liked Gimli in the books and films (I secretly rooted for him in his body-count contest with Legolas). He’s a playable piece, too, with the stoutest defense of any of the Fellowship — even before factoring in his Epic Action trait, “Hold Your Ground!” granting +2 DV for himself and pals for a round —  and great melee ability in an Indomitable, quasi-Incapping package.

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WHY I DON’T:

The aforementioned lack of LOTR games are one reason — especially since at 107 points, he begins to feel a bit inefficient with an opening 9 AV (though that improves further in his dial) and downright overcosted when he can’t use his Epic power. He’s also quite slow and may have trouble getting into fighting range as a result. Finally, he’s stuck with just one useable keyword, Warrior, which tends to be a bit light in dwarf-tossing (TK) or toting (taxi) methods.

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WHEN I’M PLAYING HIM NEXT:

So hard to say, with the rarity of “Rings” games in these Gauntlet-obsessed days. I’m pretty hesitant to run the Fellowship in a standard Golden Age game. But he’ll be a lock for a “Fighting With Your Hands Full” scenario.

OK…that digression over, my next favorite also shares a quality with Gimli. Check out #7 next week!

Continuing my final 2011-related countdown: my FAVORITE pieces of the year,  stating:

• Why it’s a favorite that I want to play
• Why I don’t play it all the time
• When and how I’m planning to play it next

Cyclops wears black and hides his face behind his so-needed visor. These guys wear black and hide their faces in thin air, being more ghost than human…

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Black Rider/Ringwraith/Nazgul/One Of The Nine/Servant Of Sauron (Lord of the Rings 016/006/101/102/020)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY THEM EVERY WEEK:

I could explain that I’ve been a fan of Lord of the Rings since reading the saga at age 12. I could also write how I love generic figures, even high-cost ones like these. And I could mention how playable they can be, especially when the different versions are fielded together (the Black Rider as taxi, the Ringwraith as defender, the Servant as the damage booster, the One as the healer and the Nazgul as the Incapper). But ultimately, maybe their theme music tells it best. Hit it, YouTube!

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The LOTR set isn’t considered Modern Age, so they get sidelined a lot. Also, in order to play them effectively, you need to be able to field multiple types and a lot of game builds just aren’t big enough for that. Moreover, I want to be able to play their leader, the 130-point Witch-King, along with them. But that 930-point squad then requires 70 points of filler that dilutes the theme. Finally, for all their powers, their shared opening AV of 9 (for the Nine!) isn’t exactly fear-inspiring, especially at epic-level builds.

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Probably the first non-Modern Age game I can get of 600 points or more, especially if I can fit their leader the Witch-King in. And I will play that music.

I’m knee-deep in extra work these days, so my publishing schedule’s become erratic. But probably later this week, you’ll see #8. (He’s not dressed in black, promise.)

OK. After owning up to and rectifying my mistake of not reviewing WizKids’ biggest mistake of 2011, it’s time for me to begin in earnest my final 2011-related countdown: my FAVORITE pieces of the year,  stating:

• Why it’s a favorite that I want to play
• Why I don’t play it all the time
• When and how I’m planning to play it next

#10

Cyclops (Giant-Size X-Men 008)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM EVERY WEEK:

Cyclops is an old favorite, ever since I first saw him on that episode of “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends” guest-starring the X-Men. But he didn’t really catch my eye until I actually started reading Uncanny X-Men in the issues leading up to issue 200. That was the first time I saw the patented Cyclops bank shot. I don’t have a scan of it, but following a practice session in the danger room, he casually deactivates the session with a no-look optic blast bouncing bounced off the walls four or six times, drawing applause and rare praise from Wolverine in the control room: “Remind me never to face you across a pool table.”

Anyway, this Cyke is the first Sharpshooter version, the first with the Leadership that he so richly deserves, and the first with good stats and powers all around. Quite simply, it’s the first time the character’s truly been done well (although the “First Class” rookie in Mutations & Monsters wasn’t bad for the green, not-yet-field-leader Scott Summers).

Simply put, he’s a Cyke I’m not ashamed to play. And it’s about time.

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WHY I DON’T:

Although he’s great for X-Men teams, I’m not such a huge fan of playing X-Men teams. He’s also a lot of points to be so very soft, armor-wise, so I’m a bit leery of running him in general.

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I’M PLAYING HIM NEXT:

Still, I just won’t play an X-Men team without him. I’ve also had this hankering to play an all-Cyclops team, featuring all the past versions of Cyke in ‘clix. So far, though, I’ve resisted the urge, as the older Cyclopses are so mediocre that I’d just be handing the win to my opponents. I also lack some key representations of Scott — namely, his Hulked-out version, Hulklops, and the Cyclops / Phoenix duo. From there, then, I’ll want to run all the versions of Jean Grey, too, which causes that little theme idea to spiral right out of control.

So, yeah. Probably just sticking to X-Men.

Next on my list of favorites: More folks in black.