My list came out to around 20 figs this year. Some were either instant faves or surprised me how well I liked them (Tier 1). Many others are pieces that beg me to play them every time I see them in the box (Second Team). And still others are ones I like but haven’t quite gotten to properly field or face to make a firm decision — or I have and they’re JUST on the cusp (First Alternates).
But it’s Jan. 1 and I’m up against an imposed deadline, so here I go with my top 10 (to 20 HeroClix of the year.
There’s always one fig that could’ve made the previous year’s favorite list but didn’t stand out immediately until it got play this past year — potential “late bloomer” faves.
Bumblebee (Batman Team-Up 017)
It’s her; she’s the late-bloomer fave from 2023. So stinging CUTE and that Hypersonic damaging Incap is pretty OK.
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All right, on to the actual 2024 list. Although they’re listed in alphabetical order, I’m kinda putting them in those tiers I mentioned.
Black Panther (Black Panther 043b)
I’m currently writing a lonnnnng set of reviews of how Black Panther figs through the HeroClix ages all disappoint me. (Will finish it eventually sometime, Lord willing.) But with T’Challa being a top 5 favorite comic character, ONE version had to make the list, so here he is. WAKANDA FOREVER. SECOND TEAM for now.
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Donny Blaze (Marvel Studios Next Phase 034)
I’m pretty MEH on the She-Hulk TV show, but this two-bit mage is a fun one and the clix version is F.U.N. too. He’s… “DONNY BLAZE!” (flame burst) FIRST ALTERNATE.
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Falcon and Redwing (Black Panther 044)
After so many flying Falcons (which I love), it’s fantastic to finally get his original appearance version! I haven’t gotten to truly play this fig yet, but it’s looking like a fave in short order. It’s the double attacks that balance his short life. FIRST ALTERNATE
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The Flash (Masters of Time 041a)
Over the years, The Flash has never quite felt … right to me. Either he was unfun with his extreme hit and run tactics or he was limited in his mobility or he barely could hurt a target. But this one is different! It’s the punching 1 square away regardless of terrain that, along with the super Shape Change, makes him the perfect Flash for me. TIER 1
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Hadari Yao (Black Panther 052)
So this is the rendition of Storm in Coates’ Black Panther run where she was worshipped as a goddess and drew the power from that she needed to win the fight she was in. First really strong Storm we’ve had in a while, and I’m a Storm fan. I’m still mad some neckbeard out there ran the asking price so high for this piece early on. FIRST ALTERNATE
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Harley Quinn (Masters of Time 061)
I low-key collect Harleys, but didn’t expect to like her so much despite her very short life and low damage. The ally-sparing Pulse Wave and Prob Control makes her a good replacement for the retired Powerbomb Scott Porter. And what’s more Nerdcore than literally the DnD-Bard-style buff? Nothing. SECOND TEAM
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Irene Adler (Iconix WKX-006)
She’s so full of shenanigans (off-the-board Outwit/Prob; Mastermind to enemy) without being toxic (respectively: costed action; once per game). My kinda piece. TIER 1
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Kazi (Marvel Studios Next Phase 007)
Though Not exactly a standout character, his Willpower, Running Shot, Leadership and super-charging Underworld TA makes me really glad to play him every time. TIER 1
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K.E.V.I.N. (Marvel Studios Next Phase 068)
Because of the unavailability of this Ultra Chase, I had no idea he’d become a fave. But the supreme support skills of this piece makes him really F.U.N. A surprise TIER 1.
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King Jefferson (Masters of Time 063)
Any Black Lightning variant will catch my interest. This Dark Knights of Steel version intrigued me immediately with his Leadership, Enhancement, Prob Control, Defend, STOP. and his no-roll damage ability if you’re bold — or cheesy — enough to set it up. That’s because his shutdown of Flight and Superman TA and Super Strength only works on his side of (small) maps, so his free damage involves risk — a key F.U.N. factor.
This and the whole chase line got me into DKOS. Great story. TIER 1
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Mister Mind (Masters of Time 006)
“Me and the Ohio Players going to tell you about a worm. He’s the funkiest worm in the world.” IYKYK. Just the IT:Characters with his long range Outwit is worth the slot. TIER 1
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Multiple Man (Deadpool Weapon X 013, Deadpool Weapon X 099, WizKids MVP-204, WizKids MVHR24-002)
Madrox is one of my all-time faves. But y’all saw that the 013 version made the Worst list this year. However, that rating was him as a solo piece. Played with some of his brothers, like the (long-delayed)099 Home Kit one who generates his own pogs AND super-charges all Multiple Men on his squad, OR the “Bag of Multiple Men” LE who gives adjacent pals Empower and X-Men, OR the new High Rollers LE that effectively rolls 3d6 and gives other Madroxi Empower for his attacks — well, it’s a good time to be a Multiple Man fan. And a Multiple Man — hence the tie. SECOND TEAM
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Porcupine (Marvel Studios Next Phase 052)
He’s this F.U.N. and awkward tie-up piece that touches my heart somehow. So here he is in TIER 1.
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Psylocke (Deadpool Weapon X 033)
I thought she was the first SR I pulled in the set (long ahead of release at HeroClix For Huntington’s, a worthy event) but no, she’s mislabeled. Still, I love that her FREE Mind Control ability is so character accurate (she craved hand-to-hand combat in this phase of her existence) — and of course, that she’s in the classic Uncanny X-Men 275 outfit. SECOND TEAM
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Reverse-Flash (Masters of Time 041b)
That “Everything That Was Bad, It Was Me” trait — if this isn’t Eobard Thawne to a TEE. TIER 1.
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She-Hulk (Marvel Studios Next Phase 038)
There’s almost nothing I enjoyed in HeroClix this year more than shouting “OBJECTION” with this figure. Lawyer suit She-Hulk has always been my favorite She-Hulk in clix. TIER 1
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Storm (Deadpool Weapon X 051a/051b)
Another Storm and another UXM 275 classic look. But the intricate play style of these Shifting Focus pieces makes me like her a little better than the brute force that is Hadari Yao. SECOND TEAM
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Titania (Marvel Studios Next Phase 055)
Her slapping enemy Celebs with her Copyright Claims barring them from using standard powers not printed on dial was peak F.U.N. for me. Also: Jameela Jamil. Just sayin’. Absolutely my No. 1 fig of the year so TIER 1 obviously
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Wakanda Hulkbuster (Iconix MVX-013)
He was a F.U.N. Worlds play for me and that gets him a spot. He also represents a glow-up of Wakanda this past year. FIRST ALTERNATE
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As usual, I like the idea of pitting one year’s faves against the previous year’s. But last time I did, it felt a little miserable. (Might be because the Olympics were on and the presidential campaign was getting ugly ahead of schedule. Or maybe it was the way pretty much nothing worked for the older team. Just wasn’t a good game.
Still:
2023 squad
- 100 BTU043V Aquaman
- 75 DICN002 Bane
- 200 NOT046 Black Adam
- 45 WOV043b Brother Voodoo
- 40 BTU017 Bumblebee
- 65 SMBAL039A Cloak & Dagger
- 60 BTU027 Elasti-Girl
- 50 AV60030 Falcon
- 15 NOT004V G.O.O.N.
- 75 BTU054 Jo Mullein + GL Ring 0
- 25 NOT019A OMAC
- 25 NOT019A OMAC
- 100 NOT019B OMAC Prime
- 50 WOV045 Rawhide Kid
- 60 WKD23-002 Space Ghost
- 45 SMBA037A The Kingpin
- 50 NOTL051 The Phantasm
- 40 AV60L030 Wasp
- 15 NOT015V White Rabbit Goon
- 90 NOT032 Zod
- 70 NOT075 Zod, Ursa, Non*
= 1295 points. Versus:
2024 faves
- Black Panther (Black Panther 043b) 85 points
- Donny Blaze (Marvel Studios Next Phase 034) 45 points
- Falcon and Redwing (Black Panther 044) 40 points
- The Flash (Masters of Time 041a) 70 points
- Hadari Yao (Black Panther 052) 100 points
- Harley Quinn (Masters of Time 061) 30 points
- Irene Adler (Iconix WKX-006) 50 points
- Kazi (Marvel Studios Next Phase 007) 40 points
- K.E.V.I.N. (Marvel Studios Next Phase 068) 40 points
- King Jefferson (Masters of Time 063) 60 points
- Mister Mind (Masters of Time 006) 30 points
- Multiple Man (Deadpool Weapon X 013) 10 points x 2
- Multiple Man (Deadpool Weapon X 099) 50 points
- Multiple Man (WizKids MVP-204) 40 points
- Multiple Man (WizKids MVHR24-002) 50 points
- Porcupine (Marvel Studios Next Phase 052) 45 points
- Psylocke (Deadpool Weapon X 033) 75 points
- Reverse-Flash (Masters of Time 041b) 40 points
- She-Hulk (Marvel Studios Next Phase 038) 60 points
- Storm (Deadpool Weapon X 051a/051b) 60 points
- Titania (Marvel Studios Next Phase 055) 75 points
- Wakanda Hulkbuster (Iconix MVX-013) 125 points
= 1290 points as well. Could be F.U.N.