There were just too many for one post. (I don’t want to bore readers with another Atlantis-sized leviathan!) So here are the rest of 2010’s Honorable Mentions.
(In alphabetical order:)
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Hawkgirl (Brightest Day #004)
She might be a little weak defensively, but really, it’s just a testament to the strength of the Top Ten that she didn’t make it. (Seriously, feel free to drop your least favorite from Heroclixin’s list and replace it with these 71 points. I won’t be mad.)
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Iron Man/War Machine (Web of Spider-Man #059)
Three targets, duo attack and their 4-attack “All-Out Assault” still aren’t quite enough to deal with their action disadvantage and vulnerability to Outwit. It only takes one tie-up piece to paint a 300-point target on them.
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Jason Blood (The Brave and The Bold #010)
This 40-pointer is the new cheap PC after SR Scarlet Witch goes this summer, with better survivability than her thanks to Mystics and AE. Too slow, though.
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Martian Manhunter (The Brave and The Bold #036)
His numbers needed to be a little better at 202 points to make the top ten. But his perma-Shape Change along with his HSS and big damage nearly gets him among the elite anyhow.
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Mongul (DC 75th Anniversary #044)
Part widow-making tentpole and part backfield support piece, the 176-point Mongul is slightly schizo. His Leadership SP is equal parts risk and reward; sure, he might take free damage, but getting to clear tokens and make repeated attacks can net him much more damage to the other team. Plus there’s that anti-Phasing trait. No moving attack ability costs him his spot among the top.
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Morlun (Web of Spider-Man #052)
An Indomitable, Impervious, Steal Energy-ing death machine, he’s actually one of the sleeper hits of Web of Spider-Man. He doesn’t make my top 10 because as good as his tracking SP can be, it’s difficult to actually use, and he lacks any other moving attack ability. That’s not so hot for a whopping 180 points.
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Night Nurse (Web of Spider-Man #102)
The “Pit Crew” figures are back, and the 27-point LE version of the 10-point Nurse is the queen of ’em. If she had even one keyword, she might’ve clawed her way onto the list thanks to her ability to boost her patients’ DV.
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Puma (Web of Spider-Man #012)
His low speed kept him off the list. But his great AV, damage potential, defensive ability and mid-dial Outwit for such a low price (56) make him a solid piece nonetheless.
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Red She-Hulk (Web of Spider-Man #053)
Low initial attack for the 139-point investment makes her less attractive than others and costs her an otherwise well-deserved spot on the Top Ten.
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Spider-Man (Web of Spider-Man #007)
Economically priced (78) with great stats and his awesome Super-duper Senses trait, this is the best Spidey we’ve gotten so far. Lack of moving attack or range both conspire to hold him off the list.
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Superman (DC 75th Anniversary #W-06)
The healing Impervious is just wrong. Fell off the list — barely — due to his low AV for his heavyweight point class (288).
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Talia (The Brave and The Bold #019)
Stealthed Stealthbusting Outwit probably ought to make the list. But a short dial for 86 points (despite Mastermind) and not being friendly to wild cards disqualifies her in this competitive year.
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Vector (Web of Spider-Man #032)
Already a good 68-point support piece (TK and, later, Perplex), Vector was a potential Top Ten piece thanks to his no-roll ability to move and damage enemy pieces. This year, though, even extra keywords wouldn’t have helped.
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Warlord (DC 75th Anniversary #021)
The most serious runner-up of all these honorable mentions for his dirt-cheap 50-point cost against staggering damage potential and tie-up utility.
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War Machine (Hammer of Thor #200)
Good numbers and powers but a little bit lacking in versatility for his 137 points to make the list.
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Some may protest that certain figures should’ve made the lists thanks to the new Alternate Team Abilities (Atlantis, Shadowpact and especially All-Star Squadron and Secret Six). However, those ATAs weren’t released in 2010, so I’m not taking them into account. Maybe in a future article.
Anyway, that’s it, then…the top 30 or so HeroClix of last year, in terms of playability.
But that doesn’t make them the BEST. Watch this space for the next few days to see my favorite ‘clix of 2010.