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Decades ago, as a wee boy, I watched “Battle of the Planets” every day at the Kinder-Care. To say they left an impression is a bit of an understatement. To this day, once every few years, I get Gatchaman fever.

Science Ninja Team GATCHAMAN: Ken the Eagle, Ryu the Owl, Jinpei the Swallow, Jun the Swan, and Joe the Condor. (Or, if you prefer: Mark, Tiny, Keyop, Princess and Jason: G-FORCE!)

Last year, after designing some dream dials for the characters, I decided to mod an actual Gatchaman HeroClix figure.

Required powers:

  • Stealth. Despite the bright colors, these Science Ninjas are masters of sneakin’ around.
  • Leap/Climb or something like it. They don’t get tied up easily.
  • High AV. Every one of them is an expert fighter who can take down a dozen Galactor agents with ease.
  • Range…but not too much of it.
  • Some sort of moving attack ability. They’re all great at fighting on the move.

I decided that OOTS Batman was the best choice.

His SP in particular very much approximates Gatchaman’s ability to come and go and attack with ease. Outwit isn’t a stretch, either; they’re Science Ninjas well-equipped with high technology.

For the sculpt, I chose another member of the Bat-fam: Robin (Arkham Asylum).

Here’s what I did to make the mod:

  • Cut deeper points on his cape.
  • Filed down costume details.
  • Repainted entire fig in white, red blue and yellow (’cause naturally, Ken the Eagle is the first one to make).
  • Encased head in a globe of E-6000 glue to make helmet.
  • Cut fig off roof detail.
  • Tried cutting blue translucent plastic to create glass “bill” visor. Didn’t work.
  • Tried this several times over a period of months. STILL didn’t work.
  • Added and sculpted some more E-6000 glue to make visor. Took a few tries.
  • Painted visor in translucent blue.
  • Painted helmet details.
  • Removed OOTS Batman from his dial; glued on newly-made Gatchaman.

Completed, finally, in late-spring 2011…just in time for that Batman figure to be retired. :)

For a while, this was expected to be the last of my custom mods. But just as I completed it, I also did another repaint of a costume I’ve long wanted in clix. Be here next time to see how wonderful (?) it is.

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"They fight...and fight...and fight and fight and fight...fight fight fight, fight fight fight..."

My pal Lenny recently challenged me to another of our long-running clix duels, in which he picks a favorite theme to pit against one of mine. The last one we did was his Hulks versus my Iron Men. We’ve also done his Guardians of the Galaxy against my Inhumans, his JLA and my Avengers, and — three times — Asgardians against enemies of Asgard.

I’ve won every single contest so far, despite his cheesing it up a bit with feats while I tend to go pretty minimalist with the cardboard. Somehow his must-hit dice rolls always crap out while mine are toasty.

He’s not giving up, though. Just the other day, he sent me this note:

“Hear ye Loki and Surtur,

Though ye were indeed victorious against us and the brave Warriors of Asgard on the battlefield in times past, we are no cowards to turn tail and run when the enemy be formidable or beaten dogs to meekly admit the war is lost when one battle goes against us. This day I do once more throw down the gauntlet and challenge thee to battle again on the Rainbow Bridge of Asgard, Thee and all Thine allies against The All-Father Odin, Thor Odinson & all the Warriors of Asgard. If thou dost accept my challenge, thou hadst better be prepared to fight for thy very life. This time the magic of the dice will not avail thee, nor will all thy wiles and trickery. Even the combined might of all the foes of Asgard and the Evil Power of Surtur the Fire Giant will not prevail. This time, mark my words, THERE WILL BE A RECKONING! FOR ODIN! FOR HONOR! FOR GLORY! FOR ASGAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRD!

signed:
Thor Odinson“

Not to be outdone, I wrote him an in-character reply:

“Dear Brother:

It is with regret that I most likely say thee nay to thine challenge, as our ranks art depleted somewhat.

Hela hath departed for realms unknown (in return for some small lucre); loath though I am to admit it, she was central to our successes in the past.

Additionally, Kurse hath retired from the organization. Fenris Wolf hath been put down to sleep. Pluto, gone to Hades. Seth, to wherever he cometh from.

Simply put: I hath no staff. Good help is so hard to find. Perhaps if I had some aid from a Frost Giant or two…but no, the Norns hath not been so kind as to supply me with my kin.

But, brother. It wounds me to detect a note of bitterness in your missive…that you suggest that we won by trickery or enchanted dice. As if moi would ever stoop to such base and craven means! Such jealousy doth not become thee, brother.

However, I do entirely accept your statement that my wiles led to our victory; in that, you speak true. Loki shall ever be your better in matters of the mind, Thor. 

Sincerely:
Loki Laufeyson

P.S. Perhaps we can yet come to an arrangement despite my thin ranks. I do so love humbling the proud Odinson.”

This is what Heroclix is all about…the fun. What sort of friendly trash-talking do you do? Post your comments…but keep it clean!

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Continuing the photographic record of Super-Strength characters who can hold their own object tokens, today we’re looking at the Gorillas of DC 75:

Naturally, this also works for Grodd from the same set. (Not Solovar, though…that poindexter has too many mental powers and no Super Strength.)

Be back next Tuesday for another edition of Token Totin’!

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A few weeks ago, WizKids unveiled a pair of convention exclusive figures to be made available at GenCon, the collectible gaming industry’s biggest summer convention. One was a new version of Wonder Woman, in her current (and kinda cruddy) new costume:

But darn if the actual miniature doesn’t look great:

…and it’s got a dial worthy of the character to boot. This is my #1 wanted HeroClix figure this year…maybe EVER. (It’s strange, because I’m not especially a WW fan.)

Anyhow, it got me thinking about Wonder Woman, the many variations her uniform’s gone through across the decades and how many have appeared in HeroClix, and, most importantly, how awesome it’d be to play ALL of them at once:

Diana Prince (The Brave and the Bold) 32
LE Diana Prince (The Brave and the Bold) 43
Wonder Woman (Origin) 51
SR Wonder Woman (DC 75th Anniversary #051) 100
Wonder Woman (Legacy) 106
Wonder Woman (DC 75th Anniversary #W-8) 172
Wonder Woman (Unleashed) 198
Wonder Woman (Blackest Night) 215
Wonder Woman (Arkham Asylum) 248
+ Yellow Lantern 5
+ Kinetic Accelerator
+Generator
+ Amazon ATA 28
= 1198 points.

Each WW is wearing a different outfit she’s worn*. Hence, no Icons, Cosmic Justice or DC 75th Anniversary uncommon since the classic armored swimsuit’s well-represented in the Arkham Asylum version (whom I call “Brickhouse” WW).

I brought this team to a 1200-point no-feat Golden Age game in which only outdoor maps could be chosen. I knew I’d potentially have colossal problems with enemy range using this largely close-combat oriented team, but I figured to overcome that problem with White Lantern WW’s Telekinesis, the Accelerator, and WW-on-a-horse’s ability to use HSS until I could get the Amazons into close quarters.

I didn’t realize this event was intended to encourage actual colossals. But I suppose I should have guessed.

Did the team overperform against incredible odds? Or did it meet the fate of NBC’s would-be Wonder Woman TV series and just fail? Find out in this space…next week!

* OK, so technically, the Legacy outfit was her mother’s. But you know they shared clothes all the time. :)

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Continuing the photographic record of Super-Strength characters who can hold their own object tokens, today we’re looking at the “star” of last Friday’s joke post, Superman:

He might have the saddest, most boring sculpt in the game, but at least he can hold an object just fine.

Be back Thursday for another edition of Token Totin’!

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V Nova (Supernova)

This dial best represents Richard Rider just prior to the events of Annihilation…right down to the mid-dial Hypersonic Speed. But it’s woefully underpowered for Nova Prime.

Outfit's wrong, too.

Fortunately, there’s a solution. Similar to my earlier Black Widow custom, where I took a Gambit dial to better represent her powers, I used Hammer of Thor’s Air-Walker to sub as Nova powered by the full Nova Force:

  • He’s got Power Cosmic to signify his elevated power levels;
  • He’s Hypersonic from the get-go and further down the dial, yet his opening Super Senses well-represents his less-than-full command of his new abilities. Indeed, ALL his powers fit his profile. And, most of all;
  • …he still has the Nova Corps keyword!

Not a bad stand-in! And, unlike the earlier Black Widow mod, having the right keyword ensures that I’ll actually use him.

Now I just needed to make the look fit the dial. Here’s what I did:

  • I already took Air-Walker off the dial and added a flight stand to the dial.
  • Painted entire figure in blue modelers’ paint.
  • Used E-6000 hobby glue to add on armor plating details.
  • Painted on gold enamel for said elements.
  • Painted in some final details (chiefly the white glowing chest emblems).

Completed mid- 2010.

Next: two Bat-allies become a completely urelated and un-clixed character.

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Although I usually devote Fridays to  F.U.N. teams or F.U.N. character reviews, I’m trying out a different feature this week: the Friday Funny!

After all, HeroClix is a very amusing game if you don’t take winning and losing so stinking seriously.

Case in point: Some months ago, various HCRealms members did an amusing thread featuring the infamously boring, static and just plain bad Superman sculpt from DC 75th Anniversary:

I call 'im "Muscle-Suit" Superman.

Anyway, here was my contribution.

...Even the alternative Intelligent Design theory can't explain this one.

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The “Thor” film is good…good enough to easily carry its share of the Marvel Studios load to make Avengers work next year. Fittingly, the comic god of thunder can tote his tokens in HeroClix as well, leading to this all-Thor edition of Token Totin’…on his day, no less (as Thursday is a corruption of Thor’s Day). Starting with the Hammer of Thor fig:

Fit it behind his right helmet wing and his hammer arm for best results.

It’s a bit tenuous. You may have to try a few spots before you find the one that works with the way your particular HoT Thor is bent.

The oft-feuding brothers Thor & Loki work together to tote the token:

Wedges easily between Thor's cape and right knee.

And there’s absolutely no shortage of ways for Thor’s Mighty Chariot to haul objects.

Back to normal, non-duo figures. Supernova Thor has an easier time of it than his HoT successor:

Also in his armored 286-point iteration:

And though I again don’t have the actual piece, this is one I’ve tested and mocked up in Photoshop…Clobberin’ Time Thor:

But…wait. Wasn’t there one more Thor sculpt? Yeah…

…but he’s devoid of actual Super Strength. (‘Cause he’s not really Thor. Not really.)

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From Batman, Inc. #1.

I’m not a huge Batman fan, whether in comics or clix. But there’s no denying he’s a great character, no matter who’s wearing the cowl…there’s a reason he endures even after celebrating his 75th anniversary just last week.

So when mad genius comics writer Grant Morrison created “Batman, Inc.” with Bruce Wayne’s public revelation that he’d been bankrolling Batman for years, and then followed it with a team-up between Bruce Wayne Batman and Catwoman in that first issue as well, this Modern Age team quickly formed itself:

Batman and Catwoman (The Brave and the Bold) 142
Batman (DC 75th Anniversary #031) 77
Robin (The Brave and the Bold) 43
Alfred (Batman Alpha) 30 
+ Indigo Lantern 5
+ Dynamostat 0
+ Kinetic Accelerator 0
= 297 points. 

FIRST TEAM FACED: Chris’s Martial Artists led by Bullseye (Web of Spider-Man) + Thunderbolts ATA, Nightcrawler (Web of Spider-Man), Hand Ninja (Hammer of Thor), and Howard the Duck on my choice of the Castle map, picked more for fun than for effectiveness. 

TURNING POINTS

  • I thoroughly forgot to use the Catwoman trait to “steal” Chris’s Yellow Lantern special object. Oops. But for his part, Chris opted to use Mystics instead of the Stealth-busting Ultimates team ability.
  •  My map choice turned out well anyway, as my placement of the Dynamostat left Nightcrawler no way to reach BatCats — or even to place his carried Hand Ninja pal next to the duo.
  • Finally, as repeated Smoke Cloud Maneuvers got Batwing and Robin slowly closer to the action, Chris moved Nighty and Bullseye within range of Batman & Catwoman’s alpha strike. And though it failed, BatCats could counter Bullseye’s Running Shot to stay safely behind hindering terrain until the others could back them up.
  • Feeling the pressure, Chris pushed Nighty to try to hit and reposition BatCats. He failed. By then, both Batwing and Robin were in fighting position to overwhelm the Martial Artists completely, losing only Robin. 

===

LAST MATCH was against Brian’s Future theme of Kid Zoom, Trevor Fitzroy, Karate Kid and Ahab on his choice of a 3rd-party map.

TURNING POINTS

  • AGAIN forgot to use Catwoman’s trait, robbing myself of positioning opportunities thanks to Brian’s Dynamostat placement. Lesson Learned: Give all character cards a quick readthrough before the first round of play begins.
  • Got first shot on Karate Kid, ending his threat before it’d begun.
  • Fitzory incredibly failed to hit Alfred and was a sitting duck for a huge counterattack by the others. His KO pretty much sealed the win for the Gotham crowd, as my Dynamostat kept BatCats safe from Ahab more than long enough to take him down a peg. Didn’t lose any characters this time.

MVP: Batman & Catwoman are a really strong duo…they could almost take on these teams themselves, given the right die rolls. But the presence of Robin as ever-ready tie-up and Batman as a very strong secondary help BatCats shoulder the load. Finally, there’s Alfred’s Support as the back-up plan should things go wrong (as they did in the 2nd game when Batwing crit-misses and took a hit, losing Charge).

I will play Batman, Inc. again in Modern Age, as all the characters remain legal when Avengers, Justice League, Mutations & Monsters, and Crisis all retire May 15. (I’ll have to find a different special object than the Dynamostat, though!)

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Continuing the photographic record of Super-Strength characters who can hold their own object tokens, today we’re looking at…um…(looking through my photos file) bashful Benjamin J. Grimm:

See how the token fits between his fingers, there? NICE. Be back Thursday for a special edition of Token Totin’!