In the
time that WizKids released three different Marvel sets for
HeroClix, they only managed
one for DC. Even now, the DCU lags behind with this week's
release of the Cosmic Justice set. If you're keeping score,
it's still three to two, with IndyClix and another Marvel
set on the horizon.
But it's
not a matter of disrespect. Though Marvel pieces may be far
more numerous (and may be bigger sellers; at least, Marvel
would say so), the appearance of the DC figures are far more
satisfying, and the character selection goes deeper into the
canon than Marvel, which has been, understandably enough,
heavy on the X-Men with a side of ninja.
With
each expansion set, too, WizKids keeps tinkering and refining
how the figures are presented and how well they play. This
time around, flying characters have a notch in their support
stand, which should reduce the wear and tear that comes from
storing such figures separate from their bases. (Unless you
glue them in - we make no recommendation either way.)
And at
last, Cosmic Justice fulfills a promise set by Hypertime,
activating three group affiliations and filling out a few
that had been rather sparsely inhabited. Three founding members
represent the Legion of Superheroes. Mystics finally make
an appearance with the ever-switching allegiance Circe and
Zatanna (complete with fishnets). Despite his occasional membership,
however, Starman has no affiliation with the JSA.
An uneasy
but sensible fit comes from Sgt. Rock and Easy Company. All
of them have the Police team ability, which improves the attack
value of adjacent friendly figures. Regardless, it's Easy
Company, man. You owe them respect.
From
the release of the giant Sinestro figure in January, we knew
that there had to eventually be a Green Lantern Corps to combat
him. Though Kyle Rayner did not make the cut, John Stewart,
the new "official" GL to those who watch TV and buy the toys,
is here in all his glory. Even without a Corps around him,
he still has the team ability, which allows him to transport
up to eight friendly figures.
Let the
bloodshed begin.
Stewart
also has several enemies in this set, with one miscalculation
on the game designers' part. This Green Lantern does not have
a base that takes an arch-enemy into account, but John Stewart
does actually have an arch-enemy included in this set: Fatality.
The Manhunters, failed first attempts at cosmic police by
the Guardians of Oa, are represented here, too, but let's
face it. Stewart destroyed Fatality's planet; she really has
a legitimate beef. Then again, as I've noted before, knowing
continuity only gets in the way of playing this game.
With
at least three Green Lantern villains now available, it does
seem like there's a missed opportunity somewhere for a new
team ability. Especially with so many obscure extremely powerful
villains also popping up.
You
wouldn't imagine Amazo, Despero, Eclipso, and Mordru teaming
up (although, hey, Geoff Johns has the last two together in
JSA RIGHT NOW!). Frankly, it's just cool that WizKids
have put these figures in the set at all. Also from the strangely
obscure file: Teen Titans enemy Brother Blood. Granted, all
of them are Uniques and therefore extremely rare, but they'll
make great additions to your desktop collections.
As will
our unofficial Fanboy Planet tally of the three Poison Ivys
and Starfires you'll get out of every four boxes.
Mitigating
the pain of the many, many duplicates is just how good the
sculpts are. Even the painting details have gotten finer;
from what we've seen so far, no figure has the look of pained
surprise that Mr. Fantastic sports, nor the simply sloppy
make-up job that Titania has (both from "Clobberin' Time").
These
are cool little figures, and if you have extras you should
just give them to kids to play with. Rules? Rules? They don't
need no stinkin' rules.
Yes,
once again WizKids has found a way of soon parting this particular
fool with his money. It will get worse in August, when the
company releases a set of DC maps, which will be very site
specific. We get to take the battle to the JLA Watchtower,
people.
Oh, there
will be a Marvel set, too, in case you want to work your way
through the Avengers Mansion and take out that punk Jarvis.
Hopefully, that will be on one of the scenario cards.
