500 points comic book cover

[George Smiley]

I am playing in a 500 point Heroclix tournament this weekend. The team can only be composed of characters that are on the cover of a comic book. Not every character has to be represented but generally it is considered better to use a high percentage of the characters on the cover. There are no restrictions on figures, pogs, feats or BFCs. Usually there is a strong turnout of players with everything imaginable. There is a prize for winning and a prize for most thematic team.

What feats would you put on this 450 point team from the cover of the September 1963 issue of Avengers #1?

M & M R Hulk LE (113 pts)
SN R Thor (112 pts)
AW LE Anthony Stark (100 pts)
SN V Ant-Man (81 pts)
IC U Wasp (44 pts)

I made some cosmetic changes to better match the cover of Avengers #1. I had an extra R Hulk so I painted it green. I am using the gold retro suit of Armor from the 89 point Iron Man Unique on the AW LE Anthony Stark dial. I also took a Wasp body from the recent Avengers set that has the old retro-style look (you know - the black beanie Wasp) and attached it to the IC U Wasp dial.

I'm obviously considering Thunderbolts (notice the high D), Alpha Flight, Shellhead, Nanobots and Protected but I am open to any suggestions. I could put the Avengers Wasp figure in the Universe starter Wasp dial (19 pts) to save points and really feat these pieces up. I could also use the SN R Ant-Man (48 pts) to save points. I tried this point shaving to replace SN R Thor with SN V Thor but I still had too many points.

So what figures and feats should I use and do you think I have a chance to win?

[ccs]

I don't have any suggestions as far as what feats you should use. But I have a very stong opinion on what you shouldn't....

You should definitly not use Thunderbolts or Alpha-Flite. At least not if you have any intention of claiming comic accuracy.
You're bringing Avengers? Fine, then PLAY Avengers. You want to play Alpha-Flite or TBolts? Use those figs.

As for your chances of winning? Depends what you face....

[George Smiley]

It is true that neither the T-Bolts nor the Alpha Flight feats seem in theme for the original Avenger's but it does make this team competitive.

[George Smiley]

I figured this team would do better but I was crushed in every game. I rolled low but I played against several teams with high defense and PC and I found it almost impossible to actuallly damage anyone. I played Alpha Flight last year and the old school Avengers this year and I was really drubbed both years.

[tidge]

I figured this team would do better but I was crushed in every game. I rolled low but I played against several teams with high defense and PC and I found it almost impossible to actuallly damage anyone. I played Alpha Flight last year and the old school Avengers this year and I was really drubbed both years.

Sorry to hear about the crushing loss: high defenses and plentiful re-rolls are by far the most annoying feature of the "modern" Heroclix game.

At 400 points that lineup (adjust Wasp, Ant-Man and Iron Man as needed) isn't bad against other theme teams, but I guess they lack the OOOMPH at 500.

I'm sorry I missed this thread before you played it. I would have suggested:

Contingency Plan on Wasp (to increase Attack Values)
Alpha Flight (again, because you need AV boosts, but also at 500 you won't need free moves with this team)

I am not a fan of Protected, but in the case of this team (a variant of which I've played a few times) you basically have to be willing to have one of your "big guns" (Iron Man, Thor or Hulk) be the opening target of an opponent's alpha strike. At 400, they can usually take it...but at 500 it is becoming riskier.

I would have also suggested the Rick Jones or Jarvis BSTs, to be used to block LOF or to use theme re-rolls.

There are very few (comic) theme teams IMO that aren't greatly improved by min-max-nerfing BFCs like Shrunk, Darkness, Deep Shadows. The "Avengers #1" team does *much* better in close-combat than in range (although it has a few ranged options). Even though you have a nice mix of TAXI options, the team is at the mercy of TK and/or HSS, so Poor Teamwork isn't a bad choice...and even though it might cripple the Hulk's special white transporter attack, Inertial Interference Field would allow you to get you team across the map with less risk.