Excuse me for coming over all noob here but I have a story to tell and a question to ask.

I went to a tourney on Sunday and no-one turned up. Whilst I was waiting I decided to read to HC rulebook to ease the boredom. I noticed that there was no mention of figures without superstrength being able to pick up light objects. I have always played that any figure can pick up a light object but only a character with SS can throw them. Have I always been wrong? Is this a recent rule change?

I've done this in tournament play and never been challenged.

Thanks in advance

I've never heard that to be the case. Super Strength means you can pick up objects, and if'n ya don't have it, ya can't. Far as I know.

Of course, that doesn't stop me from noticing five turns too late that my awesome Rogue charge with the dumpster to frag a chump was illegal because Rogue doesn't HAVE the Super Strength that she should naturally have...

Yep...I think you have to have SS to pick up anything. Those gumball machines can be deceptively heavy...

I suppose it just doesn't make sense. I could pick up a desk and clock someone with it. I couldn;t throw it and do any damage because I'm not super strong. It just seemed to make sense to me when we first started playing that light objects were just that...light.

Stuart, don't be silly! Wasp can NOT pick up a small picnic table but she can obviously carry Hulk ANYwhere she wants!

As has been said, officially only figures with Super Strength may pick up objects, whether they are heavy or light.
On the other hand, nothing stops you from using a house rule to permit all figures to use light objects in close combat.

That acutally sounds like alot of fun! exp Wildcat will charge pick up a mail box and smash Vandal Savage with it now I have a 12 attack and can do 2 damage to him o the mayhem that will insue.

The mailbox does not add +1 to attack. It deals +1 on damage as a light object.

The bookcase is the light object that adds +1 to your attack in close combat.

Wilcat, Charging with the mailbox would be 3 damage +1 for light object +1 for special mailbox.

I think a caveat to allowing non SS characters to use light objects would be that they cannot take advantage of the special abilities of these objects, but that is just my opinion.

I agree (gasp!).
I'd also say that the figure carrying the object would be unable to use any movement/attack powers as well as their range.