Personally, I don't think we need 'updated keywords' at all. For one thing, there has always been the option for venues to allow certain figures to be played as if they had those keywords naturally. For another, I believe part of the justification given behind certain keyword being assigned is that certain figures were designed to represent a certain period in that figures life. To update a figure at a later period in time with a keyword for a group or team they'd just joined would run completely contrary to that design idea. And frankly, to give a keyword to a figure made before they joined a team in the comics is pretty ridiculous. How can you possibly make a figure that represents something that hasn't happened in the comics yet?

To give the latest Moondragon the Guardians of the Galaxy keyword all of the sudden would be ridiculous because of her Dragon of the Moon power. I think that power and her existing keywords pretty well indicated that version of the figure represents the figure prior to her death in the Annihilation Conquest event. The two Adam Warlocks we have don't represent the version from the Annihilation years. They represent the character from an earlier point in time - the various Infinity storylines and earlier. It doesn't make sense to give a figure with powers based around the Soul Gem the Guardians of the Galaxy keyword when the character as seen in the GotG series has no involvement with the infinity gems at all.

I think that to say these figures need the keyword tagged on after the fact means you're not looking at the bigger picture.

Not all judges are familiar with the comics or characters on their respective teams other than the BIGGIES like JLA, Avengers or X men.

I know a judge that does not read comics and only knows the characters by the back of their character cards.

Mandarin's Minions didn't even get a version of Mandarin with the keyword.

Maggia and others that have only a small handful of figs are gonna take a LONG time to fill out so why do we need them?

The main keywords I see played in tourney's are teens, scientists, spy, Gotham City-mostly generic keywords except for Gotham.
Most non-generic keyword teams don't get played because they don't add as many theme probs to your matches.

True that some keywords like Asgardians and Skrulls didn't get much playtime due to lack of figs or what have you-until recently-but IMO there are way too many keywords to wait it out for them to be filled out.

Yeah, there are some continuity issues with the assignment of keywords, I won't deny that.
Funny you should mention Maggia... I've played a Maggia team. IIRC it was Mad Thinker, Grim Reaper, V Madam Masque and a bunch of Dreadnoughts. It did great.
I've also played a Femizons team that was a lot of fun.
Quite frankly, I enjoy the challenge of taking keywords with small rosters and see how I can make them work. I'm sure I'm not alone.
So what? Is it a problem that some keywords are more commonly played than others?

That's great!

I think that you my friend, are an exception. And that's good.



I have NEVER seen Maggia played.

Non-generics themes that have done very well for me:

Asgardians
Defenders
Inhumans
Invaders
Gotham City
Guardians if the Galaxy
Justice Society
Metal Men
Sinestro Corps
Skrulls

They're not as obscure as Maggia, but certainly a lot more limiting than Scientist or Teen.

I see your Mandarin and raise you an Apocalypse (accompanied by the HORSEMEN OF APOCALYPSE)

lol

And I raise you a "Clooberin'" Time U Nick Fury WITHOUT the Sheild keyword yet dressed fully in Sheild garb.

Agreed. I have used almost all of these to great success.

Perhaps this Nick is from the Nick Fury vs S.H.I.E.L.D. storyline? I could see not having the S.H.I.E.L.D. keyword if that's the case.

Otherwise, I got nuttin'.

Nick Fury, Agent of Nothing!

Nick Fury is his own Keyword









hey, Nick got shafted, we never got other Figures with the nick fury Keyword