So it’s come to this. We’re down to the top 10 spots on the list of The 20 Best LE’s of All Time (…so far) - Part Two! Some figures like Philip Masters, Maxwell Dillon, Sister Magdalena, and Dr. Jonathan Crane didn’t show up in the previous article which went over positions #20 through #11. Will they show up on today’s list? Heck no! But to find out just who did make the cut, click on “Read More”!

A brief re-cap is perhaps in order for those who did not have a chance to read last week’s piece or those who just have a really short memory. Numbers 20 through 11 were as follows:

#20 – Little Sure Shot
#19 – Doctor Doom
#18 – Norman Osborne
#17 – Jessica Drew
#16 – Morlock Leader tied with The Atom
#15 – Clint Barton
#14 – Cain Marko
#13 – Kraven the Spider
#12 – Justice is Served! tied with Elektra Natchios
#11 – Etrigan tied with Daniel Ketch

For the full read on these pieces, click HERE.

And, though it was said before, it’s perhaps worth repeating, there are a few caveats just so that we’re all on the same page.
1 – This list only considers pieces that have been released. Figures whose dials are known but that are not in circulation will not be ranked, because nothing about any piece can be verified until the piece can be examined first-hand. Or to put it another way, sometimes the figure gallery is wrong.
2 – Any figure designated as a LE will be considered an LE regardless of its ring color.
3 – A figure’s cost, in cash, trade value or points, does not directly correlate to its “goodness”. Neither does its rarity.
4 – I have attempted to be as objective as possible, but this list is nonetheless subjective.

And now, on with the show! But no skipping ahead, because that’s just cheating and I’ll know. Anyone who cheats will find Ororo Munroe in the top spot on the list and the real #1 will be removed via this cool new scroll-sensitive programming trick I learned taking classes at home in my jammies. Seriously.

#10 – Polaris (Mutant Mahem – based on REV Polaris, 78 points, Brotherhood) – Why is Polaris on the list? Because she’s got most of what makes LE Doctor Doom hit the list plus a little something extra: Running Shot. Early in the game her TA makes her a great taxi whose movement doesn’t rob from her team’s allotment of actions. Once in position to strike, her modified range with Pulse Wave should give her a very good chance of pulling off a single target PW for loads of damage. With an 18 defense if parked in hindering, she’s tough to hit and is scary beyond her point cost.

#9 – Roy Harper, Jr. (Legacy – Arsenal, 39 points, Police) – Not to be confused with Ray Parker, Jr., though that’s what I have come to call him, he’s another one of those delightful pieces that renders his REV almost completely irrelevant. For 39 points, Roy is a master of the running-gunning bush-push. Simply let him take a shot, and on the following turn push him to do it again making certain that he ends his Running Shot move in hindering terrain. Whammo! In two turns he’s done six clicks of damage and now he’s Stealthed with a solid nine (9) attack and he’s still hanging on to that spiffy three (3) damage. Rookie Speedy and E Arsenal aren’t going to pull of that kind of magic. The Vet could, but he runs 23 points more, so fuhgeddaboudit. Packing along Wildcards or other PD guys only adds to the enjoyment of this figure. So do what I do. When the need arises to play Arsenal, who ya gonna call? Ol’ Ray Parker, Jr., here. You better believe it.

#8 – Elektra (Xplosion – Hand Ninja, 19 points, Hydra) – This piece is as hot as the movie of the same name was rotten. For those who may have missed that little “gem” of a “film”, that means that Elektra is fantastic (and by default that the flick is down there in Manos country, but not nearly as fun). She’s truly a thing of beauty, style and grace. A full load of Stealth, an eight (8) attack and three (3) damage are amazing on a figure of this point cost. Add to it the Hydra TA (Hail Hydra!) giving her and fellow Hydra or wildcard agents a +1 to ranged attacks and the result is one incredible piece. Elektra, for all the ups, downs, changes and modifications to the game remains as vital and as deadly as ever and should be in every serious clix player’s tackle box. If you don’t have her, quit reading this, go buy one and then come right back. I mean it. I’ve got a full pot of coffee here and some Hostess fruit pies. I can wait.

Now that we’ve all got our Elektra’s, let’s continue.

#7 – Iron Man [NGN] (Supernova – no REV, 160 points, Avengers) – This is, to date, the best version of Tony!Toni!Tone! that we’ve got, but that’s not the reason he’s on the list. Running Shot, a big 11 attack, a big 17 D and 4 damage with Outwit are the start. His two targets with Incapacitate are also part of the reason. Once Running shot fades and Tony is immobile, Ranged Combat Expert shows up to let him continue to rip away for four (4) damage. Outwit comes back again on clicks six and seven, and then it’s the return of the big four (4) damage on his last click. He’s at worst useful on every single click, and at best a piece that should be able to control his corner of the map. For those who love the cardboard, Tony is a prime example of Feats not making the man, but rather adding that little extra push over the cliff. He’s great as he stands, but he’s more diabolical with Stunning Blow. He’s fine as an Avenger, but in these times of “Civil War”, he may need to Thunderbolt to an alternate TA like Kabuki or Crossgen to accomplish his mission. They’re not necessary to make him great, but they are the extra olive in the martini. And though it may be slightly off topic, it’s funny to note that the two best Iron Men don’t depict Tony in the more traditional armor.

#6 – Madam Hydra (Xplosion – Viper, 39 points, Hydra) – Maybe it’s just me, but I have always thought the names on these figures should be reversed with the REV being Madam Hydra and the LE being Viper. Names aside, Madam Hydra proves she’s no lady. With Mastermind and Ranged Combat Expert she’ll light up an enemy from 10 squares away for four (4) damage all the while passing any hits she takes off on her little Hydra lackeys. When surrounded by her minions, she can gain a nice little attack boost, and even return the favor if the opportunity presents itself. Should she actually have to eat some damage herself, late dial Enhancement allows her to keep contributing to the team until she get’s KO’d. As is the hallmark of any great clix, she can be useful on every click. And again, for those who pile on the cardboard, a quick dose of Trick Shot allows her to shoot over the heads or between the legs of Stealthed Hand Ninja’s positioned directly in front of her, keeping her not only safe from reprisal but also juicing her attack. So how come all of the best Hydra pieces are women? I don’t know, but “Hail Hydra!”

#5 Superman [NGN] (Collateral Damage – no REV, 211 points) – There’s a lot to be said for a Hypersonic flying brick with permanent Stealth. That Batman TA adds a new wrinkle to an old familiar character that makes him more dangerous and different to field at the same time. The changes to HSS make ranged attacks slightly trickier to pull off, but in close combat he can swoop in to do seven (7) clicks of damage with a heavy object and then swoop back out to the safety of hindering terrain. At 211 points, it is possible to provide him with some decent support in a 300 point game, but he’ll shine more brightly at 400 points and above. A mix of Ranged Combat Expert and Psychic Blast make him threatening after his HSS and Running Shot have faded, and his 10 range with two targets will put many a foe squarely in his crosshairs.

#4 – Hulk (Supernova – Zombie, no REV, 100 points) – Love ‘em, hate ‘em or altogether indifferent to ‘em, there’s no denying that the Marvel Zombies are an interesting addition to HeroClix. Chief amongst those Zombies is one of most, if not the most dangerous Hulk ever to grace the game. Opening with a nine (9) attack, Super Strength and Exploit Weakness, he doesn’t need much time to “Hulk-up”, as what he starts with is very good. In traditional Hulk fashion, the clicks just keep getting better as he gets further into his dial with his attack climbing to an 11 and his damage to four (4). Exploit Weakness intermittently appears on his dial, as do other entertaining powers like Flurry for when he’s got a whole lotta beatin’ to hand out, and Steal Energy so that he can either get back to his first click or his best click. But wait! There’s more! He’s utterly devoid of Battle Fury – nearly a Hulk staple – enabling him to be carried into battle. This Hulk is as good as the quote in his HorrorClix card – he is the hungriest on there is, and he’ll feast on many an opponent before he receives his merciful release. And in a pseudo-flashback to Tony, why is it that the best Hulks aren’t of the 616 variety? I’m not sure, but I’m very glad we’ve got this one.

#3 – Ghost Widow (City of Villains Game – No REV, 52 points) – Ghost Widow is an enchanting piece. She Phases, Poisons, Steals Energy, Regenerates, Supports, brings home the bacon, fries it up in a pan, and never ever lets you forget you’re a man. Oh, and hitting her will cause the enemy to take damage; but with an 18 defense, good luck hitting her. All of that aside, Ghost Widow is even more important in that she signals an end to the era of “pure” medic, and ushers in a bold new age of the combat medic. Without fear, she can get in the mix as her high defense and Arachnos TA should afford her a modicum of safety. Once in a fight, with her nine (9) attack and two (2) damage Ghost Widow can handle herself rather well against other figures in her weight class. If she should happen to take a hit Steal Energy, and later Regen are there to get her all the way back to the top of her dial so that the pain can begin again. So much for standing at the back waiting to hand out Band-Aids. Due to the change made to the power, Ghost Widow is the preeminent Support piece in the game because she is so much more than a one trick pony. She heals, can handle herself in a fight and has an excellent TA for Wildcards to copy. So long Jane Foster. It’s been a pip.

#2 – Sue Storm (Fantastic Forces – Invisible Woman, 49 points) – Who would have thought that a Fantastic Forces LE/SR with only two powers would have such a profound impact on the game. More than Nightcrawler. More than KC Superman. More than many other figures that skate around the board bringing down death from above. Sue Storm is a decent figure in her own right. As barrier pieces go, she great. She’s Stealthed, she’s got a respectable nine (9) attack and two (2) damage, and her six (6) range gives her a decent enough reach to either protect her team, or trap a particularly vulnerable or annoying foe. If an Invisible Woman is required, she a great one to play for those reasons alone. However, thanks to one little piece of cardboard, a piece of cardboard that doesn’t even have a point cost to employ, with the Fantastic Four feat card Sue Storm can lend out her majestic 19 defense to every other Fantastic Four team member and Wildcard on her squad. That’s game changing. Not only for the fact this figure and the card conspire to create a Brobdignagian challenge for every opponent this side of Thanos, but also for the fact that in tandem with the FF card, Sue Storm marked the beginning of another new era; that of bigger benefits for playing theme teams.

And, lastly, a decision that even surprised me, we have The Best LE of All Time (…so far)!

#1 - The Man of Steel (Collateral Damage – no REV, 200 points) – As we head into DC’s Origins and the wonder and promise a set holds that reflects characters at their purest and most essential; before Crisis-this, Secret-that, and then Crisis-this and Civil-that with a whole lot of other Secrets, Clones, Elseworlds, What If?’s, and alternate universes thrown in for good measure, my thoughts turned to Superman. In his Kingdom Come and Veteran Icons incarnations he’s been a figure ripe for abuse. KC Supes taught us the fine art of dumpster diving. Vet Icons Supes caused such consternation over Hypersonic Speed that he propagated a rules change all by his lonesome. Now that’s one spicy bean burger to instigate a power being re-written. And yet, as good as those pieces are or were, neither really captured the spirit of what Superman really is as he exists in comics today. The Man of Steel does that in grand fashion.

Much like the pulp Superman, The Man of Steel’s opening thoughts are two-fold; to protect his friends and pull off a quick but powerful drive-by on the enemy before getting into the trenches. And after that starting click of HSS and Defend, that’s just what he does. He Charges into close combat to slog it out. If he can get an object on the way, so much the better, but once he’s there, Close Combat Expert nudges his damage up to six on his second and third clicks. Things getting a little too close for comfort? With Force Blast The Man of Steel can push an opposing brick away making him/her use his/her next action simply to base Supes again. Or, Force Blast be darned, The Man of Steel can just pound away with an 11 attack for five damage (sans object). A little further into his dial, close combat is still supreme as Flurry appears in conjunction with three (3) damage to make sure that each hit counts. Anyone he hits with his nine (9) or 10 attack is going to hurt.

But the thrills, wonders, and joys don’t stop there. As he moves further toward the terminus of his dial, Defend reappears and his defensive numbers climb – all the way to a jaw-dropping 19. It’s time to rally around The Man of Steel for the last stand. At this point in his dial his attack values are a nine (9) and a pair of eight’s (8’s), but if he’s done his job these should be good enough to connect. Since his damage climbs from three (3) all the way up to five (5) at this point as well, each hit should send an enemy off to KO land. By the same token, if he’s done his job the bad guys are going to have a devil of a time hitting the The Man of Steel’s 17, 18, and 19 defense. The evil-doers aren't going to fare better with whoever he’s Defending either. This, too, harkens back to many a comic. When the chips are down and the fate of Earth, an alien world, or maybe just that cute Lois Lane is at stake, every hero left standing gravitates to Supes as he gives it everything he’s got to win the day.

A powerhouse on every click, with nary a click wasted, The Man of Steel is a force to be reckoned with at every stage of the game. He embodies and exemplifies the true sprit of the Superman character and he posses a unique combination of raw power and support for his team. And that is why The Man of Steel is simply The Man – and The #1 LE of All Time (…so far)!

Thanks for reading! Next week we’ll return to the regular format, and we’ll be looking at a pair of Supernova pieces as we work our way through the back-log created by doing this Top 20 list. The most likely candidates for review will be Dr. Donald Blake and the enigmatically titled One Who Knows. See you in seven!

Minor edit needed in #5:

"and Psychic Blast keep him threatening"

Glad to see NGN Supes is up there. I'm won many a game with him.

I'm just not too into The Man. I do like the other choices, though! Thanks again for great review! Glad to see Polaris, GW, NGN Supes, IM, and the Hulk I want...

I like this review, but I have one question?

If Jennifer Gardner is doing full-contact nightgown wrestling, I am SO there.

Wow...comsider me shocked at some of those. Nice write up Ol Dut!

Great reveiw, Man of Steel is the best.

Why was the Robot Superman the best of 2006 but didn't make this list?

No more love for the Robot?

Robot Supes is not an LE. I believe they are Experiecned with the blue ring.

No Jane Foster? Back in the day she was a staple on most teams...

Right, duh. Thanks for clearing that up, lol.

Man of Steel is that great. I love your choices in general.

Ghost Widow takes #3, so i'm happy.

Not a bad list... skewed towards some of the newer figures but it's hard to argue that those listed don't belong on the list in SOME order. Madame Hydra was one of my favorite pieces from way back. Cheap and deadly... I might have to dust her off and give her a spin again.