Mad Mods!

I am thinking of having a new Heroclix custom made and, as I have before, I want to seek your input.

How this works is, the Mad Modder Dale can create any custom Heroclix figure I ask for (for a fee). But I need to figure out an appropriate dial from an existing Heroclix figure that can be "borrowed" to use as the custom's dial. By "appropriate" I mean "has powers" that approximate what the customized character is able and likely to do in the comic books.

Ideally, I can find a dial from a figure different from one of the ones we play with. Since we only play with the DC clix at my house (imagine that!), I'm usually scouring the dials of all the Marvel figures to find appropriate dials to use for customs of DC figures. In fact, a lot of what I know about more modern Marvel characters comes from the research I have to do to understand their Heroclix dials for this research! Thus, my love for DC forces me to learn about Marvel: oh, the Comic Book Irony.

Occasionally, I'll use a dial from a figure of a DC character that we seldom (or never) play because, well, we just don't like the character. For example, "Jinx" is a fairly meaningless character to me, being from the Titans lore that I find tedious; however, the dial of the Veteran Jinx is not a bad approximation of the mystic abilities of the Ocean Master, and so my custom Ocean Master sits on the dial of a Veteran Jinx.

So, in contemplating a custom order, I have to decide:

(A) What character would be cool to have a figure of, but isn't likely to get made by Wizkids (the company that makes Heroclix). For example: yes, it would be cool to have some more Doom Patrol figures, but you know darned well there will be more coming from Wizkids. I prefer only to order customs that I don't expect to see as "real figures" (like, say, my Ace the Bathound custom clix).

(B) What character would fit in well with the kinds of figures we usually play. For example: I'm not the world's biggest fan of Green Arrow, so I'm not highly motivated to ask for a Xeen Arrow custom and the Fourth World characters don't see lots of play at my house, so Kanto's not high on the list for possible customizing. Conversely, I already have TWO Vibe customs and a host of Aquaman characters. You know; the real Aquaman.

(C) Whether there's an appropriate dial to put the custom on. Does no good to have a neat-looking Phantom Stranger custom if there's no dial that would let him do the Phantomically Strange things he usually does. In fact, it's just frustrating.


I have a draft list of ideas but I want at least four more. Please express your opinions (minus any threats of violence) of my list and suggest additions. If you do suggest an additional character to be customized, please, if possible, take (A), (B), and (C) into consideration.

My current favorite candidates are:


Angle Man

A long-time Wonder Woman foe, the Angle Man is the suave ladies' man with the mysterious warping device known as the Angler, who is currently seeing so much play in the pages of Catwoman.

Why?: We like to play "the So and So Family versus their Rogues Gallery" games, and Angle Man would help round out Wonder Woman's foes.

The Dial: Veteran Shaman (Armor Wars #051; 74 points). The point range is right: he's less powerful than WW but still hard for her to beat. The rainbow dial lets him do the full range of Angler tricks: disappearing at will (Phasing), confusing people (Perplex), undercutting others' powers (Outwit), hobbling opponents (Incapacitate), attacking people's brains (Psychic Blast), avoiding getting hit (Deflection).


Dr. Polaris

Currently dead Green Lantern villain and famous loon, the original Master of Magnetism, and a fine blogger to boot.

Why?: There are four different GL Heroclix (Hal, Kyle, John, Kilowog), but their Rogues Gallery is represented only by Sinestro and Fatality (oh, and the Manhunter robots, but they're easier to blow up than Red Tornado). And watching Polaris bounce dumpsters off Hal Jordan's head would be about the finest evening one could have without employing marital aids.

The Dial: Unique Xorn (Ulitmates #085, 94 points). Heh; you were expecting Magneto or the X-Man Polaris, weren't you? I don't want to use Magneto because he always has the power "Leadership", and that just ain't Dr. Polaris. Polaris would work for Dr. Polaris (go figure!) but I want to use Xorn. Xorn's got three things that make him perfect: Telekinesis down the dial (that's the power used to represent magnetically throwing crap around; like dumpsters; at Hal's head); Deflection (magnofolk are always deflecting whatever object or force you aim at them); and HEALING (because Dr. Polaris is a REAL PHYSICIAN; that's too cool to ignore).


Black Hand

Cliche-spouting energy vampire villain recently revamped in the pages of Green Lantern.

Why?: See above on GL villains. Besides, he's really creepy and the only similar villain is Parasite, but he sucks. Literally.

The Dial: Veteran Rogue (Infinity Challenge #123, 85 points). Rogue has "Steal Energy"; Black Hand is an energy vampire. Nuff said.


Jimmy Olsen

Congenital idiot and avatar of all Superman fanboys.

Why?: Jeepers, Mr. Kent! It's your basic constructive dilemma. If Jimmy Olsen survives a game long enough to be helpful, that'll be pretty funny; if he doesn't, that'll be even funnier. Jimmy in game = funny.
The Dial: Rookie Gotham Undercover Cop (Unleashed #007, 14 points). Tough one. Without having one of his freak accidents, Jimmy has no powers (although a strong argument could be made for Perplex, since there has never been a character more perplexing the Jimmy Olsen). But Jimmy does run around alot avoiding getting attacked and hugging his disguise kit so I picked a low point dial with Stealth and Shape Change. Not only will that increase Jimmy's survival chances, it will also give him a function: he'll actually be able to help protect Superman by standing in front of him and hiding him from opponents!


Max Mercury

The Zen master of speed, mentor of Bart Allen, and Really Cool Character Shafted Into Limbo. I never would have learned to love Bart Allen, without Max to complete the comedy duo.

Why?: There's no use making any of Flash's Rogues as customs; all the cool ones will get made as real clicks. But a medium-point-speedster would be a fun addition to the "Flash Family".

The Dial: Rookie Quicksilver (Armor Wars #052, 52 points). He's go the basic "speedster powers" (Hypersonic Speed, Charge, Flurry, and Supersenses), but runs through them more quickly then the Flash does. A figure with this dial serves as a good "mentor" for the Rookie Impulse but has trouble keeping up with the Veteran Kid Flash.


Prof. Radium

One of our recent faves here at the Absorbascon, who's currently skulking about the pages of Battle for Bludhaven getting cursed at by a robot dog. He needs some love.

Why?: The Batfamily is a great source for teams at my house and they always need lots of enemies. Besides.... He's a Golden Age Batman villain. He's a bald scientist with a Van Dyke. He's green. He can bring dogs back from the dead. He's Prof. Radium, for pity's sake!

The Dial: Veteran Asp (Fantastic Forces #027, 39 points). This dial has the necessary Poison, a ranged attack of Blast for his "radium blasts", and the all-imporant first click of Stealth that keeps him from getting klonked by a batarange before he can get his licks in.


Hugo Strange

Creepy mad doctor who is one of Batman's oldest foes, starring recently in Matt Wagner's Batman and the Monster Men.

Why?: Pretty much for the same reasons as Prof. Radium, except the part about being green.

The Dial: Rookie Psylocke (Armor Wars #055, 45 points). Like a lot of Batman villains, Hugo's abilities are more mental than physical, which calls for a very special dial. This dial has boatloads of Perplex, which allows Strange to influence the battle from a safe distance, protected by Deflection. Plus with the "SHIELD" ability to represent his tactical genius, Hugo can improve the attack of any teammate standing beside him -- or standing in front to protect him!