From the Archives - 12

More supers, running out of "clever" stuff to write here.

Poison Ivy: I went with the all-plant colour scheme for Ivy after seeing someone do their Knight Models version that way and I kind of liked it. Makes the hair contrast more too. Heroclix. 

Wolverine: Originally converted and painted for my SHIELD 40k army, "Lucky Jim" here was going to be my Eversor Assassin. Still a great pose, which is why I've never upgraded him. Heroclix. 

Sabretooth: Went for the Ultimate version of the character to match Wolverine above, I like that his costume is less silly, though I may do a classic version at some stage. Heroclix. 
 

Wonder Woman: It's really hard to find good Wonder Woman heroclix, but this one turned out nicely. Heroclix. 

Hulk: I have many Hulks. In fact, I have something of a Hulk problem, where I just keep buying more that I don't need. This one gets used most often, as Green Hulk tends to be the one people are more familiar with, though technically it's the version from The Avengers motion picture. Heroclix.  

Flash: Do I need different versions for Barry, Wally and Bart? The costume doesn't change much. I need to get a Golden Age version at some stage, though. Heroclix. 
 

Superhero Media: Wu Assassins

I was pretty keen to start Wu Assassins, a Netflix series starring Iko Uwais of The Raid fame, with a big Chinese-American cast and crew, it was an exciting possibility for something pretty unique. Sadly, the final product is pretty poor, though not for lack of trying on the part of the cast and crew. As much as I really appreciate that the Chinese-American characters are portrayed by Chinese-American actors, this did shrink the pool of talent from which the series cast, and sometimes that leads to some dodgy acting. Iko Uwais himself is reasonable, though like many martial arts film actors, his dramatic range is limited; thankfully, he has good chemistry with Byron Mann, who plays Uncle 6, the series foil for the most part. So who are the Wu? The Wu are five semi-immortal beings based on the classical Taoist elements of Fire, Wood, Earth, Water and Metal, and the Wu Assassin (Uwais as Kai Jin) is chosen once per generation to fight the Wu. 

One of the best elements of Wu Assassins is the inclusion of Chinese history and mythology in the story, which I've only normally seen in Wuxia films. I wish more time had been spent on this, as even with my "better than normal for a white guy" grounding in Chinese culture, there were a few elements that I didn't quite get and felt could have been explained better. For example, why are the Wu bad? There's an element of "power corrupting", but that's undercut by Uncle 6 using his powers to save the main cast in flashback and the villain of the series, Alec McCullough, the Wood Wu and previous Wu Assassin from dark ages Scotland, is only really after a way to travel back in time and reunite with his family. McCullough does achieve this in the finale, then Kai kills him, but I'm not sure why, as at that point, all of the Wu are dead or de-powered, so it really just feels like murder. Then there's the ending, in which everything is sorted and the core cast reconcile, before the world starts to shake in the last 30 seconds and Zan Hui, the original Wu Assassin, calls Kai to action once again. 

All-in, Wu Assassins is a bit of a mess, with some great ideas let down by the realities of making television. The mysticism is pretty unique to those not already fans of Chinese Cinema, but the character dynamics are bland and cliched, the mythology is interesting, but not explained well, the cast is unique, but not necessarily good. Even after doing some extra reading online, I'm still not sure how the Wu's powers work; the Fire Wu can control fire, fine, makes sense, as does the Wood Wu being able to heal (if you know your Taoism), but why are some of the Wus immortal and some not? Also, the Metal Wu has mind control powers because of hemoglobin? Yes, that makes sense in a "comic book" kind of way, but it's realised poorly on-screen and is only a point for around one episode before the Metal Wu is dead. Wu Assassins could have been really interesting and unique, but comes across as a mess and is really not worth the investment of time unless you want to see Iko Uwais kick more people.

Team Ideas: Victorian X-Men

I keep thinking I'm done with this concept, but then I come up with more ideas. This one, I'm considering building, as I have most of the minis lying around for other projects. This is probably going to be one of those teams I end up selling on once I've played a few games, unless this idea of Victorian Age superheroes takes off at my local club and/or store. Anyway, you know the idea by now. This time, it's X-Men. 

Moreau's Menagerie 

Exiled and disgraced evolutionist, Doctor Charles Moreau, was once a respected colleague of Charles Darwin, until his own book, "On the Origin of Crypto-Species", was published, attracting derision and outright mockery from his peers. Moreau was obsessed with the idea that as-yet-undiscovered species would provide the "Missing Link" evidence of evolution between man and lower animal forms. To this end, Moreau funded lavish expeditions to the far reaches of the globe in search of creatures of myth and legend. After years of failed exploration and mounting debts, Moreau had exhausted his family fortune and was forced to flee to isolated Muir Island, where he began to collect his "Menagerie" himself, using clues gleaned from the failed expeditions he'd previously only financed. Be it through blind luck or some kind of twisted genius, Moreau found and gathered several "Crypto-Creatures", which he began to train and educate with plans of simultaneously proving his theories and gaining revenge on his enemies.


Doctor Moreau

(Eureka Miniatures Lucifer Hardlove in Steam Chair)

Often called "Professor M" by his collection of creatures, Moreau, despite his obsessive and delusional behaviour, possesses a unique and intuitive genius, not just for zoology, but also engineering and education. Though it seems impossible, Moreau has been able to educate he captured creatures beyond taming and training, even getting some of them to adopt a form of speech. This training has not been without risk, however, with one of Moraeu's failed attempts costing him the use of his legs and forcing him to design a Steam-Powered conveyance to continue his work. There was an unexpected upside to this turn of events however, with the strength and power of Moreau's new conveyance enabling the aging scientist to join his Menagerie on the "missions" he sent them on, leading them from the field, rather than with instructions from afar.


Armadillo

(Reaper Miniatures "Werearmadillo")

Found deep in the Sumatran jungles, this creature, called "Antonio" by Moreau, was thought to be nothing more than a giant species of Armadillo, but the truth was far more shocking. In isolation and away from any major human settlement, another intelligence had emerged from a different evolutionary path, that of Armadillo Sapiens! Although not terribly intelligent by human standards, Antonio was able to learn enough English to make himself understood, quickly becoming a fan of wrestling and other violent sporting pursuits. In a fight, Antonio, much like his less-evolved kin, relies upon his thick hide for protection, though his raking claws are capable of rending many foes asunder with a single swipe.


Sasquatch  

(Heroclix Sasquatch)

In the wilds of Canada's back-country woods, something not-quite human stalks the gloom. Is it a beast in the shape of a man, or a man who has the manner of a beast? None are quite sure as to the true nature of the creature, but Moreau was perhaps the first to capture one and return it to his Muir Island hideaway. Although the Sasquatch is clearly ape-descended, just how close the relationship to man is remains to be confirmed by hard science. In battle, the Sasquatch is a rampaging behemoth, battering aside all foes with swings of its massive arms, unleashing fearsome bellows of rage. Just how under control Moreau has the Sasquatch, which he has quizzically named "Alpha", is debatable, but few are willing to brave Muir Island long enough to find out.


Marrina 

(Studio Miniatures "The Creature") 

 

The trek to the Black Lagoon is so arduous and filled with peril that few survive and return, but Moreau has the devil's own luck, returning not only with his life, but with a living specimen. After some "investigation" Moreau discovered that the creature he had captured was a female, and pregnant, ideal for a captive breeding programme. Making a "nest" in one of the stagnant pools around the island, the creature is fairly territorial of its eggs, not bothering the other inhabitants so much, but viciously attacking anyone else that comes near. Just how long the eggs will take to hatch is unknown, but Moreau is attempting to build trust with the creature so that he can steal a few spawnlings for vivisection.

Wolfsbane 

 

(Westwind Productions Jagerhund Rottweiler) 

The story of Rahne Sinclair, an ordinary girl from a small Scottish village, is a tragedy torn from the pages of a Gothic Penny Dreadful. Walking out on the moors one day, Rahne was attacked by a strange creature, but managed to escape with only minor injuries. A month later, on the night of the full moon, a change came over Rahne, she was transformed into the mythical werewolf, killing anyone who got in her way and escaping into the wilds. When Professor Moreau came to Rahne's village, posing as the headmaster of an exclusive school for special children, her parents were only too happy to hand Rahne over. Stuck on an isolated island with a madman experimenting on her is hardly Rahne's idea of a good life, but she hopes that one day a cure might be found and she can live among people once again. 

Superhero Media: Big Hero 6 The Series - Season 1

Very happy to discover this on Disney+ whilst browsing superhero programmes to watch over breakfast, as I really love Big Hero 6 and was keen to drop back into the world of San Fransokyo. Picking up immediately after the conclusion of the film, Big Hero 6 The Series begins with Fred and Hiro trying to convince Honey Lemon, Go-Go and Wasabi No-ginger to keep being superheroes now that Callaghan is in gaol. Most of the team is reluctant to don costumes again, but circumstances conspire that Big Hero 6 need to go back into action. After stopping a plot by Yama to sell black-market Baymaxes, the team agrees to keep operating in-between classes. Amazingly, most of the cast of the film are retained, with only Fred and Wasabi's actors changing between film and television, even with the switch to a more traditional animation style, the cast coming back really makes the series follow on with barely a missed beat. There are some other small changes in design, like Honey Lemon's hair being red rather than blonde and Go-Go getting more colour on her outfit, but these seem more like choices to match the new style rather than changes for no reason. 

New characters are introduced, most of which are reasonable additions, with supporting cast like Professor Granville (dean of SFIT), Karmi (a classmate of Hiro's) and Minimax (a new robot on the team) and, of course villains for the team to fight. Whereas the film stuck close to a somewhat "hard sci-fi" aesthetic, as the series goes on, individuals with more traditional super-powers, like Globby and Obake, will become regular foils, with Obake being revealed as the overarching villain for the season. Again, this shift in tone doesn't clash all that much once you're in the flow of the series, though some critics seem to take umbrage at this departure from the world of the film. Personally, I'm just happy to spend more time with these characters, to see them grow and develop more than they could in the limited space of the film. Episodes that focus more on civilian activities help grow the core cast even more, like Fred's nemesis, a rival comics collector called Richardson Mole, and Honey Lemon's secret love of fine arts coming to life. What's great about the writing of Big Hero 6 The Series is that the additions tend to stick around and become part of the programme, with only the one antagonist, a teenage girl robot, not being relevant for more than one episode. 

Naturally, I am now keen to add more characters from Big Hero 6 to my Ultimate Alliance project, as I currently only have two versions of Baymax. Sure, the team itself is nothing fancy, with a Speedster (Go-Go), Brawler (Wasabi), Wildcard (Fredzilla), Gadgeteer (Honey Lemon) and whatever Hiro does (seems to be the brains? Hard to tell with a team full of geniuses), but each has a great look and sometimes it's not all about having the most powerful team. A bit of a sad note, Stan Lee returns as the voice of Fred's dad, most often providing advice over video phone to help defeat his old nemesis, Baron Von Steamer. The Stan Lee scenes are well done, with the writing working around his lack of acting talent and some memorable lines and jokes. As of the time of writing (April 2020), only the first season of Big Hero 6 The Series is available on Disney+, but I'm waiting with baited breath for more to hit, I just had so much fun with it. If I can lean on Viv from Knights of Dice a bit, I'd love to take a swing at some San Fransokyo style buildings for my games, landing a setting more grounded than my generic "Hero City". If you enjoyed the film, Big Hero 6 The Series is basically more of the same, but with a slight twist. Highly recommended. 

From the Archives - 11

One day I really need to sort all of my figure cases containing superheroes, so that there's some order to them. Not sure what that order would be, though.

Harley Quinn: What can I say? I'm a sucker for the classic costume, having grown up with Batman the Animated Series. This is a fun sculpt of Harley, who has quite a few nice minis to choose from for your own collection. Heroclix. 

Magnazone: Not sure where this one came from, but it was my first attempt at completely repainting one of these Pokemon toys. Pretty sure it's an Electric/Metal type? Toy. 

Scarecrow: In a world of wargamers where everyone wants a version of Scarecrow from the Arkham Asylum video game, I like mine to look like a lunatic in a bad scarecrow costume. It's an ascetic. Heroclix. 
 

Kraven the Hunter: Got to have a Sinister Six if you have a Spider-Man, right? Not the best sculpt of Kraven available, but the sense of movement is pretty good. Heroclix. 

Joker: I'm really more of a fan of the "Clown Prince of Crime" than the "Smiling Psychopath" persona of the Joker, which I feel this sculpt reflects really well. Heroclix. 

Deadshot: Why go for a guy holding a gun, when he could have two guns on his wrist? Silver Age Deadshot has such an iconic look and I just couldn't pass it up. Heroclix. 

Superhero Media: Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue

Well, I said I'd actually try some Power Rangers at some stage, and after watching some of Linkara's "History of Power Rangers" videos, the first one I settled on was Lightspeed Rescue. Longtime Lead Capes readers will know that one of my very first articles was about Lightspeed Rescue and the supers gaming potential of the team and setting. Just in case you don't want to wade through forty episodes of Power Rangers (don't blame you), the premise of this series revolves around the titular Lightspeed Rescue organisation, a quasi-governmental task force somewhere between International Rescue and SHIELD, complete with underwater "Aquabase" and plenty of support crew. When Queen Bansheera awakens from her slumber and begins a plan to raise the legions of the underworld and drag the city of Mariner Bay into a literal Hell, Captain Mitchell puts out the word to recruit five Power Rangers to battle the coming demonic forces. This time, every recruit is an adult, including a Pilot, an X-Games competitor, a Paramedic, an Oceanographer and a Fire Fighter.

What I like about Lightspeed Rescue is the more military approach to the problem posed by Bansheera, as the Power Rangers have an entire support staff behind them and do as much search and rescue as they do fighting. Also, as adults working for a legitimate task-force, there are no secret identities and brushing with celebrity can be a plot point at times. Boiled down to core concepts, a team of Emergency Services Workers supported to be superheroes to fight a demonic invasion is the kind of thing that would make for a great supers game or comic in its own right. Other elements of note are that many of the team's weapons are firearms, as befits a military outfit, and that new equipment is developed by Lightspeed Rescue, rather than gifted from a mentor figure or mystic force. The attitude of the Red Ranger is pretty different as well, as a Firefighter, Carter Grayson's natural instincts are to run into danger, his signature move being leaping through the air whilst firing two guns. In the final battle with Banseera, Cater defeats her by crash-tackling her down into the Underworld. 

There's a lot to enjoy in Lightspeed Rescue, even for someone, like myself, who isn't really a fan of Power Rangers generally, and I'll be carrying plenty of ideas forward into my own games and characters. That said, this is still a Power Rangers series, with all that entails still present. The programme is repetitive in the extreme, the acting is patchy and it can get tiresome very quickly; I only got through all forty episodes over a few months whilst painting and doing jobs around the house. The design and realisation of the monsters and Zords is really good if you're into Kaiju and Sentai, but otherwise are pretty silly. Again, checking out the Linkara videos may be the best way to go if you're unsure how much Power Rangers you can handle. I certainly don't regret the time I spent on Lightspeed Rescue, but it will be a while before I attempt any more Power Rangers, as I've had my fill for the moment.

Thinking Out Loud: In Justice

What if Superman were a bad guy? Fans have been asking this question since the Golden Age of comics, but there never seems to be a satisfying answer. Well, honestly, the answer is "boring", but most won't appreciate that, so let's talk this through, shall we? As I've discussed more than once, Superman is "The Man of Tomorrow", the ideal to which humanity can strive, representing compassion as much as strength; a shining light for all mankind. Any attempt to shift Superman away from this history and iconography tends to fall flat, like Man of Steel or Injustice, which focus only on Superman's powers and not his humanity. That's not to say that Injustice is bad, or even the target of my ire, the comics I've read are really quite good (I haven't played the games), but they're not good because Superman is the villain, but in spite of it. It honestly baffles me that some of the same voices that claim Superman is a boring character because he can do anything, then turn around and laud versions where the character is a villain; he's still all-powerful, so how is that any different? 

"But what about Red Son?" I hear someone cry from the back. Yes, Red Son is really good, brilliant even in places, but Superman isn't a "bad guy" in it. I know decades of propaganda has made it difficult for some, but being a Communist doesn't automatically make the otherwise completely-altruistic Superman a villain. The comic has Superman turn most of the world into a Communist Utopia without hunger or labor, how is that "evil" behavior? Yes, Luthor overcomes this world order with a supercharged capitalist dictatorship, but he's clearly the villain, he's Lex freaking Luthor. I know I'm an avowed anarchist, but it's not as simple as "Capitalism Good, Communism Bad", ok? Anyway, if one of the best alternate takes on Superman has him save the world and institute broad social welfare programs, where does that leave our "evil" version? Well, we have Ultraman, Zod and Hyperion, but these just don't seem to be what people want, because they're not *strictly* Superman. 

I think a lot of this comes back to most readers being more interested in seeing Supes punch things than actually be Superman. It's a lot easier to justify Superman taking the violent way out if he's bad to begin with. And again, for those in the back, it's not that you can't get interesting stories out of this idea, I enjoy both Irredeemable and Brightburn on their own merits, but they're not Superman stories for a very good reason. I know this is a trend that will never really go away, but I'd like it to, as it's just tiresome and only demonstrates a misunderstanding of who and what Superman is. There are plenty of alternate takes on a similar character, even in addition to those mentioned above; check out Supreme Power, Super Folks or even Invincible if you really need that in your life, because each of those at least does something novel and unique with the concept. Superman is all good. Any other take is usually a waste of time.