ADVANCE REVIEW: WizKids Games Marvel HeroClix Infinity Gauntlet Month 8 Prize Kit

[JeffSaylor]

The Gauntlet Quest Is Complete And Thanos Is Here...

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It’s been eight months in the making, and HeroClix players have arrived at the finale of the Infinity Gauntlet tournament series! A glove combining the power of the six Infinity Gems, the Gauntlet grants near limitless power to its wielder in the comics... and in HeroClix! Each of the first seven months of the Infinity Gauntlet series gave participating tournament players a piece of the relic (the basic Gauntlet and then one gem per month) and the chance to win an exclusive figure from the classic Infinity Gauntlet storyline. July’s Month 7 tournament completed players’ Gauntlets with the Mind Gem and let them play for the Grandmaster (see our review HERE). And now it’s time to complete the series, battling it out in month 8; August tournaments will include a Terraxia figure for participants and the grand prize Thanos!

Thanos, also known as the Mad Titan, first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1973. Obsessed with Mistress Death and seeking to impress her, the purple-skinned villain has enacted various schemes over the years. Of course, the most famous of them all has been his quest for the Infinity Gems and subsequent Gauntlet. Thanos was able to assemble the all-powerful relic and cause all sorts of havoc before ultimately being stopped and stripped of it. Thanos has appeared in HeroClix several times before, including two different versions in the recent Galactic Guardians set. But while all of those versions were powerful, this new Thanos blows them all away.

Standing 4 ¼ inches tall, this colossal Gauntlet-wielding Thanos is mounted on a 2x2 base. While overlarge, the Titan dresses the same as usual in his iconic blue and gold suit. The unique full-body outfit shows off his thick legs, barrel chest, and muscular arms. The suit’s hood extends over Thanos’ head, leaving only his purple face exposed and visible. Unique to this version of course is the Infinity Gauntlet mounted on the Titan’s left hand. Thanos stands in a pose right out of the comics, slightly turned to the left with his gauntleted hand raised up before him as he contemplates his newfound power and control over the universe.

Thanos is a great-looking figure with a detailed sculpt that shows off the character’s blocky shape as well as his outfit. The big guy is pretty ripped with a body builder’s physique that’s most apparent on his arms, legs, chest, and six pack. The resplendent suit has thick gloves and boots with a wrapped look, contrasting with the thin blue material. Gold outlines Thanos’ wide, flat belt, the trim around the bottom of his jacket, his codpiece, and his massive pointed collar. The hood follows suit with a “mohawk” stripe, owl-like horns over the eyebrows, and discs over the ears. Thanos’ purple face has tiny black beady eyes, a wide smile with gritted white teeth, and ridged chin. Finally, the Infinity Gauntlet has tiny gems mounted on it in their respective colors.

The winner of the final Infinity Gauntlet tournament doesn’t just get Thanos by himself. While the figure has his own dial, there’s also a massive Shrine to Death base that provides him with four more. The 5 ½ inch wide by 7 ¼ inch tall base recreates the setting of the classic series’ major confrontations. Steps leading up from the 3x6 base are flanked by twin visages of Death: the maiden and the skeleton. Below each face is a pile of tiny skulls, intricately carved into the architecture. The sides of the shrine are rocky walls topped by pillars and archways, themselves capped by three ever-burning fires. The centerpiece of the shrine is a sunken disc that fits a 2x2 HeroClix base, naturally Thanos. Finally, behind where the figure stands is another rocky archway that ties the whole thing together. The entire shrine is white with subtle gray-black accents that give it the look of hewn marble with the exception of the flames done in translucent orange plastic.

Following the recent trend of chase figures with different colored bases, Thanos and the Shrine are mounted on bright white dials. The Mad Titan comes with a three panel super-sized card that explains how it all works. Each dial (the one under Thanos and the four on the shrine) corresponds to a specific Issue from the Infinity Gauntlet comic series. You decide before your game which issues you want to play, then go through them in ascending order. Thanos’ opponent has the choice of building a team equal to the combined point total of all the issues in play OR building separate teams to play against each issue. It’s a unique and fun twist on colossals with multiple point values that’s going to create a ton of value and play options. Thanos’ dials range from 300 points (Issue 2) to 1000 points (Issue 5); play them all together for a 3000 point game. Each dial has Power Cosmic, and all but #4 (6 range, one target) have a 12 range with three targets. The incarnations of Thanos have incredible traits and special powers on top of huge stats; on top of that, all of the titles and descriptions on the card reference specific scenes and characters from the Infinity Gauntlet series further adding to its cool factor.

While previous months had the Gauntlet or its Gems as participation prizes, the finale gives each player an actual figure. Everyone gets Terraxia, a character created by Thanos during the Infinity Gauntlet series to make Mistress Death jealous. Appearing to be an idealized female version of the Mad Titan, Terraxia is a powerfully strong humanoid in her own right. The HeroClix figure captures the specific comic book panel in which the character was created with the artificial being exulting in her new existence. Terraxia leaps forward with boundless energy, her arms raised up and hair flying wild. The purple-skinned woman wears an outfit that’s modeled after her creator’s, with some specific modifications. A blue undersuit is covered by gold cuffed boots and gloves, a tunic open at the chest, and jewelry accents around her face. Like Thanos she is powerfully muscled while still appearing feminine.

Terraxia too stands on a white base. At 100 points she has good stats and the powers of a classic “brick” - Charge, Flurry, Super Strength, Invulnerability, Toughness, and Close Combat Expert. She also has Indomitable to act two out of every three turns, and her first four clicks have a special power that gives Terraxia Perplex if you also control a character named Thanos. She’s a solid attacker for the points, and a great use of 100 points in high cost games with her creator on the board. Even better, the colossal Thanos can bring in Terraxia for free on Issue #3 and you can include her as one of your choices for the “My Trusted Servant” power on Issue #1!

It’s been an intense seven months leading up to August’s event, and players can’t wait to vie for Thanos. Each prize kit has enough Terraxia participation prizes for twenty players and just one Thanos for the winner of the tournament, so competition will be fierce. All games will be played on the Shrine to Death map (included with month 7’s prize kit), the very location where Thanos uses the Gauntlet. The map even has a shaded area where the colossal’s Shine base will fit for future games utilizing the Mad Titan. So get your team together, head on down to your local venue, and get that Thanos!

Review and Photos by Scott Rubin

Review Sample Courtesy of WizKids Games

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