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Chances are, if you’re reading this review you’re already invested in the amazing world of Marvel Crisis Protocol and you’re looking for your next addition. You’d be forgiven for looking at this pack and thinking the characters within have a clear place in certain teams in MCP. Given a little time and opportunity I promise you that both the man of mystery and man of… well murder, will find a suitable place within any home. If you’re a fan of Mysterio or Carnage and are looking for an opportunity to paint them up in your own style then the expansion pack above is perfect for any hobbyist.
Credit is always due to Atomic Mass Games for perfectly representing the Marvel characters, their traits and even mannerisms in every detail of the model and their rules. The Carnage and Mysterio box comes with the characters in miniature form and their character cards for how they play in Marvel: Crisis Protocol. It also includes tactics cards that can give you an early lead, or a last minute reversal that further represent these characters, their personalities and abilities.
Carnage: A Character Worthy Of Its Name
Cletus Cassidy was a serial killer who became bonded with an alien entity known as a Symbiote. A murderous and merciless organism that grants increased strength and abilities to its host. A “child” of Venom, Carnage carved a bloody path across several decades.
The motion of the figure captures the aggressive nature of both the host and its parasite. Defined veins run across the body making it easy to highlight detail to the character when painted. The drops of blood across limbs further provide a brilliant albeit bloody aesthetic.
Carnage, from Mysterio and Carnage, is well known for wielding his limbs in a variety of implements and several of these can be glued in place of his default clawed appendages. The main frame and body of the model comes together well but you may find some challenge in fixing the character to its base.
Once glued it’s surprisingly sturdy with the mid-air suspended model providing enough flexibility to be bumped into. I enjoy painting my models and this character was one of those that was a technical challenge but came out fantastically in the end. For a quick finish, then Games Workshop’s collection of Contrast paints will help create a great final product.
One of the most appealing aspects of Marvel Crisis Protocol is that no character is excluded to a particular army or team. As with the comics, uneasy alliances and “the enemy of my enemy” means that odd pairings can find themselves fighting side by side. It may look odd seeing Carnage teaming up with the Avengers but it provides an endless amount of flexibility. This is especially useful with Carnage, who can find himself in any team carving across a field of characters.
Carnage is a powerful piece on the table with abilities on his card to enhance some already quite powerful attacks. If Carnage can Daze or K’O another character, his ability removes all damage from him, allows him to move and then perform a free attack! This ability is key as the trade off is a reduced defence against any attack that isn’t physical. So you will have to pick your battles and accept that Carnage may take a bit of damage.
For the risk takers and the gore makers, Carnage is a great pick. For anyone looking for someone fun and different to add to their Marvel Crisis Protocol Cletus is still your man.
The David Copperfield Of Marvel Crisis Protocol
An illusion in every way, Quentin Beck asks a lot of questions and gives no real answers. A master of special effects, Quentin decided to try his hand at a life of crime applying his love of the dramatic into his persona. Presenting a irritating opponent for Spider Man and a difficult enemy to pin down. But make it through the illusions, smoke and mirrors and underneath is a fragile man. Again, this is translated well across both the miniature and the character card by Atomic Mass Games.
The Mysterio model leaps out of the mist, ready to confuse and slow your opponents. The smoke effects wrapping around the character provide great atmosphere to the piece. Not so much complexity to painting but enough for the more experienced to do some interesting effects. The model can be assembled without much difficulty and attaches to its base with ease. Mysterio is the kind of model that gives any painter the opportunity to improve an aspect of their hobby. Whether it's create an amazing smoke effect or ghostly helmet, this model is a delight to paint.
When it comes to playing Mysterio in Marvel: Crisis Protocol, he asks a lot of questions. Most of these are for your opponent, and most of them are whether they want to risk attacking Mysterio. Whilst not a heavy hitter, Mysterio comes with a host of special rules that can punish foes for getting near him and allow him to escape their grasp. Mysterio is a master of mystic but delicate when your opponents can bring power to bear on him. He fits right at home occupying a side point and can tease your opponent into his tricks and traps.
Let's Talk Tactics
The last part of this box is its Tactics Cards. You can have 10 of these in your roster (Army list for the more traditional miniature player). Each one in this box offers an opportunity to reap a greater tally or further confuse and befuddle! The Grand Illusion makes it harder to attack, defend or dodge losing any critical hits. Carnage Rules pulls an enemy towards you before making an attack. Finally There Will Be Carnage roots all enemy characters within a range making it harder to pull off any special abilities.
Summary
Mysterio and Carnage offer you to chance to add some heavy hitters or tricks and traps to your team. Whether working for the Kingpin of Crime or Spidey's greatest foe, these guys will be right at home.
