“Just do it fast if you’re gonna do it,” said Zonos as he took his seat. It was his stall deck versus Lao’s Fantastic Fun, so Zonos wasn’t liking his chances. “I’m gonna lose on like, turn 4. -20 to 40. Let’s finish before the crowds come.”

Lao grinned. “What, you don’t want them to see—”

Zonos interjected, “The complete and utter beating! Yeah, let’s keep people from seeing this.” He looked at me. “You don’t have to report on this one.”

Both players opted to keep their opening hands, and Lao opened with Invisible Girl. She swung directly and play moved to turn 2. 

“The nut draw!” announced Zonos. He flopped Puppet Master. “He makes no difference. I got the best draw against a deck I can’t beat anyways.” Lao recruited Mr. Fantastic, Reed Richards, and his effect was used to nab a card.

Lao recruited Thing, Ben Grimm a turn later, and Zonos recruited Brother Voodoo. Thing smacked him down, and in response, Zonos flipped Wild Ride to grab a copy of Mikado and Moesha. They were discarded to stun Invisible Woman, and Puppet Master activated to force Reed’s effect. Lao activated him and chose a Framistat over a copy of Unstable Molecules. By the end of the turn, it was Puppet Master and Brother Voodoo against Invisible Girl, Ben Grimm, and Reed Richards.

Zonos recruited Cloak, Child of Darkness and Lao matched it with Human Torch, Hotshot. Invisible Woman exhausted to give Thing, Ben Grimm the Framistat Reed had fished up last turn, and Cloak activated to exhaust Thing. Puppet Master activated, and Mr. Fantastic and Torch both activated in response. Brother Voodoo swung at Invisible Woman, and play moved to the next turn.

Signal Flare nabbed a copy of Mr. Fantastic, Stretch for Lao. He activated Reed Richards's effect, recruited Stretch, gave him an Advanced Hardware, gave an Unstable Molecules to Torch, and then immediately KO’d the Molecules. The Pogo Plane came down onto Torch and then was KO’d to seek out Antarctic Research Base. Lao paid 2 endurance to move Framistat to Torch and gave Thing an Advanced Hardware from his hand, but Cloak activated to exhaust Thing before the equip resolved. 

Zonos recruited Rogue, Power Absorption and had her protect Puppet Master while copying his effect. He then activated Puppet Master to exhaust Invisible Woman, The Invisible Girl.

Mr. Fantastic attacked Brother Voodoo, and Zonos allowed it.

“Oh . . . ” he gave an expletive. “I was supposed to say no.” He activated Rogue, which he should have done before the attack was declared legal, but the only character left ready was Human Torch (who promptly activated to burn with his effect). The endurance totals were 43 to 47.

Zonos played a resource on turn 6 and then used Twist of Fate to grab a copy of Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man. He then recruited Spider-Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man and formed up with the web-head protecting Puppet Master. Voodoo and Rogue went to the front line, since Zonos needed to cause as much endurance loss as possible this turn if he was to win. 

Lao used Signal Flare to fetch a copy of Wolverine, New Fantastic Four, and recruited him and Ant Man. Invisible Woman exhausted for Tech Upgrade, and Lao fetched himself a third Advanced Hardware. He flipped Antarctic Research Base, played the Hardware, drew for the Base, topdecked Unstable Molecules, and started burning. He activated the 3 Advanced Hardware carriers and Human Torch. After playing a Cosmic Radiation, he did it again, for a total of 28 endurance loss. Zonos was left at -5 endurance. 

Rogue slammed into Ant Man, Lao paid 2 endurance to move Stretch’s Hardware to the dimunitive hero, and Ant Man activated to burn for 3. Thing then “saved” him by hurling his Advanced Hardware at Ant Man in order to stun him, interrupting the attack and saving Lao some breakthrough. Spidey swung at Wolverine to drop Lao to 30 endurance, but while combat played out, Zonos did the math and realized he couldn’t possibly win. “Ok, that’s it.” He conceded, and the competitors shook hands. 

Fantastic Fun rides again, a big part of the old-school trend that we’re witnessing here at PC: LA. Fantastic Fun, Evil Medical School, and Common Enemy are all seeing considerable play today, and while CE isn’t surprising, some of the other return appearances are. 

Bulk Lao claims the win!