Meaghan brought the Common Enemy/Cosmic Radiation/Team Tactics deck that has brought her and her husband quite a bit of success over the last year. I know as well as any what it's like to be on the other side of the table against her, as I think she's gotten that combo off against me every time we've played each other.

 

Alex Etzel was unafraid, however. He had decided not to play Doom, as it “takes too long to kill the other guy.” He and his unofficial team from Phoenix, that I shall now dub Prosak Nation (as it includes Adam Prosak), took the Fantastic Fun deck and made a few changes. They took out Thinking Outside the Box and added Four Freedoms Plaza and a Human Torch or three, along with a couple of Have A Blast!s to take care of any roaming Micro-Sentinels.

 

Alex won the toss and elected to go first. After a quick “good luck” from each to the other, they were off.

 

Turn 1

 

Alex played Invisible Woman, The Invisible Girl, and Meaghan had no drop. Alex attacked (49-50), then flipped Baxter Building and activated it, getting nothing.

 

Turn 2

Meaghan had no play. Alex Baxtered and got a Flamethrower. He played The Pogo Plane on Invisible Girl, used it to get an Antarctic Research Base, and then played Advanced Hardware on her. A direct attack made it Meaghan 45, Alex 50.

 

Meaghan flipped Doom's Throne Room—a popular card for Doom and Common Enemy decks today—and used it, getting a Not so Fast and discarding one of two Blind Sideds in her hand.

 

Turn 3

 

Alex used Baxter Building, missing again. He played Mr. Fantastic, Reed Richards, flipped Antarctic Research Base, and played Flamethrower on Mr. Fantastic.

 

Meaghan played She-Hulk, Jennifer Walters. “I needed a body out there!”

 

Alex passed his attack, so Meaghan swung She-Hulk into Invisible Woman, who burned Meaghan for 3. When the dust settled from the double stun, Meaghan was at 39, Alex at 46.

 

Mr. Fantastic torched Meaghan for 5 (34-46), and we went on to . . .

 

Turn 4

 

Meaghan played Dr. Doom, Diabolic Genius, flipped Common Enemy up to draw a card, and then flipped the team-up back down again.

 

Alex played She-Thing with an Unstable Molecules on her, immediately KO'ing it for the DEF bonus. He then popped a Flamethrower on Ms. Thing and passed. Meaghan played Mystical Paralysis before the attacks began, sending She-Thing and Invisible Girl away, but not before a massive burn for 8. (26-46)

 

Meaghan then stormed the battlements. She sent She-Hulk into Mr. Fantastic, who burnt for 5 before exploding into a ball of flame and heading for the depths of the KO'd pile. A direct Doom attack (he always sends his minions in first, if course) made it Meaghan 18, Alex 36.

 

Meaghan then got a Signal Flare from Doom's Throne Room.

Turn 5

 

Alex recruited another Invisible Girl. He used Baxter Building and got an Advanced Hardware, which was immediately played on Invisible Girl. He then recruited Reed Richards again, putting a Personal Force Field on him. He placed Mr. Fantastic in front of Invisible Girl and passed.

 

Meaghan flipped one Common Enemy, and then another. She recruited Thing, Heavy Hitter and passed.

 

Alex passed his attack. Doom led the charge again, and Mr. Fantastic used his ability to provide Alex with an Advanced Hardware before the stun. (18-34)

 

She-Hulk followed, plowing into Invisible Girl. A quick burn for 3 followed by a double-stun left the endurance totals at Meaghan 12, Alex 30.

 

Thing charged directly into Alex, thinking of dishing out a Savage Beatdown. Meaghan flipped Cosmic Radiation, played a Team Tactics on Thing, and Alex took one look, counted in his head, and scooped. “I should've played Valeria before Common Enemy.” Meaghan laughed, retorting, “I should've Blind Sided in response to Personal Force Field.”

 

Alex shook his head. “Not much I could do against that combo on turn 5.” Sadly, there never is. Which is why the Hoffmans are a double threat to make Day 2 . . .