This is it. The final showdown. There is a German seated at the final table of the $10K, and he is Hans Hoh. He was just keeping the seat warm, though, because this time his teammate Andre Muller is the one playing for the trophy. His opponent is Karl Bown, Englishman and member of Team Comic Culture.

With the initiative, Karl kept his hand to his opponent's mulligan. He had Beast, Furry Blue Scientist on turn one, while Andre was unable to empty his hand on the opening turn of anything but a resource. Such was not the case on turn two, when he played Shape with a Jetpack. What’s that shape in the sky? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Karl was uncertain but seemed unconcerned, as he simply played Dane Whitman ◊ Black Knight. Shape swooped down on Beast with a little extra help from an Airskimmer, and in spite of Heroes Resolve making it a mutual stun, Karl was ultimately knocked down to 43 endurance. When Karl returned the favor with a swing from Call Down the Lightning pumped Black Knight it was Andre that was behind on endurance, being on just 40.

Karl had Natasha Romanoff ◊ Black Widow, Super Spy for turn three, along with everyone's buddy, Rick Jones. Andre replied with Lady Lark, leaving him with two cards in hand—which were exactly two more than he wanted. Black Knight and Natasha went for Shape, with Natasha's effect kicking in to give Lady Lark a bit of a kicking also, in what was turning into a very aggressive match. Somebody had alligator blood. Maybe it was both of them.

For turn four, Andre had Golden Archer from the resource row, and Thunder Jet for Lady Lark. Karl stuck with Carol Danvers ◊ Warbird, who stayed in the support row alongside Natasha Romanoff. This wasn't enough to stop Lady Lark, who now flew. Andre had Other Earth to prevent any reinforcing shenanigans. Golden Archer then piled on the pain with an attack on Dane Whitman ◊ Black Knight. Andre's attacks had taken Karl down to just 24, while Andre had only a single extra endurance point, on 25. Karl elected not to crack back with his remaining small characters in the face of Golden Archer, and simply passed, losing his Black Knight.

For turn five, Karl was quick to recruit She-Hulk, Gamma Bombshell as a reservist in front of Carol Danvers, and if anything, Andre was even quicker to put Whizzer into play. A team attack from Karl using Natasha and Beast, and a Heroes in Resolve (for 4) on Golden Archer took down the four drop, and Lady Lark, though not before Andre had played his second and last Other Earth and used the archer's ability. Carol Danvers and Rick Jones then  bounced Whizzer with some help from Avengers' Mansion, to leave Karl's five drop to swing in for ten. Andre was on a precarious three, and left with just Golden Archer. For turn six, Andre had Joystick and Whizzer.

Karl was looking pretty good with his Wonder Man revealing five reservists to stun Golden Archer. The archer shot Karl down to six before succumbing, but Andre was at –1 endurance

Karl Bown wins game 1.

For game two, Andre had the initiative, and also the mulligan, but it was Karl that had the first turn play, in the form of Beast, who was happy to hang around on an empty board for a turn and get in a hit.

For turn two, Andre had just Joystick, who with five cards in hand was not looking too great. Even Karl's new Rick Jones was bigger. Karl attacked into the 0 ATK/0 DEF with Beast, and played Call Down the Lightning for a bit of extra value on his attack. Joystick powered up, but it wasn't enough to stop quite a bit of breakthrough endurance loss. On turn three, Andre had no recruits and something of a scowl, while Karl’s Black Panther came in as a 7 ATK/6 DEF. An attack from Joystick with another power-up and a Mega Blast more than dealt with Beast, but the revenge from Karl was harsh, with Black Panther coming in forcing an ineffective Answer the Call from Andre. Nobody was home. Karl got in a little more breakthrough endurance loss to take the endurance totals to 43-34 in Karl's favor.

With the initiative, Karl played Carol Danvers ◊ Warbird, while Andre had Golden Archer, and two cards in hand—two too many. Black Panther attacked Joystick, and Andre played a Mega-Blast on his archer to save a point and lose a card. Carol Danvers and Rick Jones then attacked to bounce Golden Archer with a Call Down the Lightning to save Carol. Finally Beast got in for a cheeky few with some help from Avengers Mansion. All of Karl’s characters were getting as much help as they could realistically get.

The endurance totals were 37-21 in Karl's favor, and with only a single character, Andre was unusually slow about considering his recruits. If he had Golden Archer and Whizzer in hand he could easily become stuck with cards in hand for the turn.

“I’m just working out how to lose,” quipped a despondent Muller.

He played Whizzer with two cards in hand, and passed the turn with a sigh.

Karl, meanwhile, elected to go for Hawkeye, who was the perfect tool to stun Joystick should she try to cause any trouble. Whizzer meanwhile, was eyeing up Carol Danvers, and went for her with a Flying Kick. Avengers Mansion allowed for the mutual stun. Karl then went all-in, attacking back with all his characters, and flipping a second Avengers Mansion to get in some extra endurance loss, taking Andre to 2 endurance while he sat at 27.

For turn six, Andre finally managed to empty his hand. He recruited Nuke and played a couple of equips, then paused to look at the board, shake his head and extend his hand.

Karl Bown wins $10K Gen Con UK 2005!