"Marvel United" Battle Report: Black Widow, Hulk & Daredevil Verses The Red Skull

THE RED SKULL RETURNS TO ONCE AGAIN TAKEOVER NEW YORK CITY

This game is the second in a series of planned games designed to encourage me to paint up a significant number of the numerous hard-plastic miniatures available for "Marvel United" by "CoolMiniOrNot", and to help re-familiarize us with the core rules. It was played using some of the figures from both the original starter set as well as the Season One Promo Box, and took place upon the 90cm diameter double-sided playmat - which was exclusively released as part of the game's "X-Men" Kickstarter in April 2021.

“The story so far… Aided by his evil Hydra henchmen, the diabolical Red Skull has returned to threaten the entirety of New York City. Forewarned of the Nazi maniac's plot, the Black Widow and Daredevil have cut their patrol of Hell's Kitchen short, and teamed up with the incredible Hulk to stop the goose-stepping bounder once and for all."

THE TABLETOP - NEW YORK CITY

Due to the game featuring three heroes, the Red Skull was awarded eight health tokens, and the following six locations were deployed: S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Central Park, Stark Labs, Time's Square, Avengers Tower and New York Police Headquarters. All of these sites' marked slots were then appropriately filled with either Civilian or Thug tokens. The villain's threat cards were also randomly placed face up at the bottom of each location.

Hermann Shmidt's son initiated his attack from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, whilst the Black Widow, Daredevil and Hulk began by confronting Bob, Agent of Hydra at Stark Labs. The Red Skull immediately caused the Fear Track to move to two points by utilising his "BAM!" special ability, and watched with satisfaction as Bob caused both Natasha Romanova and Bruce Banner to receive Crisis Tokens.

In response, the Hulk simply smacked the Agent of Hydra straight in the nose for two damage, and then watched with satisfaction as Black Widow completely floored Bob, moved across to Avengers Tower and gave Madame Hydra a fat lip too.

POOR BOB, AGENT OF HYDRA IS (ONCE AGAIN) BATTERED SENSELESS BY THE AVENGERS

Realising that Natasha Romanova was going one-to-one with Ophelia Sarkissian, Daredevil used his "Radar Sense" to also arrive at Avengers Tower and knock the super-villainess down to three Health. He then swung on to New York Police Headquarters collecting a Punch and Heroic Action token en route.

Deciding to form a diabolical team-up of his own, the Red Skull moved to Avengers Tower and utilised his "BAM!" power once again. This raised the Fear Track up to four points and injured the Black Widow for one damage. In addition, it permitted Madame Hydra to add a second Crisis Token to Romanova. With a cry of exhortation Captain America's arch-nemesis also completely filled Avengers Tower, New York Police Headquarters and Stark Labs with Thugs. Suddenly things were not looking too good for the heroes.

Bruce Banner's alter-ego could see that a stand had to be made at Avengers Tower now or the battle would soon be lost, so leapt into the fray and walloped Madame Hydra for two damage. The Viper was now down to just one Health point, and soon unconscious, courtesy of Natasha smacking her and a nearby Thug to the floor. The former Russian super-spy then made her way to Stark Labs to see about ridding Tony's scientific facility of its criminal infestation.

 THE HULK JOINS THE BLACK WIDOW AGAINST THE RED SKULL AT AVENGERS TOWER

Clearly needing to try and clear as many Threats in as short a time as possible, Matt Murdock made his way to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, and there defeated the Red Skull's nefarious plot to Brainwash its occupants. He also managed to rid the flying "seaworthy ship" of a Thug.

Angry at the fall of Madame Hydra, and his plans to use the Helicarrier's crew for his own evil ends, Johann Shmidt confronted Daredevil and injured the guardian of Hell's Kitchen for one damage. The fuming former Nazi agent also managed to raise the Fear Track to seven points via an overflow too.

THE BLACK WIDOW AND DAREDEVIL TRY TO WHITTLE DOWN THE NUMBER OF THUGS

Using his "Hulk Smash" ability, the green-skinned founding Avenger smacked two Thugs and rescued a Civilian at Avengers Tower. He then bounded over to New York Police Headquarters, scattered all the civilians 'imprisoned' there by the paramilitary terrorists, and turned his attention to the Hydra Elite Troops who were milling about him.

Meanwhile, the Black Widow continued to try and clear out Stark Labs by defeating a pair of Thugs there. Whilst Daredevil worked on defeating a Thug and rescuing some Civilians at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, before using the vessel to move to Avengers Tower.

THE HULK DECIDES TO SQUARE-OFF AGAINST THE THREAT OF HYDRA'S ELITE TROOPS

Fearing that the Earth's Mightiest Heroes might be getting the upper hand on him, the Red Skull flooded New York Police Headquarters with (more) Thugs, and raised the Fear Track to nine points. The fascist fiend was almost half-way to achieving his goal.

Surrounded by Hydra Elite Troops, the Hulk used three Heroic Actions to rid New York Police Headquarters of their threat, and resultantly put pressure on Shmidt - meaning the super-villain would now add "a Master Plan card to the Storyline after every two Hero cards."

This meant it was more crucial than ever that the Avengers cleared New York of enough of Thugs (and/or rescued enough Civilians) to enable them to directly attack the Red Skull. With this in mind the Black Widow battered another of goose-stepping swine's goons at Stark Labs, before smacking another at Avengers Tower. The fight was definitely on a knife's edge...

To be continued...