Atlas Bear has all sorts of applications. Especially for the Hulk ally card. With Atlas Bear in play, one can safely search the top card of you discard pile to ensure you always draw that fist icon for Hulk, ensuring you hit for 5 damage for all 5 hit points of consequential damage. Throw some upgrades on Hulk and watch the Smash-fest ensue!

Magneto’s new Basic event “Face the Past” is BONKERS for Thor. Best case scenario is drawing into it turn 1. You start in alter-ego with 5 cards. Flip up. You then use a basic action to either remove 1 thwart from a scheme OR attack a minion if one has been put into play as part of the scenario’s set-up. Then you play it…this readies Thor, grabbing you 3 cards(netting 2 since you had to play the card itself)…pushing Thor’s hand size up to 7…and then he IMMEDIATELY draws 2 more cards due to his hero-ability for engaging Loki. Now you’re readied with some options to clear Loki off your board(9 cards for setting up). That is NOT a bad turn 1 for Thor!

Now, is it risky? Of course it is—but as Thor would say, “fortunately, I am mighty.”

Even better? It’s removed from the game so it doesn’t clog up your deck. So sweet.

As another user noted—if you have already played this card, defeated your Nemesis, and then Shadows of the Past is revealed from the encounter deck, that nemesis’s side-scheme is put into play(shuffling those nemesis encounter cards into the deck) and then it results in a “surge” since your nemesis could not be played, due to having been previously defeated(ideally).

This is an ideal card for Thor. It’s energy resource icon pulls double duty with Thor’s AOE attack, and it also stays on the board for just the right moment to play Defender of the Nine Realms, which mills the encounter deck to play a minion, netting Thor 2 more cards with his special ability. Additionally, since it activates when a minion “engages” with you, you could combo with Get Over Here!—a card which can be used in 2-player mode to deal 1 damage to a minion in your teammate’s board, and then another 3 damage from Lie In Wait. With minions becoming more tanks these days that could easily mop up a minion outright or at the very least provide an opening to finish them off.

I know it's a different aspect, but I prefer Render Medical Aid, much more useful. Rally the troops is a bit more niche, I often find myself chump blocking or wanting "when enter play" effects from my allies rather than keeping them on the board. It could synergize really well with Command Team, Sidekick, or any voltron style deck. Could also save the game in a Hope Summer scenario.

What a disgrace! Hulk is the strongest Avenger and they neutered him here... Well, I'm here to tell you that Hulk is noy only playable but also enjoyable if you surround him with stuff he likes. Hulk is like a plant and needs to be given some TLC in order to really blossom. Just like growing things, he needs:

1) Water (Resources) Give him plenty of resource cards or cheap supports that will generate resources 2) Sunshine (Allies) The more low-cost allies, the better. Especially if they can help Thwart! 3) Good Dirt (Drawing Cards) Hulks hand size of 4 and forced discard in Hero form. Avenger's Mansion will do wonders to get those Hulk Smash cards into play...