Marvel Crisis Protocol: Black Dwarf and Ebony Maw
The Marvel: Crisis Protocol brings the Marvel Universe into the realm of miniature skirmish games. Unlike other Marvel games, Crisis Protocol presents itself as a proper tabletop game, and upon opening the box, you are welcomed with a wedge of plastic sprues from which you must remove the mini characters and then assemble them together.

The advantage of this style of miniature is the increased level of detail that is possible. However, assembly is required. The effort is worth it as these minis look stunning and painting them is a joy! The set also includes scenery that serves not just as display.

Games can be played in various ways. When learning the game, you can leave out some of the tactic cards. Each character plays differently. The Hulk is a physical beast but a large target. Spider-Man can use his webs to gather and launch terrain.

You can play on any surface 3 feet by 3 feet, although a playmat and additional scenery can help with immersion. The setup involves selecting characters for your team and setting up the map and choosing missions. There is no deck building, but you select characters based on their unique powers.

The tactic cards add yet another layer of depth. The game revolves around measuring sticks and dice. The measuring tools are plastic, and some of them also rotate for ease of use around corners. The included dice feature a dice explosion mechanism where a critical hit allows you to reroll.

The power dynamic is very interesting as attacking increases your power level, which you can use to drive retaliations. This encourages players to stick and take a few hits to gain some power. Members of Thanos's Black Order, Black Dwarf and Ebony Maw, pose a serious threat on the tabletop.