This article is in response to Ryan's on Hitmonlee, written on the 29th.

I do like Hitmonlee.  I think he is a great finisher.  However, when you have
them in your deck you will inevitably end up with him as the only basic
Pokemon in your starting hand.  He's a verrry bad starter.  Sure you can
stretch kick for 20 damage to a benched Pokemon on turn two, but it takes 3
turns and 3 SPECIFIC COLOR energy (he's a very picky Pokemon) to attack their
active Pokemon, while the opponent's Scyther, Hitmonchan, movie Mewtwo, etc,
is kicking the crap out of Hitmonlee.  Another problem is with his HP.  While
60HP isn't super-bad, it lets him get knocked out in 3 turns by 20 damage
attacks or in 2 turns with 30 damage attacks.  Most haymaker Pokemon with
70HP take 1 more turn to knock out with average attacks, and can survive a
Blastoise hydro-pump.  Due to this, in late game when your opponent has
his/her Pokemon really pumped, you'll probably only get in 2 hi jump kicks
before you're knocked out.  Another downfall is energy removal.  He has
high-cost attacks with specific color energy so if you get energy removed and
aren't playing a mono-fighting deck with lots of energy, you're in trouble.

Ok, I'll do a couple game situations with him as your starter.
Me: Scyther.
You: Hitmonlee.
YOU GO FIRST (advantage obviously), attach energy.
I go, attach energy (I don't use grass energy in my deck so no swords dance)
You go, attach energy and stretch kick a Pokemon on my bench.
I go, attach DCE and slash.
You go, high jump kick for 20 because of resistance.
I go, slash, and you're knocked out.  Scyther only has 20 damage and you've
been adding energy all this time so your benched Pokemon have no energy.

Another game situation:
Me:Hitmonchan
You: Hitmonlee
You go first (again, ADVANTAGE), attach energy.
I go, jab for 20.
You go, stretch kick a benched Pokemon.
I go, jab for 20.
You take your turn and high jump kick for 50.
I go, jab, you're KO'd.

Movie Mewtwo also creams him in one hit, so there you have it.  2 of the most
popular Pokemon (Scyther and movie Mewtwo) absolutely murder him.  Mew and
(gasp) base set Mewtwo also knock him out easily if he has energy on him.

Radar