Micronauts
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This article is about the toy line. Gordon Williams also wrote a series of unrelated novels called the Micronauts. See The Micronauts for the break/bigbeat musical group.
Micronauts was the North American name for the Japanese Microman toy line, which was imported by the Mego Corporation. The bulk of the line consisted of small 3.75" action figures that are known for their high poseability compared to similar sized toys. It also included vehicles and robots.
In its later years, the Micronauts line included an increasing number of Mego-designed toys and accessories that were never available in Japan.
[edit] Comic books
Main article: Micronauts (comic book)
Marvel published a Micronauts comic book, which proved popular enough to outlive the toyline and even Mego itself by a few years. The characters occasionally crossed over into the main Marvel Universe and were based in the Microverse, which was introduced during Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's legendary run on the Fantastic Four comic book.
In the early 2000s, Devil's Due Publishing introduced an all-new Micronauts comic series.
The most notable cross-over character from the toyline was the evil Baron Karza, often regarded as an imitation of Darth Vader (though the original design of Baron Karza pre-dates the 1977 release of STAR WARS). Devil's Due even published a 4-part mini-series based on the character before discontinuing both comics.
One of the more interesting plotlines in both comics revolved around Karza's quest to achieve god-like status and immortatility.
In Marvel's chronology, authored by Bill Mantlo, Karza was able to cheat death for over 1,000 years by using others' body parts, often traded for credits and acquired from the poor masses.
"The Body Banks," as they were known, enabled the rich and powerful to live immortally as long as they could maintain their social status. They did so at the expense of the lower and working class. In addition to the socioeconomic subtext, Mantlo's depiction of the Microverse and Karza's Homeworld also emphasized elements of mysticism and psychic energy which allowed Micronauts to mix successfully with other Marvel characters including Dr. Doom, Dr. Strange, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, which resulted in a four-part mini-series with the mutants.
Though Mantlo was also a regular writer for the Spectacular Spider-man and Incredible Hulk, he clearly WAS the Micronauts; and at his best creating the microverse.
Later, Devil's Due was not licensed to use any of the Marvel content, but there was an unmistakable homage to Mantlo (the Mantlo Tubes) in its re-imagined resurrection comic.
Unfortunately, Mantlo would never have a chance to return to the comic, as he suffered head trauma from an accident in 1992. With more time, Mantlo would have likely had the opportunity to resurrect the franchise of his own creation.
[edit] In popular culture
- The Micronauts "Mobile Exploration Lab" vehicle can be seen in the 1981 film Time Bandits.
- The "Karrio" carrying case/vehicle can be seen in the 1982 film Poltergeist.
- Micronauts toys are the main plot device in "The Robot Fixer" vignette from Greg Pak's 2003 independent film Robot Stories.
- A 2006 Robot Chicken sketch depicted several Micronauts climbing a "mountain" that turns out to be a sleeping woman's breast.
- In The Venture Bros, a show run on the same network as Robot Chicken, Micronauts were referenced.
- A few Micronauts characters can be seen in Howard Hallis' The Picture of Everything.
