Talk:Micronauts

Removing expansion tag

I'm going to be bold and remove the expansion tag (this article is HUGE), and I'd like to suggest that any wikipedians coming here take a page from Transformers and make seperate articles for the comics and the toys (that is, assuming there's that much to be said about the toys). --InShaneee 23:40, 31 October 2005 (UTC)

Baron Karza/Darth Vader

Designs for Karza did not pre-date Darth Vader. Ralph McQuarrie began design work for Star Wars in late 1974, and according to "The Making Of Star Wars" book (JW Rinzler, 2007) the picture of Vader seen here ( http://www.df.lth.se/~ola/Starwars/StarWars/starwars2.html ) is dated February 1975. The designs were used as part of a presentation to 20th Century Fox who were financing the film, but in late 1975, Charles Lippincott joined Lucasfilm to handle Advertising, Promotion, Publicity & Merchandising. He used McQuarrie's designs to make deals for various merchandising tie-ins (including comics) and the novelisation rights and (most importantly) the Star Wars toy line. Throughout 1976, Lippincott did the rounds at toy fairs, sci-fi conventions, and other related expos which included life-sized models of C-3PO and Darth Vader. Apparently Mego passed on the deal, and it eventually went to Kenner (who, as we know, made zillions from it). This information is also detailed in "Empire Building" by Garry Jenkins (1997), which is a fascinating read if you're into this sort of thing. Furthermore, the Micronauts website ( www.innerspaceonline.com ) states that the Baron Karza figure was not part of Mego's first series of Micronauts toys that were designed in 1976 and showcased in early 1977 at the NYC Fair. Karza was produced in 1977 and was released in 1978...which is after Star Wars came out in theatres. Check out http://www.innerspaceonline.com/megos1.htm and also http://www.innerspaceonline.com/megos2.htm Kookoo Star 01:30, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

Except that Steel Jeeg does pre-date or match Star Wars and Karza uses most of Jeegs face and 100% of the body. Omega2064 (talk) 21:56, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

Steel Jeeg doesn't look anything like Darth Vader though. The Karza Micronaut toy (1978) had a remodelled head that was significantly different from Steel Jeeg and looked far more like Darth Vader, particularly the mouth grill. They may have used the Jeeg body but they painted it black, which adds even more to the Vader similarity. 88.104.31.228 (talk) 02:08, 28 November 2013 (UTC)

A tad late to this date/discussion, but—in the context of Wikipedia—the who “he said/she said” nonsense regarding Mego’s inspiration for the Baron Karza toy should not be a part of the main Micronauts toy article in any way unless there is some truly credible information available that can be cited that says one way or another that the Baron Karza toy was/wasn’t inspired by Darth Vader. The reason being the whole story is quite mucked up by the fact the 1979 Mego Micronauts comic—which first appeared a full 2 years after Star Wars was released—was very clearly swiping a few basic concepts straight from the Star Wars universe. Such as Baron Karza coking people with his fists which is clearly a riff on Darth Vader choking people like crazy in the first film. Not to mention the “Enigma Force” very clearly being inspired by “The Force” in Star Wars.

And past any of that, anyone with a level head reading any of the history of Mego Corporation can see a part of their modus operandi—and similar M.O. of other toy companies then as well as now—is extremely slick salesmanship. Yes, Mego should be applauded for the creativity they brought to the world of action figures in the 1970s; but let’s not pretend the history they are portraying where their inspiration came from was somehow just one massive coincidence. Remember: Toy companies then and now rip off and get “inspired” by the ideas of others all the time; Mego’s own “Planet of the Apes” 8-inch figures were ripped off by other knock-off companies as well. Which is all to say I personally think Mego’s claim—as conveyed in interviews/profiles with Mego staff over the years—that Baron Karza/Force Commander were somehow not inspired by Star Wars to have a weak foundation at best. And as such, it’s a bit of gossipy trivia that is neither here nor there unless it can be definitively proven otherwise one way another. --SpyMagician (talk) 18:24, 9 June 2015 (UTC)

Update to popular culture section

This section is missing the Micronauts' appearances on Robot Chicken. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.35.181.207 (talk) 23:50, 5 June 2015 (UTC)

Thanks for the reminder, 71.35.181.207. Was going to add that and just did; detailed info on the Robot Chicken Micronauts reference has been added to the popular culture section. --SpyMagician (talk) 02:07, 6 June 2015 (UTC)

Hasbro Micronauts Classic Collection Notes and Details

Posting this as a talk page for now since the info seems too specific for the main article information on the 2016 Hasbro Micronauts Classic Collection action figures. Basically, based on the promotional material provided these figures are an odd mishmash of Microman figures so it’s interesting—at least to me—to not what parts came from where in each figure. Also note that the rivets shown in the pictures are flathead type—when compared to vintage and even reproduction figures—which is similar to what was used by Takara/Tomy for a reproduction figure in Japan. Tight screws also seem to be now replaced by rivets as well.

Galactic Warrior

• Head: Microman M28x “Rescue” Series
• Torso: Super Steel Microman M22X Hand Bazooka Type
• Arms: Microman Command 1 M15x
• Legs: Microman Command 1 M15x
• Other: Bazooka missile tip has a new design. Toy seems to be all plastic from the photos and not die-cast metal like the original figure.

Orbital Defender

• Head: Microman M27x “Rescue” Series
• Torso: Microman M27x “Rescue” Series
• Arms: Microman Command 1 M15x
• Legs: Microman Command 2 M16x
• Other: Gun is a red version of the Micron M27x/M28x gun. Wings, hood and other small bits seem to be straight from the Galactic Defender original this was based on. And for that matter, this figure is dubbed “Orbital Defender” and not “Galactic Defender” presumably because of rights/permissions issues with the character name that was used by Marvel in the comic series.

Pharoid

• Head: Microman Command 1 M15x
• Torso: Microman Command 2 M16x
• Arms: Microman Command 2 M16x
• Legs: Microman Command 2 M16x
• Other: The head is the only real change. Capsule is the original Japanese Microman command capsule used for the first release of Pharoid and not the redone capsule Mego did for the second Pharoid release.