Volume 1
In 1979, Marvel was knee-deep in licensed comics, from Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica to Star Trek and Shogun Warriors, to name a few. The success of these licensed titles made obtaining the rights to The Micronauts, a new toy line from Mego, a no-brainer. Writer Bill Mantlo was eager to write the series, based on his son's reaction to the toys, and artist Michael Golden was chosen to provide the artwork.
On the surface, Micronauts looked like a comic based on a toy line that sought to capitalize on the success of Star Wars. One look at the cast of characters may lead to thoughts of "rip-off" or "poor man's Star Wars". What sets the Micronauts far apart from the Star Wars saga isn't just that they're small. The lead character, Commander Arcturus Rann, was in suspended animation for 1,000 years while his ship explored the Microverse (a microscopic universe teeming with life). He's got a mental link with Biotron, a robot that assisted with the exploration efforts. The rest of the cast is quite different as well. Princess Marionette, Acroyear, Bug, and Microtron each offer some variety to the proceedings.
What may have surprised everyone involved is that Micronauts took on a life all its own and lasted longer than the toys were on store shelves. Bill Mantlo managed to stay with the title for fifty-eight of its fifty-nine issues, plus two Annuals. Such longevity helped the revolving stable of artists keep the flow of the book intact, and is an example of some of the finest writing in Mantlo's career. This comic series based on a toy line was cosmic, and it went to some dark places. Earlier issues that contain Earth-based stories may seem more kid-friendly, but as the series progressed the tone changed dramatically. Characters died, gruesome experiments were conducted by the main villain, Baron Karza, and some adult situations crept in. Overall, though, this book captured the space-faring adventure that gained such popularity in the '70s and '80s.
The artwork for Micronauts is another standout. Michael Golden's run lasted only a year, but is perhaps the most iconic art for the series, as Golden is a master at combining the cartoonish and the realistic. Howard Chaykin provided the art for six issues, and while he handled the pencils for the Star Wars movie adaptation, his work seems better suited for titles such as Blackhawk or American Flagg!. Another standout run on Micronauts is Pat Broderick's. His seventeen-issue run gave the characters more detail and helped define their look. His action scenes were fluid, and he handled the transition from the Microverse to Earth with ease.
A few artists filled in before the next regular guy came on board, including Steve Ditko (who also penciled an Annual), and Keith Giffen. The legendary Gil Kane drew the Micronauts for seven issues, proving that he wasn't ready to turn in his art supplies just yet. To finish out the bulk of Volume One's run, then-newcomer Jackson "Butch" Guice provided the artwork for eleven issues. Guice's work ranks second to Golden's as definitive. The characters took on a gritty realism, while ships, backgrounds, and villains were given greater detail.
The Micronauts series worked because time was taken to focus on each character; where they were from, what made them tick (or "tik", in Bug's case). Interactions between the characters were also carefully done, with relationships coming under strain or being built upon. New characters came and went. Some "died" and came back, others stayed gone. Micronauts perhaps owed more to X-Men than Star Wars. A glance at any given letters page in any given issue will reveal a fan comparing it to Marvel's mutant phenomenon.
Micronauts is very highly recommended for fans of '70s/'80s sci-fi, team-based comic books, or Marvel fans in general. One big problem when faced with collecting Micronauts comics is the lack of availability in trade or graphic novel format. Legal issues have kept anyone from reprinting this material. Marvel reprinted the twelve Michael Golden issues in "Special Edition" format, condensed to five issues. Otherwise these comics can be found at your local comic book store or online, and will have to be purchased as an expensive lot or issue by issue. Either way it is worth the hunt. Micronauts is a comic book masterpiece.
*Next time will be a look at Micronauts Volume 2 and the four-issue X-Men/Micronauts series.
On the surface, Micronauts looked like a comic based on a toy line that sought to capitalize on the success of Star Wars. One look at the cast of characters may lead to thoughts of "rip-off" or "poor man's Star Wars". What sets the Micronauts far apart from the Star Wars saga isn't just that they're small. The lead character, Commander Arcturus Rann, was in suspended animation for 1,000 years while his ship explored the Microverse (a microscopic universe teeming with life). He's got a mental link with Biotron, a robot that assisted with the exploration efforts. The rest of the cast is quite different as well. Princess Marionette, Acroyear, Bug, and Microtron each offer some variety to the proceedings.
What may have surprised everyone involved is that Micronauts took on a life all its own and lasted longer than the toys were on store shelves. Bill Mantlo managed to stay with the title for fifty-eight of its fifty-nine issues, plus two Annuals. Such longevity helped the revolving stable of artists keep the flow of the book intact, and is an example of some of the finest writing in Mantlo's career. This comic series based on a toy line was cosmic, and it went to some dark places. Earlier issues that contain Earth-based stories may seem more kid-friendly, but as the series progressed the tone changed dramatically. Characters died, gruesome experiments were conducted by the main villain, Baron Karza, and some adult situations crept in. Overall, though, this book captured the space-faring adventure that gained such popularity in the '70s and '80s.
The artwork for Micronauts is another standout. Michael Golden's run lasted only a year, but is perhaps the most iconic art for the series, as Golden is a master at combining the cartoonish and the realistic. Howard Chaykin provided the art for six issues, and while he handled the pencils for the Star Wars movie adaptation, his work seems better suited for titles such as Blackhawk or American Flagg!. Another standout run on Micronauts is Pat Broderick's. His seventeen-issue run gave the characters more detail and helped define their look. His action scenes were fluid, and he handled the transition from the Microverse to Earth with ease.
A few artists filled in before the next regular guy came on board, including Steve Ditko (who also penciled an Annual), and Keith Giffen. The legendary Gil Kane drew the Micronauts for seven issues, proving that he wasn't ready to turn in his art supplies just yet. To finish out the bulk of Volume One's run, then-newcomer Jackson "Butch" Guice provided the artwork for eleven issues. Guice's work ranks second to Golden's as definitive. The characters took on a gritty realism, while ships, backgrounds, and villains were given greater detail.
The Micronauts series worked because time was taken to focus on each character; where they were from, what made them tick (or "tik", in Bug's case). Interactions between the characters were also carefully done, with relationships coming under strain or being built upon. New characters came and went. Some "died" and came back, others stayed gone. Micronauts perhaps owed more to X-Men than Star Wars. A glance at any given letters page in any given issue will reveal a fan comparing it to Marvel's mutant phenomenon.
Micronauts is very highly recommended for fans of '70s/'80s sci-fi, team-based comic books, or Marvel fans in general. One big problem when faced with collecting Micronauts comics is the lack of availability in trade or graphic novel format. Legal issues have kept anyone from reprinting this material. Marvel reprinted the twelve Michael Golden issues in "Special Edition" format, condensed to five issues. Otherwise these comics can be found at your local comic book store or online, and will have to be purchased as an expensive lot or issue by issue. Either way it is worth the hunt. Micronauts is a comic book masterpiece.
*Next time will be a look at Micronauts Volume 2 and the four-issue X-Men/Micronauts series.
