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‘Pursued by the relentless minions of the cruel despot Baron Karza, the freedom-fighting crew of the Endeavor breach the Space Wall and emerge on a strange and dangerous new world – a planet known as Earth.’

In 1979, a comic book series quietly appeared at the local drug store. At the time, comic book stores were not common – and if one wanted each issue, they had to hunt it down.

The Micronauts was a sleeper. And contained story and artwork years ahead of what was going on in mainstream comics at the time.

Micronauts commercial, 1978

its all about toys
The Micronauts comics were based on a series of toys (above). Just like Transformers; so much so, both toy lines actually sprung from the same source.

The comic book tie in tells the story behind the toys – since there actually wasn’t a story. The toys just sort of hit the market and background was left up to childrens’ imaginations.

golden art
Back in the late 1970s – inspired by his son’s Micronaut action figures – comic book author Bill Mantlo persuaded Marvel Comics to set up a license with the Mego toy company.

With Mantlo creating and writing the series, Michael Golden fleshed out the visuals. Golden was the artist for the first twelve issues – which were the best of the bunch.

Golden also invented his own Indian-like Microverse alphabet – and a “G” he used to use as a signature may have inspired my cap G in Jeanne Moderno (I don’t know where my old issues are, so I haven’t been able to find them to check. But it was similar as I remember it).

The Micronauts were cinematic in scope, at one point rumors circulated (on the letters page) that there might be a movie. I remember there was speculation that Charlton Heston should play the lead.

In all, the series did crossovers with other Marvel comics (such as the X-Men) – and ended its oft retooled run with just under 90 issues in the can. It had a longer time of it than the toys themselves. The Mego corporation went under in 1982.

After, The Micronauts comics sort of vanished from the radar, as if it never existed. No collected editions, no trade paperbacks, no Michael Bay masterpieces (tho there is a rumor that J.J. Abrams is interested in making a film). Few things pop up here and there, but not much.

more to read
[1]    Here’s a great recap of issue 2 – the very first issue that hooked me. As the author notes, I remember that I got my copy at Mills Park Drug Store, San Bruno, CA. The visuals from page one onward one cannot forget.

[2]    Here’s an overview of the toys [part one] and a summary [part two and part three] of the initial story – that played out over the first eleven issues.

[3]    Plus, if you’re a collector, here’s a list of the comics themselves.

[4]    Here’s a tribute to Micronauts author Bill Mantlo, who was one of the most prolific writers in the business.

[5]    And here’s an online download of Mantlo – A Life in Comics – the $3.50 cost helps support Mantlo’s current medical care.

Overall, these toys came to life in ways one would not have expected.

Images found via linked sites; including Innerspace Online and The Micronauts Comics Page

tags: cool finds, design history, illustration, publication design, typography // 3 comments  . . .