{"id":15507,"date":"2010-04-18T03:29:11","date_gmt":"2010-04-18T10:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mehallo.com\/blog\/?p=15507"},"modified":"2010-04-18T03:55:09","modified_gmt":"2010-04-18T10:55:09","slug":"the-endeavor-1979","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mehallo.com\/blog\/archives\/15507","title":{"rendered":"The Endeavor, 1979"},"content":{"rendered":"

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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.’<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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The Micronauts<\/a> was a sleeper. And contained story and artwork years ahead of what was going on in mainstream comics at the time. <\/p>\n

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\nMicronauts commercial, 1978<\/em><\/p>\n

its all about toys<\/strong>
\nThe 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.<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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golden art<\/strong>
\nBack in the late 1970s – inspired by his son’s Micronaut action figures – comic book author Bill Mantlo<\/a> persuaded Marvel Comics to set up a license with the Mego toy company. <\/p>\n

With Mantlo creating and writing the series, Michael Golden<\/a> fleshed out the visuals. Golden was the artist for the first twelve issues – which were the best of the bunch. <\/p>\n

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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<\/a> (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).<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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,<\/a> but not much. <\/p>\n

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more to read<\/strong>
\n[1] <\/strong>   Here’s a great recap of issue 2<\/a> – 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.<\/p>\n

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

[3] <\/strong>   Plus, if you’re a collector, here’s a list of the comics themselves.<\/a><\/p>\n

[4] <\/strong>   Here’s a tribute<\/a> to Micronauts author Bill Mantlo, who was one of the most prolific writers in the business. <\/p>\n

[5] <\/strong>   And here’s an online download of Mantlo – A Life in Comics<\/em><\/a> – the $3.50 cost helps support Mantlo’s current medical care.<\/p>\n

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Overall, these toys came to life in ways one would not have expected.<\/p>\n

Images found via linked sites; including Innerspace Online<\/a> and The Micronauts Comics Page<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\r\n\t

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