A seven-member paramilitary strike team was introduced that combated a terrorist organization named COBRA, and Hasbro released a corresponding line of action figures and vehicles (Yo Joe!). This series of comic books was advertised on television, which was a comic book industry first. Joe action figures were now much smaller than the 1964 man-doll Joe: A Real American Hero, launched in 1982. Seeking a solid foothold in the 3.75″ action figure market but without a movie to tie into, Hasbro teamed up with publishing giant Marvel Comics. And that meant most kids could afford to use their own money (you know, allowance and/or birthday money) to buy themselves an action figure, which only served to increase their popularity. The smaller size, fewer raw materials, less paint (or “deco,” the industry term) and less packaging (which meant cheaper shipping) all combined to create a smaller price point per unit. The 3.75″ scale thereafter became the new industry standard for action figures.
And thus, action figure history was made again. In 1978 and again in 1979, sales of Kenner’s Star Wars line reached 40 million units, accounting for a revenue of $100 million each year. Once Kenner was ready to offer the Star Warsaction figures for direct sale in shops, the range had been augmented with eight more figures, bringing the total number in this initial release to 12. On the outside hes scary comic-book Batman, with a whole honey bunch of plated samurai armour, two swords and sheaths, and a cape. In response, Kenner instead sold an “Early Bird Certificate Package,” which included a certificate that could be mailed to Kenner and redeemed for four Star Wars action figures with a diorama display stand, some stickers and a Star Wars fan club membership card. Underneath, hes all Microman - thirty points of articulation, spare hands (six pairs), and a groovy action figure all around. Kenner had gained the rights to the movie, and it was caught completely unprepared for the high demand of the Star Wars action figure. Yet the massive impact the Star Wars phenomenon had on culture worldwide could not be denied. Instead Mego focused its attention on a deal with the Japanese toy manufacturer Takara to bring its popular lucite 3.75″ fully articulated Microman action figure to the United States under the name “Micronauts.” (The smaller scale of this action figure was a direct result of the oil supply crisis of the 1970s, which increased the price of plastic and made it harder to produce the larger 12” action figure and be cost effective.) But this snafu on Mego’s part - focusing on Micronauts instead of Star Wars - was not apparent immediately, as the Micronauts action figure craze brought in more than $30 million at their peak. Of course, keep in mind that it had an action figure line based on the television series The Waltons … seriously. Plus his right wrist is cracked on the back.Mego thought it would go bankrupt if it made toys for every “flash in the pan” sci-fi B movie that came along. The red figure isn't as nice as the others - he has tight joints, normal chrome wear on the chest and back, and heavy yellowing on the white plastic on the crotch and legs, especially on the back. The Microman figures, unlike all subsequent 3.
Micro Change was a subline of Takaras successful New Microman line of the early 80s, which consisted of 3.75' action figures that were super-posable and vehicles and robots for use by them. The blue Time Traveler-type figure is a slightly different shade of blue that the Mego version, he is in good shape, clean, the left shoulder is a little loose but still holds most poses. The Micro Change series was one of the two major sources of molds for the original Transformers line. The yellow figure and the gray and blue figure have tight joints and minor sticker wear. I'm not sure which chamber belongs to which figure - you receive all pictured. “You are bidding on 4 vintage Microman figures, I do not know their names, all of them are marked Takara on their butts, and all 4 chambers are marked MIcroman on the clear part, and Takara Made in Japan with the symbol on the back.
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