Micronauts (comics)

This article is about Micronauts comics. For other uses, see Micronauts (disambiguation).
Micronauts

Cover art of Micronauts #1 (January 1979).
From left to right: Acroyear, Arcturus Rann, Marionette and Bug. Baron Karza in background.
Art by Dave Cockrum and Al Milgrom.
Group publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
Image Comics
Devil's Due Publishing
First appearance Micronauts #1 (January 1979)
Created by Bill Mantlo
Michael Golden
In-story information
Type of organization Team
Base(s) Microverse
Micronauts
Series publication information
Schedule Monthly
Format Micronauts
Micronauts: The New Voyages
ongoing series
X-Men and the Micronauts
Micronauts (vol. 3)
Micronauts: Karza
Micronauts (vol. 4)
limited series
Genre
Publication date (Micronauts)
January 1979 – August 1984
(The X-Men and the Micronauts)
January – April 1984
(Micronauts: The New Voyages)
October 1984 – May 1986
(Micronauts vol. 3)
January 2002 – September 2003
(Micronauts: Karza)
February – May 2003
(Micronauts vol. 4)
January – May 2004
Number of issues Micronauts
59
X-Men and the Micronauts
4
Micronauts: The New Voyages
20
Micronauts (vol. 3)
11
Micronauts: Karza
4
Micronauts (vol. 4)
3
Main character(s) Arcturus Rann
Marionette
Bug
Creative team
Writer(s)
Penciller(s)
Inker(s)
Creator(s) Bill Mantlo
Michael Golden
Collected editions
Revolution ISBN 1-58240-311-2

The Micronauts comic books featuring a group of characters based on the Mego Micronauts toy line. The first title was published by Marvel Comics in 1979, with both original characters and characters based on the toys. Marvel published two Micronauts series, mostly written by Bill Mantlo, until 1986, well after the toy line was cancelled in 1980. In the 2000s, Image Comics and Devil's Due Publishing each briefly published their own Micronauts series. Byron Preiss Visual Publications also published three paperback novels based on the Micronauts. In July 2015, IDW Publishing announced that they would publish a new comic book series.[1]

Publication history

Marvel Comics

The Micronauts began life as comic book characters thanks to a fortuitous accident on Christmas 1977. Marvel Comics writer Bill Mantlo's son Adam opened a new present, a line of the Mego Corporation's Micronauts action figures. Seeing the toys, Mantlo was instantly struck by inspiration to write their adventures. Convincing then Editor-in-chief Jim Shooter to get the comics license for these toys, Mantlo was hired to script their series.[2]

The first series of the Micronauts ran from January 1979 to August 1984 and included 59 issues[3] and two Annuals.[4] The series was written by Bill Mantlo[5] and featured art by Michael Golden.[6] Other artists on the series included Howard Chaykin, Steve Ditko, Rich Buckler, Pat Broderick, Val Mayerik, Keith Giffen, Greg LaRocque, Gil Kane, Luke McDonnell, Mike Vosburg, Butch Guice, and Kelley Jones.[7] Micronauts, along with Moon Knight and Ka-Zar the Savage, became one of Marvel's first ongoing series to be distributed exclusively to comic book stores beginning with issue #38 (Feb. 1982).[8]

In the United Kingdom, The Micronauts was first included as a supporting strip in Marvel UK's Star Wars Weekly comic in January 1979 for several months and then in the first nine issues of Star Heroes Pocketbook (alongside Battlestar Galactica) before joining new Future Tense reprint anthology.[9] Unlike the U.S. version, these strips were printed in black and white.

The Micronauts Special Edition five-issue limited series (December 1983-April 1984) reprinted issues #1-#12 and a back-up feature from #25.[10] The X-Men and the Micronauts four-issue limited series (January 1984-April 1984) was co-written by Mantlo and Chris Claremont and drawn by Butch Guice.[11]

The second volume of Micronauts, subtitled The New Voyages, was published from October 1984 to May 1986 and ran 20 issues.[12] The series was written by Peter B. Gillis and featured early-career artwork by Kelley Jones. After this series the Marvel-owned license lapsed.[13]

From the late 1990s the characters Marionette, Arcturus Rann and Bug (all Marvel properties) have appeared in various Marvel titles (without referencing the Micronauts label). Bug has appeared in a solo one-shot[14] and together with cosmic hero Star-Lord,[15] as part of a new incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy.[16]

Image Comics

In June 2002, a new series by Image Comics was begun which was published for eleven issues before its cancellation in September 2003.[17] The same year saw a four-issue limited series featuring Baron Karza's origin and his relationship with the Time Traveler entity.[18]

Devil's Due Publishing

In March 2004, a new series was launched by Devil's Due Publishing, mixing new characters with those based on the toy line. The series ran for three issues and featured art by former Micronauts artist Pat Broderick. More issues were solicited, but never appeared on shelves despite some cover art being released.[19]

Fictional team history

The Micronauts originate in the Microverse, a microscopic series of diverse habitats that are linked together in the fashion of molecule chains. The original team comes together in response to the threat posed by former academic and now murderous dictator, Baron Karza. Commander Arcturus Rann, returning from a thousand-year deep space voyage in suspended animation, and Biotron, his robot co-pilot, return on the HMS (Homeworld Micro Ship) Endeavor, to discover Karza has slain the royal family, who are in fact Rann's parents. What follows is an epic war across the Microverse pitting Rann and his allies against Karza.

In addition to Biotron, Rann's team of "Micronauts" includes Princess Mari of Homeworld, who, with her brother, Prince Argon, are the only survivors of the slaughtered royal family. Known to the team as Marionette, she falls in love with Rann, and leads the team on occasion. The warriors Acroyear and Bug also join Rann's cause, and although completely different - one a noble warrior prince and the other a joking insectoid - the two become best friends and staunch allies of all Micronauts. The last member of the original team is Microtron, Mari's robot tutor. Although small, Microtron is a very resourceful R2-D2-style character and very supportive of all team members.[20]

After being trapped for a time on Earth where they enlarge to the size of toys, the team returns to the Microverse. After a series of battles against Karza and his genetically-engineered armies the Dog Soldiers, the Micronauts triumph and Karza is apparently killed.[21] Rann is able to claim victory with the possession of the Enigma Force - a semi-sentient power source that bonded with him during his period of suspended animation - which enables him to perform incredible feats. The team then encounters the superhero team the Fantastic Four, who have traveled to a different region of the Microverse to battle the villain Psycho-Man. Unfortunately, Bug's love, Jasmine, is killed during the climax of the battle. It is shortly after this encounter that the Micronauts again become trapped on Earth, at a greatly reduced size.[22][23][24]

After encounters with the villains Plantman [25] and Molecule Man,[26] the team battle the Fixer and Mentallo, who have allied themselves with the organization HYDRA. Joined by one of Acroyear's people - Dagon - the team discovers that the villains and HYDRA are secretly under the control of Baron Karza, who, courtesy of Prince Argon's body, is able to resurrect himself. Although the organization S.H.I.E.L.D. and several representatives of the races of the Microverse help the Micronauts finally defeat Karza, the battle is costly. Biotron is destroyed by Dagon - an agent of Karza; Bug's Queen dies in battle; Rann is rendered comatose and Acroyear's traitorous brother Shaitan dies summoning the Worldmind - the parallel power to the Enigma Force that sustains their own homeworld. In desperation, Acroyear bonds with the Worldmind to defeat Karza but in doing so destroys his world.[27]

While trying to awaken Rann, the remnants of the team have an encounter with the villain Nightmare[28] and accidentally discover that the Microverse is unraveling. A warning left in Rann's mind reveals that three keys will restore balance to the Microverse. The team embarks on a new quest across three new regions of the Microverse: Oceania,[29] Polaria, and the Dead Zone. The Micronauts are eventually successful, and also acquire several teammates, including the bestial Devil and his companion Fireflyte and the robot Nanotron.[30]

A new problem arises when Prince Argon begins displaying paranoia regarding the Micronauts, and eventually sends a special Death Squad to kill them.[31] The Micronauts defeat the unit, and then encounter the mutant Nightcrawler and battle a new foe called Huntarr. Huntarr is genetically engineered by Argon to destroy the Micronauts, but Marionette makes him see that Argon is simply using him.[32] A war against Argon and his forces follows, with several beings from various locations in the Microverse - Pharoid, Slug and Margrace - joining the team in a bid to stop Argon. After several more encounters with beings such as Doctor Doom,[33] the heroine the Wasp,[34] and villain Arcade.[35] Microtron and Nanotron sacrifice themselves to reanimate Biotron's consciousness in the Micronauts' new vessel. Argon is finally revealed to be controlled by the spirit of Baron Karza, who returns once more. Karza kills Argon, and deals the Micronauts a crushing defeat by killing Devil, Pharoid, Slug and Margrave.[36] After regrouping and a series of skirmishes, the remaining Micronauts confront and defeat Karza once and for all.[37]

The New Voyages

Weary of war, the surviving Micronauts leave the known Microverse behind and embark on a journey of exploration.[38] They eventually discover the true nature of the Microverse, and in a final act that restores their ruined world, sacrifice themselves.[39]

Team members

The Microns

Years later Arcturus, Marionette and Bug (all Marvel properties) reappear as a team called the Microns. They aid the mutant Cable when the scientist Psycho-Man abducts the shape-changing Copycat.[40] They battle Microverse inhabitant Baron Zebek of Aegyptus alongside the visiting super-team Alpha Flight[41] and later assist Rick Jones and Captain Marvel during their adventures in the Microverse.[42] In another largely untold tale, they also reteam with the X-Men against Baron Karza, who had recently been reborn, and his ally Thanos who seek to merge several of the sub-atomic universes.[42] Arcturus Rann and Princess Mari became involved in the Psyklop invasion of K'ai, Jarella's homeworld.[43]

Other versions

Collected editions

The first story arc (5 issues) of the Image series have been collected into a trade paperback:

In other media

Action figures

From 2005, AGE gave permission for SOTA (State of the Art) Toys to produce redesigned Micronauts action figures as Micronauts Evolution, with concept art by Randy Queen.[47] SOTA president Jerry Macaluso expressed interest in a new comic based on the figures.[48]

Animated television series

In 1998, AGE, Annex Entertainment, Gribouille and Kaleidoscope Media Group planned to produce a Micronauts animated series starting with a five-part miniseries to air on the Sci Fi Channel in Fall of 1998, followed by a syndicated 26 episode Micronauts animated series for 1999, with action figures and a Marvel tie-in comic announced. The project appears to be shelved or canceled.[49][50]

Film developments

Novels

The 2002 Image Comics relaunch was followed the same year by Micronauts: The Time Traveler Trilogy, a collection of three paperback novels published by Byron Preiss Visual Publications and written by Steve Lyons.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Arrant, Chris (October 9, 2015). "Rom and Micronauts Finally Return... But Not Where You Think". Newsarama. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Friday at their IDW & Top Shelf: The Best Panel of All-Time at NY Comic Con, IDW announced more details about the return of Rom and Micronauts, the holy grails of liscensed comic books.
  2. ↑ "The Micronauts: Gil Kane Thinks Small". Amazing Heroes (Fantagraphics Books) (7). December 1981. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  3. ↑ Micronauts at the Grand Comics Database
  4. ↑ Micronauts Annual at the Grand Comics Database
  5. ↑ Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. Dorling Kindersley. p. 188. ISBN 978-0756641238. Writer Bill Mantlo and artist Michael Golden created a Marvel comic series around the Micronauts toys set in the Microverse.
  6. ↑ Nolen-Weathington, Eric (2007). Modern Masters Volume 12: Michael Golden. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 17–19. ISBN 978-1893905740.
  7. ↑ Lantz, James Heath (October 2014). "Inner-Space Opera: A Look at Marvel's Micronauts Comics". Back Issue! (TwoMorrows Publishing) (76): 41–54.
  8. ↑ Catron, Michael (July 1981). "Micronauts to be sold exclusively though comics shops". Amazing Heroes (Fantagraphics Books) (2): 22–23.
  9. ↑ Future Tense at the Grand Comics Database
  10. ↑ Micronauts Special Edition at the Grand Comics Database
  11. ↑ The X-Men and the Micronauts at the Grand Comics Database
  12. ↑ Micronauts vol. 2 at the Grand Comics Database
  13. ↑ Murray, Noel (February 15, 2012). "Whither Micronauts? On the long-delayed return to inner space". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on July 4, 2014.
  14. ↑ Bug at the Grand Comics Database
  15. ↑ Giffen, Keith; Gage, Christos; Abnett, Dan; Lanning, Andy (2008). Annihilation: Conquest, Book 1. Marvel Comics. p. 272. ISBN 978-0785127826.
    Giffen, Keith; Gage, Christos; Abnett, Dan; Lanning, Andy (2008). Annihilation: Conquest, Book 2. Marvel Comics. p. 352. ISBN 978-0785127161.
  16. ↑ Abnett, Dan; Lanning, Andy (w), Pelletier, Paul (p), Magyar, Rick (i). "No Future" Guardians of the Galaxy v2, 7 (January 2009)
  17. ↑ Micronauts vol. 3 at the Grand Comics Database
  18. ↑ Micronauts: Karza at the Grand Comics Database
  19. ↑ Micronauts vol. 4 at the Grand Comics Database
  20. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Golden, Michael (p), Rubinstein, Josef (i). "Homeworld!" Micronauts 1 (January 1979)
  21. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Golden, Michael (p), Milgrom, Al (i). "We Are the Enigma Force!" Micronauts 11 (November 1979)
  22. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Chaykin, Howard; Milgrom, Al (p), Milgrom, Al (i). "The Inside Job!" Micronauts 15 (March 1980)
  23. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Chaykin, Howard; Milgrom, Al (p), Milgrom, Al (i). "Rendezvous in Sub-Atomica!" Micronauts 16 (April 1980)
  24. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Chaykin, Howard; Milgrom, Al (p), Milgrom, Al (i). "...The Harder They Fall!" Micronauts 17 (May 1980)
  25. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Broderick, Pat (p), Gil, Armando (i). "Say it with Flowers!" Micronauts 21 (September 1980)
  26. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Broderick, Pat (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "Field Trip!" Micronauts 23 (November 1980)
  27. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Broderick, Pat (p), Gil, Armando (i). "Deathbirth!" Micronauts 25 (January 1981)
    Mantlo, Bill (w), Broderick, Pat (p), Gil, Armando (i). "Assault on S.H.I.E.L.D." Micronauts 26 (February 1981)
    Mantlo, Bill (w), Broderick, Pat (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "To Snare Men's Souls!" Micronauts 27 (March 1981)
    Mantlo, Bill (w), Broderick, Pat (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "... Last Stand in Fantasy-World!" Micronauts 28 (April 1981)
  28. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Broderick, Pat; Bulanadi, Danny (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "To Sleep... Perchance to Dream!" Micronauts 29 (May 1981)
  29. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Broderick, Pat (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "My Body Lies over Oceania" Micronauts 31 (July 1981)
  30. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Mayerik, Val; Bulanadi, Danny (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "The Origin of the Microverse!" Micronauts 35 (November 1981)
  31. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Giffen, Keith (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "This Battlefield Earth!" Micronauts 36 (December 1981)
  32. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Giffen, Keith; LaRocque, Greg; Bulanadi, Danny (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "There's a Reason They Call It... The Danger Room!" Micronauts 37 (January 1982)
  33. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Kane, Gil; Bulanadi, Danny (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "Everyone's Little in Liddleville!" Micronauts 41 (May 1982)
  34. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Kane, Gil; Bulanadi, Danny (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "Knave, Thy Name is Nemesis!" Micronauts 42 (June 1982)
  35. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Kane, Gil; Bulanadi, Danny (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "Blinded by the Light!" Micronauts 45 (September 1982)
  36. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Guice, Jackson; Bulanadi, Danny (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "Resurrection!" Micronauts 48 (December 1982)
    Mantlo, Bill (w), Guice, Jackson (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "Keep the Home Fires Burning!" Micronauts 49 (January 1983)
    Mantlo, Bill (w), Guice, Jackson (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "Sometimes the Good Guys Lose!" Micronauts 50 (February 1983)
  37. ↑ Mantlo, Bill (w), Guice, Jackson (p), Jones, Kelley; Grainger, Sam (i). "The Long and Winding Road!" Micronauts 58 (May 1984)
    Gillis, Peter B. (w), Jones, Kelley (p), Patterson, Bruce (i). "Homeworld" Micronauts 59 (August 1984)
  38. ↑ Gillis, Peter B. (w), Jones, Kelley (p), Patterson, Bruce (i). "Shadow of the Makers!" Micronauts v2, 1 (October 1984)
  39. ↑ Gillis, Peter B. (w), Jones, Kelley (p), Bulanadi, Danny (i). "Worldhome!" Micronauts v2, 20 (May 1986)
  40. ↑ Loeb, Jeph (w), Churchill, Ian (p), Hanna, Scott (i). "True Lies" Cable 37 (November 1996)
    Loeb, Jeph (w), Churchill, Ian (p), Hanna, Scott; Russell, Vince (i). "In Perspective" Cable 38 (December 1996)
    Loeb, Jeph (w), Churchill, Ian (p), Hanna, Scott (i). "All Things Great And Small" Cable 39 (January 1997)
  41. ↑ Seagel, Steven T. (w), Winn, Anthony (p), Sowd, Aaron (i). "Small Sacrifices" Alpha Flight v2, 10 (May 1998)
    Seagel, Steven T.; Casey, Joe (w), Olivetti, Ariel (p), Brito, Pier (i). "Microcosm" Alpha Flight v2, 11 (June 1998)
  42. 1 2 David, Peter (w), ChrisCross (p), Rodriguez, Anibal (i). "It's A Small Universe After All" Captain Marvel v4, 6 (June 2000)
  43. ↑ Reed, Scott (w), Munera, Miguel (p), Pallot, Terry (i). "Book 1: Conquest of Jarella's World" Realm of Kings Son of Hulk 1 (April 2010)
  44. ↑ Cronin, Brian (June 19, 2008). "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #160". Comic Book Resources. |archive-url= is malformed: wildcard (help)
  45. ↑ "The Lost Micronauts: The un-told story of the Micronauts re-launch...that never left the launching pad. Interview with Shon C. Bury Part 1". Innerspaceonline.com. February 2, 2007. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  46. ↑ "Shon C. Bury's Original Micronauts proposal to Marvel/unpublished plots 1997". Innerspaceonline.com. n.d. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  47. ↑ Waugh, Dave (August 6, 2006). "2006 San Diego Comic Con report". Innerspaceonline.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  48. ↑ "Jerry Mac interview '06 (pt.1)". Innerspaceonline.com. n.d. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Age tv (upcoming)". Ageinc.com. n.d. Archived from the original on January 27, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  50. ↑ "Comic Books, Comic Book News & Comic Book Characters - Mania.com". Comics2film.com. n.d. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  51. ↑ "Is Abrams Preparing To Invade Inner Space?". Comic Book Resources. November 6, 2009. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  52. ↑ Paramount Moves Forward on ‘Transformers,’ ‘G.I. Joe’ and ‘Micronauts’ (Variety, 20 Nov 2015)
  53. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (December 15, 2015). "Paramount, Hasbro Creating Movie Universe Around G.I. Joe, Four Other Brands (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  54. ↑ Kit, Borys (April 21, 2016). "Hasbro Cinematic Universe Takes Shape With Michael Chabon, Brian K. Vaughan, Akiva Goldsman (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.

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