MICRONAUTS AD

As a kid moving into my teens in the late 1970s, one of the last action figures I ever had was a Micronaut "Time Traveler". Micronauts were produced by Mego between 1976-1980 and were inspired by a 1974 Japanese toy range. I remember being completely fascinated by the transparent, sleek designs, but had no idea my blue figure was part of a larger, customizable universe. As this vintage ad illustrates, inventive kids faced with the whole range could create their own characters and vehicles, which were magnetic and interchangeable! The line inspired a popular Marvel comic series (1979-1986), as well as later projects with other comic publishers (including IDW). A film adaptation seems to be in the works that will bring together a number of toy-to-comic franchises including Micronauts, G.I Joe, and Rom Space Knight! And Hasbro apparently released a limited-edition set of classic Micronaut toys this year. But the real charm was in the original toy line, which challenged young minds to create their own futuristic societies and populations. Move over Habitrail! I like to imagine young fans of Logan's Run and Tron designing intricate, Micronaut worlds. More info at the Mego Museum, Innerspace Online, and That Figures. Enjoy!