1977 Microman Command Series

Microman Command 2 M16X Type - M161 Sheriff, M162 Sander, M163 Smith & M164 Sammy (c.1977)

Packages

Each figure came package in their matching color capsule and was sold directly out of the display box..  Each capsule was wrap with a rubber band and a small identification tag.

Here is sample tag from Command 2 M164 Sammy.

Microman Command 1 & 2 mini-catalog.

Takara also sold M162 Sander with Command Car 2 Tyrell Machine and M161 with Command Car 4 Twin Racer.  These two figures were sold without their capsules.

Accessories

Each figure came with gold Command 2 Anti-Repulsion leg wings.

Takara released Microman Command Series in April of 1977 after the released of Titan Commands Series.  Microman Command would became the pinnacle of Microman figure design.  Each Command types were base on Earth historical objects, with the premise that they were ancient Microman that came to Earth in the distance past to instruct Earthling with Microman technology.

Microman Commands possessed very beautifully design body and each came with trademark capsule that based on their geographical origin.  Microman Commands also came with small wings accessories for their legs call Anti-Gravity wings or Anti-Repulsion wings which would made them stood out from the rest of Microman series.  Microman Command 1 or M15X type were released first along with Command 2 M16X type and followed by Command 3 and Lady Command during the second half of 1977.   Each Microman Command type had distinctive design and look that set them apart from other series since they did not shared parts with other types.  Takara sold Command 2 as individual figure in a matching color capsule (warp in rubber band with small tag).  M162 and M161 were also sold as pack-in figure with Command Cars toys.  The pack-in figures did not come with the capsule but instead came with an exclusive Command helmet.  M161 was sold with Command Car 4 Twin Racer and M162 was sold with Command Car 1 Tyrell Machine.

Microman Command 2 design was based on Egyptian pharaoh sarcophagus design.  Microman Command 2, like the rest of the Command series, were based on the idea of alien visitors from outer space that came to instruct Earth's early civilization.  Takara seized on this idea and implied that Microman Command were such aliens from the past.   (Many UFO believers theorized that the ancient Egypt structures were constructed with an aid from alien beings).

Command 2 came with cobra like Anti-Repulsion leg wings and glow in the dark chest piece.  When Mego licensed Microman from Takara, they released M16X Command 2 as Micronauts Pharoid.  Only three color variants were released for Micronauts line - orange, blue and gray.  Early Pharoid figures were repackaged of Takara Microman toys.  (Micronauts version of Pharoid had Takara stamp removed from their butts).  Later, Mego would produced their own Pharoid with some alteration. (See section below under for more detail information)  Command 2 series were re-issue by Romando in 1996 and also by Takara in 1999.  The vintage figures can be easily distinguish by their darker chrome heads.

(See also Romando Microman21 - Command 2 White Set  , Command 2 Black Set, and Command 2 Gold Sammy Set)

(See also Takara 1999 Replica Microman Series -  Command 2 M16X )

M16X Microman

M161 Sheriff - well acquainted with the lay of the land.   Superb geographical knowledge.  He have special ability ray that can form rock.

M162 Sander -  knowledgeable about the underground geology.   Also have superb knowledge about earth historical ruins.

M163 Smith - have ability to control natural phenomenon.  He used his special power to study natural environment.

M164 Sammy - superb memory.  He has photographic memory and can recall any event in the past.  His ability is helpful in investigation.

Command 1 & 2 Story (as translate from catalog)

Microman starts investigating the mystery surrounding the Acroyears being seen at every regional ancient ruins around the world.     Microman decides to investigate the ancient ruins to determined the connection between the Acroyears, the ancient civilization and perhaps to also learn more about ancient Microman that could have visited earth thousands of years ago.     The Spy Magicians discovered abnormally within the ancient ruins of the Easter Island statues.    They fire MX Spectrum Ray at the stone statue.     The Easter Island statues explode and human-size Microman appear inside standing within a burning pale flame.  (alpha H-7 radiation)    The new human size Microman then bath in sunlight and shrink to the same size as other Microman.    At about the same time, in the tomb of ancient Egyptian pyramid,  another Microman emerge from the sarcophagus.   The two newly arrived Microman call themselves Microman Command.

M161 Sheriff (vintage)

M152 Sander (vintage)

M163 Smith (vintage)

M164 Sammy (vintage)

M164 probably had the most variations of all the Microman figures.  The original early version was gray with glitter in the plastic.  Takara then released a darker tone with more glitter. 

Mego released plain gray one with Space Glider head as Micronauts Pharoid (Type 2).  When Romando re-issued him in 1996, they released two different Sammy, one with very dark gray plastic and one with lighter. (Both had the glitter).  Takara then re-issued Sammy in 1999 with plain gray plastic without glitter (perhaps to made him look like Mego 2nd Type gray Pharoid).

Along with these variants, Takara also produced chrome version M164 SP and Clear Mode M164.

Vintage Microman Commands can be distinguish by the much darker chrome heads.