Packages
Robotman come package in
Henshin Cyborg style box, actually the early package had only Victory Series
shield logo which was later removed and replaced with Microman Command logo when
Takara canceled Henshin Cyborg line in 1976.
Back View
Tank Mode Robotman
and Biotron was fully motorized. The toy can be convert into a
tank mode. Micronauts
Variations Microman
Robotman and early version of Biotron came with crystal clear
cockpit while the later Mego Micronauts Biotron came with smoke clear
variety. Beside the cockpit, Mego also changed the colors slightly.
The blue was much brighter while the red was much darker. Above is
the comparison between later Biotron feet color and Microman Robotman
feet color. Note the change from the sea-blue to brighter blue color. (See Also - MicroHeritage
- Micronauts)
Replica
Microman Variants In
2001, Takara reissued Robotman toy as part of the Replica Microman
Series. Beside the reissue version, Takara also introduced two new
color variants - Clear Mode Robotman
and SAS Robotman. |
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Robotman was released in 1975 as a hybrid
toy line that would link Microman world with that of the
Henshin Cyborg. This linkage series for Microman and Henshin Cyborg was called Victory Series (the reason
behind "SV" letters on Robotman and Biotron pelvic). Robotman
was a
14" tall fully motorized robot with clear chest cockpit to hold a
Microman figure (which was quite revolutionary at the time).
Robotman had caterpillar track on his back and able to convert into a
tank like vehicle for Microman. Takara also produced two add on
sets - Drill Set & Dozer Set that would convert Robotman into a Mole
Tank or a Bull Dozer. (Early version of Robotman also came with card board
cut-out versions of the Drill and Dozer attachments.)
Front : Robotman and back - Biotron (2nd version)
Robotman was one of major staying piece
in Original Microman toys line. The toy was made immensely popular by the manga
(comic) because the lead character, young boy Akira, piloted Robotman as his
personal mecha in the
fight against the Acroyears. Robotman would undergone a few
transformations by the time Microman line reached its end point in
1980. In 1977, Takara released upgraded Robotman called Robotman2.
In 1980, the last year of the original Microman line,
Robotman would return in his ultimate incarnation as Robotman God
Fighter.
Robotman (also early
version of Biotron)
Micronauts Biotron
Variants
When Mego licensed Microman toys in 1976,
Robotman was released as part of Micronauts toy line called Biotron.
The early version of Biotron was simply repackage of Takara Robotman in Mego Micronauts
box. Later version would came from Mego factory in Hong Kong using
new mold (copied from Takara's Robotman mold). The later version
of Biotron produced in Hong Kong had a
darker tint cockpit, darker red color for the chest and much brighter
blue color legs and back part. (See sidebar)
Mego later released a re-color version of
Biotron with new head design as Micronauts Phobos. After Mego
demised in early 1980's, Biotron toy was released by Mego's successor as
The Inter-Changeables - Cosmobot. Cosmobot was given red and yellow color
scheme. (Most of the toys from the first series of The Inter-Changeables came in this yellow and red color scheme).
The second series of The Interchangeables, Cosmobot was given color scheme but thus far no one has been able to locate an actual
sample of this toy.
(See Also - Robotman
Gakeen, Robotman 2, Robotman
God Fighter and Micronauts Phobos & The
Inter-Changeables Cosmobot)
Later (and more common)
version of Biotron with tint canopy and darker red color.
Paper Craft Robotman
Robotman toy came with
cardboard paper cut-outs that can be used as accessories for
Robotman. (Picture courtesy of Ray M. of Micro ES)
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