1996
20th
Anniversary "Birth of Microman" Set (3/1996)
M150
Edge (M21) Gold Plated Microman Command 1 with Microman Analysis
Book
"Easter
Island" Set Microman Command 1
(4/1996)
M151
East
M152
Eric
M153
Elder
M154
Evan
M155
Evil (M21)
"White
Box" Set Microman Command 2
(10/1996)
M161
Sheriff
M162
Sander
M165
Stealth (M21)
"Black
Box" Set Microman Command 2 (10/1996)
M163
Smith
M164
Sammy
M166
Saram (M21)
Wonder Fest Exclusive Microman Command Watch
(10/1996)
Talking Watch
"Sammy
(Popular Type)" Set Microman Command 2 (12/1996)
M164
Sammy (Popular Type) with Gold Plated Capsule
1997
"Microman Rescue
Set" (2/1997)
M251 Robin
M254
Wayne
M255
Wilder (M21)
"Green
Set" Police Keeper Micro Knight
(3/1997)
MC 7
MC 13
"Blue
Set" Police Keeper Micro Knight
(3/1997)
MC 8
MC 11
"Orange
Set" Police Keeper Micro Knight
(3/1997)
MC 9
MC 12
Microman
Spy Magician (8/1997)
M131 Dick
M132 Dan
M133
Danny
M134
David
"Special
Set" Microman Spy Magician (8/1997)
M135 Dural (M21)
M136 Dyson
"Wonder
Fest Spy Magician" (8/1997)
M130 Dio (M21)
Real
Microman Bio-Mechanic Suit (8/1997)
BS-1 Heat Resistance Type
BS-1
Mineral Searcher Type
BS-2
Dust-proof Filter Type
BS-2
Deep Sea Type
Wonder
Fest Exclusive Clear Bio-Mechanic Suit (8/1997)
BS-1 Night Operation Type
BS-2
High-Temp Nuclear Type
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In
1996, a small hobby company called ROMANDO, acquired a provisional license from
TAKARA to reissue Microman figures. This marked the first time since
1984, that Microman series would again be produced and sold. Romando
named the series - Microman 21 (Two-One), since
the year 1996 marked the 21st anniversary of Microman series.
ROMANDO
released the first set of the Two-One series in
March of 1996 with special 20th Anniversary Commemorative set
"Birth of Microman" which included a gold plated Microman
Command 1 and a book titled Net Zero-Zero Square Microman Analysis
which detailed the history of Microman toys from the early beginning
as part of the Henshin Cyborg. The first set was a big success and
rejuvenated the interest for this long forgotten series. ROMANDO
followed the 20th Anniversary set with full series reproduction of
Microman Command 1 set (dubbed the Easter Island set). ROMANDO then
followed up with two reproduction box sets of Microman Command 2 series.
Microman 21 line continued
on in 1997
with the release of Microman Rescue series, Micro Knight and the much
loved Microman Spy Magician. However, by this time a wave of Micro-mania
has been started and the series that was once relegated by most toys
collectors in Japan as cheap plastic figures became a much sought after
line. TAKARA sensing the resurgence in popularity of Microman decided to
end the provisional licensed that they have granted to ROMANDO and used
legal injunction to take
the license back. The license was left in limbo for much of 1998, when
the two companies were locked in bitter disputed regarding the right to
produced Microman toys.
In mid 1998, the court rule in favor of TAKARA and they successfully
took the license away from ROMANDO and thus
effectively put and end to the two years run of Microman 21 series.
By
the end of 1998, the license was firmly back in TAKARA hands and they
announced not only the reproduction series of classic Microman series
(the Replica Series) but also a brand new series called Microman Magne
Power. However, this section of Microman Forever is dedicated to the
short but notable series of Microman by ROMANDO. While TAKARA have since tried to erase the
Microman 21 series from the series "official" history, it was clear without the initiative
by ROMANDO, the rebirth of Microman would have come much later if not
all. This section is dedicate to ROMANDO Micro21 series which in a way
reintroduce many of us to our long forgotten
diminutive friends from our childhood and most of all for truly making Microman
forever.
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Microman
21 Story
Romando
Microman 21 story was pretty much a continuation of the original
Microman story from 1970's vintage series. Romando even attempted to
bridge some of the story between Microman (1974) and New Microman (1980)
series. Their effort however was later annul by Takara when they
released Microman Replica Series in 1999. Now Romando story and
designation was pretty much view as sort of "official"
fan-fic story and no longer the official lore. This was unfortunate
since many of Romando characters were much more interesting than
Takara Replica Microman characters.
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