MicroHeritge - Henshin Cyborg

MICRO-HERITAGE
Takara Henshin Cyborg (1974-Present)

1972-1974 SERIES

CYBORG ONE
Gray Cyborg One
Gold Cyborg One
Silver Cyborg One
Blue Cyborg One

KING WALDER
Yellow KW
Purple KW
Blue KW
Green KW

ORIGINAL SHONEN CYBORG
Gold Shonen Cyborg
Silver Shonen Cyborg
Blue Shonen Cyborg

JAGUAR CYBORG
Silver Jaguar
Gold Jaguar
Blue Jaguar

ACCESSORIES

COSTUMES
Hero Costumes Series
King Walder Costumes
Shonen Costumes
Jaguar Costumes

WEAPONS SET
Cyborg Weapon Sets
Walder Weapon Sets
Shonen Weapon Sets
Jaguar Weapon Sets

PLAY-SETS
Cyborg Cycle Set
Cyborg Cycle
Cyborg Side-car
Cyborg Mini-Cycle
Cyborg Station GX1

MISC.
Communication Gears
Cycle Accessories

1975 SERIES

ANDROID A
Android A
Super Android A
Machine Android A

INVADER
Invader O
Invader Z
Invader J

WEAPONS SET
Android A Victory Sets
Invader Weapon Sets

PLAY-SETS
Invader UFO-7
Invader Command Chair

Takara released the first Henshin Cyborg in late 1972, three years prior to the debut of Microman. Henshin Cyborg, interestingly, was based on the popular GI Joe Combat Joe body. The toy is 12" (1/6 scale) clear body figure with visible "cyborg" and atomic power machinery inside. Takara also released several accessories and villain for the series, most notably were the fabric costumes for the cyborg. The costumes were from the popular kid TV show like the Ultraman and Kamen Rider series. The first series of costume heroes actually came out in 1971 using Takara New Combat Joe body licensed from Hasbro. In 1974, Takara decided to shrink the Henshin Cyborg to 10cm and released them as Microman, thus explain the clear body, chrome head and chest piece on the barefoot Microman.

Takara reintroduced Henshin Cyborg in 1998. The first Cyborg was released as part of the Goa Gai Gar toy line. Takara later released the same figure but with cyborg core head and clear human head as Neo Cyborg. The new cyborg was quite popular but then Takara over saturated the market with not just redeco version of the same body but also with each redeco came two or four more variations of the weapon accessories. Eventually many collectors got tired and the Neo Cyborg end up being discount by many dealers. Toward the end of the Neo Cyborg line Takara released the only outfit for the figure call Tecto-Armor.

With the dismal success of the Neo Cyborg, Takara in 1999 decided to take different route for the new Henshin Cyborg call Cyborg 99 (Double-nine). The new Henshin Cyborg look a lot like the original Cyborg and Takara also produce fabric costumes for the figures. Double-Nine Cyborg have magnetic arm joints and magnemo-11 ports on his back. The internal "machinery" has also been streamline and gone are the LED chest light of Neo Cyborg. The toy so far is very popular with collectors. Takara no longer saturated the market with tons of re-paints, instead they concentrated on making costumes and also the new enemy call King Walder II (which has the same body as Double-Nine but with different internal organ and head).

Seeing the success of Microman Reissue line, Takara decided in 2000 to issue reproduction version of Henshin Cyborg instead of producing any new design. While it is great for collector that Takara decided to reissue the vintage Cyborg, it is unfortunate that it has to come at the expense of a new Cyborg design. Takara start the Reissue Cyborg Series with the Shonen Cyborg (Kid Cyborg). Shonen Cyborg is 8" tall child Cyborg. Along with Shonen Cyborg, Takara also reproduce his nemesis King Walder Jr. which is a 8" version of the original King Walder. The original Shonen Cyborg was sold in England briefly as Denny Fisher Cyborg along with 8" version of Android A call Android and 8" version of King Walder call Muton. (8" Android and 8" Muton were never sold in Japan). Takara have also announced a plan for 8" version of Satan King and Skeleton King.

COOL CYBORG LINKS

For more info on original Henshin Cyborg check out the following site the Tool's site (Japanese).

For more info and pictures of Neo Cyborg please check out : Randall E. Barker's Robotcity. Also check out The Tool's Neo & Cyborg99. (Japanese)

CYBORG STORY (courtesy of Randall E. Barker, as translated by Matt Alt)

THE BIRTH OF NEO HENSHIN CYBORG

Neo Henshin Cyborg 1 was previously known as Ken-Ichi Katagai, a brave Japanese man. In the year 1999, he was attacked in Africa by the flying saucers of King Walder, the ruler of space; he suffered mortal injuries along with his wife and his brother Kengo. His father was a scientist who carried out cyborg research at his Neo Nautilus base deep in the sea of Japan. Now Dr. Katagai bestowed the gift of a cyborg operation on his dying sons. With the revived Ken-Ichi now known as "Cyborg 1" and Kengo as "Cyborg 2," the brothers combined their powers to fight their alien enemy Walder. The cyborgs were also joined by others who helped protect the peace in space, including Microman and Android A. Although their planets of birth were different, all came together behind Cyborg 1 to implement the "Victory Project," a plan to achieve peace by repelling the numerous invaders. When the battles finally subsided, peace reigned for a time. However, Walder was not dead. One day, Cyborg 1 was patrolling the Red Galaxy Planet. Suddenly he found himself under attach by surviving remnants of Walder's forces. Cyborg 1's nuclear engine -- what would be termed a "heart" in a human being -- was destroyed, and he was buried deep beneath the planet's surface in an apparent state of death.

THE CYBORG 1 RESCUE PLAN

Twenty years have passed. It is the year 2025, and Earth again finds itself under attack by invading forces. Suddenly, a single signal is received by Dr. Katagai. "That's the sound of Cyborg 1's signal!" Using his brain-circuitry, Android A is quickly able to discern that the ultra short-wave signal is emanating from the Red Galaxy Planet. Android A and Microman Tom went to Red Galaxy Planet and rescued Cyborg One. Cyborg One was rebuild into Neo Cyborg.

1998 SERIES

NEO CYBORG

SERIES 1
Yellow
Silver
Gold

SERIES 2
Smoke
Blue
Red

EXCLUSIVE
Gunmetal
Copper
Stealth

PPFM EXCLUSIVE
P-02

P-03

P-04

WALDER VINYL FIGURES
Aliens Invader O,Z,J

Walder Monsters

EXCLUSIVE MAIL-AWAY

Clear Invader Z