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1980 Microman Series

Microman Punch Series - Punch Robo with Microman P.05 Magnum (c.1980)

  

Microman Punch

Microman Series

 

1974

Microman Zone
First year included the Founder Microman, Micro Kit Machines and the Conning Tower.

 

1975

Project Victory
Second year saw more Microman and several new sub series such as the Acroyears, Titans and Victory series.

 

1976

Spy Magician

The line finally came into its own during the third year with new figures and the classic Microman Transfer Fortress.

 

1977

Command
A watershed year for Microman series, this year saw some of the best toys for the line. 

 

1978

Police Keeper

Takara tried new design and direction for the series with the released of Hoodman and Arden. 

 

1979

Rescue Team
Takara "rescue" attempt for the line with the Rescue Team Microman.  This year also saw updated of the old favorite like the New Tower Base.

 

1980

Punch & Blizzard Man
The last year of the original series saw the shift in the line to more robot like look and larger figures.

 

New Microman Series

 

1981

New Microman
Takara reset the line and relaunch the series under the New Microman banner.

 

1982

Micro Robot
Micro Robot series became the main focus of the new line.  Takara also tried to cash in on the "pla-mo" popularity with Real Type and Micro Borg.

 

1983

Micro Change
The "transformation" for Microman series began with the Micro Change series.

 

1984

Transformers

Takara continued with the successful Micro Change series but the changing of the guard was inevitable.

Punch Robo & Microman P.05

Package

 

Microman Punch Series

 

Punch Robo with P.05 Magnum

Released : 4/1980

Retail Price : 1800 Yen

 

 

 

Punch Robo was sold in light blue box similar in design as Punch Microman packaging. The blue box design is carry over from the previous Rescue Team series. The box lid has partially cut out die-cut window so actual toy is shown through. The toys are packaged inside styrofoam tray.

 

Instruction & Insert

Punch Robo comes with black and white paper instruction.

 

Punch Robo Pilot Included

 

Punch Robo comes with P.05 Magnum Punch Microman (Gold plated color). Magnum was formerly Microman Rescue Team M283 Clark. He was severely injured by Death King and was rebuilt into Punch Microman. P.05 figure was also available as individual figure.

 

P.05, being odd number member of Punch Microman, comes with blue Punch Armor, red metal stand and he has the "karate chop" action feature.

 

Punch Microman Story

Microman Punch bulky body armor are to protect them from the super-weapon plasma ray that was being used by Interstellar Death King.  They also have Punch Armor that gave them 100 times the strength of normal Microman. When Interstellar Death King used Plasma Ray to destroy the new Conning Tower, he also severely damaged M253, M253, M273 & M283. (Note: they were all the third member of the Rescue Team)  Microman M111 & M112 volunteered to become the first Microman Punch since they were already mostly make up of mechanical organs.   M111 was rebuild into P.06 to interface with Punch Machine (he later piloted Punch Jet), his successful operation led to rebuild of damaged M283 Clark into P.05 Magnum to interface with another Punch Machine - the Punch Robo. After successful operations on the M111 & M112, the severely damage Rescue Microman were then revived as Microman Punch. Punch Project which included the Punch Armors, and the Punch Machines were design to combat the Emperor Death King.

 

 

Takara released Punch Robo in April of 1980 along with the rest of Punch Microman figures. (P.01-P.06). Punch Robo was retail for 1800 Yen which is not a bad deal consider Punch Microman figure cost 850 Yen. Punch Robo is the first of the two Punch Machine toys which includes Punch Robo and later release Punch Jet. Punch Robo is another piloted mecha-robot along the same idea as Robotman and Robot Machine-Z. Punch Robo design while still retains the familiar red and blue scheme of Rescue series is clearly the start of the new direction for Microman series. Punch Robo is not a very large toy and stands only about 20cm tall (double the height of regular Microman). The chest open up and Microman Punch figure can be insert as pilot. The design feature of Punch series also hints at the thing to come like the later New Microman Armor Suits series and the Mighty Suits. 

 

  

 

 

 

Punch Robo has transformation feature, by rearranging the legs section and folds up the back section, Punch Robo can be transform into plane mode. The nose section of the plane mode has spring-load launcher. Punch Robo also has fist launching feature but strangely this is only on his left arm. The toy has several 5mm ports and one can clearly uses part from other Microman toys.  Punch Robo also includes Microman pilot figure, Punch Microman P.05 Magnum.  Punch Microman is also a big departure in design from previous Microman figures. Punch Microman are larger than regular Microman, they have chrome body (similar to the Micro Knight) with big glove hands. The chest and feet have magnet blocks. The figure also comes with armor and helmet accessories along with a small chrome mace weapon (a nod to the Spy Magician). The armors are evolution from the Rescue Power-up set that would eventually lead to the Mighty Suit and Armor Suit series. Punch figures also have action feature, they have a button on their back that swing the figure left arm.  The odd figures have "chopping" action while the even figures do the uppercut.

Microman Punch and Blizzard toys are the first series to suggest the change in direction of Microman line. The designs of Punch Robo and other toys in the series are more in common with the later Diaclone series and this was no coincidence. By 1980, Microman line was vey old and Takara was looking for a way to compete with the popularity of robot toys from other company such as Popy and Clover. 1980 line-up is very small when compare to other series, this is because Takara have decided to "reset" the line and relaunch Microman series to gain better market share. Microman line was reintroduced in 1981 as New Microman along with new series Diaclone which taken the giant robot part of Microman (the Punch Robo, and Death King) and fully expand it into a line focus on large size robots. A look at the toys in Diaclone line like Robot Base, one can clearly trace them back to the Punch Robo and Death King.