Putting the Action Back in the Figure

One of the first 'action figures' I bought was the Power Droid from the Star Wars line. Basically, a plastic box with two stumpy legs. Kenners answer to the Star Wars phenomenon was a late release of stiff, benignly smiling plastic dolls, that moved at shoulders and hips and were moulded as if standing to attention. They were appallingly bad and compared to G.I Joe figures, were drastically inferior. But at least two years prior to that, Denys Fisher had released a licenced version of the 'Henshin' Cyborg figure and after that Airfix brought out the Mego Micronauts line, which featured ultra poseable 3" versions of the cyborg figure. It took many years for western companies to catch up with japanese manufacturers and even now, the gap in production and design is massive. Micronauts and its progenitor Takara's Microman line are easily one of my favourite action figures, but besides those there are thousands of lines which only now are finding their way to Europe.

One odd line of figures and models is Mechatro WeGo, a stylised 'powered suit', built not for warfare, but as a means to get future japanese schoolchildren to classes safely. Essentially a wearable robot, the WeGo are marketed in all kinds of colours and designs and the toys and models come in a range of sizes. Hasegawa make a great range of 1/20 scale kits, that snap together easily allowing a lot of scope for customisation.

https://youtu.be/KJFhcF2Whmk

This smaller 3.5" version is a diecast body, with detachable plastic Helicopter accessory. It has several removeable hatches, opeing visor, moveable hands and is extremely poseable, showing off the comic character of the figures.

The Takara Microman range reached UK shores in a limited fashion, via a deal with Mego in the US, which was then sub contracted to Airfix in the UK. The main figure in this Micronauts line was branded a 'Time Traveller' and was a transparent figure with chrome head and chestpiece. Again, the poseability of the figure was amazing and the line of interchangeable vehicles left Star Wars toys standing for playability. One of the larger toys was called Robotman or Biotron in the Uk and could carry a Micronaut figure in the chest.

Biotron was about 18" tall and motorised so it could walk and also power a set of tank treads on its back.

A few years ago an independant company released a 4" high 'tribute' to the toy, which echoed the overall design without actually infringing copyright. The Perfect Effect Robot and Starpilot is easily one of the best action figures I have ever had. Its robust, extremely well made and beautifully designed. Its massively poseable and has a set if removeable treads on the back that converts into a minitank for the tiny 1" pilot in the chest cavity.

Again, it lends itself well to customisation and accepts a lot of the weapons and gadgets that come with Microman figures.

Finally, a range of tiny buildable figures which are again based on the Microman line. I'm unsure what the name if the line is, but my good friend and collector Charles sent me a batch of loose figures and some custom metal heads designed to look like the Acroyear figures in the Micronauts comics. 

The figures come on sprues and are built up around a  head/spine and are extremely poseable. Ankles, knees, hips, elbows and shoulders all move on tiny ball joints and the feet hold miniscule magnets allowing them to clamp onto metal stands or magnetic surfaces for stability. A range of tiny weapons can be added too. The overall height is just under an inch, amazing!

If only we had figures like this growing up!