| nough time, one boy’s toy is an antique | | | | created enough of a back story for Marvel Comics to |
| collector’s prized possession. Strange as that | | | | get a good run of comics. Mego got several years of |
| may sound, there are many collectors who would love | | | | good sales, which was about the same size as Star |
| to see an original G.I. Joe or an original Star Wars | | | | Wars figures, before the whole company went down. |
| action figure. Remember He-Man? Action figures tend | | | | The basic construction of the Micronauts action figure |
| to be based on shows, movies, or comics that always | | | | would soon be utilized by Hasbro for their new action |
| have a following, and therefore even years after | | | | figures: the now famous and very collectible 3-3/4" G.I. |
| companies stop producing the figures, there are | | | | Joes (an action figure famous amongst young boys of |
| individuals who still seek to collect them. There are | | | | the time for their propensity to have bad run-ins with |
| many a man who think of all the G.I. Joes they blew up | | | | fireworks). In recent years, the Micronauts concept has |
| with fireworks, only to find out twenty years later how | | | | enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence. There has been |
| many hundreds or even thousands of dollars their | | | | a decently successful series of comic books, a trilogy |
| collection would have been worth if it remained in mint | | | | of paperback novels, and a toy company called |
| condition! | | | | Palisades managed to re-create many of the original |
| One interesting story dealing with action figures | | | | Micronauts molds. Now the original company is coming |
| involves Takara, a Japanese toy company. They are | | | | out with larger action figures based on the originals. |
| best known to modern toy collectors as the company | | | | Like many classics, companies want to keep dipping |
| that built the original Transformers action figures. In | | | | back for more. Why mess with success? Still |
| 1974 Takara created a 4-inch humanoid action figure, | | | | it’s the old action figures that gain the most |
| which was called "MicroMan." In the late 70's and early | | | | attention from collectors, so if you’re thinking |
| 80's this toy was brought over to the United States by | | | | about putting out the old toys from twenty years ago |
| the Mego Toy company, which was desperate for a | | | | out in the garage sale, maybe think twice and take a |
| hit after they made the famous blunder of passing on | | | | second look before putting the boxes out. |
| Star Wars. They re-named the line "Micronauts", and | | | | |