NEWS: Assemble Borg Coming to US?

News from the Micropolis Embassy mailing list - group member Tekwych has spotted an interesting App on the iOS App Store: the Assemble Borg App.

Assemble Borg, for those unfamiliar with the toys, are a line of interchangeable, highly-poseable sci-fi characters from manufacturer Kaiyodo.  This new line uses the Revoltech line and features characters based upon completely new designs and concepts.  And - to be honest - there's more than a passing resemblance to Microman/Henshin Cyborg (especially King Walder) figures.

REVIEW: Marvel Universe's Mystique

Mystique is the ultimate super-spy, a shape-shifting mutant capable of impersonating anybody and anyone.  As such, she's served both sides, aligning herself with whichever individual or group would help her own cause.  Yet despite her ruthlessness and hatred of homo sapiens, she's also been a mother (and mother-figure) to a number of mutants, including the X-Men's Nightcrawler and Rogue.

Today I'm looking at Marvel Universe's Mystique (as if the title above wasn't enough of a give-away.)

REVIEW: Iron Man 2's Fury of Combat Multi-Pack

As commander of the world's most powerful and secret spy organization, Nick Fury tried not to get directly involved in combat.  Still, there's always a time to make an exception.  IRON MAN is the centerpiece of all his carefully laid plans, so Fury has no reservations about jumping right into the fight.

Hasbro's Toys-R-Us exclusive triple-pack, the Fury of Combat, is their latest Movie Series combo-pack, featuring Iron Man (Mark VI), twin Ground Assault Drones and - let's face it, the reason you'll buy it - Nick Fury.  As I've mentioned before, Hasbro's Marvel toys are a schizophrenic bunch.  Some are excellent, some not so great.  So how does the Fury of Combat pack shape-up?  Is it another Iron Monger or Silver Centurion?  Is it more Hasselhoff than Jackson?

NEWS: Matt Doughty Talks Outer Space Men

It'sAllTrue.net has scooped a behind-the-scenes interview with Onell Design's Matt Doughty, creator of the Glyos line and co-creator of the newly reborn Outer Space Men.

As well as discussing his influences and how the new Outer Space Men came about, Matt also reveals a few secrets about origins of the Glyos line.  Check it out, Phanboy!

NEWS: Microman Forever Back Online

We're pleased to announce that the invaluable Microman resource site Microman Forever is back online.

As we reported last week, the site went offline with no prior warning and attempts to access the site resulted in 404 Not Found errors.  Given that Microman Forever had not been updated for over a year, combined with the lack of new releases from Takara-Tomy and the financial burden of maintaining the site, it was assumed that creator and owner Paul L. had decided to retire the site.

However, following a number of concerned posts in the Micropolis Embassy group, Paul came forward to explain that the company that hosted Microman Forever had ceased trading.  He's since moved the site to a new server with a new company and stated that the ''awesome'' donations drive last year will see it online for at least the next three years.  Now the server issues have been resolved, Paul has also commented on adding some new updates in the near future, so stay tuned!

Welcome back Paul - your site is an inspiration and valuable resource to Microfans around the world and we're very glad to see it back online.

REVIEW: Marvel's Greatest Battles Comic Pack - Spider-Man and Sentry

With dozens of super-powered criminals suddenly free and on the run, the reformed AVENGERS are stretched to their limit. Even the most powerful collection of heroes in the world may not be enough to recapture so many dangerous individuals. So now the AVENGERS seek out the most powerful being on the planet - the SENTRY.  SPIDER-MAN and the other AVENGERS must help him rebuild his shattered psyche before the villains overwhelm them.

Today I'm taking a look at the latest Marvel's Greatest Battles Comic Pack - Spider-Man and Sentry.

The former is - I'm sure - familiar to even non-Marvel readers, but who is Sentry and why is he the ''most powerful being on the planet?''  As Stan Lee would say, ''Read on and find out, true believer!''

NEWS: Microman ForNever?

It appears that the world's premier Microman site, Microman Forever, has closed-down.

In his last few updates, site-owner Paul commented that he was having troubles with the website in the form of Trojan attacks to the server and then issues with his PC crashing whenever he attempted to upload any new content.  Given the fact that the site had not been updated for over a year, combined with the 404 error messages generated when trying to access it, it looks like the site hosting has been left to expire.

If this is the case, then it's sad to see Microman Forever go-under, as it was Paul's superb website that got me back into collecting Microman.  And as one of the few English-language sites dedicated to Takara's toys Microman Forever will be sorely missed.

EDIT: Good news, everybody!  I spoke with Bryan ''Microbry'' Wilkinson who has, in turn, spoken to Paul L. and he confirmed the site will be back online in the near future.  Panic over!

REVIEW: Micronauts Galactic Defender (Palisades 2003 Replica)

Equipped with super-powerful weapons and heavy armor, Galactic Defender is the Microverse's main line of defense against marauding aliens and the legions of Baron Karza.

Today I'm doing a retro-review that - in itself - is a reissue of a retro figure.  Confused?  Allow me to explain.  The Galactic Defender was one of the Mego Micronauts issued as part of 1979's wave of toys.  The figure itself has an interesting history and illustrates how well Mego mastered the art of the toy mash-up.  Based upon the Microman Command M17X, the figure used accessories from the Micro Hoodman line to create - in effect - a new toy.

Then in 2003, Palisades released their tribute to the 1970s classic in the form of the new Galactic Defender and it's that figure I'm taking a look at today. 

NEWS: Gendrone - The Web Comic

Matt Doughty of Onell Design has teamed-up with artist Ralph Neise to produce a new online comic, The Gendrone Chronicles.

With a style harking back to 1980s Marvel with a heavy Kirby influence, The Gendrone Chronicles is set within Onell Design's Glyos universe and follows Gendrone Argen in his cosmic quest to bring freedom to his oppressed Buildman brothers.

There are only a couple of pages up so far, but what's there is already engaging and I look forward to seeing more of the Glyos universe...

Check it out, true believer!

NEWS: New Custom Corp Release from Onell Design

During the Old War, many horrible weapons of mass destruction were created and put to use, bringing the entire Glyos System to the brink of absolute devastation. Even the great symbol of peace, the mighty Gobon Gendrone, was corrupted by the desperate hands of aggression. Many Gobons tried to resist their new missions, but in the end they each carried out their orders with deadly efficiency.

Only the appearance of an ancient enemy, the Villser, was able to restore unity, as all of Glyos rallied to stop the Villser threat...

Head over now to Onell Design to find out more about this new release, set to go on sale this Thursday.  But be warned: the Custom Corps always release in limited numbers and with all the good press Glyos and Onell Design have garnered recently, you can bet they'll be gone fast.

UPDATE: Matt has announced that the custom Gobons will retail at $35 and should be available for sale from 9 PM EST tonight.  Good hunting!