REVIEW: Microman MicroCommand M163 Smith (1999 Replica)

Produced by Takara | Released 1999

Readers over the age of 30 or so may see something familiar about this toy. Chances are if you grew-up in the late 70s you may have owned the Westernised version of this figure, which you'd know as the Micronauts Pharoid. However, his origins are a lot deeper than that, as we'll find out.

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.