The Micronauts: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus, Vol. 1

Micronauts: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus #1

by Bill Mantlo

From out of the Microverse, the Omnibus you thought could never happen! Helmed by writer Bill Mantlo, MICRONAUTS brought together the subatomic heroes of Homeworld and the Marvel Universe! And Mantlo's rich character mythology, combined with groundbreaking artwork by Michael Golden, made the series an instant classic. The Micronauts - Commander Rann, Princess Mari, Biotron, Acroyear and Bug - traverse their universe aboard the microship Endeavor as they struggle to free Homeworld from the tyrannical Baron Karza! Their exploits also bring them to Earth, where our micro-sized heroes encounter big-time Marvel heroes and villains - including the Fantastic Four, S.H.I.E.L.D., Captain Universe and Man-Thing! This Omnibus edition presents a stunning restoration, complete with letters pages and host of bonus material, including house ads, original artwork and more!  THE MICRONAUTS (1979) #1-29 & ANNUAL (1979) #1-2 and material from MICRONAUTS SPECIAL EDITION (1983) #1-5

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Space Opera, Comic Book, Superheroes

744 pages, Hardcover

First published April 16, 2024

About the author

William Timothy Mantlo is an American comic book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics.
(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This omnibus collects Micronauts 1-29 plus annuals 1 & 2 and some extra bits.

I read the single issues of The Micronauts in that hazy time before my son was born and I had loads of time on my hands. I thought it was great and a forgotten gem. After reading this omnibus, I still dig the hell out of it.

The Micronauts are visually based on the toy line of the same name but the story is all Bill Mantlo. Born out of Christmas morning experience with his son, Mantlo spun up a planet and dimension spanning tale between the Micronauts and their arch-nemesis, the Darth Vaderesque Baron Karza. I'm not going to get into the nuts and bolts of the blot but the characters battle two world-threatening menaces in just two and a half years and come out damaged both times.

Bill Mantlo writes the tale with Michael Golden, Howard Chaykin, Pat Broderick, and others handling the art chores. Visually, it's a great looking book for the time period, especially during the Golden years. Mantlo's writing feels like he's channeling the best of Jack Kirby's Fourth World and Stan Lee's Fantastic Four at times. It's pretty inventive stuff.

[Alberto Martín de Hijas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sobre la base de una franquicia de muñecos Mantlo crea una serie de aventuras espaciales entretenida (Y muy influida por Star Wars) Los números dibujados por Golden son especialmente buenos.

[Simon Walpole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork is patchy and the early stories aren't great but they both build to a great finale. Loved it and many happy memories as I read them first in the early 80's

[Bob Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Golden's run is literally Golden.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering that it's a comic series based on a toy line that was ITSELF a mash-up of imported and re-packaged toys from unrelated lines in Asia (did you follow that? yeah it's a wee bit complicated...)...well, this is kind of a gonzo, crazy imaginative, out-there sci fi comic. I read this title sporadically as a kid, since all my comics came from convenience and drug stores and so were by nature sporadic. I loved the sheer creativity of the world building as a youngster, with touches of everything from 'Flash Gordon' to '2001 A Space Odyssey' in there, and turns out I love it just as much as an adult. Some of the toy tie-in comics were just insanely creative, the writers being given essentially total freedom, aside from perhaps defined "good guys" and "bad guys", other than that they could go berserk. They didn't necessarily have to really "gel" with the established Marvel Universe, although they generally did have some requisite "guest appearances" from other Marvel characters. Generally, however, they could function in their own "universes", which allowed the writers to really run wild if they wanted to. Bill Mantlo took that freedom and made the most of it with 'Micronauts', inventing a whole "Microverse" full of worlds, species, and technology. Oh, and the early conceit that the characters were the ACTUAL SIZE OF THE TOYS when on Earth might seem corny...until the reader sees the four-inch tall folks dealing with a normal-Earth-sized lawnmower. The art in some of the issues is insanely creative as well!

[Sebastian Lauterbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comic taken straight out of license and bronze age hell.

Marvel Comics decided to create a comic book story out of a line of toys. The first story arc in here is incredibly close to the original Star Wars saga. Droids, a princess, a gunslinger, a sword fighter, aliens, a mysterious force and a Darth Vader lookalike. Yet the first 13 issues in here are charming and satisfying.

What follows in the second half of this book is an incredible nosedive. The story has no reason to continue and the book meanders until it eventually just repeats the first story line again, by simply reviving all the villains.

All of this is coupled with the usual drawbacks of a comicbook from the early 80s: Women are defined solely by their affection to their male counterparts. The stories are aimed towards children and often don't work from an adult's perspective. What's worse is that the stories are full of small inconsistencies and larger plot holes; many of them revealed in the fan mail that is printed here.

The artwork is ok. Typical bronze age. The lettering is a nightmare; there's just too many textboxes.

There's a hint of intrigue hidden in these pages, but I wish there was a bit more to this series, so I cannot really recommend this.

[Tony Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the love of Dallan, my Prince! The Acroyear air patrol dogs our heels!"

Look, I absolutely love Bronze Age comics (1970-1985). Those are the comics that I grew up with. I love the covers, the style of the artwork, and the old school ads for a whole host of products that quite frankly I still want. And despite the clunky writing, I also appreciate the tried and true archetypes and their simple depictions of good and evil. And it's a toy tie-in. Sold!... Well, maybe not.

Holy [insert curse word here] this is bad.

The artwork is below the standards of your average Marvel series from the era, but it's the writing that sinks this series. I could give a monkey a laptop and they'd come up with better stories--and particularly dialog--than this.

BTW, if anyone out there has a monkey, I'd like to borrow him for a few hours and test this theory.

There's far too much fun Bronze Age stuff out there to waste your time on this ham-fisted clunker.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Micronauts is a bit of a wonder. Bill Mantlo took the superheroic Marvel universe and a few toys with no background and came up with a space odyssey. Oh, it's a little too influenced by Star Wars in its first few issues, but it quickly finds its feet and the first 11 (or 12 or 13) issues are really a masterpiece: a rebellion against a dark-armored dictator tied with character studies of a number of heroes.

The comic loses its way a bit in the middle of this omnibus, when the Micronauts journey through Earth for no particular reason and meet adversaries such as a dog and bug mutating scientist, but it recalls its strengths toward the end, even if it's another skirmish against the Micronaut's inaugural foes.

With the crew heading back to Homeworld at the end of this volume I hope the next volume will focus more on SF and less on The Incredible Shrinking Men (and bots and women).

[Gabriel Rojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting series full of love from the creative team. Lovely cast, interesting notions, amazing visuals (except for the middle issues by the dreadful Al Milgrom)... I just wish Mantlo had eased up on the expository dialogue. I generally don't mind expository dialogue in old comics, it's part of their charm and it had a reason to be, but this is just too much. It feels like every half issue is spent by the characters explaining who they are, what they can do, and what has happened to them since issue one. Only this prevents the book from getting a higher rating.
As for the Omnibus, it's visually stunning and fantastically put together. Chris Ryall's introduction is a bit dull, though, basically just a plot retelling. And careful with some of the bonus texts reprinted at the end, as they spoil events that will take place in volume 2.

[Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will always love this series!

These were my favorite childhood toys. This also happened to be one of the first comic book series I started collecting from issue #1. I was SO excited to finally see these remastered and available in digital format. My older eyes appreciate the guided view. Plus, it really showcases the artwork I love looking at! I never thought I'd see the day and I am grateful they came to terms with whatever copyright madness prevented this from happening.

I made sure to buy all three volumes before something pulls them off the "shelves” again like so many licensed properties. Lots of fun stories, artwork and nostalgia to look forward to. A lot of childhood and teenage memories collected here.

[Davide Pappalardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite some plotholes and elements very much of their time that stretch modern readers' suspension of disbelief, this is a great run deseving a 4 stars rating. Taking a clue or two from Star Wars and Kirby's Fourth World in the beggining, the series grows into its own thing during the course of a saga that doses the right amount of humour, action, sci-fantasy wonder and even drama. There are even hints of quite adult themes for the time, and the characterization is really top notch. I think Mantlo succeeded here in creating an influential part of Marvel's universe starting from a toy franchise, something he will try again with ROM, but achiving lesser results there, in my opinion.

[John Geddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked it up on a whim because I remembered enjoying the comic (and the toys) as a kid. I was pleasantly surprised how well it’s held up. Very strong story, character design and art. The author creates his own universe (which would have been a great Star Warsish movie) and then folds it seamlessly into the Marvel universe with team up with the Fantastic Four, Ant-Man and Nick Fury.

I know the rights are a thing, but this would be a good series to update and revisit.

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the those series where you could not wait for the next issue. While I may not get the vol 2 or 3, there was no way I was missing this one. Holds up well and brought me much joy. The beginning have some Star War rips but quickly distance itself in to a fun original story and fantastic art. Saving up for Rom Omnibus.

[Chris Tower · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great experience to reconnect with one of my favorite series from so many years ago. I have the other two volumes but not ready to dive in to those yet given how long it took me to read this one. Maybe after the new year because I need more short books to meet my reading goal. Still, reading this was well worth my time. I think of you often Bill Mantlo and wish you well.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved these comics as a kid, but I was not sure they’d hold up after more than 40 years. They may not be as great as I thought when I was 10, but they are plenty of fun. The art (especially the first 12 issues by Michael Golden) is fantastic, and the stories hold up pretty well.

[Robert Gilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book

It's a fun book full of nostalgia. I loved this series when it was coming out in the 70's. It was a great Space Fantasy with some strong similarities to Star Wars. Recommended.

[Darth Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Great art, and a better story than you'd think.

[Gar Berner · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st time I had a chance to check out this series since it’s original publication. Damn! These stories hold up and the art from Michael Golden and Pat Broderick is top notch!

[Michael Rickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading for the art alone. Bill Mantlo was a fantastic writer who could turn toy adaptations into engaging comic books. The first 12 issues are classics and the rest are very good.

[Ángel Javier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seamos sinceros: todos los que nos hemos comprado esto es por pura nostalgia.

Y, releyéndolo (porque yo me los leí de pequeñito, editados por Vértice, tal vez la editorial más nefasta que jamás haya publicado tebeos en España), uno se da perfecta cuenta de eso: es verdad que los primeros números al menos tienen un dibujo precioso de Michael Golden, pero el guion de Mantlo es topicazo tras topicazo tras topicazo: que si el héroe predestinado que vuelve de un viaje larguísimo; que si el científico malo que destrona a los reyes buenos; que si la princesa que se enamora automáticamente del héroe; que si la rebelión que lucha contra toda esperanza contra el malo maloso... en fin, lo dicho. Y encima, tras los primeros doce números, que se digieren incluso con gusto gracias a las ilustraciones, aparece en escena un auténtico «nightmare team» compuesto por un primerizo Chaykin a los bocetos, y a los acabados el siempre extremadamente incompetente Al Milgrom, un señor que debía de ser muy simpático para que le dieran trabajo en cualquier editorial de cómics respetable. Gracias a dios, esto dura poco y pronto aparecerá el sólido equipo formado por Pat Broderick y Armando Gil, que nos hará, al menos, no vomitar en cada viñeta.

Y eso sin contar los dos anuales incluidos en el volumen, con historias asombrosamente entretenidas, pero torpemente narradas por un Steve Ditko absolutamente crepuscular, una sombra del maravilloso artista que había sido. Una auténtica congoja para cualquier buen aficionado el ver al otrora maestro intentar pergeñar algo siquiera remotamente parecido a las fantásticas composiciones que le caracterizaban durante sus días de gloria.

Para rematar, recordar a todo el mundo que este chute de nostalgia vale 78 pavos, señores. Casi na...

[Ignacio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Los doce primeros números se dejan leer. Además del dibujo de un Golden aprendiendo el oficio, brillante cuando lo entinta Rubinstein, el guión de Mantlo es curioso. Explota sin reparos Star Wars, con unos rebeldes particularmente sádicos para igualar la maldad de ese Darth Vader con esteroides que es el Barón Karza. El resto, dos tercios del tomo, es bastante peor. Primero hay media docena de números dibujados por un Howard Chaykin entintado por Al Milgrom bastante ilegibles. Y después llega Pat Broderik con el entintado de Armando Gil que se revela como un competente seguidor de Golden. Luciría mejor si Mantlo no estuviera errático y no dejara de llenar todas las páginas con bocadillos interminables que no cuentan nada. Mejora levemente en el último tercio, cuando los micronautas regresan a nuestro mundo para tener un segundo clímax en su enfrentamiento con Karza, con Shield de por medio. Pero invita a leerse sobre todo mirando los dibujitos.

Recomendado exclusivamente a nostálgicos muy cafeteros.