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Micronauts: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus #2
The Micronauts: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus, Vol. 2
Reprinted for the first time ever! Marvel's second Micronauts Omnibus begins with an explosive six-part origin of the Microverse! Commander Rann and his band of freedom fighters must find three keys to stave off a time of darkness while remaining one step ahead of the mad King Argon. To do that, they'll need help. Enter: Doctor Strange! The Micronauts will also discover a pair of new recruits: the friendly but ferocious Devil and his companion Fireflyte. In a return to Earth, our heroes end up in the X-Men's Danger Room, pursued by the killer metamorph Huntarr. The action reaches a crescendo as the Micronauts are drawn back to Homeworld once again to fight against Argon - and Baron Karza! Collecting MICRONAUTS (1979) #30-54.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
888 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2024
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Bill Mantlo
1,398 books44 followersWilliam Timothy Mantlo is an American comic book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics.
(source: Wikipedia)
(source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 26, 2026
El tomo arranca con fuerza, explorando nuevos escenarios del microverso (Muy influidos por Flash Gordon, eso sí) y promete renovación. Sin embargo, a medida que avanza, recae en argumentos y temas ya vistos en el volumen anterior, mientras que las apariciones estelares de personajes de Marvel resultan superfluas y no aportan gran cosa.
A esto se suma un caótico relevo de dibujantes, todos competentes, pero lastrados por un entintado desastroso de Bulanadi, que llega a uniformizar los estilos de Gil Kane y Steve Ditko.
La situación mejora en el último tercio gracias a la llegada de Guice al dibujo y a un argumento que remonta, ganando en intensidad y dramatismo. Eso sí, la parodia del cine de gánsteres en los últimos episodios me parece un paso atrás que resta coherencia al conjunto.
En conjunto, me parece es un volumen ameno pero irregular, con momentos brillantes y otros que decepcionan.
A esto se suma un caótico relevo de dibujantes, todos competentes, pero lastrados por un entintado desastroso de Bulanadi, que llega a uniformizar los estilos de Gil Kane y Steve Ditko.
La situación mejora en el último tercio gracias a la llegada de Guice al dibujo y a un argumento que remonta, ganando en intensidad y dramatismo. Eso sí, la parodia del cine de gánsteres en los últimos episodios me parece un paso atrás que resta coherencia al conjunto.
En conjunto, me parece es un volumen ameno pero irregular, con momentos brillantes y otros que decepcionan.
December 17, 2024
The first third of the book treads water. But once it starts to get better around #43, it never lets on, the Butch Guice issues towards the end being the best of the bunch. #49, in particular, is pure Marvel Magic.
The Omnibus itself, like the previous volume, is beautifully put together, and this time they thankfully got someone who can actually write an introduction instead of Chris Ryall. Bring on volume 3!
The Omnibus itself, like the previous volume, is beautifully put together, and this time they thankfully got someone who can actually write an introduction instead of Chris Ryall. Bring on volume 3!
May 1, 2025
I've liked this volume much better than volume one.
I've noticed a general trend, that many titles Marvel published improved significantly in the early to mid 80s, this is one of them. The artwork gets better, the writing is sharper and the stories become more mature and overarching.
This particular collection includes issues #30-54. Starting with issue #38 the book was exclusively sold to speciality shops (comic book stores, I suppose?) and increased in page length. This change had a very positive impact on the book. The stories are not as dense anymore and the writer decided to split the team into two. In addition these comics include commentary of the editor in chief, revealing very interesting behind-the-scenes information of the early 80s.
What I also really enjoyed is that there has been a plethora of new characters on both sides. New members for the Micronauts and new foes. All these changes are welcome, especially compared to the static roster featured in Vol. 1.
Some problems do remain however. The dialogue and text boxes are still too numerous for my taste, although it gets better with each issue. The main plot repeats itself and sometimes the book lacks direction, especially when it comes to Baron Karza. The female characters are not handled well, sadly. And finally, there's still a lot of inconsistencies and plot holes present.
Still, I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this volume and look forward to finish the saga with Vol. 3.
I've noticed a general trend, that many titles Marvel published improved significantly in the early to mid 80s, this is one of them. The artwork gets better, the writing is sharper and the stories become more mature and overarching.
This particular collection includes issues #30-54. Starting with issue #38 the book was exclusively sold to speciality shops (comic book stores, I suppose?) and increased in page length. This change had a very positive impact on the book. The stories are not as dense anymore and the writer decided to split the team into two. In addition these comics include commentary of the editor in chief, revealing very interesting behind-the-scenes information of the early 80s.
What I also really enjoyed is that there has been a plethora of new characters on both sides. New members for the Micronauts and new foes. All these changes are welcome, especially compared to the static roster featured in Vol. 1.
Some problems do remain however. The dialogue and text boxes are still too numerous for my taste, although it gets better with each issue. The main plot repeats itself and sometimes the book lacks direction, especially when it comes to Baron Karza. The female characters are not handled well, sadly. And finally, there's still a lot of inconsistencies and plot holes present.
Still, I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this volume and look forward to finish the saga with Vol. 3.
February 15, 2025
It's a little hard to look back at how Micronauts must have been seen at the time. But it was a long-running science-fiction epic, in a period in which such was entirely unknown in mainstream American comics. It was also a comic with deeply realized characters, even at Marvel. Definitely innovative and groundbreaking.
With that said, this volume becomes a bit repetitive. After a fun MacGuffin quest really highlighting the varied terrains of Homeworld, the Micronauts are suddenly facing off against another tyrant there and then knocked away to random adventures on Earth.
Things do pick up in the latter half of the volume, as the Micronauts get split up and we return to the Homeworld narrative while also learning more interesting bits of history while on Earth. The return of Biotron as a giant ship is definitely one of the high points, because it's so evocative of action-figure toys.
But the comic still wavers: the two issues of gangsters in the Microverse that end the volume were likely inspired by a similar premise on Star Trek TOS, but here it just seems like satire.
I gave this volume 3.5 stars. It was a slow read due to the density of Mantlo's writing, but several of the arcs are pretty memorable.
With that said, this volume becomes a bit repetitive. After a fun MacGuffin quest really highlighting the varied terrains of Homeworld, the Micronauts are suddenly facing off against another tyrant there and then knocked away to random adventures on Earth.
Things do pick up in the latter half of the volume, as the Micronauts get split up and we return to the Homeworld narrative while also learning more interesting bits of history while on Earth. The return of Biotron as a giant ship is definitely one of the high points, because it's so evocative of action-figure toys.
But the comic still wavers: the two issues of gangsters in the Microverse that end the volume were likely inspired by a similar premise on Star Trek TOS, but here it just seems like satire.
I gave this volume 3.5 stars. It was a slow read due to the density of Mantlo's writing, but several of the arcs are pretty memorable.
November 23, 2025
Realmente, a mí solo me interesaban en principio los cómics de esta serie dibujados por Michael Golden y, en mucha menor medida, los de Pat Broderick y Armando Gil, pero decidí adquirir este segundo volumen por Gil Kane, uno de mis artistas favoritos de todos los tiempos. Vaya decepción.
Las tintas de Bulanadi son, en una palabra, horribles. Destruyen todo lápiz al cual se adhieren, como un parásito infectándolo. Supongo que un mal artista las agradecería, pero Kane... en fin, un auténtico espanto. El resto del volumen es simplemente meh, aunque mejora hacia el final con un primerizo pero bastante resultón Jackson Guice entintándose a sí mismo. La historia no es nada del otro mundo, aunque debo decir que el famoso número 50 me impresionó por la carnicería de personajes que en él se lleva a cabo. Un movimiento bastante valiente por parte de Mantlo, la verdad, si bien Micronauts siempre fue un cómic de nicho y, me atrevería a decir, ya prácticamente condenado a desaparecer por aquellos días (muy pronto pasaría a bimestral, tras haber intentado sobrevivir a duras penas en el mercado de ventas directas).
Bueno, algo más que mediocre, algo menos que notable. Dejémoslo en aceptable.
Las tintas de Bulanadi son, en una palabra, horribles. Destruyen todo lápiz al cual se adhieren, como un parásito infectándolo. Supongo que un mal artista las agradecería, pero Kane... en fin, un auténtico espanto. El resto del volumen es simplemente meh, aunque mejora hacia el final con un primerizo pero bastante resultón Jackson Guice entintándose a sí mismo. La historia no es nada del otro mundo, aunque debo decir que el famoso número 50 me impresionó por la carnicería de personajes que en él se lleva a cabo. Un movimiento bastante valiente por parte de Mantlo, la verdad, si bien Micronauts siempre fue un cómic de nicho y, me atrevería a decir, ya prácticamente condenado a desaparecer por aquellos días (muy pronto pasaría a bimestral, tras haber intentado sobrevivir a duras penas en el mercado de ventas directas).
Bueno, algo más que mediocre, algo menos que notable. Dejémoslo en aceptable.
February 28, 2025
Rating 3.5
In order to analyze this series, one has to keep in mind that we are talking about and early 80's book aimed to a young audience. If we consider this fact, we can safely say that Mantlo did a great and at times even daring job. Despite some convoluted plot points and unbelievable pseudo -scientific concepts (but that's what comics were at the time and why they were fun), he managed to introduce mature moments and consequences, too. People die, sometimes Micronauts kill, and I have to say there is less humour now and more tragic events (that's not always good). Unfortunately, there are some problems that drag the rating a little lower: namely, after the first great arc, we meander in a repeat of the early Micronauts' adventures when they were stranded on Earth until a return to form with the last numbers. Behind-the-scene events, editorial mandates and the will to appease the readers influenced the series, and not always in a good way.
P.s: The Sword In The Star section itself is a 5/5 epic tale of great magnitude. What a fine piece of comic book art.
In order to analyze this series, one has to keep in mind that we are talking about and early 80's book aimed to a young audience. If we consider this fact, we can safely say that Mantlo did a great and at times even daring job. Despite some convoluted plot points and unbelievable pseudo -scientific concepts (but that's what comics were at the time and why they were fun), he managed to introduce mature moments and consequences, too. People die, sometimes Micronauts kill, and I have to say there is less humour now and more tragic events (that's not always good). Unfortunately, there are some problems that drag the rating a little lower: namely, after the first great arc, we meander in a repeat of the early Micronauts' adventures when they were stranded on Earth until a return to form with the last numbers. Behind-the-scene events, editorial mandates and the will to appease the readers influenced the series, and not always in a good way.
P.s: The Sword In The Star section itself is a 5/5 epic tale of great magnitude. What a fine piece of comic book art.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews