Micronauts (comics)#The Microns

The Micronauts began life as comic book characters thanks to a fortuitous accident on Christmas 1977. Marvel Comics writer Bill Mantlo's son Adam opened a new present, a line of the Mego Corporation's Micronauts action figures. Seeing the toys, Mantlo was instantly struck by inspiration to write their adventures. Convincing then Editor-in-chief Jim Shooter to get the comics license for these toys, Mantlo was hired to script their series.{{cite journal|title = The Micronauts: Gil Kane Thinks Small|journal = Amazing Heroes|issue = 7|publisher = Fantagraphics Books|date = December 1981|location= Stamford, Connecticut|url = http://www.innerspaceonline.com/AH7.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060023/http://www.innerspaceonline.com/AH7.htm|archive-date=October 23, 2013 |url-status= live|access-date = September 23, 2013}} The Micronauts were integrated into the wider Marvel Universe and often met heroes and villains from other Marvel properties.

The first series of the Micronauts ran from January 1979 to August 1984 and included 59 issues{{gcdb series|id= 2514|title= Micronauts}} and two Annuals.{{gcdb series|id= 2515|title= Micronauts Annual}} The series was written by Bill Mantlo and featured art by Michael Golden.{{cite book |last1=Sanderson |first1=Peter |author-link=Peter Sanderson |title=Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History |last2=Gilbert |first2=Laura, ed. |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |year=2008 |isbn=978-0756641238 |location=London, United Kingdom |page=188 |chapter=1970s |quote=Writer Bill Mantlo and artist Michael Golden created a Marvel comic series around the Micronauts toys set in the Microverse.}}{{cite book|last = Nolen-Weathington|first = Eric|title = Modern Masters Volume 12: Michael Golden|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|year = 2007|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|pages = 17–19|isbn = 978-1893905740}} Other artists on the series included Howard Chaykin, Steve Ditko, Rich Buckler, Pat Broderick, Val Mayerik, Keith Giffen, Greg LaRocque, Gil Kane, Luke McDonnell, Mike Vosburg, Butch Guice, and Kelley Jones.{{cite journal|last= Lantz|first= James Heath|title= Inner-Space Opera: A Look at Marvel's Micronauts Comics|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 76|pages= 41–54|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= October 2014|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} Micronauts, along with Moon Knight and Ka-Zar the Savage, became one of Marvel's first ongoing series to be distributed exclusively to comic book stores beginning with issue #38 (Feb. 1982).{{cite journal|last = Catron|first = Michael|author-link = Michael Catron|title = Micronauts to be sold exclusively though comics shops|journal = Amazing Heroes|issue = 2|pages = 22–23|publisher = Fantagraphics Books|date = July 1981|location= Stamford, Connecticut}}

In the United Kingdom, The Micronauts was first included as a supporting strip in Marvel UK's Star Wars Weekly comic in January 1979 for several months and then in the first nine issues of Star Heroes Pocketbook, alongside Battlestar Galactica, before joining the new Future Tense reprint anthology.{{gcdb series|id= 61898|title= Future Tense}} Unlike the U.S. version, these strips were printed in black and white.

The Micronauts Special Edition five-issue limited series (December 1983-April 1984) reprinted issues #1–12 and a back-up feature from #25.{{gcdb series|id= 15020|title= Micronauts Special Edition}} The X-Men and the Micronauts four-issue limited series (January 1984–April 1984) was co-written by Mantlo and Chris Claremont and drawn by Butch Guice.{{gcdb series|id= 2901|title= The X-Men and the Micronauts}}

The second volume of Micronauts, subtitled The New Voyages, was published from October 1984 to May 1986 and ran 20 issues.{{gcdb series|id= 2881|title= Micronauts: The New Voyages}} The series was written by Peter B. Gillis and featured early-career artwork by Kelley Jones. After this series the Marvel-owned license lapsed.{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/whither-micronauts-on-the-long-delayed-return-to-i-69345 |title=Whither Micronauts? On the long-delayed return to inner space |first=Noel |last=Murray |date=February 15, 2012 |publisher=The A.V. Club |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144918/http://www.avclub.com/article/whither-micronauts-on-the-long-delayed-return-to-i-69345 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}

From the late 1990s the characters Marionette, Arcturus Rann and Bug (all Marvel properties) have appeared in various Marvel titles (without referencing the Micronauts label). Bug has appeared in a solo one-shot{{gcdb series|id= 5787|title= Bug}} and together with cosmic hero Star-Lord,{{cite book|last1 = Giffen|first1 = Keith|author-link1 = Keith Giffen|last2 = Gage|first2 = Christos|author-link2= Christos Gage|last3 = Abnett|first3 = Dan|author-link3 = Dan Abnett|last4 = Lanning|first4 = Andy|author-link4 = Andy Lanning|title = Annihilation: Conquest, Book 1|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2008|pages = 272|isbn = 978-0785127826}}
{{cite book|last1 = Giffen|first1 = Keith|last2 = Gage|first2 = Christos|last3 = Abnett|first3 = Dan|last4 = Lanning|first4 = Andy|title = Annihilation: Conquest, Book 2|publisher = Marvel Comics|year = 2008|pages = 352|isbn = 978-0785127161}} as part of a new incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy.{{cite comic| writer= Abnett, Dan; Lanning, Andy|penciller= Pelletier, Paul|inker= Magyar, Rick|story= No Future|title= Guardians of the Galaxy|volume= 2|issue= #7|date= January 2009}}

In June 2002, a new series by Image Comics was published for eleven issues before its cancellation in September 2003.{{gcdb series|id= 17160|title= Micronauts vol. 3}} The same year saw a four-issue limited series featuring Baron Karza's origin and his relationship with the Time Traveler entity.{{gcdb series|id= 27568|title= Micronauts: Karza}}

In March 2004, a new series was launched by Devil's Due Publishing, mixing new characters with those based on the toy line. The series ran for three issues and featured art by former Micronauts artist Pat Broderick. More issues were solicited, but never appeared on shelves despite some cover art being released.{{gcdb series|id= 27566|title= Micronauts vol. 4}}

In 2015, IDW Publishing acquired publishing rights from Hasbro to produce new comic books for the Micronauts and Rom the Space Knight, both formerly popularized by Marvel as licensed properties. IDW released the first issue of their Micronauts series in April 2016, with scripts by Cullen Bunn and art by David Baldeon. The comic ran for eleven issues from 2016 to 2017. It was followed by two five-issue miniseries Micronauts: Wrath of Karza and Rom & the Micronauts which were released between 2017 and 2018.

IDW also featured Micronauts prominently in their crossover epic - Revolution. Released from September to November 2016, the crossover featured characters from various licensed toy lines IDW held the right to such as Transformers and GI Joe. The main line featured a preview issue and five regular issues, plus eight one shot tie-in issues across the various lines, one of which was Micronauts: Revolution.

In May 2023, Marvel renewed their license with Hasbro. In May 2024, a Marvel Omnibus was released that collected the original Micronauts series.{{cite web|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-micronauts-marvel-omnibus-facsimile-edition/|title=THE MICRONAUTS return to Marvel with new omnibus, facsimile edition|last=Beltran|first=Cy|website=ComicsBeat|date=May 25, 2023|access-date=May 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525201757/https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-micronauts-marvel-omnibus-facsimile-edition/|archive-date=May 25, 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/the-micronauts-return-to-marvel-comics-in-all-new-omnibus-collections|title=From the Edges of Inner Space, the Micronauts Return to Marvel Comics in All-New Omnibus Collections|website=Marvel Comics|date=May 25, 2023|access-date=May 25, 2023}}

The Micronauts originate in the Microverse, a microscopic universe full of strange planets like the human-inhabited Homeworld which is made up of diverse spherical habitats that are linked together in the fashion of a molecular chain. The original team comes together in response to the threat posed by Baron Karza, former bearded and balding academic turned murderous immortal black-armored dictator, who gained control of Homeworld through the creation of the Body Banks, where life-extending brain transplants are performed on the rich and inhuman genetic alterations on the poor.

Commander Arcturus Rann returned from a thousand-year deep space voyage in suspended animation with Biotron, his robot co-pilot on the HMS (Homeworld Micro Ship) Endeavor, to discover Karza has slain the royal family, descendants of Rann's parents Dallan and Sepsis who are now worshiped as virtual gods. What follows is an epic war across the Microverse pitting Rann and his allies against Karza.

In addition to Biotron, Rann's team of "Micronauts" includes Princess Mari of Homeworld, who, with her brother Prince Argon, are the only survivors of the slaughtered royal family of Homeworld. Known to the team as Marionette, she falls in love with Rann and leads the team on occasion. The alien gladiators Acroyear and Bug also join Rann's cause, and although completely different - one a noble armor-clad warrior prince and the other a wisecracking insectoid thief - the two become best friends and staunch allies of all Micronauts. The last member of the original team is Microtron, Mari's robot tutor. Although small, Microtron is a resourceful R2-D2-style character and very supportive of all team members.{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Golden, Michael|inker= Rubinstein, Josef|story= Homeworld!|title= Micronauts|issue= #1|date= January 1979}}

Warping through the Spacewall, an energy barrier between the Microverse and our much larger universe, and becoming trapped for a time on Earth where they enlarge to the size of action figures, the team encounter the to-them giant-sized Florida teenager Steve Coffin, his ex-astronaut father Ray (who is briefly transformed into the first Captain Universe), the Man-Thing and the evil cyborg scientist Professor Prometheus before returning to the Microverse.

After a series of battles against Karza (who, among his many other powers, can turn into a centaur and fire his fists like rockets) and his genetically-engineered army of vicious and obedient Dog Soldiers, the Micronauts triumph and Karza is apparently killed.{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Golden, Michael|inker= Milgrom, Al|story= We Are the Enigma Force!|title= Micronauts|issue= #11|date= November 1979}} Rann is able to claim victory due to the possession of the Enigma Force - a semi-sentient power source that bonded with him during his period of suspended animation and appeared in the form of floating, glowing green entities known as the Time Travelers - which enables him to perform incredible feats. The team then encounters the superhero team the Fantastic Four, who have traveled to a different region of the Microverse to battle the villain Psycho-Man. Bug's love, Jasmine, is killed during the climax of the battle. It is shortly after this encounter that the Micronauts again become trapped on Earth, at a greatly reduced size.{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Chaykin, Howard; Milgrom, Al|inker= Milgrom, Al|story= The Inside Job!|title= Micronauts|issue= #15|date= March 1980}}{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Chaykin, Howard; Milgrom, Al|inker= Milgrom, Al|story= Rendezvous in Sub-Atomica!|title= Micronauts|issue= #16|date= April 1980}}{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Chaykin, Howard; Milgrom, Al|inker= Milgrom, Al|story= ...The Harder They Fall!|title= Micronauts|issue= #17|date= May 1980}}

After encounters with the villains Plantman{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Broderick, Pat|inker= Gil, Armando|story= Say it with Flowers!|title= Micronauts|issue= #21|date= September 1980}} and Molecule Man,{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Broderick, Pat|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= Field Trip!|title= Micronauts|issue= #23|date= November 1980}} the team battle Mentallo and the Fixer, who have allied themselves with the organization HYDRA. Joined by one of Acroyear's people - Dagon - the team discovers that the villains and HYDRA are secretly under the control of Baron Karza, who is able to resurrect himself by placing his mind in Prince Argon's body. Argon was also converted to a cyborg centaur by the Body Banks, which combined him with his horse Oberon. Although the organization S.H.I.E.L.D. and several representatives of the races of the Microverse help the Micronauts finally defeat Karza, the battle is costly. Biotron is destroyed by Dagon, who is revealed to be an agent of Karza; the Queen of Kaliklak, Bug's home planet, dies in battle; Rann is rendered comatose and Acroyear's traitorous albino brother Prince Shaitan dies summoning the Worldmind - the parallel power to the Enigma Force that sustains their own home planet of Spartak. In desperation, Acroyear bonds with the Worldmind to defeat Karza, but in doing so destroys his world.{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Broderick, Pat|inker= Gil, Armando|story= Deathbirth!|title= Micronauts|issue= #25|date= January 1981}}
{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Broderick, Pat|inker= Gil, Armando|story= Assault on S.H.I.E.L.D.|title= Micronauts|issue= #26|date= February 1981}}
{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Broderick, Pat|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= To Snare Men's Souls!|title= Micronauts|issue= #27|date= March 1981}}
{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Broderick, Pat|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= ... Last Stand in Fantasy-World!|title= Micronauts|issue= #28|date= April 1981}}

While trying to awaken Rann, the remnants of the team have an encounter with the demon Nightmare{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Broderick, Pat; Bulanadi, Danny|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= To Sleep... Perchance to Dream!|title= Micronauts|issue= #29|date= May 1981}} and accidentally discover that the Microverse is unraveling. A warning left in Rann's mind reveals that three keys will restore balance to the Microverse. The team embarks on a new quest across three new regions of the Microverse: Oceania,{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Broderick, Pat|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= My Body Lies over Oceania|title= Micronauts|issue= #31|date= July 1981}} Polaria, and the Dead Zone. The Micronauts are eventually successful, and also acquire several teammates, including the bestial Devil and his companion Fireflyte and the robot Nanotron.{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Mayerik, Val; Bulanadi, Danny|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= The Origin of the Microverse!|title= Micronauts|issue= #35|date= November 1981}}

A new problem arises when Prince Argon, turning tyrant after donning the sacred white armor of the legendary Force Commander, begins displaying paranoia regarding the Micronauts, and eventually sends a special alien Death Squad to kill them.{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Giffen, Keith|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= This Battlefield Earth!|title= Micronauts|issue= #36|date= December 1981}} The Micronauts defeat the unit, and then encounter the mutant Nightcrawler and battle a new foe called Huntarr. Huntarr had been genetically engineered into a virtually indestructible living weapon by Argon to destroy the Micronauts, but Marionette makes him see that Argon is simply using him.{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Giffen, Keith; LaRocque, Greg; Bulanadi, Danny|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= There's a Reason They Call It... The Danger Room!|title= Micronauts|issue= #37|date= January 1982}}

A war against Argon and his forces follows, with several beings from various locations in the Microverse - including Argon's ex-fiancee, the beautiful lowborn rebel leader Slug, and Prince Pharoid of Aegypta and his faithful lieutenant Margrave - joining the team in a bid to stop Argon. After several more encounters with beings such as Doctor Doom,{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Kane, Gil; Bulanadi, Danny|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= Everyone's Little in Liddleville!|title= Micronauts|issue= #41|date= May 1982}} Wasp,{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Kane, Gil; Bulanadi, Danny|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= Knave, Thy Name is Nemesis!|title= Micronauts|issue= #42|date= June 1982}} and Arcade,{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Kane, Gil; Bulanadi, Danny|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= Blinded by the Light!|title= Micronauts|issue= #45|date= September 1982}} Microtron and Nanotron sacrifice themselves to reanimate Biotron's consciousness in the Micronauts' new vessel, the Bioship. Argon is finally revealed to be controlled by the spirit of Baron Karza, who returns once more.

Karza kills Argon and deals the Micronauts a crushing defeat by killing Devil, Pharoid, Slug and Margrave.{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Guice, Jackson; Bulanadi, Danny|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= Resurrection!|title= Micronauts|issue= #48|date= December 1982}}
{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Guice, Jackson|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= Keep the Home Fires Burning!|title= Micronauts|issue= #49|date= January 1983}}
{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Guice, Jackson|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= Sometimes the Good Guys Lose!|title= Micronauts|issue= #50|date= February 1983}} After regrouping and a series of skirmishes, the remaining Micronauts confront and defeat Karza once and for all.{{cite comic| writer= Mantlo, Bill|penciller= Guice, Jackson|inker= Jones, Kelley; Grainger, Sam|story= The Long and Winding Road!|title= Micronauts|issue= #58|date= May 1984}}
{{cite comic| writer= Gillis, Peter B.|penciller= Jones, Kelley|inker= Patterson, Bruce|story= Homeworld|title= Micronauts|issue= #59|date= August 1984}}

Weary of war, the surviving Micronauts leave behind the known Microverse (which they discover looking back resembles a galaxy shaped like a DNA Helix) and embark on a journey of exploration.{{cite comic| writer= Gillis, Peter B.|penciller= Jones, Kelley|inker= Patterson, Bruce|story= Shadow of the Makers!|title= Micronauts: The New Voyages|volume= 2|issue= #1|date= October 1984}} They eventually discover the true nature of the Microverse and, in a final act that restores their ruined world, sacrifice themselves in order to repopulate the planets.{{cite comic| writer= Gillis, Peter B.|penciller= Jones, Kelley|inker= Bulanadi, Danny|story= Worldhome!|title= Micronauts: The New Voyages|volume= 2|issue= #20|date= May 1986}}

• Acroyear - The former ruler of the armor-clad Acroyears of the harsh and rocky planet Spartak. He possesses superhuman strength and wields an energy sword.
• Biotron - The first of the part machine, part organic roboids who accompanied Arcturus Rann on his 1,000 year mission. The loyal and dependable co-pilot of the H.M.S. Endeavor was destroyed and later resurrected in giant form as a sentient starcraft known as the Bioship.
• Bug - An insect-like thief from the planet Kaliklak. He is highly agile and wields a rocket-lance.
• Cilicia - The mother of Acroyear's child and his former betrothed who turned against him when he was forced to destroy Spartak in order to keep it out of enemy hands.
• Devil - A highly intelligent, animalistic alien from the jungles of Tropica on Homeworld.
• Fireflyte - A sprite who is part of a fairy-like race linked to the Enigma Force and the life cycle of Devil's species.
• Huntarr - A rebellious slum who was transformed into a mallable, monstrous form and brainwashed into attacking the Micronauts. After being freed from Argon's control, he joins the Micronauts to get revenge.{{cite web|url= http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/huntarrmv.htm|title= Huntarr|first= Jeff|last= Christiansen|date= August 16, 2012|publisher= Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160920091220/http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/huntarrmv.htm|archive-date= September 20, 2016|url-status= live}}
• Marionette - The daughter of the slain rulers of Homeworld and sister of Prince Argon.
• Microtron - Marionette's loyal little personal roboid whose clever computer brain and extendable pincer arms always come in handy.
• Nanotron - A small golden, one-eyed female roboid who served as Microtron's loving assistant.
• Pharoid: Prince of Aegyptia (also known as Sand Zone) and keeper of the "star scepter". Loyal to the Micronauts' cause, he joins the fight to free all of the zones of the Homeworld.
• Arcturus Rann - A heroic explorer and rotor-winged Space Glider who returned from a 1,000 year mission only to find his world taken over by his former teacher, Karza, who had become a Darth Vader-style despot while he was away.
• Scion - A metallic-skinned descendant of the mysterious Makers and Savior of the Microverse. Originally found as an egg which radiated enough energy to power a spaceship, he hatched into a grotesque big-brained scorpion-like creature before first evolving into a handsome, winged humanoid and then into a powerful Prime Being whose every molecule would be reborn as an individual living being.{{cite web|url= http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/scionmv.htm|title= Scion|first= Jeff|last= Christiansen|date= November 10, 2005|publisher= Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160920095807/http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/scionmv.htm|archive-date= September 20, 2016|url-status= live}}
• Solitaire - A highly manipulative Prime Being with both metamorphic and healing powers, she first took the form of a green-skinned Insectivorid version of the lovely blond Marionette to seduce Bug so that he would help her get on the team. Solitaire then turned herself into a sexy, scantily-clad version of Rann's dark-haired mother Sepsis.{{cite web|url= http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/solitairemv.htm|title= Solitaire|first=Jeff|last= Christiansen|date= November 29, 2005|publisher= Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160920095935/http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/solitairemv.htm|archive-date= September 20, 2016|url-status= live}}

Years later Arcturus, Marionette and Bug (both Marvel properties) reappear as a team called the Microns. They aid the mutant Cable when the scientist Psycho-Man abducts the shape-changing Copycat.{{cite comic| writer= Loeb, Jeph|penciller= Churchill, Ian|inker= Hanna, Scott|story= True Lies|title= Cable|issue= #37|date= November 1996}}
{{cite comic| writer= Loeb, Jeph|penciller= Churchill, Ian|inker= Hanna, Scott; Russell, Vince|story= In Perspective|title= Cable|issue= #38|date= December 1996}}
{{cite comic| writer= Loeb, Jeph|penciller= Churchill, Ian|inker= Hanna, Scott|story= All Things Great And Small|title= Cable|issue= #39|date= January 1997}} They battle Microverse inhabitant Baron Zebek of Aegyptus alongside the visiting super-team Alpha Flight{{cite comic| writer= Seagel, Steven T.|penciller= Winn, Anthony|inker= Sowd, Aaron|story= Small Sacrifices|title= Alpha Flight|volume= 2|issue= #10|date= May 1998}}
{{cite comic| writer= Seagel, Steven T.; Casey, Joe|penciller= Olivetti, Ariel|inker= Brito, Pier|story= Microcosm|title= Alpha Flight|volume= 2|issue= #11|date= June 1998}} and later assist Rick Jones and Captain Marvel during their adventures in the Microverse.{{cite comic| writer= David, Peter|penciller= ChrisCross|inker= Rodriguez, Anibal|story= It's A Small Universe After All|title= Captain Marvel|volume= 4|issue= #6|date= June 2000}} In another largely untold tale, they also reteam with the X-Men against Baron Karza, who had recently been reborn, and his ally Thanos who seek to merge several of the sub-atomic universes. Arcturus Rann and Princess Mari became involved in the Psyklop invasion of K'ai, Jarella's homeworld.{{cite comic| writer= Reed, Scott|penciller= Munera, Miguel|inker= Pallot, Terry|story= Book 1: Conquest of Jarella's World|title= Realm of Kings Son of Hulk|issue= #1|date= April 2010}}

• In 1997, Marvel accepted a proposed reboot of Micronauts as a new series written by Shon C. Bury, penciled by Cary Nord and inked by Dan Green, using new character designs based on the original characters.{{cite web |url= http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/06/19/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-160/|title= Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #160|first= Brian|last= Cronin|work= Comics Should Be Good @ CBR|date= June 19, 2008|publisher= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160331123832/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/06/19/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-160/|archive-date= March 31, 2016|url-status= live}} Scripts were written for five issues and three issues were penciled, though Marvel was not granted the Micronauts license by the copyright holder, Abrams/Gentile Entertainment, forcing the series to be canceled.{{cite web|url=http://www.innerspaceonline.com/scb1.htm |title= The Lost Micronauts: The un-told story of the Micronauts re-launch...that never left the launching pad. Interview with Shon C. Bury Part 1|publisher= Innerspaceonline.com|date= February 2, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140424163956/http://www.innerspaceonline.com/scb1.htm|archive-date= April 24, 2014|url-status= live|access-date=September 24, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.innerspaceonline.com/scb3.htm |title= Shon C. Bury's Original Micronauts proposal to Marvel/unpublished plots 1997|publisher= Innerspaceonline.com|date= n.d.|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130927040937/http://www.innerspaceonline.com/scb3.htm|archive-date= September 27, 2013|url-status= live|access-date= September 24, 2013}}
• The Micronauts play a role in Marvel's Earth X series.

The first five-issue story arc of the Image series have been collected into a trade paperback:

• Micronauts Vol. 1: Revolution (112 pages, Image Publishing, June 2003, {{ISBN|1-58240-311-2}})

In May 2023 Marvel renewed the licensing with Hasbro in order to be able to publish Micronauts again. To commemorate the announcement a Volume 1 Marvel Omnibus, containing the first 29 issues, two annuals & material from Micronauts Special Edition featuring restored artwork, letter pages, house ads & bonus material, was revealed for a May 2024 release:

• "The Micronauts: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol.1"

Marvel Comics, May 2024

From 2005, AGE gave permission for SOTA (State of the Art) Toys to produce redesigned Micronauts action figures as Micronauts Evolution, with concept art by Randy Queen.{{cite web|url=http://www.innerspaceonline.com/sdcc.htm |title= 2006 San Diego Comic Con report|first= Dave|last= Waugh|publisher= Innerspaceonline.com|date= August 6, 2006|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130927040939/http://www.innerspaceonline.com/sdcc.htm|archive-date= September 27, 2013|url-status= live|access-date= September 24, 2013}} SOTA president Jerry Macaluso expressed interest in a new comic based on the figures.{{cite web|url=http://www.innerspaceonline.com/jm4.htm |title=Jerry Mac interview '06 (pt.1)|publisher= Innerspaceonline.com|date= n.d.|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130927041015/http://www.innerspaceonline.com/jm4.htm|archive-date= September 27, 2013|url-status= live|access-date= September 24, 2013}}

In 1998, AGE, Annex Entertainment, Gribouille and Kaleidoscope Media Group planned to produce a Micronauts animated series starting with a five-part miniseries to air on the Sci Fi Channel in Fall of 1998, followed by a syndicated 26 episode Micronauts animated series for 1999, with action figures and a Marvel tie-in comic announced. The project appears to be shelved or canceled.{{cite web|url=http://www.ageinc.com/tv/upcoming/index.html|title=Age tv (upcoming)|publisher=Ageinc.com |date=n.d. |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20010127210100/http://ageinc.com/tv/upcoming/index.html|archive-date= January 27, 2001|url-status= dead|access-date= September 24, 2013}}{{cite web|url= http://www.comics2film.com/c2fl-n.shtml |title=Comic Books, Comic Book News & Comic Book Characters - Mania.com|publisher= Comics2film.com |date= n.d.|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000815213733/http://www.comics2film.com/c2fl-n.shtml|archive-date=August 15, 2000 |url-status= dead|access-date= September 24, 2013}}

Boulder Media (then-subsidiary of Hasbro) planned to develop a new Micronauts animated series,{{cite news|title=Boulder Media Announces Plans To Open Second Studio Space in Dublin|url= http://www.hotpress.com/Boulder-Media/Boulder-Media-Announces-Plans-To-Hire-New-Staff--Open-Second-Studio-Space-in-Dublin/20174183.html|work=Hot Press|date=June 7, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190415014701/https://www.hotpress.com/culture/boulder-media-announces-plans-to-open-second-studio-space-in-dublin-20174183|archive-date= April 15, 2019|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.tfw2005.com/2020/09/11/hasbro-comments-on-their-future-entertainment-slate-2021-and-beyond-419237|title = Hasbro Comments on Their Future Entertainment Slate: 2021 and Beyond - Transformers News - TFW2005|date = 11 September 2020}} but the project was delayed indefinitely as Hasbro sold Boulder Media to Australian media company Princess Pictures in 2022.{{cite web

|url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/princess-productions-buys-boulder-media-from-hasbro-1235157298/

|title=Princess Pictures Buys Irish Animation Studio Boulder Media From Hasbro

|date=November 1, 2022

|website=Deadline

|access-date=November 12, 2022}} According to writer Eric Rogers, 52 episodes of the series were produced, and confirmed the series received a tax write-off.{{cite tweet|user=EricRogersHere|number=1653439552672133120|title=Great post from my former staff writer on Micronauts. The studio keeping a show on the shelf after we had almost no support staff after 3 years of some of my/our best work ever turned that time into a 52 episode gig job. 3 years of a job that doesn't exist… 1/}}

• The Microverse, referred to as the Quantum Realm, appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).{{cite web|url= http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Quantum-Realm-What-Know-You-Seen-Ant-Man-72677.html|title= The Quantum Realm: What To Know After You've Seen Ant-Man|first= Adam|last= Holmes|date= 2015|publisher= Cinema Blend|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160513010803/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Quantum-Realm-What-Know-You-Seen-Ant-Man-72677.html|archive-date= May 13, 2016|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdT89v2xASw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/rdT89v2xASw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title= Ant-Man Movie Easter Eggs: Director Peyton Reed Reveals Where to Look|date= July 16, 2015|publisher= YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

• After Hasbro acquired the rights to the Micronauts toyline, Paramount Pictures in conjunction with J. J. Abrams was in negotiations to develop a movie version of the franchise in 2009.{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23633|title= Is Abrams Preparing To Invade Inner Space?|work= Comic Book Resources|date= November 6, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130927115455/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23633|archive-date= September 27, 2013|url-status= live|access-date= September 24, 2013}} The planned project made little progress, though in November 2015, Paramount said that it was still planning a Micronauts film adaptation.{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2015/film/news/paramount-transformers-g-i-joe-micronauts-1201645954/|title= Paramount Moves Forward on Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Micronauts|first= Dave|last= McNary|date= November 20, 2015|work= Variety|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160601114228/https://variety.com/2015/film/news/paramount-transformers-g-i-joe-micronauts-1201645954/|archive-date= June 1, 2016|url-status= live|quote= Paramount and Hasbro are moving forward on selecting screenwriters for their Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises along with launching a Micronauts movie.}} Later in December, both Hasbro and Paramount were planning a cinematic universe combining Micronauts with G.I. Joe, Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light, M.A.S.K. and Rom.{{cite web|url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paramount-hasbro-gi-joe-universe-848920|title=Paramount, Hasbro Creating Movie Universe Around G.I. Joe, Four Other Brands (Exclusive)|work= The Hollywood Reporter|last= Kilday|first= Gregg|date= December 15, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160326020935/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paramount-hasbro-gi-joe-universe-848920|archive-date= March 26, 2016|url-status= live}} Several writers, such as Michael Chabon, Brian K. Vaughan, Nicole Perlman, Lindsey Beer, Cheo Coker, John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, Joe Robert Cole, Jeff Pinkner, Nicole Riegel and Geneva Robertson-Dworet joined to the writers' room in April 2016.{{cite web|url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hasbro-cinematic-universe-takes-shape-886316|title=Hasbro Cinematic Universe Takes Shape With Michael Chabon, Brian K. Vaughan, Akiva Goldsman (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last= Kit|first= Borys|date=April 21, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160610120217/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hasbro-cinematic-universe-takes-shape-886316|archive-date= June 10, 2016|url-status= live}}{{cite news|last=Couch|first=Aaron|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/paramount-sets-gi-joe-dungeons-dragons-release-dates-1069024|title=Paramount Sets G.I. Joe, Dungeons & Dragons Release Dates|date=December 18, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190510200715/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/paramount-sets-gi-joe-dungeons-dragons-release-dates-1069024|archive-date= May 10, 2019|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/g-i-joe-micronauts-both-pushed-later-on-release-schedule-by-paramount-1202629130/|title=G.I. Joe & Micronauts Both Pushed Later On Release Schedule By Paramount|date=June 7, 2019|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|publisher=Deadline|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190703064150/https://deadline.com/2019/06/g-i-joe-micronauts-both-pushed-later-on-release-schedule-by-paramount-1202629130/|archive-date= July 3, 2019|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all|access-date=June 7, 2019}} In 2019, Dean DeBlois was attached to write and direct the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-train-your-dragon-filmmaker-tackling-micronauts-film-1241159|title='How to Train Your Dragon' Filmmaker Dean DeBlois Tackling 'Micronauts' for Paramount, Hasbro (Exclusive)|date=September 23, 2019|last=Kit|first=Borys|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|df= mdy-all|access-date=September 23, 2019}} By November 2020, Paramount removed the film from its release schedule.{{cite news |last1=Beresford |first1=Trilby |title=Paramount Pictures Takes Michael B. Jordan Pic 'Without Remorse', 'Micronauts' Off 2021 Release Calendar |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/paramount-pictures-takes-michael-b-jordan-pic-without-remorse-micronauts-off-2021-release-calendar |access-date=April 4, 2021 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 13, 2020}}

The 2002 Image Comics relaunch was followed the same year by Micronauts: The Time Traveler Trilogy, a collection of three paperback novels published by Byron Preiss Visual Publications and written by Steve Lyons.

• Microverse
• Multiverse (Marvel Comics)

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{comicbookdb|type=team|id=134|title=Micronauts}}

{{Image Comics|state=collapsed}}

{{IDW Publishing|state=collapsed}}

Category:1984 comics endings

Category:1986 comics endings

Category:2003 comics endings

Category:2004 comics endings

Category:Characters created by Bill Mantlo

Category:Characters created by Michael Golden

Category:Comics based on Hasbro toys

Category:Comics based on toys

Category:Comics by Howard Chaykin

Category:Hasbro characters

Category:IDW Publishing titles

Category:Image Comics titles

Category:Works based on Takara Tomy toys