Tiny Titan Microman: the “Lost Adventures” - Year Two (1977)
(Continued from Year One - see for more details and credits. Special thanks this posting to Christopher Mah and original “Microman Trivia” transcription translated from Tette Hakase at Alpha-7 Laboratory)
Chapter 12: January, 1977
Transfer Fortress is a mobile armed super-fortress that protects the Earth from the enlarged Acroyear menace. The merits of this base are that while its individual parts are fully capable as separate units, they can combine in order to fly from place to place. In the case of an emergency, there is no need for panic. The pilot seated in the upper module of the base can quickly slide into the cockpit. As everything is automated, it is demonstrably capable in an emergency situation. The units making up its parts are also capable of handling crises. While not shown in this manga, the front of the base can be ejected to enter combat separately. Each of the parts can dock with each other automatically to become fighters. This is just as one example.
Chapter 13: February, 1977
The secrets of Microman’s origins are wrapped in mystery. As the construction of the ancient Moai megaliths of Easter Island and the enormous Egyptian pyramids seem beyond the means of human construction, it seems possible that Micromen may have been involved. ((Tette Hakase: As our studies of ancient civilization have improved since this time of publication, the answer to this has been shown to not be so simple. Easter Island was once far more densely populated, and it is clear that such construction was not so impossible with coordinated effort. The Egyptian pyramids didn’t just appear at once, but rather it has been shown that they were developed over time with technological innovation. However, many mysteries remain about the grand scale that seems to exceed useful purpose and the meaning behind their construction.)) Surprisingly, near the Republic of Columbia’s capital Bogotá, models of a jet plane were found that were over 3000 years old. These models closely resemble that of an F-102 fighter. Could this also be related to Microman? ((Tette Hakase: These O-Parts became the model for Earth Jetter. Or wait, perhaps we should say that Earth Jetter was the model for these?)) ((Microman Club: See http://www.2atoms.com/weird/ancient/plane.htm Note however that archeologists today believe that these are stylized depictions of fish or birds from the region, and they are similar to other highly stylized artifacts depicting more easily identifiable animals)) There are plenty of mysterious ruins even in Japan. A fresco of a space rocket was discovered at the site of an ancient 3000 year old Kazuwara Kofun burial mound in Shiranuimachi of Kumamoto Prefecture. A rocket that greatly resembles Microman’s Super Jet. ((Tette Hakase: There are line drawings which show the life of ancient mariners of the Yatsushiro Sea, including ships and dolphins, but it is not open for viewing by the public.))
Chapter 14: March, 1977
The Titan’s homeland is the world of Titan, the moon of Saturn. “Many of our companions still lie in slumber there,” were their words which prompted the Spy Magicians to travel to Titan in the Transfer Fortress. The Spy Magicians that reached Titan began their investigation, and life signs were detected in what their charts showed as a glass valley. The spectral ray was used and the Titans that were revived were extremely robotic and sports car-like in form.
The Spy Magicians dubbed them “Titan Commands” and decided to call the vehicles “Gimca”. They then returned to Earth in order to help solve the issue of the Acroyears and the mysterious ruins around the globe.
Chapter 15: April, 1977
The Spy Magicians’ investigations had revealed that the Acroyears manifested frequently near ancient ruins. In order to understand the relationship between the Acroyears’ supernatural powers and the ancient ruins, the Spy Magicians flew to every corner of the globe.
The Titan Commands which had arrived from Titan, in order to adapt to life on Earth, began training for combining with their Gimca (the vehicles ridden by Titan Command). Currently 4 Titan Commands are active on Earth.
((Tette Hakase: The four Titan Commands would be Type One Jupitas and Poseidar, along with Type Two Tailos and Hercules. Types Three and Four were not introduced yet in Bouken Oh’s manga or advertisements.)) The Titan Commands exhibit supernatural abilities when combined with their Gimca. With 2000 horsepower, they can break past the lightspeed barrier thanks to being equipped with warp drives. Although other Titans can combine with the Gimca, they will not gain these abilities.
Chapter 16: May, 1977
Thousands of years ago, the Microman Commands came to Earth from MicroEarth. The Microman Commands who were active back then have remained asleep due to some unusual phenomenon. In those times, they were the same height as human beings.
((Tette Hakase: What kind of phenomenon? Was it even beyond explanation for the Microman Commands themselves?))
The Spy Magicians, upon learning of the Microman Commands, began to revive these lost comrades one after another from the ancient ruins of mystery such as from the Inca and Egypt. And so thus were the Command corps assembled alongside the Titan Commands.
Analysis of the gas released upon their revival resulted in the detection of a previously unknown element. Labeled αH7 by the Spy Magicians, it was deduced to be connected with the Acroyears’ ability to become gargantuan in size.
Chapter 17: June, 1977
(first two pages of chapter 17 from http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/mzek81/33640941.html --M113 Bobby, M114 Blacky and the Spy Magicians, joined by Command 1 M152 Eric encounter AcroJet and AcroCannon piloted by Armroids while patrolling in Transfer Fortress at Nazca, Peru)
Acroyears are able to utilize the strange element αH7. This is how they differ as cyborgs from Microman and can become gigantic, as their bodies are covered in αH7. The Micromen are desperate to solve the mystery behind αH7.
((Tette Hakase: Note that in the TV Magazine manga, Professor Katagai’s lab report showed that the Acroyear body is not so much covered in αH7, but rather that αH7 is bound to their cells.) The Acroyears used αH7 to also combine their forms with vehicles and to become an even more enormous Acroyear. This combines two Acroyears with two vehicles. Unfortunately, currently the Micromen are unable to face it. The Micromen are gradually gaining insight into the mystery of αH7. Also four new Command Cars have been designed. The four vehicles are Racing Buggy*, Tyrell Machine, Earth Jetter, and Twin Racer. And thus they may yet live to fight on. ((*Racing Buggy image link from MicroEarth website,))
(back page ad from June 1977 Bouken Oh for Microman Command and Titan Command Gimca toys)
Chapter 18: July, 1977
When the Microman Commands arrived at the MCIA (RoadStation), four new Command Cars were designed immediately in order to help discover the answer to the mystery of αH7. In order to enable free and easy mobility around the globe, these were super-machines created expressly for use on Earth. One of these Command Cars, the Tyrell Machine, was a vehicle that was patterned after the famous Ford Tyrell for optimal high-speed performance. It can reconfigure its body in order for both regular activities as well as to quickly respond to any given situation such as for reconnaissance, combat, etc…. Giant Acroyear’s vital parts are its arms. This is because they themselves are two Acroyears, Acroid Ta (T-A) and Armroid Sh (S-H) which combine with the AcroJet and AcroCannon to form Giant Acroyear. ((Tette Hakase: While here they are called “Acroid” and “Armroid”, this may be that the MCIA had confused some of their intelligence about the true nature of them becoming the two arms. Were they new types of Acroyears, or androids? It wasn’t possible to be certain at first. Even the data about them being the vital points appears to be groundless. The final names turned out to be “Armroid Ta (Tax)” as the left arm which fired a heat ray cannon, and the right arm was “Armroid Sh (Shooter)” which fired a cold ray cannon.))
Chapter 19: August, 1977
The high-performance jet Earth Jetter was designed with the cooperation of Microman Commands who came from Easter Island and Egypt. They brought to bear the past technology of the ancient civilizations they had previously been involved with. Earth Jetter can mobilize from both the ground and Transfer Fortress. It boasts a maximum speed of mach 1.5, equipped with a hydrogen engine with a performance output of up to 2800 horsepower. It can perform vertical take-off and landing with its twin turbo fans.
Earth Jetter was designed for defending the planet from Acroyears. For that purpose, it can perform vertical climbs directly to outer space, giving it a wide field of operation. In addition, its weapons include both the standard wave motion missile launcher as well as a “Laser Scriper” which can slice through most things.
Chapter 20: September, 1977
So far, by now everyone should know that the Microman Command and development of the Command Cars have been for investigating the mysteries around the Earth of the ancient ruins, but what about the Titan Commands? The Titan Commands developed the Dash Rail as an extreme training course to further hone their abilities. They began their own impossible regimen in tandem with the Micromen in order to be able to face unexpected attacks from the Acroyears.
The Micromen, even though they are cyborgs, are still living beings. If they were to participate in the Titan Command’s Dash Rail training, they would be crushed flat. The Titans’ bodies are made up entirely of silicon-based cells, which make it possible for them.
Chapter 21: October, 1977
Surveyor 1 is a new type of all-purpose vehicle which is the culmination of Microman science and technology. Not only capable of combat, it also can perform construction work which would not be possible for the Transfer Fortress. It can perform excavations and remove obstacles on the go without interruption.
As for Surveyor’s component mecha, the combinations are unlimited, allowing for configurations as needed for any situation on demand. When the Cyclo Crane is combined with the Mechanic Base, it can move things up to 5,000 tons, and it can also be paired with the Caterpillar Car.
Using an automatic tracking system for the Brid-Cannon, the Brid-Car can pursue and destroy targets with ease, when combined with the Front Base. Using a gravitational control device called the “Gravity Wing”, it is also capable of flight.
Chapter 22: November, 1977
The arsenal of the Acroyears has continued to advance rapidly. After their confidence being boosted by the success of Giant Acroyear, they went on to complete a second robot which included the function of a heavy tank, Mecha Acroyear.
On the other hand, the Micromen caught word of the development of the Mecha Acroyear through the Spy Magicians, and in order to counter it, they commenced development of their own giant combining caterpillar tread robot with ten times the power of Robotman, RobotMachine Z.
Chapter 23: December, 1977
The female Microman that appeared this time was revived from the site of the Statue of Liberty in New York. Like humans on Earth, there were once both males and females who lived on MicroEarth, but this marks their first appearance after arriving on Earth.
It may not come as a surprise that Surveyor 1 was destroyed by Mecha Acroyear. However, do not be afraid. The Micromen have already not only built an even stronger Surveyor 2, but are even now hurrying to complete the Surveyor Base which is capable of traveling into outer space. (Continued in Year Three...)