New Microman Series

M011 Microman Saram (c.1983)

Micro Change

Microman Series

1974

Microman Zone
First year of included the Founder Microman, Micro Kit Machines and Conning Tower.

1975

Project Victory
Second year saw more Microman and several new sub series such as the Acroyears, Titans and Victory series.

1976

Spy Magician

The line finally came into its own during the third year with new figures and the classic Microman Transfer Fortress.

1977

Command
A watershed year for Microman series, this year saw some of the best toys for the line. 

1978

Police Keeper

Takara tried new design and direction for the series with the released of Hoodman and Arden. 

1979

Rescue Team
Takara "rescue" attempt for the line with the Rescue Team Microman.  This year also saw updated of the old favorite like the New Tower Base.

1980

Punch & Blizzard Man
The last year of the original series saw the shift in the line to more robot like look and larger figures.

New Microman Series

1981

New Microman
Takara reset the line and relaunch the series under the New Microman banner.

1982

Micro Robot
Micro Robot series became the main focus of the new line.  Takara also tried to cash in on the "pla-mo" popularity with Real Type and Micro Borg.

1983

Micro Change
The "transformation" for Microman series began with the Micro Change series.

1984

Transformers

Takara continued with the successful Micro Change series but the changing of the guard was inevitable.

In 1983, Takara released the first and only Microman, M011 Saram, for the New Microman Micro Change series. M011 Saram was the eleventh member of the New Microman and basically was a reissued and recolor version of Microman Command 2 M16X Type (however due to the concern regarding the toxic from  the glow-in-the dark material, the chest were changed to normal plastic of various colors) What set Saram slightly apart from the early ten New Microman was that he came with Micro Change logo badge and he was sold inside a command chair capsule called Micro2000 (instead of the usual New Microman style capsule).  Since Saram was a "late arrival" in the New Microman series, Takara gave him separate story since the original ten were the sole survivors of Micro Earth catastrophic destruction. MC011 Saram escaped from Micro Earth using Micro 2000 - a dimensional travel machine he constructed. Takara released four versions of M011 Saram for individual sale and two versions as exclusive pack-in for MC08 and MC09 Micro Change Cassette Machines series of play-sets.  The individual sale figures included - red and black Saram in gray Micro2000, blue and black Saram in red Micro2000, dark blue and white Saram in black Micro2000, and black and orange Saram in blue Micro2000. (Note: some exported versions of Armored Machine were sold with blue and black M011, minus the "MC" sticker badge) 

Microman Saram Story

Microman Saram is the leader of the Micro Change.  He is very good with tactics but headstrong at time.  He came to earth using Micro2000 - a dimensional travel capsule that he build. Micro2000 capsule that came with M011 Saram had flip open lid, command chair compete with detail cockpit and 5 mm peg. In the manga, M011 Saram was shown flying in this dimensional travel capsule.

A Blast from the Past?

In 1996, when Romando reissued Microman Command 2 for their Micro Two-One line, they released a new Microman figure called M166 Saram. In an attempt, for the first time, to tie the two original Microman series together they gave M166 Saram background story as Microman who disappeared to another dimension in an accident while he was working on Micro1999 dimensional machine.

The Most Vintage Variants

Microman Command 2 probably had the most variations of all the vintage figures due to the release of M011 Saram. There were five variants from the original series plus six from the New Microman.  When Microman was revived in 1996, Romando added two more variants (M165 & M166). Takara then added eight more versions with the Replica series. Not to mention there were three Micronauts variants released as Pharoid (with Space Glider head) plus four more versions plan for the Palisades Retro Micronauts line, which would made Command 2 to have the second most variations from the entire Micro line-up. (The top honor still belong to the M10X series)

Beside these four individual sale figures, two M011 Saram were released as exclusive pack in figures for Micro Change Cassette Machine play-sets. Red and white Saram was sold with MC08 Battle Bike and the black and white version was sold with MC09 Jet Heli. M011 Saram followed much of the same color schemes as the other two Command figures in the New Microman series. Beside the unusual black and orange scheme the rest shared the same color combinations as Microman Eiji and Oruga.  With six separate variants, M011 Saram had the most numerous variations of all the New Microman figures.

 (See also Micro Change - MC08 & MC09)