May the Force Commander be with you...

These 6" Japanese Takara inspired transforming robots were the forerunner to the Transformers a decade later, using magnetised joints to enable custom-built robots and manimals, with rocket firing capability and interchangeable animal-machine hybrids.  Force Commander was the hero of the 2nd wave, his nemesis the jet black Baron Karza, the two mega-bots go head to head with fist-firing, rocket propulsion, their limbs scattering and then magically reassembling for another bout of epic proportions.

The construction of these interchangeable figures is ingenious for their vintage.  Magnetised ball joints click snugly into position, while red rocket heads can be manually fired from the spring-loaded device embedded deep within the figure’s torso, enabling chest fired projectiles and a fist-shooting function that can blast off suddenly if you happen to inadvertently trigger the firing mechanism on the forearm.  Force Commander has a simple though effective design and while it’s largely identical to the others of its ilk (Baron Karza, The Emperor etc), there’s still something impressive about a line of these colourful Micronaut robots on display in various configurations and battle poses.  Of course the mix 'n match capability inherent in these designs, (absent from most other action figures) adds another dimension of imaginative play for kids.  

Due to its magnetised joinery, Force Commander is highly articulate and extremely malleable for kid’s play or action posture.  Obviously the multitude of accessories associated with these figures, make their age appropriateness for children arguable, and consequently, the Micronauts parts trade is a booming sub-industry on the secondary market (tip: keep your parts in those hardware trays to avoid expensive replacement costs).  While I was originally more fascinated in the later-produced 3 3/4" aliens (e.g. Lobros, Antron and friends), I recently became intrigued by the pioneering ingenuity displayed in these heavy duty war machines.  They're robust (they each weigh 200g) and yet you can literally blow them apart, re-attach and begin again, as Finnegan might say.  Sensational, timeless figures with a sci-fi/Shogun-esque look, the Baron may be the crowd favourite, but Force Commander will always be the interplanetary white knight and poster-boy of the Micronauts.

Force Commander | 1977 | Mego | Micronauts