Based on a Mego toy property, which was in turn based on a Japanese toy line, The Micronauts has been acclaimed as one of the most successful toy tie-in comic book properties. In addition to the Marvel 59 issues and two annuals of the 1979 original series, Marvel produced another 20 issues of Micronauts: The New Voyages and crossover with the X-Men, before giving up the license following Mego’s bankruptcy and dissolution.

From its earliest day, though, the series set a standard for licensed comics.

Not only were the characters integrated into the Marvel universe, Bill Mantlo and Michael Golden added to the Micronauts themselves. While Biotron, Microtron, Acroyear, and Baron Karza and other characters had been established in the action figure line, integral new characters such Arcturus Rann, Marionette, and Bug were added.

Written by Mantlo, the series was illustrated initially by Golden. Along the way, artists such as Howard Chaykin, Steve Ditko, Pat Broderick, Gil Kane, Butch Guice, and Kelley Jones, and later writer Peter B. Gillis were associated with the Marvel run.

The influence of those early issues on today’s creators remains apparent in the number of attempts to relaunch the title. The Marvel efforts were followed later by 12 issues and a four-issue mini-series from Image Comics (2002), three issues from Devil’s Due (2004), and 11 issues and a number of one-shots from IDW Publishing (2016).

The absence of Arcturus Rann, Marionette and Bug, though, proved limiting to even some of the best creators, as well as the fans.

In 2023, Marvel regained a license and published a facsimile edition of Micronauts #1, followed by three hardcover Omnibus collections of their complete works, and three Epic Collection trade paperbacks.

There are, though, several little-known chapters in the history of Micronauts comics books. One of them comes from Future Comics, one of our favorite Lost Universes among comic publishers that have come and gone. Founded by Bob Layton, David Michelinie, and Dick Giordano, the company launched several company-owned superhero titles, but they also apparently went after the Micronauts license.

While Future Comics no longer publishes new material, they do maintain a social media presence. On their Facebook page, a recent post let “what might have been” out of the bag.

In 2003, Future Comics attempted to land the rights.

“We even had staffer and former Marvel Micronauts artist Pat Broderick whip up this presentation for our first licensed title. Unfortunately, the deal fell through at the ‘Eleventh Hour,’ so it never came to pass. But here’s that great #1 cover, seen here for the first time,” they posted.

It’s interesting to note on the presentation piece that the Marvel characters are included.