Microman Armored Suit DX3 Bulsonic

Takara released Microman Armored Suit DX3 Bulsonic toys in January of 1983 as part of the 1982 New Microman series. Armored Suit DX3 is the third armored suit toys released for 1982 line up (the other two are Double Cannon and Galac Sniper). Bulsonic as the DX suffix in its name might have suggested, is the "deluxe" version of the armored suit. Not only is the suit larger than the previous two suits, it also has ability to transform into a jet. Takara release three version of Bulsonic, the Blue Type, standard version, the alternate color red version or Red Type and the newly added "Real Type" with military green color. Bulsonic has the distinction of being the last old school Microman toy release by Takara, since in 1983, Takara revamped the Microman series and introduce the Micro Change line which eventually became the Transformers series.

By 1982, the toy market in Japan was going through a dramatic change and Takara was struggling to adapt Microman to the new environment. The super combining robots play style was deem obsolete and childish with general public embracing the realistic looking robots and mecha. Takara decided to borrow from their own Votoms line, adapted armored suit theme to Microman series. Bulsonic is the largest of the three armored suit in 1982 line, the suit also has one interesting gimmick, the ability to transform into jet mode much like many of the popular mecha of the times. (Actually the Bulsonic toys remind me a lot of mecha from Genesis Climber Mospeda series, many of the mecha designer from that show also freelance as Takara designers). Bulsonic has a mixture of die-cast part and plastic parts with very nice design features such as smoke clear chest and face plate, spring-load missiles and self-contained transformation. Bulsonic also has the good old interchangeable feature and the toy is designed to interact with Cosmic Fighter toy. (Released also in 1982).

Armored Suit DX3 Bulsonic is probably one of the best toys to come out from the New Microman series. The toy not only has superb design that really define the period but it also one of the nicest looking toys to come out from the New Microman line. Bulsonic toy is quite hard to find and rarely show up on the collectible market. The rarity of this toy is probably due to the fact that it is actually a very cool looking piece, and that Bulsonic was in essence the last toy produce for 1982 New Microman line before Takara completely overhaul the series and introduced the all new series the Micro Change in 1983. Takara briefly attempted to pursuit the armored suit theme with the Real Microman series (a plastic model kits Microman line) but the series was abandoned when Micro Change and later the Transformers series became popular and Takara canceled Microman series in 1984.