Superman Micro Action Series

In 2006, with the release of the new Superman movie, Takara produce four figures for Micro Action line from Superman series including movie version, comic version, Supergirl and Takara own Cyborg Superman.

MICROMAN SMART BODY

Takara introduce a brand new body type dubbed "Microman Smart Body" for Microman line and this is the body used for Superman Returns version. The new body is a slimmer and more "anime" looking body for the male figure. This body is essentially a male version of the recently introduced Microlady Ver. 2 body. The male body, however, introduce a new neck design. The Smart Body design instead used the similar peg style as the original Micro Action body but the neck is a separate piece that can be pivot up and down. The new body do offer a wider range of motions and great for customization due to the fact that all of the body parts can be easily taken apart just like Microlady ver.2. The new fixed pose hands look really good on the figure especially for static pose as the hands do not have the ugly pin joints and their sizes are much more proportion to the body.

MICROMAN MUSCLE BODY

For Superman Comic version, Takara introduced yet another new body type to the Microman series. The new type is dubbed "Microman Muscle Body". The new body is much larger and taller than all the other Microman bodies. The body construction curiously is a mixture between the old body style with that of the recent new Smart Body type. The neck part is on separate pivoting piece and the feet uses the same joint design and peg insert system as the Smart Body but the rest of the body used the old body design. The strangest part about the figure is the used of the old "cuff" style hands for the body. There are 5 extra hands set to interchange with the closed-fists that pack with the figure. The extra hands in reality offer only three new poses; grip hands, trigger hands and open hands. The 2 extra hands are different articulation of the grip and trigger hands (one up and down motion, while the other is side to side).

MA-33 Superman Returns

Takara decided to use Superman (Returns Ver.) as a debut figure for the new "Smart Body". While Brandon Routh's Superman is not as bulk as the late Christopher Reeve's Superman, the "Smart Body" is definitely way too slim especially the waist and arms section. The figure end up looking more like "anime" version of Superman Returns or a Superboy figure. The head sculpt also leave a lot to be desire and made worst by the poor paint jobs. This is unfortunate because the figure is actually a very nice action-figure with nice joints, great cape design, and superb articulations (37 totals). The figure is very fun to pose and look nice display despite being a scrawny version of Man of Steele. Takara include special Superman figure stand with clear plastic posts and clips so the figure can be display as being "in-flight". The extra hands set and poseable cape also make for fun movie scene poses.

MA-34 Supergirl

Microman Supergirl is a cross between the new modern day comic book with the less flashy Superman Returns color scheme. The suit is paint in metallic blue, while her cape is still bright red, her boots are in the subdue maroon red color. The sculpt is very nice, the cape design is a little clunky but looks good on the figure especially from the back. This would have been a great Supergirl figure if not for the poor paint job. The shoulder joints were left in flesh tone on all the figure and really detract from the figure. Another painting problem is around the torso section, the edge of the torso is painted flesh tone over the metallic blue. The flesh tone doesn't cover up the blue and the torso section is left with ugly blue tinted flesh that also look very odd. I think this section is probably better off painted as gold trim all the way around instead of trying to pain a small section to represent exposed body.

MA-36 Superman (Comics Version)

Microman Superman Comic with the new Muscle Body is a very nice representation of the comic book version. The new Muscle Body is very nice replacement for the "Massive Body" with the new "muscle" legs and larger arms and torso to represent a really large body (like comic book Superman). There are however several glaring problems with this figure that prevent it from being great figure. First is the strange use of dark blue / light blue highlight paint job on the body which are also done very sloppily and really detract from the figure. Second is the head and neck part, the sculpt is passable as Superman but the strange grin just make the head a it goofy looking and the head is slightly too small for the large neck. Third is not the problem with this particular figure but with the "Muscle Body" used of the old cuff hand design. The cuffs hand design was in part homage to the old Microman (Original 1970's series) however the cuff just did not work too well as the hands tended to slip off easily and the cuffs section have to be painted to match the body in some case (such as this Superman figure) and that really detracted from the figure. I am not sure why the Muscle Body reverse back to the cuff style, it could be that the figure was design during the transition from the old body type and the new one.

MA-37 Cyborg Superman

FULL ACTION MILITARY FORCE BODY

Cyborg Superman is Takara original design base on DC's character Superman. The figure is a blend of Takara's Henshin Cyborg with Superman theme. The figure used standard Microman Full Action Military Force Body with new chest section. The chest is done to shape like motorcycle engine block (inspiration for the first Henshin Cyborg inner mechanical parts). The head is cyborg core with clear face-plate with Kar-el features. The figure has large cybernetic hands that feature articulated fingers. The figure even include Henshin Cyborg-like hands attachments that when not in used store in the back compartment under the cape. The body, shoulders and legs are covered with clear blue piece and the chest have large "S" logo of Superman.

CYBORG OF STEELE

Takara Cyborg Superman is an interesting take on the Man of Steele. The figure has great design motifs that will please Microman collector and Henshin Cyborg fans. The figure overall has nice fit, the leg (so far) do not seem to suffer the hip joint crack that plague the EXO series (EXO also use Military Force body). The joints are a little loose but the figure still hold poses well. The figure is a bit top and back heavy even with the figure stand it can easily topple, however Takara include a clear plastic block for put under the cape.