Dave's Microman Rant:

     Change Trooper DrillJoe

     For those who don't know, Microman is the Japanese toy line that got
brought to the U.S. as both Micronauts and some of the original Transformers
(mainly toys with transformed modes that were "real" size, like Megatron or
Perceptor).  Takara decided to revive the line recently, focusing mainly on
the toys that did not go into the Transformers line.  Most don't transform,
but the ones that do are called Change Troopers.
     I got DrillJoe from Dave Mamer at a toy show, he also has a webpage
http://hometown.aol.com/DMamer4442/toyindex.html where you can order the
toys. 

CAPSULE

     DrillJoe: Very poseable, okay transformation and vehicle mode, nifty
magnet gimmick.  Recommended.  $10+postage ($3.55 in the U.S.) from Mamer,
prices vary elsewhere.

RANT

     "Microman is Super Human 8 cm tall.  He came to the Earth, chasing the
Acroyer.  Now save the Earth from the Acroyer!  Use a table as a base!"
     - in English on the package

     Yes, the premise of Microman is that the toys are actual size.  They
take over your house and turn everyday items into weapons and bases (there's
a really cool-looking base that turns into what looks like a Playstation with
iMac colors).
     The 8cm figures are too small to sell in boxes, so they're blister
carded.  However, unlike most U.S. blister cards, there's no glue involved.
Rather, the entire front of the card is plastic, and a cardboard insert
slides in and is taped to the plastic.  More wasteful of materials, but it
does make the packaging reusable...just slide everything back together and
the Microman is snug inside.

     Robot Mode: Standing 8cm (3.5") tall, DrillJoe is mostly dark blue
plastic.  His head is chromed, a throwback to the original line, but
strikingly ugly IMO.  His hand weapon is light blue plastic with dark blue
and red details painted on, and his chest is a painted piece of translucent
black plastic with his drill on it.  The chest sticks out way too far, and
the figure's pretty top-heavy.
     Neck, shoulders, hips, elbows and knees are all ball joints and very
stiff (with the exception of the neck).  You can place the weapon either in
his hand or on a peg-hole on his back (a position that helps counter the
chest balance problem) as a sort of jet pack.
     In addition, he's got magnets, and pretty strong ones.  His left hand is
a magnet strong enough for him to hang from.  Additionally, there's another
magnet in his left foot, which can really help with keeping him standing if
you display your toys on a metal shelf.  Neither magnet is strong enough to
resist torque, however, so you have to make sure his center of gravity is
below the point of magnetic attachment, or he'll fall off.  Or at least
position him so that any torque is countered (such as placing his other hand
or foot to keep him from swinging).

     Transformation: Considering that this is the equivalent of a $5 toy in
Japan, the transformation's not going to be that tricky.  Swing up the chest,
swing down the legs, peg everything into place, and snap on the hand weapon
as the rear of the vehicle mode.  Simple, and fairly stable in both modes.

     Vehicle Mode: A sort of drill-scooter 11cm (4.5") long with handlebars
so that the other figures can ride it.  It's a little small for GIJoes, but
just about right for 3" figures like the discontinued Johnny Quest line or
even smaller figures like ExoSquad pilots.  The magnets aren't in a position
to do anything useful here.
     However, the vehicle mode is also arm mode for the larger Magnetron
figures.  There's a metal stud (hidden behind the chest in robot mode) that
can attach to the magnet in the larger toy's shoulder, turning the vehicle
mode into a drill weapon.  Additionally, other Change Troopers can use it as
a gripping point.  Or dig out an old StarCom figure and have it stand on the
drill scooter.  }->

     Overall: If these were sold in the U.S. for $5-6 each, I'd have snapped
them all up by now, they're pretty nice small toys.  But at import prices,
they're only worth it if you want to have something Microman.  It's certainly
not impossible that Hasbro or someone will bring Microman here (heck,
Bandai's bringing DinoZone in), but I doubt it'll be soon.

     Dave Van Domelen, needs to glue little steel discs to a bunch of weapons
now....