Microman 2004 Series

Kiguru-Microman Series KM-SP01 Godzilla 1964 Version (with Microman Victor) VS King Ghidorah (with Microman Harold) Set (2/05)

KIGURU

KIGURU-MICROMAN

KIGURU-MICROMAN (12/28/04)
KM-01 Godzilla (1st Version) with Microman Ken

KM-02 Godzilla (Final War Version) with Microman Billy

KIGURU-MICROMAN SP (2/05)
KM-SP01 Godzilla (1964 Version) with Microman Harold VS King Ghidrah with Microman Victor

KM-SP02 Megalon (with Microman Kim) VS Jet Jaguar (with Microman Walter)

Packaging

KM-SP01 Godzilla (1964 Version) VS King Ghidrah

KM-SP01 came packaged in twin-pack style packaging. The packaging design was the same as the previous two Kiguru Microman set. KM-SP01 was the largest blister card package for the Microman series to date.

Microman New Stand

Microman 2004 came with new style figure stand. The stand features Microman "Da Vinci's The Vetruvian Man" style logo emboss on clear plastic with two styles of foot pegs - one for the newer Microman 2004 figures and one for the old Microman figures with the 5mm port.

Takara released the follow up series to the Kiguru-Microman in February of 2005. The second series consisted of four Microman figures and their monster costumes and were sold as special "two-packs" set. The first set, KM-SP01, came with Godzilla Greatest War Version with Microman Harold and King Ghidorah with Microman Victor. The second set came with Megalon with Microman Kim and Jet Jaguar with Microman Walter. Each set followed the same design as the previous two Kiguru Microman and came with Microman actors and their rubber monster costumes.

KM-SP01 set came with 1964 version of Godzilla along with his three head nemesis ,King Ghidrah (also known as Ghidorah, Ghidora and Monster Zero), from the same 1964 Godzilla movie titled King Ghidrah, The Three Headed Monster. The Godzilla suit for this set however was much larger size than the previous two Kiguru releases. This was not because 1964 Godzilla was bigger but simply Takara decided to include "deluxe" size suit with this set. Perhaps Takara realized what a pain it was to put Microman in the small suits that came with KM-01 and KM-02 set so they decided to make a bigger size one for easier insert of Microman core body. The bigger suit made it much easier to assemble and dress up your Microman, though it still require some fiddling to make the suit fit right. (There seem to be some minor flash in the right hand socket so shave some excess flash off would help with putting the right hand into the socket). While the bigger size made for easier, the figure became less articulated (not that there was a lot of articulation to begin with) as the suit was just simply too big for the body. King Ghidrah was constructed differently than Godzilla suit and he simply just split in the middle. The Microman figure then get inserted in the lower portion without having to remove his hands or feet. The suit came with three wire harness and backpack that snap on to Microman figure. The wires then act as bendable rod for King Ghidrah's heads. King Ghidrah was the largest of the suit released thus far by Takara for the Kiguru line and combine with his massive wings he easily tower over the other Kiguru-Microman just as he should be.

Kiguru-Microman Godzilla (1964) came with Microman Harold, which, like KM-01 Ken and KM-02 Billy, was essentially a "redeco" of of Microman 2003 body with new head and a set of sticker. Harold has clear cranberry color body with brown chest and shin. The joints were done in black. The stickers can be a bit of a work to apply but they certainly make the figure much more attractive. (I would suggest a pair of tweezers when you sit down to decorate these Kiguru-Microman).

Kiguru-Microman King Ghidorah came with Microman Victor. Victor has clear dark brown (he looks like a toffee) body with black chest and shin. His joints are done in light tan. Victor and Harold also made another nice redeco of the 2003-2004 body. Takara also gave each Kiguru Microman distinctive head sculpts which help add to the personality of the figure. It clearly was quite a marketing ploy by Takara to include this full fledge, nicely color Microman with each set and thus force one to buy these Godzilla Microman to get these figures even if one do not care for Godzilla series. Though even if you not a Godzilla fan, the suits overall were pretty well made with nice novelty designs and really bring these Microman full circle back to their Henshin Cyborg heritage.

Kiguru- Microman set are not cheap by any mean especially the two versus set which retails for 3000 Yen in Japan and that is before the added cost of shipping. I personally do enjoy the fact that I was able to buy these toys that combine my favorite line (Microman) with the giant monsters that I grew up with as a kid. But if you just want nice Godzilla toys then you probably better off with the selection of Godzilla products out there and if you not a completist and only interest in Microman, then the Master series, the Acroyear X series or the Military Force probably be better choices. However if you are completist or like the novelty concept of this series then the Kiguru set certainly make nice addition to one Microman line-up.

KM-SP01 depicted the two characters from 1964 Godzilla movie titled "King Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster". This movie was the first of many more appearances of King Ghidorah who became one of the best known arch-nemesis in Godzilla series.