The line included bases, converting vehicles, figures, and piloted mech suits notable highlights include 1975's Robotman, Takara's first toy that could transform (or rather, partsform) from a robot to a vehicle, and 1978's 'Cosmo Countach', a primitive robot that could come apart and be reassembled into a Lamborghini supercar. These cost concerns–coupled with the acknowledgement that Japanese household space is typically too limited for a collection of such large toys–led to Takara creating the 3.75-inch scale Microman as, effectively, Henshin Cyborg shrunken down to about a third of its size. The increased cost of oil meant that the planned expansion of Henshin Cyborg into vehicles and playsets was untenable. Henshin Cyborg could 'transform' by replacing his modular limbs with weaponry, or by donning separately sold costumes to embody other popular Transformers characters like Devilman or Mazinger Z. The titular character was a cybernetic superhero with a distinctive chromed head and translucent body parts that revealed his inner mechanical parts. Takara imported the line in Japan in 1971 as ' Combat Joe', but when the militaristic styles of 'America's Moveable Fighting Man' received only a tepid market response, they instead repurposed the molds to create Henshin Cyborg. Joe range of toys, which introduced the world to the term 'action figure' when released in 1964.

Microman's roots lie, perhaps surprisingly, with the original 12-inch G.I. Their modular construction allowed them to interact with bases, vehicles, and mech suits such as Robotman (right), which has a yellow Microman pilot visible in its chest. The line was mostly made up of 3.75-inch figures like M251 Robin (left).

Microman diaclone