so many unsold, variants that by 2001 Takara decided to significantly scale back the release of the Replica Microman. By 2003 the Replica Microman series continued to put out releases but only on a very limited basis and mainly through Takara’s e-Hobby Shop. Magne Powers & LED Powers (1998–2000) On December 26, 1998, Takara officially launched the Magne Powers series which was followed in 2000 by the companion LED Powers series. The Magne Powers series and LED Powers series were designed for children with brand new toy designs and a new story line which included a Microman anime series. In addition to the anime, Takara also commissioned manga serial for Comic BomBom magazine. By 2000, Takara, which was dealing with financial issues, reduced their new LED Powers series to a few dozen of toys and canceled the Microman anime series as well as the manga in Comic BomBom magazine. Soon afterwards, Takara would put all of their new Microman properties on indefinite hiatus. Microman Force Series (2003–2007) In 2003, Takara decided to test Microman market again with a brand new series of action figures called Microman 2003 which was aimed towards collectors and older fans. In the late 2000s, Takara expanded the overall Microman brand and Microman 2003 line to include various licensed brands, including Batman (both comic based and from Batman Begins), Superman (both comic based and from Superman Returns), Evangelion, Street Fighter, Godzilla, Alien vs Predator and Kinnikuman. A Spider-Man toy was announced at one point and a photograph of a prototype does exist. However, the figure was never produced, and its product number was assigned to a Predator figure. Microman toyline influence outside Japan Micronauts (1976–1980) In the late 1970s, the U.S. toy company Mego acquired the license for some of Takara’s Microman toys and released them in the United States as the Micronauts. Mego manufactured and marketed Micronaut toys from 1976 to 1980 prior to the company’s bankruptcy and dissolution in 1982. After Mego’s demise, other toy companies such as Palisades Toys and SOTA (State of the Art) Toys attempted to revive the toyline over the years. Transformers (1984–present) In 1981 Takara produced a new Microman line called New Microman. A few years later in 1983, Takara launched a new Microman series within the New Microman line dubbed Micro Change. The line featured toys that were seemingly ordinary items (such as cassette tapes, microscopes, watches and