I came across this on a photobucket page belonging to Cybertooth88 over at HISSTANK.com... Seems to be some art of Microman Megatron that seems to be the basis for the original Marvel design. It's the same Megatron that appeared in animated form in early TF comic commercials. Did this toy get made, or is it just prototype art? Does anyone have any info on it?
Microman catalogs had early drawings of upcoming toys for some reason. Soundwave also looked a little different.
This is perfectly off-topic, but... I swear the thread says "Prototype Megaman"! Agree on the prototype part, though.
thats from an old microman catalogue if im not mistaken. old diaclone catalogues also show prototype artwork for many pre transformers. eg i have one for my diaclone 'jazz' its got paintings/photos (its actualy hard to tell with some of them) of proto insecticons, jumpstarters, the seekers, optimus, wheeljack, sideswipe and jazz himself. in some cases the protos are quite different from the final toys.
Can you scan your catalogue for me? Do you have the actual source of this photo? I'm really interested to see more stuff like this. I'm really intrigued by how close this guy is to the Marvel Megatron. Cues from the different head, cannon, and barrel on his back are all there. I wonder how how Marvel ended up using such obscure early references, when there was probably ample "final" Megs samples available at the time...
Yes, that's for an old Microman catalogue. It's an early design. I also wish he could have been like that proto. Don't forget the proto G1 OP, the one that came with bigger antenna and a shoulder cannon, and a lot of more differences. Anyone have that pic?
As I kid I remember the back of those wonderful G1 boxes. The early ones had this scene on the back. I always tried to figure out what some of the smaller characters where that were harder to make out. (keep in mind this is pre Google and pre computers blowing up images) So that guy in the background behind Starscream had to be megatron right? Just with a different head. I came across some pics yesterday and now this thread so it all makes sense. So the pre transformers megatron prototype was this guy? You can see the trigger area folds up and that's the same way it looks on the back of the G1 box. If you ask me, that prototype would have made a better looking Megs than the one we got. The other major difference is clearly the head which also matches the artwork on the back of the box. That also helps explain the toy commercial now which always baffled me. So does anyone know the history behind this? Just wondering why the proto got scrapped for a protruding crotch and different head. I really wish the people behind these decisions would check these forums. There has to be some old Takara guy and some old Hasbro guy that has these dark secrets. That proto would have made a better toy imo. Don't get me wrong, Megs is clearly the other one we all know and love. I think the proto wins hand down at better looking, so I'm curious as to why it was changed.
Moving parts mean extra parts and that means extra production costs. Not even the best image in my 'bucket.
I see the different depictions over the years. I guess adding the swivel for the head helmet and crotch would have added cost as someone said. Still a shame since the designer clearly wanted those parts not to show as they did later. Anyone know who originally designed that gun robot with the folding crotch and helmetless head?
