The Micronauts Vol.1 (1979) Whitman Variants #1

Plot

From February 1977 to May 1979, Western Publishing and others began sporadically distributing bagged direct edition comics distinguishable from their newsstand counterparts. These direct editions made up 5% of the market or less. You may or may not have noticed that some of your comics from this period have diamond price tags on the cover as opposed to the typical rectangles. This is where things get a little sticky and disputed.

Spotting early, distinguishable direct market editions, or Whitmans, can be confusing as they were not always consistent in their variations. You can have the diamond price with a UPC or a diamond price with a blank UPC box. There are fat diamonds, skinny diamonds, and multi-color diamonds, depending on the issue.

Whitmans are often described as second printings even though they are first printings. This mistaken perception is a result of Whitmans typically being sold months after their direct counterparts, making them undesirable the same way newsstands were in the Copper Age. Bagged direct comics would often sit for months collecting damage, making them even rarer in high grade.

Whitman Variant. In "Homeworld!", Commander Rann returns from his 1000 year space voyage to find that the Warp Drive has been invented, which has allowed Baron Karza to take over the Microverse while he slept in suspended animation. Rann is captured and sent to the Pleasure Pits where his escape is orchestrated by the others, including those who would become members of the Micronauts. Characters: Micronauts (intro) [Commander Arcturus Rann [Space Glider]; Marionette [Princess Mari]; Biotron; Microtron; Acroyear; Bug]; Baron Karza (Villain); Prince Argon; Acroyear Warriors; Dog Soldiers; Oberon (Prince Argon's Horse); Time Traveler; Prince Shaitan (Acroyear Warrior); Shadow Priest; Endeavor (Rann's spaceship). Written by Bill Mantlo, with art by Michael Golden and Joe Rubinstein. Cover by Dave Cockrum and Al Milgrom. Cover price $0.35.