Editing Baron Karza

{{Infobox character
| name        = Baron Karza
| series      = [[Micronauts]]
| image       = [[Image:baronkarza-box.jpg|240px]]
| caption     = Baron Karza toy box
| first       = ''Micronauts'' volume 1 number 1, January 1979 by Marvel Comics
| last        = 
| creator     = Mego
| portrayer   = 
| voice       = Clancy Brown
| nickname    = 
| alias       = Hraal Karza (IDW Publishing)<BR>Orbiza Karza (Protectors of Inner Space)
| species     = Homeworlder (Marvel Comics)<BR>Micorn (Protectors of Inner Space)
| gender      = Male
| occupation  = Scientist, dictator
| title       = Master of Evil
| family      = Shazrella (wife), Larissa (daughter)
| spouse      = 
| significantother = 
| children    = 
| relatives   = 
| religion    = 
| nationality = 
| lbl1 = Japanese name
|data1 = 
| lbl2 = Release number
|data2 = 71005
|abilities = * Energy blasts
* Mind Control
* [[Shapeshifting]]
* [[Superhuman durability]]
* [[Superhuman longevity]]
* [[Superhuman strength]]
* Telepathy
* Universal translator
|affiliation = Acroyear
| lbl23 = Alternate mode
|data23 =
|partner = Andromeda
|quote = "''Why, when I'm done with you, you won't even know yourself!!''"
}}
'''Baron Karza''' is a [[fictional character]] from the ''[[Micronauts]]'' series introduced in 1977. He was the main villain in the series.

==Micronauts==
Baron Karza is an evil character from the ''Micronauts'' series. He is usually portrayed as the central villain of the series and is leader of the evil Acroyear.<REF>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBjprZSHTpQ</REF>  

The instructions for Baron Karza mention the Baron teaming up with Acroyear against Biotron. He can combine with Andromeda to form a centaur.

===Development===
The Baron Karza toy was designed by [[Iwakichi Ogawa]] and was filed for US patent in  1976.<REF>https://patents.google.com/patent/US4118888A</REF>

Baron Karza was released in 1977 by Mego. 

Concept art for a new version of Baron Karza was done by Dave Waugh as part pf Palisades wave 3, although the figure was never produced.<REF>https://rockettubes.livejournal.com/118924.html</REF>

Concept art for a new version of Baron Karza was done by Will Jones as part of Palisades wave 3, although the figure was never produced.<REF>https://rockettubes.livejournal.com/119049.html</REF>

Concept art for a new version of Baron Karza was done by Mike Bazzell as part of Palisades wave 3, although the figure was never produced.<REF>https://rockettubes.livejournal.com/119548.html</REF>

In late 2004 ''Micronauts'' was licensed to [[SOTA Toys]]. They planned to produce a line of stylized 6 inch figures under the name ''Micronauts Evolution'', including a Baron Karza. A hand painted prototype of Baron Karza was displayed at Toy Fair New York City 2005, but because of legal issues with Takara the toys were delayed and never released.<REF>http://www.innerspaceonline.com/jm.htm</REF>

In 2013 ATR Hobby released a custom figure called Sultan which was inspire by Baron Karza.<REF>https://www.flickr.com/photos/56755375@N03/11021957476</REF>

In 2018 several Baron Karza parts were released on [[Shapeways]] by [[Mathew Robert Ignash]].

[[image:karza-dev.png|left|thumb|120px|Preliminary design of Baron Karza, by Joey Mason]]
Preliminary designs for Baron Karza for the Micronauts cartoon were done by [[Joey Mason]].

===Reception===
Baron Karza was highlighted in a 1977 news story by CBS 8 in San Diego about hot new Christmas toys.<ref>https://youtu.be/PBjprZSHTpQ</ref>

[[image:tafd132.png|right|thumb|120px|Tomart's Action Figure Digest cover]]
The unreleased SOTA Toys Baron Karza and Space Glider figures appeared on the cover of the April 2005 issue of Tomart's Action Figure Digest.

*[http://www.16bit.com/fotd/130708-micronauts-andromeda-baron-karza.asp Baron Karza with Andromeda review on 16bit.com]

===Fictional biography===
{{quote|Once Honeworld's Chief Scientist and overseer of the Body Banks, Karza offered the Microverse immortality... for a price - total and complete subservience to his wishes! And he gets it!}}

{{Quote|The leader of the evil Acroyear and enemy of the Micronauts, Baron Karza's armored limbs and spring loaded weaponry are fully interchangeable via a groundbreaking design of magnetic attachments called "Magno Power". He towers over most citizens of the Microverse, and over most Sci-Fi action figures of the 70's. Karza's star stallion, Andromeda, is fully interchangeable with Baron Karza and hosts it's own arsenal of combat add-ons. Armored wheels can replace Andromeda's legs, or it's entire head can be replaced with Karza's battle-ready body to create a massive Evil Centaur!}}

===Animated series===
[[image:baronkarza-revolution.jpg|left|thumb|120px|Baron Karza]]
====2005 Micronauts Revolution====
Baron Karza was featured in the 2005 ''[[Micronauts Revolution]]'' DVD digital comic by [[Eagle One Media]] which was based on the first 5 issues of the Image Comics ''Micronauts'' comic series.

[[image:baronkarza-2000.jpg|right|thumb|120px|Baron Karza]]
====2020 Micronauts====
Baron Karza was the main villain in the unreleased 2020 ''Micronauts'' cartoon made by Hasbro. He is voiced by Clancy Brown.

===Comics===
====1979 Marvel Comics====
Baron Karza was a reoccurring villain in the ''Micronauts'' series by Marvel Comics. He hales from the [[Homeworld]], a planet in the Microverse. He was the former chief scientist was a genius in biological engineering. He bribed Homeworld's citizens with the promise of eternal life via his Body Banks. Not everyone was unhappy with Karza's new reign in the beginning, but Karza's defacto rule of Homeworld was enforced by his Dog Soldiers and bio engineered creatures. Many former Karza supporters eventually lent their aid to the rebellion against him.

In ''Iron Man'' issue 131 a young boy was able to calm the Hulk down by offering to let him play with his Acroyear and Baron Karza action figures. 

[[image:baronkarza-micronauts56.jpg|left|thumb|120px|Baron Karza in ''Micronauts'' volume 1 number 56 by Marvel Comics]]
In his own communion with the [[Time Travelers]], Baron Karza realized that what he sought was more than mere power. Though his science had effectively made him immortal, his essence and emotions were still that of a man. Although Karza transcended his organic body and became a being of pure energy, Karza refused the Time Travelers' offer of godhood.

Karza re-evaluated his philosophy and concluded that true godhood could not be obtained without understanding what one needed to experience in order for one's soul (as opposed to one's mere body) to transcend physicality. Thus, Karza, in committing one unspeakably inhuman act after another, believed he would become indifferent to the concept of wielding power over the living. Thus, he accepted the choice to return to a mortal body so that he could relish conquest.

In issue 49 Prince Argon's body was torn apart as Baron Karza returned, reborn from within Argon. 

When Marvel lost the license to Micronauts it included losing the rights to Baron Karza, and he has not appeared again the Marvel Universe. A similar character named [[Baron Zebek]] was created as a villain for a story with the former Micronauts.

====2002 Image Comics====
Baron Karza was the main villain in the 2002 reboot of the ''Micronauts'' by Image Comics. Lear Sethis (Red Falcon) was promoted to lead the Harrowers after Azula Nova failed Baron Karza.

====2016 IDW Publishing====
Hraal Karza was born on Aegis-6, to the desert planet's Sandmen mercenary society. As a young warrior, Karza fought on behalf of the Sagitarrion for several years. He was later among the Sandmen hired to defend the Emperor of Microspace from a [[Kronos (Micronauts)|Kronos]] revolt, and was recruited as one of the ruler's elite guardsmen in the aftermath of the conflict. He rapidly rose through the ranks, and within a matter of years was installed as Minister of Defense. Accordingly granted the title of Baron, Karza conscripted his fellow Sandmen into the military, putting them through genetic and behavioral modification to create the [[Acroyear]]s.

Part of the Emperor's inner circle, Karza developed a hatred for the [[Red Falcon (Micronauts)|Red Falcon]], the son of Microspace's ruler; not only did the arrogant warrior ignorantly meddle in diplomacy, but he was betrothed to Shazraella – the Mistress of Spies and object of Karza's affections. When a [[Pharoid]] temple was occupied by militants, Karza and the Falcon led a battalion of Acroyears on a rescue mission. At the battle's conclusion, Karza received a cryptic warning from one of the dying militants, before discovering Red Falcon inside the heart of the temple, communing with five Time Travelers. The Emperor's son returned home with claims that the Travelers, part of a Pharoid sect said to have transcended time itself, had shown him the future, and that by seeking their counsel he alone could guide the empire on the right path.

Concerned that the Falcon was withholding something, Karza attempted to convince [[Force Commander|Baron Daegon]], his counterpart in the Ministry of Science, to help act against the heir to the empire, but was turned away. Before long, however, Shazraella sought out Karza, sharing his concerns about Red Falcon, and the pair embraced in a kiss for the first time. The Mistress of Spies revealed that the Time Travelers were showing her betrothed his own bloody ascent to the throne, and resolved to work with the Baron to avoid this. Together they prepared an arcane poison which Karza slipped into the Red Falcon's goblet, killing the heir and ending the threat he posed to Microspace's future.

====2018 Micronauts Protectors of Inner Space====
[[image:Mpois12.jpg|right|thumb|120px|Baron Karza in ''Micronauts Protectors of Inner Space'']]
Baron Karza appears as the main villain in the ''[[Micronauts Protectors of Inner Space]]'' art series by [[Brian Vox]]. Baron Karza is depicted as a Grey Galactic Commander who wears a large custom armor. 

He appears on the cover art of issues 12, annual 1, 14 and 23.

===Commercials===
Baron Karza shared a 1977 commercial with Acroyear, Acroyear II, Andromeda, Force Commander, Galactic Defender, Oberon, Pharoid and Space Glider.<REF>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql5nhVey3Ks</REF>

Force Commander, Oberon, Baron Karza and Andromeda appeared together in a 1980 Italian ''Micronauti'' commercial by Gig.<REF>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3esD-JL9ls</REF>

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql5nhVey3Ks Baron Karza commercial on YouTube]

===Games===
Baron Karza and four different color Space Gliders appeared in the 1978 ''The World Of Micronauts'' board game by Milton Bradley.

===Toys===
*'''''Mego Micronauts'' Baron Karza''' (1977)
:A remold and recolor of Steel Jeeg. This toy shares most of his molding with [[Force Commander]], Emperor, King Atlas and [[Green Baron]].  
:This figure was recolored into ''The Inter-Changeables'' Count Magno. 

*'''''Airfix Micronauts'' Baron Karza''' (1978)
:A release of the toy in Europe by Airfix. 

*'''''El Greco Oi Astpomaxhtes'' Braon Karza'''

*'''''Gig Micronauti'' Baron Karza'''
:A release of the Mego toy in Italy by Gig. 

*'''''Grand Toys Micronauts'' Baron Karza'''
:A release of the Mego toy in Canada in English/French packaging by Grand Toys.

*'''''Pin Pin Toys Micronauts'' Baron Karza'''
:A release of the Mego toy in France by Pin Pin Toys. 

*'''''Gig Nuovi Micronauti'' Baron Karza'''
:A grey/blue recolor of Baron Karza released in Italy by Gig. 

*'''''Palisades Micronauts'' Baron Karza with Andromeda''' (2002)
:Released as a set in a variety of colors including black/red, clear/black and translucent red/black. The black version also featured silver chrome colored hooves, hubcaps, neck and tail on Andromeda.
:Palisades also produced a rare gold Baron Karza and Andromeda set as a gift to say "thank you" to certain members of the Yahoo! Groups Micropolis Embassy mailing list for all their help in the series 1 production.

[[image:baronkarza-sota.jpg|left|thumb|120px|Sota Toys Baron Karza toy]]
*'''''SOTA Toys Micronauts Evolution'' Baron Karza''' (unreleased)

*'''''ATR Hobby'' Sultan''' (2013)
:A small run of custom made figures by ATR hobby. This figure uses the glider pack from Space Glider and the basic body design from Micro Steel Jeeg. 

[[image:hasbrorevolutionbaddies.jpg|right|thumb|120px|Hasbro Revolution Betatron, Baron Karza and Gammatron]]
*'''''Hasbro'' Revolution''' (2017)
:A box set of Hasbro action figures including Jetfire, Matt Trakker, Rom, a Dire Wraith, Action Man and Leoric.
:A box set also included small Micronauts figurines of classic characters of Acroyear, Baron Karza and Biotron. There was also the alien Xant, a female Space Glider Phenolo-Phi, a green Time Traveler named Quin-Tillus, the cyborg Oberon, and robots Betatron and Gammatron.
:The set was a SDCC 2017 exclusive.

*'''''RetroRobotRadio'' Karza Kommando''' (2018)
:A four inch tall 3d printed figure made of black and red dyed nylon designed by [[Mathew Robert Ignash]]. It was first released on [[Shapeways]] and later other sites. This figure features 5mm peg and port design.

*'''''ATR Hobby'' Clear Sultan''' (2020)

*'''''Super7 Micronauts'' Baron Karza''' (2025)
:A new 1:18 scale o-ring style figure with a backpack accessory.

*Several [https://cults3d.com/en/search?q=Baron+Karza parts for Baron Karza] are available on [[Cults3d]].

===Gallery===
<gallery>
image:jeeg-patent.jpg|Takara Articulated Magnetic Doll patent
image:Micronauts001-cover.jpg|''Micronauts'' volume 1 number 1 by Marvel Comics
image:baronkarza-marvelbio.jpg|Marvel Comics Baron Karza biography
image:baronkarza-idwbio.jpg|IDW Publishing Baron Karza biography
image:baronkarza-pois.jpg|Baron Karza biography by Brian Vox
image:karza-cartoonbio.png|Baron Karza cartoon biography
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://marvel.wikia.com/Baron_Karza_%28Earth-616%29 Baron Karza on  marvel.wikia.com]
*http://idwhasbro.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Baron_Karza
*http://www.innerspaceonline.com/palbk.htm

[[Category:5mm peg compatible toys]]
[[Category:1977 toys]]
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[[Category:El Greco toys]]
[[Category:Fictional characters who can project energy]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with superhuman longevity]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Fictional barons]]
[[Category:Fictional mass murderers]]
[[Category:Fictional shapeshifters]]
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