Galactic Defender
Galactic Defender (also called Galactic Destroyer and Orbital Defender) is a fictional character from the Micronauts series introduced in 1978.
Micronauts
Galactic Defender was a character in the Micronauts series. The depiction of Galactic Defender has varied vastly from one fictional setting to another.
Galactic Defender usually carries a helmet, Laser Sword, Power Unit and Stun Carbine.
Development
Mego released the Galactic Defender toy in 1978 in three color variants. It was based on the mold use for a Takara the Microman Command 3 figures, but with the chamber removed and new accessories added. He was also released by Lion Rock with different accessories.
In 2003 Palisades Toys released a Galactic Defender Toy in four new color variants. This toy had a new backpack design.
In 2016 Hasbro released a set of Micronauts toys at SDCC which included Orbital Defender, a new take on Galactic Defender. Derryl DePriest said at SDCC 2016 that the Micronauts Classic Collection toys were created using a combination of the 1970's molds recovered by Takara and various Microman parts.<REF>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z87j58VOgY8</RED>
In 2018 parts for Galactic Defender were released on Shapeways by Mathew Robert Ignash.
Animated series
Acroyear 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.
Comics
Galactic Defender has appeared in comic form several times over the years. Each appearance varies radically.
1979 Marvel Comics
Galactic Defender first appeared in Micronauts Annual 1 by Marvel Comics. He was depicted as a foe of the Micronauts. He dies in that story.
Galactic Defender would inspire an identical looking character called Galactic Destroyer, a member of the Death Squad, who appeared in issue 35-36 of the Micronauts comic.
Both Defender and Destroyer were based on the yellow Mego version of the Galactic Defender toy.
After Marvel Comics lost the Micronauts license Galactic Warrior never appeared in the Marvel Universe again.
2002 Image Comics
Galactic Defender appeared as a regular among the cast of the 2002 Image Comics Micronauts series, depicted as a heroic woman. Like most of the population of her galaxy she utilizes a translator implant in her ear to understand all languages.
2016 IDW Publishing
Micronauts 4 by IDW Publishing featuring Orbital Defender Orbital Defender in the IDW Publishing Micronauts series varies greatly from the original toy, being depicted as a woman named Larissa, the daughter of Baron Karza, whose armor looks nothing like the original toy.
In Micronauts First Strike issue 1 Acroyear, Biotron, Orbital Defender, Microtron and Space Glider fought the Dire Wraiths and traveled in the Astro Station while on Earth. They were then attacked by Rom who mistook them for Dire Wraiths.