Masterslice three-dimensional MMIC (3-D MMIC) technology has (even in the millimeter-wave region) the advantages of high integration levels, simple design procedures, short turnaround time, and low fabrication cost. This paper clarifies the advantages of the thin-film microstrip line by drawing comparisons to the characteristics of other transmission lines. The simple design procedures of the masterslice 3-D MMIC are elucidated by referring to fabricated MMIC's. A V -band amplifier and an image rejection mixer fabricated by using the same master array are demonstrated. The V -band amplifier offers an 8-dB gain and a 5.3-dB noise figure in the area of just 0.27 mm 2 . The image rejection mixer achieves a conversion gain of 010 dB and an image rejection ratio of 20 dB. The performance of the millimeter-wave 3-D MMIC's is competitive with those of the conventional planar-formed MMIC's.