UofMUSCLE.com – M.U.S.C.L.E. Figures from Mattel

Few things are as exciting to M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors as Non-Poster figures. Dark Emperor had previously been an Alpha Non-Poster figure. However, the figure always teetered on becoming a Beta figure.

The appearance of this auction, Black Emperor SUPER RARE U.S. M.U.S.C.L.E. Muscle men pink Dark little rubber BE, has solidified his transition into the Beta designation.

The Dark Emperor figure should hold a lot of significance for M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors. His original discovery could serve as a demarcation line between the old-school of M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting and the new-school of M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting. His original discovery was the last time a Non-Poster figure was purchased without any extra value added to the figure and without any upheaval within the M.U.S.C.L.E. community.

Neither “school” is intrinsically better, yet the old-school has the added attribute of nostalgia. As years go by many M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors long for “the way it used to be.” They shouldn’t.

The recent appearances of Dark Emperor and Dr. Bombay signal something very encouraging for M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors. Any collector can own a Non-Poster Beta figure.

This does not suggest that they will be able to purchase one inexpensively. However, the continued appearance of these Beta Non-Poster figures shows that they will eventually be available to any M.U.S.C.L.E. collector that strongly values having a Beta Non-Poster figure in their collection. This idea would have been ridiculous to suggest during the old-school days of M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting.

The last part about this auction, and probably the part that always garners the most attention, is the final price. Given that Dr. Bombay sold for $1,770 only a few weeks ago it would seem prudent to suggest Dark Emperor will sell at a similar price. It will probably sell for more.

The reasons are twofold. First, the Dr. Bombay auction has set a new “going price.” Second, eBay lends itself to shenanigans and nervous bidders entering a tremendously high final bid in the final seconds of the auction.

The final price of this auction will be $2,125.

Follow-Up: The auction sold for $1,025, which was $1,100 less than the final predicted price.