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

Marty Hansen is one of the elder statesmen of custom M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. He began casting new colors of M.U.S.C.L.E. figures in approximately 2002. Marty Hansen is commonly known to toy collectors as “TheGodBeast.” One of his earliest and most notable M.U.S.C.L.E. pieces of work was a set he created with the help of his colleagues Mr. Nathan Newell and Mr. Jon Karis.

In 2004 the three set out to create a set of rare M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. The goal was to create figures that gave collectors an opportunity to own custom versions of rare M.U.S.C.L.E. and Kinnikuman figures. The three selected a two-piece Satan Cross Kinnikuman figure, Black Hole Sunshine, and Spinning-Head Ashuraman. Jon Karis, through his message board (LittleRubberGuys.com, then called AKIA.com) provided the conduit for Marty to sell and distribute the figures. Jon also supplied the packaging, which was beautified by Nathan Newell’s art. The creation of the figures was left to Marty Hansen.

Marty limited the original run to 20 sets. The figures ranged in colors, from glow-in-the-dark to a traditional M.U.S.C.L.E. Flesh color.

Mr. Hansen has also created specific figures for collectors. For example, this vast set of #189 figures.

Custom #189 (Picture #1)

Custom #189 (Picture #2)

Another collector, Jason Moore, ordered a large run of figure #153, commonly know as “The Claw.”

Custom #153 (Group #1)

Custom #153 (Group #2)

Custom #153 (Group #3)

For a number of years it looked like Marty was mostly done doing any work within the M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting universe. However, around 2011 he partnered with sculptor Jason Frailey to create the figure Clawshine. The figure combined the popularity of the “Claw” (#153) and the several Sunshine or “Brick” figures (ie, #3, #38, #107, etc.). A full review of the figure can be found here.

Contact Information:

Email: thegodbeast@mchsi.com
Website: Godbeast.com
Twitter: @THEGODBEAST