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

The Future Strength spotlight has not been completed. For once, that is a good thing.

Previously, the only documented Future Strength figures had been M.U.S.C.L.E.-like Flesh color. Recently one of the best experts in counterfeit M.U.S.C.L.E. figures, Lucas Rage, discovered two amazing figures.

The first is an ultra-bizarre translucent yellow copy of one of the Future Strength figures. What makes him ultra-bizarre? First, he is an exact replica in size and detail to the Future Strength figure. The Future Strength figures could certainly be described as a low quality product, which makes that masterful copying of it all the more surprising.

But what really makes this translucent yellow copy bizarre is that a raised “TAIWAN” trademark has been added to the figure. Was the trademark added to the yellow figure or removed from the Future Strength figure? Regardless of which is the truth, both are outlandish scenarios.

Thankfully Lucas discovered a second translucent Future Strength figure. This blue figure is an exact copy in detail, but he is much smaller in size – which suggests he is a copy of an original Future Strength figure.

Again, the raised “TAIWAN” trademark has been added to the figure. Based on this incredibly small sample of figures, it would appear that Future Strength figures were copied and sold.

The questions become:

– Did the original manufactures create a second wave of Future Strength figures?
– What other colors are available?
– Were all of the colors translucent?
– Why was TAIWAN added to the back of the figure?

If these two translucent figures are actually counterfeit Future Strength figures created by a different manufacturer, then there is a hilarious meta- quality to the whole situation.

Are these translucent figures direct copies of figures that wanted to avoid directly copying figures by creating original figures that were directly inspired by M.U.S.C.L.E. figures?

Hilarious, but still some wonderfully interesting and attractive figures.

If you have any Future Strength figures or packages to add to the archive, then please email a high-resolution picture to the University of M.U.S.C.L.E.. Please take the picture on a white background. Thank you!