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

One specific auction, SUPER RARE Kinnikuman M.U.S.C.L.E. Men NEZUMIMAN Kinkeshi Figure Japan Original, has recently created more “chatter” than any other auction. Once I started receiving some emails about it I knew it needed to be the focus of Auction Watch. I also felt that I had to get on my soapbox too.

If I were going to create M.U.S.C.L.E-centric propaganda posters, then there main message would be, “Assume it’s nothing!” It would basically be the opposite of this poster.

This figure is a Japanese bootleg/counterfeit figure. It was part of a set, which you can see below, and here is a link with some names and better pictures. I also grabbed a screen capture – just in case the site goes away.

I would equate these to almost a kind-of Japanese FLAF. They tended to pop-up in Japanese auctions with around the same regularity as FLAF’s. However, there hasn’t been very much talk about these figures in the last five years. So the figures have a certain collectibility, but do not deserve a “Super Rare” title or a premium price tag.

The bit of excitement these figure generated with collectors was good – any excitement is good in this hobby! But it’s safer to assume the unknown (within M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting) is pedestrian rather than extraordinary.

Don’t spend $200 on this figure.

If you like it, then try and track it down. I doubt a reproduction could even be created at a price that was lower than actually buying an original version.

Lastly, and I’ve said this before, if “RARE” is used in the auction title, then M.U.S.C.L.E. collector’s bullshit detectors should go crazy. If you look back at most of the huge, exciting M.U.S.C.L.E. auctions the word “RARE” is not used. M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors are like crazed hawks. They see a great auction from far away and then attack. If a seller is trying to oversell their auction and uses the word “RARE,” then there is a 99.9% chance the auction (and/or the price) sucks.