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

Drunken Master
by Professor Terry

Another M.U.S.C.L.E. Non-Poster figure is up for discussion this week – the Drunken Master or DM.

My first observation of this figure is that he doesn’t look all that drunk. Apart from the eye shape, it’s not something that easily comes to mind. I’d be really curious to find out the origin of this figures name seeing he’s not part of the M.U.S.C.L.E. poster – I can only gather it comes from the Japanese interpretation.

(Editor’s Note: In the early days of M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting, the first person to find the figure could name it. It even applied to figures like The Futuristic Goalie.)

He’s small in size, slightly taller than the four smallest M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. Similar to the Woolman, discussed in MMMM #88, this figure also doesn’t not have a release in any other Japanese formats which is disappointing. I find this figure interesting as I don’t know his story and he’s clearly not a wrestler like most figures. My imagination runs with something along the lines of him being a past teacher who now gets on the drink since his students all moved on. Or he’s a drunken wrestling fan!

What is also interesting to me about this figure is why he was left out of the M.U.S.C.L.E. line in the first place. Did Mattel think it had enough smaller figures in the line and were concerned about his stick becoming a choking hazzard? Or was it because they were told he’s a drunken old man and didn’t want that negative aspect of the line showcased?

What I have in my collection is all five of his Kinkeshi colors and one custom green figure. The picture may not show it but it’s similar to M.U.S.C.L.E. green. I do wish I had more. At least he was affordable.