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

There is likely a quote that perfectly encapsulates the feeling that taking the lesser known path has made the traveler much richer for their experience. With the comparably limited number of M.U.S.C.L.E. websites on the internet collectors often have no choice but to traveler the lesser known path.

This Website Review, like the previous one, looks at a blog. This one is titled: Tales from the Junk Store. It appears that Junk Pirate is a blog that evolved from an independent “zine.” The items have even led to a 2006 Art Show. The blog is especially interesting because it appears that all of the finds are from people that have given their belongings to a “junk store.” It is unclear if the “junk store” is a Salvation Army-type location or a second-hand re-sale shop. Either way the author has a clear set of rules regarding the items posted:

So, as stated in the side-bar over there, and probably elsewhere, everything posted on this blog, and included in all Junk Pirate zines, has been willingly donated to the Junk Store where I work as my “day job”, sorting piles of junk for resale or reuse and occasionally finding interesting tidbits to photograph or photocopy. “Made with and from items donated to the Junk Store”. And as far as I know, nobody has ever donated an item with the intention of it being used in Junk Pirate.

I have, however, received specific contributions to Junk Pirate from friends or fans. Usually these are giving to me directly or mailed to me (often from prison). These I politely decline, or just ignore (occasionally I might keep them for my own personal found art stash), but they don’t qualify as Junk Pirate material because they weren’t donated to the Junk Store.

These rules combined with the the appearance of M.U.S.C.L.E. figures likely make this blog entry equal parts encouraging and frustrating.

Last Updated/Originally Posted:

July, 5th 2009

Content: 2 out of 5

This blog highlights the hilarity and insanity of various junk store donations. The entries often focus on the item itself. However, this time the author attempted to add some education by listing the dreadful M.U.S.C.L.E. Wikipedia entry. And perhaps most shocking the author purports to have “really liked” the M.U.S.C.L.E. NES game and that it was “One of the better wrestling games out at the time.”

Had the author simply shared his emotinal/first impression, like in the first paragraph, the score would have likely been higher – less would have been more.

Design: 4 out of 5

The design of the website is clean and simple. The links on the right side take you to some interesting websites. The search function also seemed to work incredibly well.

Pictures: 5 out of 5

This received a 5 for two reasons: (1) they are original pictures of the actual items; and (2) there are not any pictures from other websites. Aside from a better picture of all the found figures, which would only interest M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors, the pictures perfectly serve their purpose.

Overall: 4 out of 5

It is fun to see M.U.S.C.L.E. figures awash in this blog’s sea of treasures. It is a fun and interesting blog with a fun and interesting M.U.S.C.L.E. entry – even if it does fill M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors with the need to start frequenting junk shops.