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

For the 10th Anniversary I asked, “Are there any questions about the past 10 years I can answer for you guys?”

You guys didn’t disappoint. One question had a longer, more complex answer and got its own post. I’m expecting the rest of the questions have simpler answers. Let’s see.

Trashcandream :

If you get all of the figures, do you intend to try and sell the Figure Guide in some sort of physical published form?

When it started I absolutely planned on creating a physical book. I was excited by the idea.

However, 10 years later it sounds like a nightmare – which is a perfect lead-in to the next question.

plasticfiend :

Here’s a question… when are you gonna get that Dr. Muscle figure made? That thing was the bee’s-knees!!

Just like the book, I don’t think Dr. MUSCLE will ever get made. I had such a bad experience as a retailer. I won’t repeat that post.

I also feel greater freedom by not selling any product. I think many voices become compromised when they are trying to sell a product. If I’m not selling, then it is a lot harder to suggest I’m compromised. (It is still easy to disagree with me. 🙂 )

With all that said, I would consider the book and Dr. MUSCLE as Kickstarter projects. I would want to know: (1) it is worth my time; and (2) people actually want it.

Keith Seminerio :

Ever think about possibly having some raffles/contests on the site?

There used to be contests. It even had its own tag.

It stopped for a very simple reason: time. “There’s not enough hours in the day.” It took me 218 days to mail out six Purple #100 figures. I just couldn’t get it done. That’s why contests have been shelved.

stoffhimel :

Just how massive is your bootleg, flaf, and masquerading muscle collection at this point?

Very simple answer: I have no idea.

I hope that doesn’t sound cavalier. It is not meant to be that way. Most of my FLAF collection was packed up years ago when we moved. Five years ago I started to get organized. The results were underwhelming.

Completely unrelated to your question I recently started going through some drawers. I was embarrassed by the volume of awesome figures not being displayed. I’m working to correct that. Hopefully the results are better this time.

I will also use this question as an opportunity to post one of my favorite pictures. This is a large part of my collection. I’ve probably added a handful, or two, since this picture was taken.

Walker26 :

1. What is your favorite discovery by the community? The Magnificent 11 or another piece?

2. What is the Holy Grail of your collection? The piece your family got you for Christmas last year?

Wow, I have to think about the first part of your question. That’s not an easy answer.

The second part is much easier. It is, and was, the Nestle Quik tin. When I came back to M.U.S.C.L.E. as a collector the Quik tin was my favorite “discovery.” I loved the uniqueness of the advertisement art. I loved that there were still sealed figures in the world (as boring as they might be).

But the can really captured my lust.

You have to consider the time too. M.U.S.C.L.E. was still a mystery. People still wanted to add X-2 to their collection. It was the dark ages. The Quik tin was a very specific and, obviously, authentic rarity. That was very attractive to me.

Maybe the most amazing part, is that I eventually owned the specific tin I had always lusted after. Darrin Vindiola sold me his tin. He said he always wanted the buyer to be someone who would love it as much as he did. I may have loved it more.

I may have shared this before, but I’ll risk repeating it. When the tin finally arrived I wasn’t excited. I was nervous. I was nervous touching it. I was nervous looking at it. I put it back in the bubble wrap, closed the box, and put it on a closet shelf. It took months and months (maybe more?) before I displayed it. That is, and was, my Holy Grail (and rightfully displayed).

Back to the first part of your question. What is my favorite discovery by the community? Damn, that is hard to answer. The discovery of the Magnificent 11 was certainly awesome. I hold a special place in my heart for the SGS discovery. But I don’t think figures would ever be at the top of my list. They’re truly not that special to me anymore.

I get far more excited by other things. The Joe Morrison interview was a dream come true. Jensen recently unearthed some childhood M.U.S.C.L.E. pictures. For me, those kind of discoveries are much cooler than a figure. I love getting my hands on something like the bilingual 28-pack and sharing those pictures. My brain melted when Lucas sent in pictures of his Star Trek M.U.S.C.L.E. figures.

I don’t know if I could truly pick one favorite thing. Obliviously things like the Magenta #161 will always hold a special place in my heart. There are probably hundreds of moments over the years that would be worthy choices. I’ll give you two final answers.

My favorite discovery by the community was the Color Code. It pains me that the 2011 discovery was forgotten. (Seriously, we made another breakthrough and 100% forgot it.)

My own favorite discovery was the Industry Trade Magazines. That probably seems pretty boring to most people, but it was super exciting to me. Initially, I didn’t have the magazines. I went to Oakland University’s library and searched through old microfiche. I had all of the information long before I had the magazines. Today any write-up about M.U.S.C.L.E. mentions that it was a top-selling toy of 1986. That information is taken for granted. I remember sitting in the library seeing it for the first time. It was unbelievably exciting.

In fact, I got to experience the excitement twice. The first time in the library. The second time when each of the magazines showed up in my mailbox. I can say with extreme confidence that I was the most excited owner of a Toy Trade News from February of 1986 that ever existed.

Orgg :

What figure did you gain more appreciation for when you revisited it for the figure guide?

I am not acting glib when I say, “None.”

I have poured over so many M.U.S.C.L.E. figures for so long in my pursuit of the Master Set I know their every detail. But, believe it or not, my appreciation for M.U.S.C.L.E. figures has grown. The source of that appreciation is the new Kinnikuman Kinkeshi Premium figures. The hits and misses, tweaks and changes have made me really appreciate the craftsmanship of the original figures.

M.U.S.C.L.E. figures are truly stunning in the size, scale, proportions, and detail. For example, take the original #163 figure. I would argue he is a perfect figure. But the collector of nearly 20 years might start to suggest maybe the head isn’t quite right.

That silly concern is extinguished when I see the new version. Don’t get me wrong, I love the new version too. However, when I look back at the #163 figure I fall in love again. I appreciate how as a child I saw the figure as an elephant-man and not a man dressed up like an elephant. It’s like a time machine for me. I can revisit that tiny part of childhood; where M.U.S.C.L.E. figures were gasoline on my imagination fire.