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

There was a tiny part of me that was ready to complain. I was ready to complain about juggling the SUS dates because I didn’t do a post last week, which means the alignment between exactly five years ago and today is thrown further out of whack.

And then I remembered how much harder SUS was to do without any posts from five years ago. No complaints.

The first post, based on my memory alone, might be the most linked to post. There’s probably a way to actually check, but it doesn’t really seem worth it.

I think I’ve linked to it so many times because it might be one of my best posts. Oh sure, there are posts like SGS, or The Body Building, or those Star Trek freaks – but that’s just reporting and the pictures are the best part.

I like the Birds and B’s because it is specifically about M.U.S.C.L.E. without leaning on a specific item. That’s a rare occurrence. I also think it is one of my best written pieces. I really love the bird guide analogy. Ok, enough praising myself.

AW #171 seems like a write-up featuring past M.U.S.C.L.E. behavior and, at the time of writing, future M.U.S.C.L.E. behavior. The past being the first two listings; the future being the next two.

I truly believe, as a hobby, we’re starting to trend towards the past. It took quite some time to become so screwed up. It will take some time to undue it. The ebb-and-flow exists but has slowed like never before. The reason for my optimism are the number of $0.99 listings we’re seeing each week in the Epilogues. This week their were five (not including mine). The previous Epilogue had three. Three Epilogues ago there were none. It’s not a lot, but it is trending in the best direction for collectors.

Five years ago must have been the height of the Future Strength movement. Lucas and Chris had some awesome updates.

More evidence that Future Strength was at its height? Ok.

It was the first mention in the Epilogue. That auction description still made me laugh.

I also have a clear memory of that overpriced Purple #208. For me, Purple #208 is the very definition of common. Everybody has that one figure that they see in every listing and constantly for sale. That’s Purple #208 for me. Seeing that figure with a $5 price tag was a huge bummer. In retrospect, the hyperbole was a bit much.

What I didn’t have a memory of was Chris suggesting that my stupid contest somehow interfered with an auction. That sounded stupid to me back then. It sounds hysterical (and humbling) to me today.

How much M.U.S.C.L.E. power and influence do people think I wield? Yesterday and today makes me think it is an infinite amount. I would vehemently disagree. I’ve always felt that I was screaming into an empty abyss. Maybe, past where the abyss ends, there are collectors kneeling, chanting, and waiting for whatever I scream next.

It’s probably not that either. But maybe it is more than I think? This seems like a good poll.

This SUS was embarrassing. It was very much a stream of consciousness post. That’s why I’ve tried to “stick to rules” since then. I don’t want to be redundant in a post that is looking back at stuff I’ve already done. So embarrassing.

Finally, there is Professor Terry’s MMMM #56. If you don’t remember these pictures, then do yourself a favor and check them out. It’s a pretty impressive collection.