#110 Kinnikuman (F)

Ouch!

The first thing you might think of when you notice the giant injury on the side of the figures head and his battered face. Making this likeness of Kinnikuman (aka “Muscle Man” for the English market) the only one of the M.U.S.C.L.E. series to feature battle damage. Easily providing imaginative story lines for the fans of the era whether introduced via the original Japanese keshi lines or the unbranded Mattel series that didn’t include the characters identities.

The lead protagonist of the Kinnikuman franchise brought to us by the creative partnership known as Yudetamago the character himself remains popular and still produced in Japan. Debuting in 1979 as a superhero parody revolving around exaggerated wrestling characters across an ever-expanding Kinnikuman universe entertaining audiences with a unique mix of comedy and evolving characters.

From a joke and gag focus to a symbolic hero guiding with friendship power and perseverance in a recurring theme through the story arcs. All the while participating in battles and tournaments utilizing signature techniques like the Muscle Spark,or the Kinniku Buster as his trademark (and sometimes multi-level) backbreaker slam. With himself being often injured in overly brutal ways including impaled and even killed mid-match but only to return after recovery time.

However, the those who wouldn’t learn the origins of their beloved childhood memory making chunks of rubber until later, the smashed head was easy to include in the imagination born battles from living rooms to playgrounds. Making him a formidable force whether able to appreciate his original identity or not he still continues to push the positive message of never giving still 40+ years later.