#114 Panda Man

Bear with him

Among the intriguing character line-up found in the Mattel M.U.S.C.L.E. figure toys there’s many that are animal themed. This lent itself to the imaginations of the fans from the English market to fill in the identities of the characters themselves. With Panda Man being often a selected combatant in the imaginative battles with any of the other Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere.

However, his origins in the original expansive Kinnikuman universe manga created by the famous artistic combo that goes by Yudetamago of Japan. Where they continue to produce the popular series even still 40+ years later cultivating an ever growing character line. Often incorporating familiar elements into their parodies and themed superhero arrangements.

This particular creature is depicted as a human performer in wearing a panda bear mask as a parody of a children’s television hero shown as an amusement park star. Which allows the performer to be mistaken for a legitimate Chojin fighter and challenged to a brawl by the lead character Kinnikuman to which the series is named. A minor gag character who doesn’t take any major role in the recurring story arcs but an entertaining figure none the less.

While he may be one of the actual superhumans and instead acts as a heroic persona in staged fights to entertain onlookers with his signature Panda Man Kick gimmick move. His one-off comedic appearance presents him as a rare “normal human” character who isn’t just a spectator to one of the many battles. This didn’t stop fans around the world from incorporating his likeness into their own epic battles with friends and siblings of the day.