#115 Moku Moku Jin

Wooden warrior

Many of the fans of the Mattel M.U.S.C.L.E. toy line are surprised when they first learn there’s over 200 characters forms within the figure series. Except they may not know their origins from the enormous Kinnikuman universe where the characters were come from includes even hundreds more. While most are often background secondary characters, each has their own unique likeness that only adds to the imaginative diversity that Yudetamago created (a pair of friends still creating the manga now over 40 years later) still produced in Japan.

Among the obscure and minor characters, Moku Moku Jin is more known for his appearances in the original keshi merchandise in Japan and the Mattel line which unbranded the characters identity. He’s not a majory driver of any story arc or recurring form of notable background, but instead he’s another great example of the series’ tendency to include odd concept combatants for imaginative environment.

Made of wood with detailed grain along his odd physique reminiscent of an old wooden practice target, his name suggests his wooden form as a visually distinctive character concept. When he was originally produced in the Part 7 Kinkeshi toy line sold in Japan, he became one of the figures adapted for the M.U.S.C.L.E. figure lines imported unbranded by Mattel in the 1980s.

While his identity and origins may have been lost on arrival to the English markets his figures form played well into the imaginations of the new fan base allowing him to take on any character wished. It’s unknown if he was designed around a particular gimmick or joke base of some type but he still remains a figure in the nostalgic memories of many around the world still.