#116 Kinnikuman Soldier (A)

Confident soldier

If you grew up with the Mattel M.U.S.C.L.E. figures you were probably unaware like most of the rest of the English market that each creature often had a rich back story in the Kinnikuman universe where they originate from. Unless you were familiar with the original story arcs from the still popular manga of Japan produced by the artistic friends coined Yudetamago, and the original Keshi figure lines than this figure may have been just another henchman for your own imaginations stories.

Except Ataru Kinniku is the older brother of the primary protagonist to which the series is named and one of the most important supporting characters. Initially believed dead he reappears in the Scramble for the Throne story arc under the masked identity of Soldier Man. Portraying as a hardened and pragmatic counterpart to the other characters that help push his brother Kinnikuman toward maturing into a leader he needs to be.

While Ataru is more of a secondary character he does possess some devastating signature attacks that present his power like the Napalming Death, a lift and slam brutal finishing move. Eventually when Ataru reveals himself as not Kinnikuman Solider and actually as a lost royal heir to the Kinniku family it cements his role as an emotional weight that helps set the stage for his brother Kinnikumans final victory.

However, his brutal appearance to the westernized imagination may have conjured thoughts of a Luchador meets Mad Max since his identity would be lost again when included in the unbranded Mattel import series for the English markets. This though didn’t stop the figure from finding his way into the imaginations of millions of new fans whether known as one of the of the Five Fated Princes, or not.