#120 Cactus Man

Prickly contender

Like many figures in the M.U.S.C.L.E. line introduced by Mattel for the English-speaking markets, it was up to the to the imagination to supply the identity for a character. Which often leads to interest learning where they actually originated from before their rebranding as one of the Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere, as we knew them.

Still popular, and still produced by the same pair of creative friends in Japan who create the expansive Kinnikuman universe under the combined monicker of Yudetamago. There are hundreds more characters in the series that you’d only know about if familiar with the original manga and keshi toy lines. Such as Cactus Man, who you may have never even guessed was in fact, a cactus.

Serving as one of the numerous secondary background characters in a quirky pun combining a cactus and an exaggerated wrestling combatant. Spiky body with an immediate combat style once you know this using his needle-like elements for close range damage. Appearing in tournament arcs or ensemble conflicts as a minor opponent or simply visual diversity as a background contender.

Being on the lower tier of the character roster doesn’t leave our super humanoid Mexican wrestler without a few signature techniques though. From the expected Spike Defense to the Rolling Spike Assault using his entire body as a spiked mass to assault opponents. Realistically though, most fans unknowing of his origins probably wouldn’t guess Cactus Man on their first try.