#125 Buka (A)

Space gremlin

As you might have guessed even not knowing the characters origins beyond the imported M.U.S.C.L.E. toy series, this villainous fellow is definitely an antagonist. While a minor supporting character in his original Japanese manga universe called Kinnikuman the minor Chojin named Buka acts as a minion to one of the more pivotal evil characters, Octopus Dragon.

Filling in the expansive character roster that includes hundreds more than those only familiar with the Mattel toy line would have known. With his identity stripped from his origins created by an artistic pair of friends under the combined monicker of Yudetamago, many would have attributed the figure in their own imaginative story lines likely in the same role.

Like many of the lesser-known background characters Buka appears primarily in large tournament arcs or conflicts to add an additional layer of visual flair that the series is known for. While obscure and lower tier his cartoonish likeness may draw from folklore or other design inspirations, but the exaggerated humanoid physique and menacing facial expressions of each of his figures made him a fan favorite to many.

However, it’s characters like this who appear more than once in the M.U.S.C.L.E. toys series but in different forms and poses that helped provide depth in the storylines created by fans to replace the identities left in Japan. It’s unclear why Mattel opted for the rebranding as the Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere was due to licensing details or simply an attempt to improve marketability to the new English-speaking markets. One thing remains the same either way and that’s the series that’s still created by the same creators in Japan today remains popular still over 40 years later for a reason.