#99 The Ball

Good times roll

A fan favorite for many and just an interesting character in general The Ball (or the “Mari” a traditional Japanese hand ball) is a figure that probably played more roles in play time battles than in the story lines of his origin. Not exactly menacing looking but still potentially a formidable opponent among the expansive roster of imaginative characters brought to life by the artistic duo Yudetamago of Japan.

Serving as low-tier background character rather than a major player in the world of the Kinnikuman universe his appearances were more to provide additional visual gimmick rather than narrative depth. With a unique appearance that appealed for his playful likeness he’s often featured with a “B” on his forehead in manga images rather than the “R” so it’s unclear its meaning (if you know feel free to share so we can update info).

While obscure and one of the numerous exaggerated superhuman wrestling forms appearing in the story arcs he’s well suited to provide as a background character that helps spur the imagination of living toys. Which is exactly why he was likely chosen to be included in the import series of the original Japanese kesh line into the English-speaking markets by Mattel’s licensed rebranding and distribution as a M.U.S.C.L.E. figure.

A character who may not have found a large role in the story lines of his conception found opportunity to adopt any number of new identities in the imaginations of the kids who brought him to play time. While his identity may have been lost to some, the characters of the original Kinnikuman series that remain popular today as the artistic team that makes the pair named Yudetamago has obviously brought imagination that stretched far beyond their expectations to fans around the world.