Muscleman
Known in Japan as Kinnikuman · Kinnikuman series
Muscleman is figure #001 of 236 in Mattel's 1985–88 M.U.S.C.L.E. line (Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere). The sculpt comes from the Kinnikuman manga and anime, where the character is known as Kinnikuman — Mattel shipped the US line with no story at all, so localized names like “Muscleman” did the talking.
9 KNOWN COLOR VARIANTS · EST. VALUES FOR MINT CONDITION
- Flesh$6
- Salmon$9
- Orange$8
- Red$8
- Grape$10
- Purple$9
- Dark Blue$10
- Light Blue$9
- Green$8
About this figure
Identifying the sculpt is straightforward once you know what to look for: standing, hands resting on thighs, single spike/fin atop head, round open mouth, harness straps across chest, cape behind, stocky legs, boots. Like every genuine figure in the line, originals carry the “Y/S·N·T” foot stamp — a soft or missing stamp is the quickest way to spot a reproduction.
Muscleman is documented in 9 of the ten production colors (Flesh, Salmon, Orange, Red, Grape, Purple, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Green). The flesh version books around $6 in mint condition, while the grape run is the toughest to find and trades closer to $10. As a Class C common it turns up regularly in lots and bins, which makes it an easy early checkmark — condition, not scarcity, drives its price.
