Benkiman
Kinnikuman (Kinkeshi) series
Benkiman is figure #044 of 236 in Mattel's 1985–88 M.U.S.C.L.E. line (Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere). Like every figure in the line, the sculpt originates from the Kinnikuman (Kinkeshi) series; the US release kept the Japanese name.
7 KNOWN COLOR VARIANTS · EST. VALUES FOR MINT CONDITION
- Flesh$7
- Salmon$11
- Red$10
- Purple$11
- Dark Blue$11
- Green$9
- Magenta$12
About this figure
Identifying the sculpt is straightforward once you know what to look for: standing, blocky robotic body, right fist raised, left hand open palm-up, pointed cone crown, stern face, rectangular toilet-tank chest cavity, segmented limbs. 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.
Benkiman is documented in 7 of the ten production colors (Flesh, Salmon, Red, Purple, Dark Blue, Green, Magenta). The flesh version books around $7 in mint condition, while the magenta run is the toughest to find and trades closer to $12. 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.
