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[MUSCLETOYS]

Back when I was buying massive quantities of Unusual Small Creatures, I came across loads of bootlegs.  They were more of an annoyance back when I was desperately trying to complete my collection, so I regularly used to trade these bootlegs for other figures, or would simply auction them off. Once I accomplished everything I set out to do in regards to M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting, doggone-it if I didn't find myself actually missing some of those bootlegs.

 

Anyway, as I acquire more Keshi, mini figs, and gashapon, I yearn for some of those old knock-offs and bootlegs from years gone by.  Which brings me to the subject of this post.  Do you guys have any suggestions for obtaining these type of figures?  I remember seeing M.U.S.C.L.E.- esque figures in bubblegum machines over the years, and maybe even in the cheapo toy section of certain stores.  Have you come across any figures in the wild recently that remind you of M.U.S.C.L.E., even if the likeness is very vague?

 

Thanks!

 

Darrin

[dixiebull]

I loved muscles as a kid, and every other type of mini rubber or plastic figures for that matter, and have only starting collecting them as an adult for the past 6 months or so. I have always loved bootlegs of just about any toy, muscle included. When I first started buying lots, I would actually look for ones that had bootleg figures in them, because I knew I would want them as well as the real deal. I honestly think that is the best way to find them, which works for me, since I am new to this and still have plenty of muscles to get, but it might not be the best solution for collectors that don't need most of the muscle figures that would accompany the lot. I also specifically looked for lots that had weirdball wrestlers in them, because I also really want those. So far by following this method, I have managed to get 7 weirdball figures, and 13 knock off muscles; two of which are completely unique looking molds, two more of which are the mash up figures where the company combined the heads of one muscle on the body of another to make a new figure, and 9 that look just like the muscle counterparts, just smaller and lighter of color. The best method I can think of that I have searched to find these would be to look instead for vague ebay lots, like "mini rubber figures" or "hong kong rubber men"...something like that. They also pop up in lots of gumball machine or vending machine prizes. I recently saw a gumball machine display panel sell on ebay that had 2 bootleg muscles actually affixed to the card. I missed out on it unfortunately. I hope this may help some. Good luck!