Back in 1998 while we were still cataloguing figures and recording new finds in the M.U.S.C.L.E. toy line, a figure was discovered that caused quite a stir.  M.P.S. member Brant Snell came into possession of a figure that wasn’t featured on the M.U.S.C.L.L.E. poster made by MATTEL. 

Right away Brent gave all of us a rundown on this strange figure.  He dubbed it “The futuristic Goalie” or "X-2” M.U.S.C.L.E.  He shared with us that the figure was cast from the same plastic as a neon orange colored M.U.S.C.L.E., and all of the appropriate trademarks on the back of the figure were in order.  The online hobby had now been going strong for about two years, and we had made great strides cataloguing the toy line. This new discovery however, shook the very foundation that all of our work was built upon.

Could there have been limited edition sculpts? Was there another series of figures released before the toy line ended its run?  Did Kinnikuman figures somehow make their way into American packaging by mistake?  These questions, coupled with scattered reports that collectors remembered seeing these figures in unopened packaging some thirteen years earlier had the whole hobby buzzing. During some of our chat room sessions, insane trades and if I remember correctly… generous amounts of cash were offered to Brent for the X-2 M.U.S.C.L.E.  However, Brent wasn’t giving this figure up for anything!  He relished the thought of possessing an ultra rare M.U.S.C.L.E., and who could blame him?  Envious and hopeful, we all started meticulously searching though our collections of figures to see if we also had some X-2’s that somehow slipped under our radar.  Unfortunately… we all came up short.

As time passed, our hobby enjoyed a substantial amount of growth, and many Kinnikuman collectors joined the ranks.  It was at this point when we learned that the X-2 was neither a rare or legitimate M.U.S.C.L.E.  It wasn't even a Kinnikuman figure as many of us speculated.  The X-2 was actually a character from the Ramen Man cartoon and comics which were a direct spin-off from the Kinnikuman franchise.  The speculation and And so came to a close the controversy surrounding the infamous X-2 M.U.S.C.L.E. 

I don’t believe that the time and effort involved in research and speculation regarding the Goalie was in vain however.   The X-2 is now ingrained in the rich history of our hobby.  Controversy and speculation stirs up great conversation, and gets people thinking outside of the box.  It also keeps the hobby fresh and exciting.  I’m not sure how many new discoveries or controversies our hobby has left in it, but I personally wouldn’t mind if more manifest themselves in the years to come.