Huss! Bruiser Brody Returns to Japan...in a way.

In the past I've compiled several entries on wrestlers who have never had action figures. What you are about to read is not about a figureless wrestler, but it does involve a growing trend which may very well ensure that nearly every superstar who deserves an action figure ultimately gets one. Independently produced toys and action figures are becoming more and more prominent. Some are mere takeoffs on existing lines. Others are attempts at continuations on popular toy lines of the past. Taking quality and rights issues into consideration, there's often a fine line between collectible or high-quality custom when it comes to these items. Ultimately it's up to the collector as to whether or not these items are "acceptable" and something that they want to own. I, myself, have come across two such items that I have added to my collection and thus have appeared on this blog. The first was back in 2019 when Exotic Adrian Street had a figure of himself created and produced. This time it's the beginning of a new line.

For the name that he was and as popular as he remains today over thirty years after his death, Bruiser Brody is relatively underrepresented as far as action figures go. Aside from a stateside inclusion in Jakks WWE Classic Superstars line coupled with a few brief appearances in Japanese wrestling figure lines, collectors were somewhat limited as to how they could add Brody to their toy shelves. Thanks to a creator out of Australia known as Junk Shop Dog, we now have the man known outside of wrestling as Frank Goodish in a style that he probably should've been part of in the first place.

In 1981 a Japanese company called Popy produced what is considered to be the first line of wrestling action figures. The figures were soft vinyl "sofubi" figures and the lineup largely consisted of gaijin (foreign to Japan) wrestlers who had made their name in Japan. Highly sought after today, Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Harley Race and The Funk Brothers are just a few of the names who made up that initial wave. As big as he was in the country, Bruiser Brody was not part of that group. Until now.

Junk Shop Dog has revived the line, not only replicating the style of the figures themselves but the look of the packaging as well. The figure and other merchandise (available at junkshopdog.com) is officially approved by the Goodish family. This should be important to any collector grappling with the aforementioned dilemma of whether items like this are "official" or not. This one absolutely is.

This isn't a figure that you're going to be doing spectacular wrestling poses with, as none of the Popy figures are. That makes it no less visually stunning. Brody fits right in with all of the originals, right down to the scarring on his forehead. Because of the vinyl used, it's also a very pleasant figure to hold in your hand. The materials are obviously very sturdy and the back has production markings just as any mass produced figure would.

Another nice feature is that the packaging is the absolute definition of what would be deemed "collector friendly." Want to remove the figure? Just slide the backer card out and remove the plastic tray. Feeling like hanging it on your wall? He's perfectly replaceable with nothing whatsoever to destroy. No matter carded or loose, you can have the best of both worlds on this one. Speaking of the cardback, it is printed with high-quality photos of Brody and looks nearly identical to the Popy packaging of yore.

I first learned of Junk Shop Dog and this figure on Instagram, though they seem to have a presence on most social media platforms. I can personally attest that they are very easy to work with as far as obtaining one for yourself, payment, shipping, etc. In addition Tom Billington's daughter has already announced that Dynamite Kid will be the second figure in this revived line. You can count me in for one of those as well. And for those of you who are interested in the monetary side of collecting in an interest for the future, many of these independently produced figures have already risen in secondary market value. Considering the names and the retro styling, I can only predict similar results here.

Huss!

From The Musty Yellowed Pages--Japanese Dusty Rhodes Album

There's just something about "The American Dream."  I may have five all-time favorite wrestlers, but I've often said that if I had to choose one, it would be Dusty Rhodes.  From the first time that I saw him, his charisma drew me in.  Looking at his drawing power over his long career, apparently I wasn't the only one!  Glittery robes, cowboy hats, or polka dots, it doesn't matter which incarnation of Rhodes you preferred.  Once "The Dream" had you drawn in via "hard times" or "Dusty B. Goode," he likely had you for life.  And despite being "The American Dream," it's fairly obviously that he was beloved elsewhere, too.

In the late 1970's-early 1980's, a publisher in Japan put out pro wrestling albums, each with a different top star featured.  From favorite gaijin such as Terry Funk, Mil Mascaras, and Stan Hansen to national heroes like Antonio Inoki, Giant Baba, and Rikidozan, a number of these over-sized magazines were produced.  With the rabid enthusiasm towards anything wrestling by Japanese fans, it's no surprise that these glossy, well-produced publications were a big hit in the country. 

The 13th album in the series was on the topic of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.  One thing that stands out immediately when thumbing through one of these albums is the amazing photography.  Many of these decades-old photos look as if they could have been shot just yesterday.  The cover here is a great example.  Rhodes and his curly blonde afro jump from the glossy cover.  The "260 pounds of blue eyed soul" never looked better.  Listed on the cover are various points that will be visited inside including Dusty Fashion, Elbow Drop, Contemporary Rhodes, Crossover Rhodes, and Private Rhodes.

Although the inside is largely in Japanese, any fan would enjoy this publication.  The photos are seemingly endless, and most were likely never published in the United States.  Despite that, many of the matches shown are indeed from America, including one of Dusty's legendary Madison Square Garden battles with Superstar Billy Graham and a Bayfront Center brawl with Terry Funk.  The Funker is even clad in his famous "Dusty Sucks Eggs" t-shirt.  Now you can see the result of the talented Japanese photographers seen ringside at many old wrestling matches.

The magazine is a biography of Rhodes, complete with photos of even his earliest days in the sport as "Dirty" Dusty Rhodes and his "Outlaws" partnership with Dick Murdoch.  Dusty is also shown at home with his wife Michelle (mother of Cody), in a rare glimpse of the private side of "The Dream."  In one great picture, Rhodes is depicted serenading Michelle by guitar.  The couple is situated in front of a wall plastered with various photos of Dusty and even a movie poster from "The Wrestler."  I would expect no less a shrine to exist in the Rhodes home!

Most of the book is in color, but there is also a bit of black and white.  The latter includes some interesting cartoons of "The Dream" which most likely originally appeared in other Japanese publications.  In one of the cartoons, it looks like Dusty is passing gas, or at least wiggling his behind, onto a Japanese wrestler.  In another "The Dream" is shown showing off his "Stardust-studded" robes.  In yet another, "The Dream" has suddenly become a roly-poly superhero!  The Japanese flavor of this magazine is especially evident in these illustrated portions.

Throughout the book we are treated to various Dusty-themed magazine covers from here in the United States, likely to demonstrate how big of a superstar he was worldwide.  Perhaps my favorite photo is a shot in what is likely Dusty's office.  "The Dream," wearing his cowboy hat, photos of himself and Eddie Graham hang on the wall, can of Tab on the desk.  It's a great representation of the business side of Rhodes, who had a long and storied history on the business side of wrestling.

It's interesting to see how back in the territorial days of wrestling, stars were able to become as big abroad as they were in their home country.  Legends like Dusty Rhodes often have nothing but wonderful things to say about their tours of Japan.  It isn't hard to believe, from items like this, that these stars were treated like kings by the promotions and fans alike.  Simultaneously becoming a superstar on both sides of the pond, yet another bygone idea from a bygone era of professional wrestling.