H.A.C.K.: OtherWorld Aliens

Cysquatch, Mas Mano, Mag Malicious

Mas Mano comparison with MUSCLE Sunigator Shotai figure

Mag Malicious comparison with MUSCLE Iwao figure

Cysquatch comparison with MUSCLE Ukon figure

A mini boombox came packaged with the figures...allowing for Mag to rock it '80s street style

What: H.A.C.K. (Handmade American Custom Keshi), a set of three small rubber monster figures created by David Lee and his custom toy effort Amerikaiju. I typically don't buy a lot of custom/independently-created toys, but when I got a look at these little freaks I knew I needed to have them!

These figures embody just about everything I love most in a mini figure: they have fun, eye-catching sculpts, they're monochromatic and they're made of a nice soft rubber material (not dangerously soft like an eraser, but a sturdy soft urethane rubber).

The three creatures are Mag Malicious (a volcano/rock monster), Mas Mano (a mutant hand with legs) and Cysquatch (a furry Sasquatch-like beast). The package they come in includes a brief backstory of the characters, telling us they're aliens here from "the nether regions of space" to take over Earth. The graphics included give the whole package a definite '80s, "Space Invaders"-type feel.

Even though these are mini figures, they have some heft and presence about them as you can tell from the comparison photos with M.U.S.C.L.E. figures above. They come in an "'80s pink" color that is reminiscent of the color of original M.U.S.C.L.E.s, but noticeably lighter when you compare the two. They randomly come packaged with a mini gray rubber boombox, which adds another fun, '80s-inspired touch; Mag Malicious and Mas Mano can even hold it and rock out like it's 1984 while they're plotting world domination.

The key word with these figures is FUN. They've got loads of it, and would be a good reminder to anyone who ever collected this kind of thing why they got into it in the first place. If I were to nitpick anything about them, it would be that my Mag does not stand completely flat and tips backward a bit (I'm not sure if this is the case with all of them or just mine), and there are some parts on Cysquatch (particularly his face) that could appear a bit more polished. But those are minor things, and I'd recommend these to any mini figure/monster toy collector in a second. My personal favorite is Mag--he's got really nice detail, a dynamic pose and overall just looks pretty fierce!

If you'd like to nab a set of these guys for yourself, you can do so here for 25 bucks.

For even more photos, check out my H.A.C.K. Flickr set.

When: 2012

Where: Sold online. Here.

Who: Created and sold by Amerikaiju/David Lee.