MELMACHO MAN
Classification: Extradimensional/alternate reality (Reality-88131) extraterrestrial (Melmacian) automated toy
Creator: Unrevealed
User/Possessors: Melmacian children, Melmacian
toy & figurine collectors
First Appearance: ALF#32/2 (August, 1990)
Powers/Abilities/Functions: Standing about 12"
tall, Melmacho Man is a poseable humanoid action figure. When
activated, it is a self-propelled and agile figurine capable of flight
up to about 15 mph. It has remarkable strength, capable of lifting at
least 350 lbs while hovering. It has a long battery life (unrevealed if
it was replaceable) of over 200 years. It has a relatively simple
Artificial Intelligence unit that reflected the sexist comic book
character it was based on; it would be nice to females, demanding they
cook it meals, while also claiming tremendous romantic prowess in
rhyme. The figure would also automatically respond violently to any
male it considered was trying to kidnap a female.
History:
(ALF#32/2 (fb) - BTS) - As a child, Melmacian Gordon
Shumway thrilled to the action-packed heroic exploits of chauvinistic
superhero Melmacho Man, as told in comics that sold billions. Gordon's
mother threw out the boy's collection, but he kept the action figure
that many Melmacian children demanded as gifts. As an adult, Shumway
often kept the figure with him, including when he was Orbit Guardsman.
When planet Melmac exploded, Shumway escaped in his spaceship with
likely the last surviving Melmacho Man action figure. Shumway
eventually crashed on Earth and became known as ALF, enjoying the
suburban hospitality of the human Tanner household.
(ALF#32/2) - ALF helped Kate Tanner clean up her son Brian's scattered action figures, and soon excitedly showed off his own figure of Melmacho Man. ALF inadvertently switched on the figure, not realizing there was still power. Kate dismissed the Melmacho Man doll's rhyming sexist talk; instead the small figure picked up Kate and carried her to the kitchen, tied an apron on her and demanded a meal be cooked. ALF tried to sneak up behind it to switch off the toy, but it immediately viewed ALF as trying to kidnap Kate and tossed ALF into the garbage bin. With the figure monitoring her progress, Kate took out her already-cooking meatloaf with a kitchen mitt just as the doorbell rang. She slid Melmacho Man into the mitt to hide it but found the would-be door-to-door salesman was an armed robber demanding valuables. Still hidden in the mitt, the action figure launched into action, which made it appear that it was Kate beating up the criminal using the kitchen mitt as a glove. The villain was knocked unconscious but Melmacho Man's batteries finally gave out and the action figure slumped inert to the floor. Kate had the criminal arrested and later played with ALF using the Melmacho Man toy.
(ALF#39/2) - ALF tossed and turned, sleeping badly in his bed in the attic, his inert Melmacho Man figurine by the bed.
(ALF#46/1) - ALF searched through a closet containing some of his favorite items, including Melmacho Man (see comments).
Comments: Created by Michael Gallagher, Dave Manak, Marie Severin.
Mentioned only in-story, Melmacho Man's most popular comic artist John Heartbyrne is a fairly clear reference to legendary comics writer & artist John Byrne, who helped redefine the origin of the powerful Superman comic book character in DC's 1986 limited series "The Man of Steel". A panel from Melmacho Man's comic shows him easily punching the villainous Tex Toother, which sounds remarkably similar to Superman's major foe Lex Luthor...
The Melmacho Man figure that fell out of the closet
in ALF#46/1 was colored differently (gray with black gloves, boots and
underoos) with a batwing-edged cape. Could this instead be Melmacho
Man's super-friend Melbat-man?
Action figures found in Brian's toy chest included
He-Masters of the Universe, Thunderous Cats, Ghostbashers and Mutated
Ninja Tortoises. It's easy to work out what they refer to, so I'll
leave that to you.
So what may have been Melmacho Man's main toy rivals back on Melmac? A.I. Joe? The Stare Bears,which slowly walk after the smallest humanoid in the house and just emotionlessly stare at them? The Cabbage Mash Kids, available in different flavors (although nobody liked the Brussels sprouts doll)? Surely no one wants those weird Blurghbies to come back.
Was Melmacho Man a member of the Y.M.C.A. (Young Melmacian Comics & Action-figures)...? Did the action figure have a wardrobe of 6 outfits, including cop, cowboy, construction worker, leather-clad biker...? Hey. You can't stop Melmusic; nobody can stop Melmusic!
Oddly, a life-size Melmacho Man statue is seen in an
Earwax Museum of famous Melmacians in ALF#45/2. Melmacian
amateur sleuth Nancy Drool deduced that all the figures were of those who had
mysteriously disappeared over the last few years (but had actually been
killed and coated in wax by a villain). So I guess the Melmacho Man
"statue" is of an actor in costume, given MM is a comic book character.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Melmacho Man has no known connections to:
images: (without ads)
ALF#32/2, p3, pan3 (main image)
p5, pan5 (image)
Appearances:
ALF#32/2 (August, 1990) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Dave Manak
(pencils), Marie Severin (inks), Fabian Nicieza (editor)
ALF#39/2 (March 1991) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Rusty Haller (pencils), Ruth Leon (inks), Fabian Nicieza (editor)
ALF#46/1 (October, 1991) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Dave Manak (pencils), Marie Severin (inks), Fabian Nicieza (editor)
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
First posted: 10/04/2024
Last Updated:
10/04/2024
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