Muscles (also known as Muscles Mouse or Cousin Muscles) is Jerry's super-strong cousin, who first appeared in Jerry's Cousin. He is a very tough mouse who can overpower any cat, including the Dirty Work Inc. Cats. Because of this, he is considered to be the strongest character from the franchise.
He is voiced by Paul Frees in the original shorts. He also appeared in various Tom and Jerry media such as The Tom and Jerry Show (2014) and Tom and Jerry in New York, voiced by Stephen Stanton.
Characteristics[]
Bio[]
Muscles is Jerry's super-strong cousin and a formidable foe to cats. In his debut appearance, he refers to Jerry as his "little cousin," implying that he is older. Considered the toughest mouse in the series, Muscles lives in the urban town near Hogan's Alley. He has earned a fierce reputation not only for his strength in dealing with the many cats that populate the alley—whom he routinely outmatches—but also for being a mouse that locals advise others not to mess with.
Personality[]
Unlike his calm cousin Jerry, who prefers to stay out of trouble, Muscles Mouse is hard-nosed and quick to anger, making him prone to getting into fights. He has no fear of cats and is fiercely determined, often resorting to extreme measures to make his feline foes back down.
Beneath his tough exterior, Muscles has a surprisingly gentle side. In his debut episode, he happily shares crackers with Jerry and even offers him a cozy spot on Tom's bed, all while grinning from ear to ear. When Jerry reaches out for help, Muscles may initially seem outraged, but he quickly springs into action to support his cousin, showing that loyalty runs deep in his heart.
Appearance[]
He sports a green bowler hat and a yellow-and-black shirt, his expression almost perpetually solemn. With a tough exterior that signifies strength, he is possibly one of the strongest characters in the series. He bears a resemblance to his cousin Jerry, though distinct in several ways. Unlike Jerry, Muscles lacks eyelashes, and his whiskers are slightly curvier. Additionally, he is given a noticeably darker complexion to make him distinguishable in appearances such as The Tom and Jerry Show (2014) and Tom and Jerry Chase.
Information[]
Biography[]
Jerry's Cousin[]
The short opens with a cat slamming into a signpost in an alleyway. As the camera pans right, we see an increasing number of cats being tossed aside or lying unconscious. Eventually, we spot a pile of dazed felines, with Muscles in the midst of the action, beating up yet another cat.
Muscles pauses when he hears a whistle and notices a letter being placed in his mailbox. He approaches and discovers it's from Jerry, who is asking for help with Tom. Without hesitation, Muscles scampers into his mousehole, only to quickly emerge with a red suitcase in tow.
Determined, Muscles makes his way to Jerry's mousehole. The conscious cats lining the alley, terrified of Muscles, flee at the sight of him. One panicked cat digs his own grave in his eagerness to escape as Muscles strides by. We soon see the extent of Jerry’s troubles—Tom is bombarding Jerry's mousehole with a barrage of firecrackers. Muscles arrives just in time to catch a stick of dynamite thrown into the hole. With confidence, Muscles picks up the dynamite, marches out, and shoves it into Tom's mouth before holding his jaw shut until it explodes, sending smoke billowing from the cat's ears.
Tom, furious, grabs Muscles, but the tough mouse easily shakes him off, seizing him by the fur on his chest. With a stern warning, he says, “Listen, pussycat, don’t let me catch ya pickin’ on my little cousin while I’m around. Ya understand? Now beat it.” Muscles then hurls Tom against a nearby wall, causing him to slide down and land in a vase. Muscles spits at the vase, cracking it open to reveal Tom, now shaped like the vase.
Determined to best Muscles, Tom starts weight training, believing he's finally strong enough for a rematch. He confronts Muscles again, pounding his hat down over his eyes. However, Muscles reacts by blowing on his thumb, inflating his fist to gigantic proportions, and delivering a powerful punch to Tom’s face. The impact sends Tom crashing into a wall, and a cuckoo clock tumbles onto his head, with a cuckoo popping out of Tom’s mouth.
Later, Jerry and Muscles are lounging on Tom’s bed. As the camera tilts up to the ceiling, we see Tom sawing a hole from the attic. He drops a bowling ball through the opening. Muscles reassures Jerry, “Relax, cousin. Nothing is going to happen,” just before the bowling ball crashes down, sending him through the floor. Tom takes off after Jerry, but Muscles catches up and rolls the bowling ball toward him. Tom can't escape in time and transforms into a set of bowling pins upon impact.
In retaliation, Tom grabs a double-barrel shotgun and aims it at Muscles' face. But the clever mouse simply blows into both barrels, backfiring cartridges into Tom’s eyes, sticking them fast. Muscles then sneaks up behind Tom and hits him on the back of the head with a hammer, causing the bullets to go off.
Next, we find Tom wearing dark glasses and dialling a telephone. He calls Dirty Works Inc., hiring the boss and two thuggish cats to deal with Muscles. However, when the thugs arrive, they only manage to hit Muscles once off-screen, quickly realizing they’re no match for him. Muscles recovers swiftly, retaliating with a more powerful off-screen hit, and eventually scoops them up with a dustpan and brush, tossing them out of the house.
By this point, Tom is so intimidated that he is forced to grovel at Muscles' feet. In a humorous conclusion, Muscles gives Jerry an identical suit, telling him that all he has to do is whistle. Jerry dons the suit, steps out of his hole, and whistles. Mistaking Jerry for Muscles, Tom begins to bow down and kiss Jerry's feet, while Jerry grins at the camera, fully enjoying the moment.
Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring[]
Main Article: Freddie
A mouse named Freddie, who bears some resemblance to Muscles, appears in the direct-to-video film Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring. However, he is not the same character. Freddie is characterized by his antagonistic demeanor and is often seen bullying a younger mouse named Nibbles, along with his dimwitted partner, Joey.
Freddie mistakenly believes that Jerry, trapped in a cage with a magic ring on his head, is a royal mouse. When Jerry attempts to stop him from tormenting Nibbles, Freddie and Joey simply laugh and threaten him. Their antics escalate as they chase Jerry in toy cars, ultimately trapping him in a hamster wheel.
Unlike the loyal and kind Muscles Mouse, who protects Jerry and other mice, Freddie displays cruelty and a willingness to bully others. By the end of the film, Freddie and Joey find themselves transformed into cheese wedges and chased by Nibbles, leaving their fate uncertain.
The Tom and Jerry Show (2014)[]
Muscles Mouse appears as a recurring character in The Tom and Jerry Show (2014), first featuring in the third season episode titled "Frown and Country."
Tom and Jerry New York[]
He also makes an appearance in one episode of Tom and Jerry in New York, titled Stunt Double Trouble, where he is seen without his usual attire.
Tom and Jerry Chase[]
He initially appeared as an NPC serving as the instructor for the mouse tutorial course before becoming a playable character in Tom and Jerry Chase.
Appearances[]
Original Shorts[]
The Tom and Jerry Show (2014)[]
Season 3[]
Season 4[]
- Gym Rat
- Mouse Party
- Hangin' Tough
- Oh, Brother (mentioned; clothes only)
- How to Be a Dog (does not speak)
Tom and Jerry in New York[]
Season 2[]
Trivia[]
- He is the first mouse character and the first cousin introduced who resembles Jerry.
- Jerry's Cousin would be the only cartoon in the classic era where Muscles would be starring. A similar-looking character to Muscles named Freddie appears in the direct-to-video film Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring (2001). Unlike Muscles, who cares deeply for Jerry despite his tough-guy demeanor, Freddie, on the other hand, is a mean tough-guy bully who is hostile towards Jerry and Nibbles. Muscles would later reappear as a recurring character in the 2014 series The Tom and Jerry Show, beginning with the third season episode Frown and Country.
- Muscles is currently voiced by Stephen Stanton, who also voiced Rick, Uncle Pecos, Frankie, and other characters in The Tom and Jerry Show.
- He has been shown to be stronger than other strong characters, such as Spike Bulldog, as demonstrated in the 2014 series.
- Given his remarkable strength, it’s possible that he may be stronger than humans.
Gallery[]
Main Article: Muscles Mouse/Gallery
Jerry's Cousin[]
"Dear Cousin Muscles, I'm having serious trouble with Tom. Need your help at once! Jerry."
