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Let Us Introduce You to Nerf's New Mascot, a Dart Dude Named Murph

The Nerf mascot of your nightmares has arrived.

David Lumb Mobile Reporter
David Lumb is a mobile reporter covering how on-the-go gadgets like phones, tablets and smartwatches change our lives. Over the last decade, he's reviewed phones for TechRadar as well as covered tech, gaming, and culture for Engadget, Popular Mechanics, NBC Asian America, Increment, Fast Company and others. As a true Californian, he lives for coffee, beaches and burritos.
Expertise smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, telecom industry, mobile semiconductors, mobile gaming
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David Lumb
Nerf's new mascot, Murph, springing in front of the camera -- a humanoid figure covered in neon foam darts. And, inexplicably, wearing a gold chain with the words 'Nerf' on it. It's Murph or Nothin!.

The new Nerf mascot, Murph, a faceless humanoid covered in foam darts.

 Nerf

Nerf has been a childhood staple for decades, with squishy sports equipment and foam-dart guns, but it's never had a mascot -- until now. Meet Murph, a... well, a something in a big suit that's covered in foam darts.

Eyeless Technicolor Bigfoot? Gritty's noodly cousin? Murph is a serious mystery. It looks like it's wearing a rainbow ghillie suit that wouldn't be out of place at a kid's birthday party (or a rave). But that's too pedestrian a description for Murph, "the personification of the playful spirit -- the one that can only be unleashed with Nerf," as a press release on Friday describes the mascot. 

You'll be seeing more of Murph on the Nerf social media channels and in retail stores as the brand leans into its new avatar, which is a bit unsettling until you remember how many other truly unhinged mascots brands have deployed to connect with kids (The Noid, anyone?). Murph fits right in with the bizarre commercials that come on during kids TV shows. 

And I must admit, having Murph nearby so you could pluck off foam darts during heated Nerf blaster fights would be pretty handy.

Read more: Toys for Kids at Heart