Mace Windu - EI - Basic

A respected Jedi Master and a senior member of the Jedi Council, Mace Windu wields a great deal of authority throughout the Galactic Republic. He is well aware of the dangers of the Sith.

Hasbro often knows what they’re doing and more often than not it borders of being cleverly devious. Mace Windu was the very first taste of Episode I collectors got to savor in 1998, as he was the first “Sneak preview” figure since the vintage Kenner era. The rather scene-generic pose of his was based pretty much on how he appeared in the entire film. So, when it came to the Episode I basic figure line, Hasbro decided that a slightly altered version of him would be best for kids and collectors. So what they did was base the new 1999 Episode I figure as he appeared at the (SPOILER ALERT!) funeral of Qui-Gon Jinn, something we didn’t know at the time of the figure’s release. The issue with this figure is that his molded cloak covers his entire body pretty much. So you’re relegated to only one pose while he is wearing it: a mourner at Qui-Gonn’s funeral. That being said, the figure may annoy you more than elate you. It has a terrible angled and awkward sculpt. The outer cloak hides most of his twisted pose, but it can’t assist in the figure’s center of gravity. As a result, Mace Windu may topple over more often than not even while wearing the outer robe.

What’s neat about the figure is that he can hold his lightsaber while wearing the body covering outer robe. It’s a neat construct. But if you remove the outer robe, you’re left with a pretty disappointing figure sadly. The likeness is a black bald man and not one that favors the likeness of actor Samuel Jackson too much. There are a couple of similarities. Mr. Jackson has many unique features, and they didn’t translate too well into the action figure. You know that this is Mace Windu, but Hasbro should have made the likeness better. The sculpt of Mace Windu’s body is strange too. Annoyingly, the waist joint is angled upward and affects posing the figure. So you get an exaggerated appearance when you articulate Mace Windu’s waist. It also makes posing the figure in any action stance that much harder. And we had trouble determining a natural look for him while wielding his lightsaber. You may disagree, but there is something just too contrived about this figure positioned in action. We really would have just preferred a more natural look and static pose. It would have been so much better for the figure.

Although some parts of Mace Windu seems to share 1998’s POTF2 [FB/CT] Mace Windu Episode I Sneak Preview figure, a careful analysis revealed to us that there are no parts shared. Every part has received a tweak or two or is completely new parts. Still, most collectors will be eagerly waiting for a redo shortly because this figure just doesn’t cut it. Mace Windu comes with a lit blue lightsaber, something we didn’t see him wield in The Phantom Menace. But extra accessories add a little more play value with the Episode I action figures. Hasbro includes them for this purpose. And the Jedi High Council figures that would otherwise seem a little bit too boring for younger collectors. We appreciate the effort with Mace Windu, but we want a little more for the next round. The added right arm articulation and other details are not without merit, but collectors want figures with more realism and less gimmicky sculpts and poses. The Episode I line has been good at avoiding these negative characteristics in the action figures, but it would have been nice if “big” characters like Mace Windu were given the same treatment.