Darth Maul (Mandalore) - TVC - Basic (VC201)

If you were collecting when The Phantom Menace hit theaters, you felt it in the air that Darth Maul was a new mainstay in the action figure line. It became true. Hasbro released one Darth Maul action figure after another for years and years and years. From movie-accurate representation to concepts and artwork, we’ve received multiple versions of Darth Maul in the action figure line, and collectors seemingly can’t get enough of the character in plastic. By the time the original run of The Clone Wars was winding down, Hasbro had managed to get out a new version of the character as he appeared in many episodes in the fifth and final season (at that time) of the beloved television series. With robotic legs and new clothing, Darth Maul looked like no other Darth Maul action figure to date. Unfortunately, part of a rare Mission Series two-pack, 2013’s SW [DV/ROTS] Obi-Wan Kenobi/Darth Maul (Mandalore) (MS06) set, 3.75-inch collector went into a frenzy trying to secure this unique version of Darth Maul into their collection. Who’d know it would be eight long years later that Hasbro would produce a 3.75-inch super-articulated version of Darth Maul (Mandalore) for The Vintage Collection, but from the “new” final season of The Clone Wars in a season 7 episode entitled The Phantom Apprentice? In this episode, Darth Maul battles Ahsoka Tano in the final arc of the season. Hasbro made collectors very, very happy. It’s not too often that we get all-new sculpts in The Vintage Collection, but we’re extraordinarily thankful to Hasbro when they do decide to produce them. We’d like to see a heavier focus on the Original Trilogy.

We’ll spoil it for you know. Darth Maul (Mandalore) is a perfect action figure. We were a bit concerned that the likeness would favor the animated style of the on-screen character, but the final production version sports a realistically styled portrait instead. And frankly, it’s one of the best likenesses of Darth Maul we’ve seen in a 3.75-inch scale for as long as we remember. It feels like a pang in the heart when looking at this figure because we wish Hasbro would have taken the same approach and design with an all-new Darth Maul action figure based on Episode I. Don’t get us wrong, Darth Maul (VC86) holds a special place in our hearts, but it’s a bit outdated now. And when compared to this figure especially, they feel like, well, a decade apart from each other, which they nearly are. Darth Maul (Mandalore) has an exquisite head sculpt. It’s gorgeous. And it favors the appearance of Darth Maul as the character that appeared in the cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story. But we think this is a fair likeness for an animated take on the “real-life” character (even if it’s only a hologram). Hasbro’s Photo Real deco has come so far in a few short years, and we have almost no complaints about how the final deco turned out. You can make out all of Darth Maul’s essential parts: the horns, the tattoos, and the eyes, and all of them look excellent. Whether up close or looking at the figure at a distance, Darth Maul (Mandalore) faithfully captures a realistic interpretation of the Zabrak Sith Lord as the character appeared in The Clone Wars. That’s not the most straightforward task, but Hasbro succeeded here.

Hasbro applied the rest of the figure’s deco with dazzling precision, and the final figure looks like it was designed and painted by professionals. The goodness doesn’t end here, however. As you already know, the newest The Vintage Collection action figures come with a hyper-articulated body. You’ll find 30 points of articulation on Darth Maul (Mandalore), and all of the joints work well to allow you to pose the figure as needed. This articulation is crucial since Darth Maul (Mandalore) comes with a double-bladed lightsaber accessory that splits into two halves. As Darth Maul battles Ahsoka Tano or any other enemy in your display, you’ll discover the inordinate amount of positions the action figures attain to make your life easier as a collector. If you’re a longtime collector of The Vintage Collection, Darth Maul (Mandalore) will unequivocally become a highlight for you and your collection. Hasbro should be commended on the work well done. One particular thing we are very happy to see implemented here is the revised figure’s packaging. Many have praised Hasbro for the animated reference material that was shown on a prototype card, but it’s incorrect for The Vintage Collection. TVC is about realism, and Hasbro was right to digitally create a realistic image of Darth Maul in this gear, which they did. They have many options to accomplish this. It’s excellent to see they didn’t break their long-established format with the animated card art, and that elated us. But if you’re an opener, this is a moot point. Darth Maul (Mandalore) is a marvelous achievement in a 3.75-inch scale. Buy at least two!