Review: Star Wars Black Series Anakin Skywalker from Revenge of the Sith, Galaxy Collection Wave 23
- Mephitsu
- Feb 4
- 5 min read
"I hate you!"
Like Obi-Wan, the Revenge of the Sith release for Anakin Skywalker came very early in the life of the Star Wars Black Series, arriving in 2014 as part of the 4th wave of the line. The figure would go on to get an Archive release in 2019 with an updated photo print face that was still impressive on both the normal and the included Sith head. It would also form the basis for the Attack of the Clones Anakin in 2020, and the legs of the Clone Wars Anakin in 2021.
In 2025, Hasbro would revisit Revenge of the Sith for the 20th Anniversary, and one of the releases within that focus was a completely new figure of ROTS Anakin. It was released within Wave 23 of the Black Series Galaxy Collection alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi and Lieutenant Galle from Revenge of the Sith. The other figures were a new Imperial Sandtrooper from A New Hope and The Stranger from The Acolyte.
Anakin arrives as number 05 in the Revenge of the Sith Galaxy Collection, following on from Obi-Wan Kenobi in numbering and on the side artwork, depicted in its deep orange colouring, with the same colour also used on the box text.
The same image is used on the back of the box, along with a very specific short piece of text around Anakin battling Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar. The Lava Plains of Mustafar are featured within the artwork but also on the internal card within the deep orange background colouring, a slightly variant version to that of Obi-Wan, indicating the different perspectives of both characters during their duel.
In hand, Anakin is replicated in his darker Jedi robes with the torso treated as a soft plastic jacket over the base torso. This is black in colour, but with a painted brown at the collar, with this same brown used on the arms, with the right arm also including Anakin’s black glove with silver clasps covering his prosthetic hand.
The lower skirt of the robes is another soft plastic sleeve and incorporates the belt. Like the upper robes, the skirt piece is cast in black with more brown tones used on the belt, with further silver detailing on the belt buckle and clasps. There is a socket built into the belt for Anakin’s lightsaber. The legs are also a brown colour with knee-high, ridged boots in a slightly different brown tone.
The headsculpt is very much in line with the quality likenesses we are seeing across the Black Series for much of 2025, it captures the likeness of the ROTS era Hayden Christensen, with facial printing used to add realism to the eyes and his scar over the right eye. The eyes are given a darker, sunken look, but are not the full Sith eyes.
with the SDCC 'Duel on Mustafar' Obi-Wan Kenobi (right)
The Sith angry head remains exclusive to the SDCC 2025 Duel on Mustafar set which also includes an extra force push hand. Otherwise, the base figure is identical so if you have the SDCC set, there is nothing new in this single release other than allowing you to display both figures, one with each of the sculpted heads.
Anakin includes his lightsaber, the iconic hilt that would be used by Luke through until he lost it on Bespin. It features a silver base hilt with black fins and a visible red indicator light. The saber hilt includes a plug that corresponds to the socket on the belt for a secure holstered position.
The set includes the standard translucent blue blade that clips into the hilt and holds securely for displays where Anakin has his lightsaber activated. The hilt sits in either of Anakin’s hands; normal and gloved prosthetic, with sufficient articulation for the weapon to be gripped in both hands
Anakin’s articulation is heavily improved vs the original figure, a figure that suffered terribly with poor leg articulation and stability, as well as with a very visible and ugly neck joint. This new release boasts 19 points of articulation, and uses the latest configuration of joints, including the removal of the often unsightly thigh swivel and adding in rotation at both the knee and at Anakin’s boot-cut. The joints are incorporated into the sculpt, and the elbows and knees are barely intrusive once posed. The legs facilitate a variety of action positions as well as allowing Anakin to crouch, kneel or sit. The ankles are solid and hold Anakin in place once posed.
The arms include butterfly shoulders to support the lightsaber stances, allowing the weapon to be wielded in both hands and not just at the neutral position, but in striking combat positions. The torso movement is supplied by a ball joint waist that allow a reasonable movement while also protecting the overall aesthetic of the torso with no need for a higher cut at the ribs. The neck is twin-jointed, moving at the top and bottom and allowing the head to rotate, tilt and look up and down.
Anakin, like Kenobi, is a significantly enhanced release vs its 11-year old predecessor and is in line with the excellent quality we’ve been seeing out of the Black Series recently on brand new developed figures. The release also follows the current focus by Hasbro of revisiting key characters from the early years of the line and bringing them up to speed with the more recent releases. Anakin looks great and poses really well.
with the Wave 23 Obi-Wan Kenobi (right)
The release is perhaps missing a soft goods robe, particularly when we still are unable to recreate the march into the Jedi Temple, which is just as iconic from Revenge of the Sith as the Mustafar duel itself. It might have been nice to add the robes to this set, concluding the core looks from Revenge of the Sith across this and the SDCC release, assuming you bought both. If you didn’t, you do miss out on the very impressive Sith hatred head, so it's worth bearing that in mind. I do now hope that with this figure created, there is a plan to recreate the Attack of the Clones version to this level of quality.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
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