2021 saw Lucasfilm celebrate its 50th Anniversary and to mark the occasion Hasbro released a number of Star Wars products that marked areas and eras of Lucasfilm. The most intriguing releases were what are referred to as the 'Publishing' Wave - a set of four Star Wars Black Series figures based on Star Wars Books, Graphic Novels and Comic Series,
Darth Maul was one of these releases, with a release that is based on the 2001 Darth Maul graphic novel by Rick Magyar, Jan Duursema, and Ron Marz. The story details Maul's journey before The Force Awakens and his apprenticeship to the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious.
What is particularly striking about this line of figures is the use of a closed box that itself looks like a book, and the recreation of the original source materials cover on the front flap. Greyscale comic panels are included on the right spine and the top and bottom of the box. The left side art looks again like a book spine and takes us back a little with the grey-lined art image of Darth Maul.
The back of the box carries a golden text timeline of the 50 years of Lucasfilm with a short piece of text around the anniversary and Lucasfilm rather than the figure and the contents.
"Commemorate the first 50 years of Lucasfilm with figures inspired by Star Wars
books and comics!"
The box has an opening front flap, held in place by a singular Velcro tab. Inside we have a familiar box front for the black series - albeit the Phase 3 boxes - with the Darth Maul figure in place against a grey card back. The other side of the flap is decorated with an image directly from the pages of the graphic novel and it is here we now have a more in-depth piece of background text.
"Darth Sidious' apprentice and enforcer Darth Maul has cut his way through the ranks of the galactic crime syndicate Black Sun to take on the pinnacle of their organization"
The Darth Maul Sith Apprentice figure is a bit of a hybrid taking the lower body from the original 2013 Darth Maul figure. The torso and arms are shared with the Gaming Greats Night Brother figure, while the head is new.
The lower body is still a good match to the robes we see Maul wear in the graphics. They are cast in base black with the only applied decor a glossier black finish to the boots and the belt/sash.
The upper body is well proportioned and doesn't look out of place once attached to the shirt and lower legs. The torso is cast in black with the red-painted, while the arms are cast in red with the black painted. That does mean the arms present a bit brighter red than the torso or indeed the head. The markings are pretty accurate to the illustration on the cover, but they do stop too early on the forearms as they should extend onto the hands - this does leave the hands looking unfinished.
The new Maul head sculpt is glorious, capturing that smiling/snarling expression of Maul. The paintwork is good with the teeth and eyes particularly good via the face print decor technology. The markings are well painted and neat, as is the yellow bone colour applied to the horns.
Maul is armed with his double-bladed lightsaber. The same one that came with the original release - although it does look and feel sturdier and crisper. Like the original, it can be split apart to act as two sabers with each hilt cast in silver with red added to the dials. The blades can be removed also, and these arrive straight and true in a translucent red.
Like the old figure, there is a socket on the right-hand side of Maul's belt which can be used to holster the saber blade by inserting the pin on the saber into the socket.
Articulation is where this figure trumps the original iteration of Maul, coming in with 19 points of articulation overall.
While the lower legs remain an issue and are essentially locked in place by the skirt the upper body is very expressive with added butterfly shoulder joints and joints at both the top and base of the neck that allows loads of movement in the head. The figure does remain difficult to stand as the feet do not seem to want to go flat to the floor.
There are plenty of posing options for Maul, with two-handed poses available for his saber and not just in a resting position but also into striking poses. The legs are workable and can slide out to wider action stances, the skirt does accommodate that, it is just a pity the skirt is not soft goods and the legs a little slimmer for the more intricate of Darth Maul's (Ray Park's) movements to be replicated.
it is a little unfair to say this is a full-on kitbashed figure, considering the torso is essentially new - just shared with another figure - and the head is a new piece. The combination of this new torso and the original lower body does work - although the reality is the figure was crying out for some reworking in those legs and a soft good skirt to really realise the range of Maul when he is fighting. The only other issue is the markings not extending onto the hand.
The packaging is what makes this figure, and while I am an opener I am considering that these figures will be displayed with the box if space allows.
If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. Checkout our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews and store reports
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...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, star wars, black series, darth maul, sith apprentice, hasbro, publishing wave