Wave 20 of the Star Wars Black Series continued a focus from Hasbro on the Prequel Trilogy and debuted Padme Amidala in the 6 inch line alongside figures of Mace Windu and the Battle Droid.
Packaging 4/5
The Wave 20 packaging remains as standard for Phase 3 with the black box and red side spine and backing card. Padme is number 81 in the line and this is planted on the side and rear of the box. The artwork shows a smiling Padme looking over her shoulder but is not the best likeness we've seen in these Gregory Titus cover pieces.
The character name - as is consistent with the line - listed as simply Padme Amidala with no mention here, or in the rear text, about her costume which is the one she wears on Geonosis in Attack of the Clones.
"Padme Amidala was a courageous, hopeful leader, serving as Queen and then Senator of Naboo - and was also handy with a blaster. Despite her ideals and all she did for the cause of peace, her secret forbidden marriage to Jedi Anakin Skywalker would prove to have dire consequences for the galaxy"
Paint & Sculpt 4/5
Since the introduction of the face print technology, Hasbro have been knocking the human figures from Star Wars out of the park recently and Padme is no exception. The likeness to Natalie Portman is spot on, down to the lip gloss, shading around the eyes and the mole on her cheek.
The hair piece is not quite as good a match and finishes in more of a bun than the looped braids we see in the movie.
The costume is a faithful representation with the white jumpsuit and beige boots and a beige softer plastic belt with holster. The paint apps are limited, with the only real body application being the silver rings on her upper arms and these are not painted brilliantly with the silver not quite covering the whole sculpted piece and leaving white base plastic exposed.
The cloak is a separate cast piece in softer plastic with a very impressive textured knitted effect. The cloak can be twisted and lifted off around the head if you want to display Padme in just her white jumpsuit.
Accessories 3/5
Padme is armed with two weapons, the first of which is her smaller Q2 hold out blaster. This is cast in silver with a brown painted handle. It is very plain and sits in her right hand or in the holster provided.
The second weapon is the Battledroid E5 blaster that she uses in the arena scenes. This is the same gun as included with the Battle Droid and is cast in grey with silver dry-brushing. As this wont fit in the right hand provided, Padme also comes with a swap out right hand with a wider grip specially for the E5.
And here lies a big issue for the figure. The initial hand is a good fit into the wrist and is very tight to remove. The alternative wider grip hand is a much looser fit as the peg is slimmer. While it clips into the wrist it rotates far to freely. While the E5 blaster fits snugly into the hand, the weight of the blaster causes the hand to swivel and leaves Padme holding the gun upside down.
Articulation 4/5
Padme has a standard count of 16 points of articulation.
Head : ball jointed pivot neck
Body : mid torso ball joint
Arms : ball joint shoulder, single rotating elbow, pivot wrist
Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double jointed knees, ankle rockers
Posing is adequate with Padme having the ability for a two handed weapon poses with the E5 - alleviating that floppy wrist - as well as some good firing poses with her hold out blaster. She stands very well on secure ankle rockers and can adopt some wider stances - and can even kneel if you remove the cloak.
Summary
Padme is a real stunner of a figure and a great addition to the Prequel figures of the Black Series that have been limited a little in previous years to Clone's, Anakin and Obi-Wan figures. Padme has a couple of niggles with that floppy wrist for the E5 Blaster and some paint issues around the two upper arm silver bands.
I score Padme Amidala a 4 out of 5.
