Darth Maul - SW [TPM 3D] - Movie Heroes (MH05)

Added: January 23rd 2017
Category: Star Wars [The Phantom Menace 3D]
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: Darth Maul
Collection: Star Wars [Th1e Phantom Menace 3D]
Number: MH05
Source: The Phantom Menace
Availability: January 2012
License: Hasbro

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Darth Maul has undergone years of demanding and brutal training under his master Darth Sidious to become an incredible Sith warrior. He demonstrates his skill by expertly spinning his double-bladed lightsaber. He attacks with precision and ferocity, twirling the twin blades to strike his Jedi opponent.

You probably know all too well already that we’re not fans of the Darth Maul (Sith Training) sculpt that was original released in 2002’s Star Wars “Saga” basic figure line. We’ll get into the whys in a moment. It was also repackaged in The Saga Collection in the infamous repack and repaint waves released at the tail end of the line and did pretty well in that format. The figure itself may not be terrible, but it is pre-posed in an exaggerated manner which severely limits how he will fit into various displays in your collection. And in all honesty it’s a very difficult figure to balance. While you’re limited with how you can pose the action figure and if you’re satisfied with its limitations, it’s hard to discount that Darth Maul does look pretty cool as is. It comes with an action feature which is nice for kids. It’s not too obtrusive and collectors might be able to overlook that this was worked into the action figure. We’re more interested however that Hasbro dusted off this old 2002 (although tooled in 2001) sculpt for the inaugural Movie Heroes wave released for the Star Wars [The Phantom Menace 3D] line look. But we also shouldn’t be surprised, The Movie Heroes line is strewn with sculpts from 2002 and 2005 and figure with action features.

But instead of just approaching the figure in the same manner they did in 2002 and 2006, Hasbro repainted it to make it as movie accurate as possible. This means the red trimming along the edges of his clothing is no longer here. It’s the first time this figure has been given an all-black outfit just like in the film. Admittedly, this revised paint job does wonders for the figure. And it may be a success at retail for two reasons: the revised paint operations and because this figure is Darth Maul. There were deco differences between the 2002 release and the 2006 release, but this is the most dramatic repaint to date. We are surprisingly happy with how this final figure turned out, even if the sculpt is severely obsolete at this point. Admittedly, the figure’s dynamic sculpt definitely gives it a nice amount of character. The face sculpt is good, but his body sculpt is probably better. While he will constantly look downward thanks to the angle of his head sculpt, we doubt that any Darth Maul action figure you own in your collection right this moment will look this believable in a very aggressive pose. So kudos to Hasbro for getting his dynamic sculpt just right. He's also able to stand up unassisted.

Of course, most of the articulation contained within Darth Maul’s sculpt is swivel points. They do however allow for a nice amount of movement that helps make the action figure a little more versatile. But it’s probably a much safer bet to say that this action figure has one pose, with very few subtle additions thanks to these swivel articulation points. The original releases were loaded with a good amount of accessories. But this version only comes with a revised double-bladed lightsaber (without any removable blades). In place of the missing accessories you do get a Galactic Battle Game card, a display stand and a die. If you’re into such pack-in premiums like this then you’ll likely find the worthwhile. Admittedly we find that they have some merit and collectability from a certain point of view. The packaging on the figure is decent and there is pretty much nothing cooler than seeing a Darth Maul action figure in packaging where Darth Maul is the focal point of the card back’s graphics. We won’t say Darth Maul is a great action figure, but it certainly isn’t the worst we have seen from Hasbro. And this, in all honesty, is the best he’s ever looked in the basic figure line.

Collector Notes

Darth Maul

Status: Darth Maul is a repaint of 2002's SW [S - P1] Darth Maul (Sith Training) ('02 #42) figure. This time the paint operations have been approached in the direction to make him movie accurate.

Articulation Count: 15 points (15 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: swivel neck (1), swivel left shoulder (1), swivel left bicep (1), swivel left forearm (1), rotating right shoulder (1), rotating right forearm (1), swivel waist (1), swivel left hip (1),swivel right hip (1), swivel left knee (1), swivel right knee (1), swivel left calf (1), swivel right calf (1), wheel A (action feature) (1), wheel B (action feature) (1)

Accessory Count: 1

Accessory Details: double-bladed lightsaber

Date Stamp: 2001

Assortment Number: 37752/36563

UPC: 653569686699

Retail: $9.99 USD

Market Value: Click here to check the latest prices based on Click here to check the market value on eBay! listings.

Darth Maul

 

Star Wars [The Phantom Menace 3D] Movie Heroes Wave 1

Shock Trooper (MH01)

Super Battle Droid (MH02)

R2-D2 (MH03)

Battle Droid [TPM] (MH04)

Darth Maul (MH05)

Darth Vader (MH06)

General Grievous (MH07)

Obi-Wan Kenobi (MH08)

Yoda (MH09)

Qui-Gon Jinn (MH10)

Clone Trooper (MH11)

Destroyer Droid (MH12)

 


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