Mace Windu - POTF2 [FB/CT] - Episode I Sneak Preview

In the days before Palpatine's Empire began its reign of terror, the Galactic Republic governed the affairs of the galaxy from the capital of Couruscant. In addition, the city-planet was also the seat of the legendary 12-member Jedi Council. Wisdom and experience were equally as important as abilities in the Force among the Jedi Council members. For this reason, Mace Windu, a senior member of the Jedi Council, was especially honored and revered throughout the Galactic Republic.

The end of 1998 was the beginning of transition. Hasbro and the rest of the licensees, although planning the Episode I line months previously, really had to buckle down and prepare for the glut of product to be release in May of the following year. As the Episode I product line launched, Hasbro received permission from Lucasfilm to do a couple of “Sneak Preview” releases to help whet the appetite of the fans and collectors who whose anticipation for the first new Star Wars film in years was off the charts. To prepare our hearts and minds for what was to come, Hasbro offered a mail-away Mace Windu (Episode I Sneak Preview) figure. For only $2.99 and six proof of purchases (as well as a dated receipt within a certain frame of time) submitted to Hasbro by the expirations, collectors would receive the very first action figure from Episode I, the character played by actor Samuel L. Jackson: Mace Windu.

It appears that Hasbro is not going too far outside of their box for the Episode I line. Mace Windu (Episode I Sneak Preview) still comes with six points of articulation. We were hoping to see a little bit more in this line. The likeness is admirable, although we think a little further tweaking would have wholly nailed the likeness. The figure appears too short as Samuel L. Jackson is a tall gentleman. Perhaps another quarter of an inch would have done wonders for this figure’s stature. Mace Windu (Episode I Sneak Preview) comes with two accessories: a removable cloak shell and a blue lightsaber. Obviously, due to the figure’s limited articulation there isn’t much you can do in the way of posing him, but we’d be lying if we didn’t say that Mace Windu looks pretty cool in the action figure line. The coloring looks great and the design is very streamlined. There is no muscular body frame here thank goodness. And for all intents and purposes this truly looks like a great Jedi Master.

In an interesting, yet not entirely peculiar move, Hasbro issued Mace Windu (Episode I Sneak Preview) in a smaller rectangular box. This certainly isn’t new territory for them as some of their greatest exclusives including 1998’s POTF2 [FF/TKC] Kabe & Muftak set or 1998’s POTF2 [FF/TKC] Oola And Salacious Crumb two-pack have come in similarly shaped boxes as well. Some have accused Hasbro of ulterior motives with this promotion. There was an unnecessary glut of product still sitting on store shelves in 1998 and it has been speculated that this promotion was designed to help clear some of that out (based on the specific requirements of the offer, product had to be purchased within a certain time frame. Receipts from purchases had to be dated between October 1998 through December 1998.) Samuel L. Jackson himself has given the stamp of approval on this figure’s likeness, so we suspect if he likes it then you should also. We soon found out that Mace’s lightsaber is purple, and that was corrected on the mainline Episode I release.