Mace Windu - SW [TPM 3D] - The Clone Wars (CW8)

Mace Windu runs into trouble from Boba Fett during a rescue mission. Mace arrives on Vanqor searching for the survivors of a crashed Jedi cruiser. He finds Jango Fett's helmet rigged with explosives: a treacherous reminder from Jango's son that young Boba has a score to settle with the Jedi.

The first wave of The Clone Wars figures in the Star Wars [The Phantom Menace 3D] was perplexing at best, but one figure that may have not been one of the worst decisions to repack was Mace Windu. Based on his appearance from the R2 Come Home episode, kids and collectors can once again have a chance to own this rather excellent action figure. As you know, Hasbro not only gave Mace Windu a soft-goods skirt and 24 points of articulation, they’ve also included ball-jointed hips and ball-jointed/”rocker” ankles. These premium points of articulation to wonders when posing the figure. The thought that Hasbro has decided to include ball-jointed hips for figures in a kid-focused line is something that completely surprises us. But what a gift it is. Mace Windu (in animated style) will not need another revisit by Hasbro as they have perfected him once and for all and if this is what we can expect from the new action figures in the future, then good things are about to happen indeed. Mace Windu’s ball-jointed hips are likely spoil us to the point to that we’ll want to see it on all figures. Don’t expect this to be the case.

Mace Windu is an incredible action figure from heat to toe. The sculpt is divine and the articulation is supreme. And the accessories are just gravy. Hasbro has included an episode specific battle-damaged Jango Fett helmet that splits in half and houses an explosive device. This accessory is a very cool (check out the great shots of it in our photo gallery) and is a nice change of pace from the attachable armor pieces we received with the 2009 version of this character (with that horrid action feature). Mace also comes with his signature purple lightsaber. As stated earlier, he comes with 24 points of articulation and is a mixed media figure that includes a soft-goods skirt that allows him to be posed in multiple ways with minimal restrictions. Any angle, and stance or any pose can be achieved with this action figure. His head sculpt looks phenomenal and the rest of his body parts are in perfect proportion with each other. Mace still comes with the gauntlets on his forearms and they have those Jedi Temple specific designs on them in red. All in all, everything looks perfect. Hasbro included ball-jointed ankles on this figure and because his boots are so boxy in the animated series, the final effect looks a little wonky but still is nice to have.

We couldn’t be more delighted that Hasbro has upped the quality of the action figures in The Clone Wars line. Each year they all seem to get made better and include more articulation. And Hasbro has been able to maintain a favorable balance of the greatest hits figures mixed with a nice selection of all-new figures, just as Mace Windu is a great carry-forward figure in the new 2012 TPM 3D line look. While we have been getting a few too many repacks in the first wave, it's clearly something necessary for Hasbro to do so that they can work diligently to give us phenomenal brand new action figures too. It doesn’t feel like they’re reinvigorating the line like they did with the "Shadow Of The Dark Side" line, but we do see what they’re doing. Hopefully it will work. We’re not so sure however. Upgrades are inevitable (and necessary) in any basic figure line in order to keep it fresh and new. But in the case of Mace Windu, we don’t feel they could master him any better than they already have with this figure. Mace Windu is a testament of excellence and he also proves that Hasbro does want to produce the best action figures possible. This figure also comes with a new Galatic Battle Game card, display stand and die. You know, for when you play that game!