“This party’s over.” Well, actually, it has just begun.
It is actually getting really difficult to write these Figuarts Star Wars reviews. Generally, a review is more difficult for me to write if the figure is terrible, or if I am not really into the subject matter — but I am sure you can understand how that can be hard when you are not as engaged. However, that is not at all the case here; in fact, it is the exact opposite — I am REALLY into this subject matter (it’s freakin’ STAR WARS) and these figures are BEYOND reproach. So what’s the big deal then, right? These sound like first world problems, so get on with it, eh? Well . . .
That is the thing. I have wanted to say this for the past couple of reviews I have done for these Star Wars SHF figures, but now I feel more than comfortable in saying that these figures are the best action figures I own, and I own a LOT of stuff. Hyperbole, you say? All I can rebut with is no, it is not hyperbole, because these figures are so, so good, and I am having the time of my action figure life collecting them. That is no joke, and let me add that it is also true that these figures just keep getting better and better, and the stoic Master Windu is, in fact, the best yet.
Back before I was 100 percent into this line (I put it at about August last year), when I bought in, I was originally limiting myself to the very main of the main characters, and any and all lightsaber-wielding characters (you know, Jedi and Sith?). Well, it escalated quickly and now I pretty much get everything, but the Jedi remain my favorite releases, at least up to this point. So to say I was looking forward to Mace Windu is an understatement, but even I wasn’t ready for the final product to be as good as it is.
I am not at all a Prequel hater (to my relief, it seems like the evangelical hate of them is slowly dying down), and even though we did not get to see nearly as much Jedi action as I would have liked in the three movies, I still love the Jedi way and so many of the Jedi themselves. That includes the very blunt, and very serious Master of the Order himself, Mace Windu. I know that his, and Samuel L. Jackson’s, involvement in Star Wars itself is quite divisive amongst the fandom, but I think he offers a great counterpoint to Master Yoda, and his personality and nature does come out in Obi-Wan Kenobi from time to time, just like all of my favorite Master’s masters.
Now, the good Master has is own Figuarts offering and it is absolutely stunning. As much as I fell in love with the Padawan Obi-Wan figure from earlier in the year, this figure of Mace is even better, and it is better for everything that Obi-Wan is, but also for everything he is not. By the latter I simply mean that I, like just about everyone else paying attention to these figures, thought that Mace would borrow heavily from the Obi-Wan base body. It makes sense with all of the Jedi robes and whatnot, but let me tell you, aside form maybe the hands, I don’t think there is any reuse here at all. This figure is literally NOT Obi-Wan, and that is absolutely fantastic.
Right out of the package you could tell that this figure has a lot going for it past what would have been offered as a simple Kenobi retread — it makes good use of the articulation scheme and varied materials from the previous figure, but it is all integrated into an all-new sculpt. Mace stands appropriately taller than Obi-Wan, and his frame is also wider, right down to the slightest little Jackson belly under the front robes. If I had one bone to pick with Kenobi it is that his legs are a little skinny, but Windu does not suffer from that at all.
As I said, Mace’s articulation scheme matches Obi-Wan’s almost exactly, and it is what I am considering to be the prototype for Figuarts Jedi in terms of movement. If you have the previous figure, you know there are a lot of points that lead to a lot movement, and many of the joints are well-hidden in the robes. It is difficult to break it all down without having a practical demonstration, so be sure to check out Robo’s video review below to see all of the different points. I will say that the range of movement at all the points is just great and it affords Mace all of the Jedi poses he should be able to achieve.
The sculpt is what really puts this figure over, and while I have talked about the base body and how nice it is, it is the sculpt on the two heads that is really incredible. Mace utilizes the same printing technology for his face that has been integrated into the sculpt, and it helps put the likeness to Samuel L. over the top. We have said it before that the likenesses are even better in person than in pictures, and while that is still the case here, I think the resemblance to SLJ is even uncanny in pictures. This is simply a tiny replication of Sam Jackson, and it looks absolutely fantastic.
There are two heads included with the figure, and in essence, you get a serious Mace face, and a VERY serious Mace face. If I had to request one thing from Bandai it is that when more than one head is included with a Star Wars figure, one is more expressive, or at least more varied from the standard head, but for Mace, these expressions are actually perfect for the character. Mace generally keeps a calm demeanor, aside from when he met his untimely end, and I would suspect he doesn’t have any kind of a sense of humor about him, so these work well. The “more” serious face will be perfect for looking down on the upcoming Jango Fett figure, you know, once Mace relieves him of his head.
Aside from the two heads, Mace also comes with three sets of hands (saber grip, Force push, and fists), as well as snap-on saber hilt, and a lightsaber with removable blade. Like Obi-Wan, you have to slide the saber hilt into the hand (from the bottom up), but this time it works a lot better because the blade is much easier to attach than the little pommel at the bottom of the hilt, like with Kenobi. The hilts are accurately portrayed and I am actually a big fan of Mace’s unique purple blade. I know that as a request from SLJ so he would stand out a bit, especially during battle sequences, but I would have liked to have seen even more colors of blades. I know that runs the risk of looking too cartoony, but eh, I think it would have been cool. At any rate, I am very glad to have the purple on my shelf.
So now it comes to it — Robokillah and I will be fighting over who gets to pick Mace as their figure of the year. Now, the year doesn’t end for a while, but still, this figure has the potential to still be at the top, even several months later. These Bandai figures just keep getting better and better, and since Mace is the best yet, it makes me giddy for the possibility for how good the upcoming Episode IV Luke might be. Even if you are not in to the Prequel Trilogy, I still strongly suggest this figure because, well, it is awesome, and the more Jedi the merrier, I say. I am ready for all of theme and building up the mainstays of the Council is definitely a priority for me now, so bring on Yoda, EPIII Obi-Wan, Ki-Adi Mundi, Plo Koon, Saesee Tiin, and all the rest. Bandai is on a roll.
