Sideshow Collectibles Darth Maul - Duel on Naboo exclusive

I was pretty pissed when I saw the asking price for the new Sideshow Darth Maul, particularly when it comes with next to nothing! In summary, I think the figure itself is OK, but for the price it should come with far more!

Click the link below to watch my full video review up on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel.

For $240, the contents are pretty barebones, with just a few hands and the double bladed lightsaber. I got the exclusive version, which gives the extra severed lightsaber. So the folks unlucky enough to get the regular version will get even less for the same price!

It baffles me why they could not even include a cloak or an alternate snarling head sculpt for this price. I think Sideshow really had a great opportunity to make this perhaps the definitive Darth Maul figure, but have definitely fallen short on that mark.

The biggest improvement is of course the head sculpt. I think overall it is a pretty good likeness, and the paint app is decent. The tattoos are cleanly done, although the head sculpt itself has some seam marks that appear worse on some than others. Luckily the seams on mine on the side of the head aren't too noticeable.

The eyes are also nicely done, with realistic glassiness and the orange and yellow tinge around the iris. The horns are also sharp and have a good paint app to them. So if there's only one thing worth upgrading for, it's definitely the head sculpt.

The costume itself is also nicely done, with good materials and tailoring. All the pleats have thin wires along the edges so you can get some pretty good flowing poses out of the costume. It's a shame that the underlying body is still a bit too loose in the joints. This is a problem with the base Sideshow bodies that they seem incapable, or unwilling, to fix! The Hot Toys bodies feel much sturdier in comparison.

It's also a shame that with decent overall articulation, the boots do not feature any real ankle pivot or rocking ability! The top of the boot and the foot area are actually separate pieces held together by the main strap piece along the front. But despite this, there is very limited movement, so getting his feel flat on the ground in wide leg poses is impossible. I think they could have, and should have, done much better in this area.

In the end, I think the figure does display very well. But for the price, they should've included much more to justify that, or at least price the figure much lower. Prequel fans will love this, but I'd recommend waiting for a sale price or use a discount code.