Before discussing the the figure itself, let me first say I have zero interest in the 6” line.  I just don’t care.  Were it not for this site, I would not be buying these.  In fact so strong is my desire not to accumulate these figures I truly don’t want (save for a Vader), I just need the slightest impetus to get me to give up this pursuit as the benefit of not having to buy a scale I have no interest in would be enormous.  However, I do promise you that my review will be honest and not clouded by the fact that I very much wish this line did not exist. 

This figure is a lesson in duality.  It is both amazing and frustratingly bad at the same time.  The bad comes with the alternate head attached to the robe.  It is a commendable effort on Hasbro’s part. The horns on Maul’s head make removable hoods at figure scale look terrible.  Instead of flowing over the horns, the hood rides on top of them.  To alleviate this, Hasbro gave this figure a head with the hood sculpted snugly to it.  The problem is the rest of the robe which is also attached.  If that robe were soft goods, this would probably be brilliant.  But it’s not.  It’s rubbery and not easily moved. It completely limits the range of motion of the arms.  I tried for a while to get the Maul figure to hold the binoculars in both hands, but after several minutes I abandoned the quest.  The robe would get in the way and would not give when trying to force the arms into position.  Instead it would literally pop the head off of the neck joint.  Moving onto the saber, the robe causes similar posing problems.  It takes a lot of work to achieve a two handed saber grip and of such poses that can be realized, the options are limited.  In fact, the poses are even vaguely suggestive, but thankfully our readership is highly mature and won’t titter at the appearance.

Once the robe is removed, the figure starts to excel.  If you haven’t collected Hasbro’s Marvel Universe or Legends line, you’re unfamiliar with rocker ankles.  In short they are a revelation and the single biggest improvement in articulation since the ball jointed kneed.  This type of joint allows the ankle to not only flex up and down, but left and right as well.  This means that the foot can always compensate for the angles of the hip and knee joints and is always flat to the surface.  With this advent, you can achieve virtually any stance you can imagine.  It’s glorious.  This figure can effortlessly strike Maul’s predatory crouch, and unlike the 3.75” Vintage Collection figure, the double jointed neck means he can still maintain eye contact with his adversary.  The only additional gripe is the two piece light saber.  It’s a tad rubbery and too easily bends in the middle.  Rather than giving us two half hilts that connect, I would have appreciated a full hilt and battle damaged half hilt.

I think the head is a very good likeness.  I know there have been some complaints about the blunted horns instead of the sharper horns that are seen on screen, but this is a toy and I’m sure there are safety concerns.  I am so impressed with this figure with the robe off that I want to forgive those negatives and just treat the alternate head as a failed accessory and not a fatal figure flaw.  For that reason, 9 out of 10.

9/10 Bantha Skulls