Toy Review: ‘Star Wars’ Black Series Anakin Skywalker Captures Half Of A Complex Hero

Now that the “Skywalker Saga” is concluded, there’s no denying that Anakin Skywalker is the central figure of Star Wars. A rich and layered hero like Anakin deserves a figure capturing that complexity, but does his latest Black Series release succeed?

From the earliest moments in the Star Wars saga, we were captivated by Anakin. Whether it was as Darth Vader (his dual identity unknown to us), striding onto the Tantive IV, or as the legendary pilot, Jedi Knight, and friend of Obi-Wan Kenobi, he’s been a legend since the beginning.

Unfortunately, Anakin really didn’t get his due until the much-loved Star Wars: The Clone Wars. A lot of over-writing and unsuccessful direction made Hayden Christensen’s depiction of the complex Jedi Knight feel whiny and petulant, at least until the third act of Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith. 

So because of that, looking at this figure is incredibly complex too.

Now, I could repeat a lot of what I said about this figure’s companion, Episode III Obi-Wan Kenobi. And much of that would be true.

This figure does pose extremely well. The flexible plastic on the Jedi robes over his shoulders helps, but again, because of it, the figure can’t raise his arms over his head. Otherwise, I was able to pose him almost every other way I tried.

And the lack of accessories stinks. There’s no alternate hands, and only one headsculpt. That’s actually worse for Anakin than it is for Obi-Wan, and that just leads to where this figure falls short.

Now, simply put, if you want a figure that’s the embodiment of Anakin Skywalker, hero of the Republic, this is it. He captures the strong and heroic figure that we see develop from The Clone Wars as well as Christensen’s performance in Sith’s opening acts.

But as-is, this isn’t a good figure for Episode III. This is a story about Anakin’s seduction to the Dark Side and fall. To really capture the spirit of the character at this moment, there needed to be an alternate head that at least captures his rage and frustration at the bureaucracy of the Jedi Council, and his desperation to save Padme. Even better would have been to include his dark fallen form from the film’s third act, the image of a fallen angel betraying all that is good to join the embodiment of evil.

Now, don’t get me wrong, this figure is far from bad. In fact, it’s very good. As-is though, it’s not a great depiction of Anakin Skywalker as we see him in Episode III. Maybe that’s just something that Hasbro’s designers need to consider in the future.