Darth Maul — Star Wars The Black Series 6-Inch Figure #02

Overview

Darth Maul was the obvious choice for the second slot in the Black Series 6-inch Orange Wave. He is one of the most visually striking character designs in Star Wars — the red and black Zabrak facial tattoos, the horned crown, the double-bladed saberstaff — and the new 6-inch scale gave Hasbro room to do that design genuine justice for the first time. Where 3.75-inch figures had to compress and simplify, the Black Series format could render the costume detail, the face markings, and the weapon at a scale that actually matched the character’s menace.

Released in Wave 1 alongside Luke Skywalker (#01), Sandtrooper (#03), and R2-D2 (#04), this Darth Maul became the villain anchor of the Orange Wave and remained the defining Black Series Maul for several years before later releases improved on it. As a 2013 figure it has limits, but as a piece of Black Series history — and as the first proper 6-inch Darth Maul Hasbro produced — it holds a clear place in the line’s origin story.

Accessories

Darth Maul includes a single accessory: his double-bladed lightsaber. It is the only accessory this figure needs. The saberstaff is accurately proportioned, with both red blades present and a clean central hilt sculpt. The figure holds it convincingly in either a single-hand or two-handed grip, and the weapon separates at the centre hilt to form two individual lightsabers — a feature that acknowledges the film’s climax without requiring a separate accessory.

There are no alternate hands, no fabric elements, and no environmental accessories. For a 2013 Wave 1 figure at $19.99, the saberstaff alone is sufficient. The absence of a hood or cloak, which Maul wears briefly in The Phantom Menace, is the only meaningful omission — later releases addressed this.

Sculpt and Articulation

The facial tattoo work on this figure is the sculpt’s defining achievement. The red and black Zabrak markings are applied with clean edges and accurate placement across a head sculpt that captures the angular, intimidating character design from the film. The horns are sharply rendered and the expression is appropriately intense. Like all 2013 Black Series releases, this predates Photo Real face printing — but Darth Maul’s design is intrinsically graphic rather than photorealistic, so the traditional paint application suits him better than it suits human characters. The face reads as accurate even under close inspection.

The body sculpt captures the layered black robes with credible fabric textures. The flowing lower robes are rendered in rigid plastic rather than soft goods, which limits some dynamic posing but keeps the silhouette clean on a shelf. The upper body armour plating is cleanly detailed.

Articulation covers the expected 2013 Black Series range: ball-jointed head, hinged shoulders and elbows, torso ball joint, and lower body articulation with double-jointed knees and rocker ankles. The torso joint is useful for combat poses. The shoulder range allows convincing two-handed saberstaff stances, which is the primary pose most collectors will want.

Display

Darth Maul belongs in Duel of the Fates arrangements — the Naboo generator room fight against Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most iconic confrontations in the prequel trilogy and the Black Series has produced both opponents. A three-figure arrangement with Qui-Gon (#40 Red Line, 2017) and the Padawan Obi-Wan (#85 Red Line, 2019) recreates the full duel and makes a natural standalone display.

He also works in villain and Sith displays alongside other dark side Black Series figures. The black robes and red saberstaff read immediately against lighter-costumed figures, and his silhouette is distinctive enough to anchor a shelf rather than disappear into it.

For Phantom Menace-specific arrangements, this figure pairs with the Phase 1 Anakin Skywalker (#12 Orange Wave) and — later — the Galaxy Collection Padme Amidala (TPM 03) and Jar Jar Binks Deluxe (TPM 01) to build out Naboo-era content. The Orange Wave version’s slightly older aesthetic can look incongruous next to modern Galaxy Collection releases, but within a Phase 1 display context it is entirely appropriate.

Collector Notes

One documented variation exists: a repro/fake — this is the only Orange Wave figure for which actionfigure411 specifically documents counterfeit identification guidance, indicating that fake copies circulated with enough frequency to warrant attention. If buying a loose copy, verify the UPC 653569864899 and check for the expected plastic quality and paint sharpness. The ASIN for the genuine Amazon listing is B00CFELU2G. Counterfeit copies typically show softer face marking edges and slightly incorrect hilt proportions on the saberstaff.

No packaging variation is documented. The figure was a standard mainline release with wide retail distribution in Wave 1 alongside Luke Skywalker. Secondary market values for loose complete authentic copies are low given the production volume.

Verdict

This is still a worthwhile figure for most Black Series collectors. The face tattoo work aged better than the portraits on many of the line’s early human characters, and Darth Maul’s design suits the pre-Photo Real era more than most. The saberstaff accessory is complete and well-executed.

The 2023 Galaxy Collection version (TPM 05) and the Clone Wars Cybernetic Legs release (CW 11) both represent the character in different eras with more current engineering. If you want the best Darth Maul available in the Black Series, check those releases first. If you’re completing the Orange Wave, building a Phase 1 Black Series run, or want the original 6-inch Maul specifically — this is the one.