Mace Windu (Clone Wars Tartakovsky) — Star Wars The Black Series 50th Anniversary

Overview

Mace Windu (Clone Wars Tartakovsky) is a Walmart exclusive in the Black Series 50th Anniversary sub-line, released in April 2022 at $26.49. This is a modified version of the 2021 Black Series Mace Windu (TPM) — same base body, but this time fitted with a clone trooper belt, shoulder armour, and forearm armour that reference his appearance in the 2003 Genndy Tartakovsky Clone Wars 2D micro-series. The packaging is itself a throwback to the 2004 Tartakovsky animated-style figure.

The figure is nicely detailed overall, the photo-real face looks great, and the soft-goods robe works well without bulk. The honest caveat: light on paint throughout — no weathering, no dirt, and some detail areas like the buttons on the right forearm armour were left unpainted. This was a wider issue across 2022 Black Series releases and Windu is among the affected.

Stiff joints on the review copy — which is a good problem to have — but worth noting as a variable.

Articulation

19 joints. Ball-jointed top neck, ball-jointed lower neck, ball-jointed shoulders, ball-jointed elbows, ball-jointed wrists, ball-jointed upper body, ball-jointed hips, swivel thighs, swivel joints above the knees, swivel joints below the knees, ball-jointed ankles.

The key engineering detail here is the shoulder bells — they’re made from soft plastic, which means if you move the figure’s arms higher than 90° the armour flexes rather than blocking. This is exactly the right material choice for an armoured figure: hard plastic shoulder bells would limit the butterfly-shoulder potential that the base body has; soft plastic bells keep that range accessible. In practice, Windu can get into proper two-handed lightsaber poses without the armour fighting you.

The double ball-jointed neck from the base body carries over, giving good head positioning. The figure stands well on display. Joints on the review copy were notably stiff, which is preferable to loose — stiff joints hold poses cleanly.

Accessories

1 accessory. Purple lightsaber with removable purple blade.

One accessory only. The blade detaches cleanly from the hilt. Notably, the lightsaber hilt plugs into a small hole in the clone trooper belt, giving Windu a proper hip-stow position for the weapon. That detail works cleanly and is a specific improvement in display flexibility over having to leave the saber in hand or loose.

The soft-goods Jedi robe from the TPM release carries over and the shoulder armour, belt, and forearm armour are non-removable — they’re part of this configuration rather than optional additions. The robe fits well under the armour without looking cramped.

The Paint Issue

This is specific and worth calling out directly: the figure has no weathering, no dirt application, and some fine details were left unpainted — the buttons on the right forearm armour being the most visible example. This isn’t a quality control failure on individual units; it was a design decision across several 2022 Black Series releases to reduce paint complexity. On a figure representing a battlefield general in an active war, the absence of any wear or grime reads as a gap. The sculpt is good enough that the missing paint shows.

The Clone Wars Tartakovsky Configuration

The 2003 micro-series gave Mace Windu his most kinetic action sequence in any Star Wars media — the Battle of Dantooine, in which he walks through an entire droid army while the Force creates a visible field of destruction around him that prevents any contact. It’s sustained, visually specific, and communicates Jedi power at a scale the films never attempted. The scene defines Windu’s capabilities for the collector who knows the series.

The Tartakovsky configuration — the clone trooper belt and armour over the Jedi robes — is Windu as battlefield commander rather than Council member. The TPM version is the Council authority figure; this version is the Jedi general. Both serve different display purposes. Paired with General Grievous (Tartakovsky) and ARC Trooper Captain (Tartakovsky), Windu anchors the Republic side of the 2003 animated series display.

Comparing the Two Mace Windu 50th Anniversary Figures

The TPM Mace Windu from the Best Buy wave has butterfly shoulders and comes with a soft-goods robe but no armour. The Tartakovsky Mace Windu has the same base body plus clone armour and soft plastic shoulder bells, but loses the butterfly shoulder reach because the bell placement — even in soft plastic — moderates the effective range.

The TPM version is the better figure for deep posing and for displays outside the 2003 animated context. The Tartakovsky version is the right figure for the Clone Wars animated display and the only Black Series Mace Windu in battlefield armour configuration. They cover genuinely different ground; neither replaces the other.

Walmart Exclusive Acquisition

Walmart exclusive at $26.49, April 2022. No variations recorded.

Secondary Market

Walmart exclusive 2022. Secondary prices typically $30–55.

Verdict

Mace Windu (Clone Wars Tartakovsky) is a strong figure with one specific complaint — the lack of paint weathering is noticeable on a battlefield character and was a wider 2022 issue rather than a unit defect. The soft plastic shoulder bells that allow arm movement past 90° are the right engineering call, the lightsaber-in-belt stow works cleanly, and the photo-real portrait is good. For the Tartakovsky trilogy display, this is essential. Walmart exclusive, $26.49.

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Part of Star Wars The Black Series | 50th Anniversary. Related: General Grievous (Clone Wars Tartakovsky) P4-50A-GGT | ARC Trooper Captain (Clone Wars Tartakovsky) P4-50A-ART | Mace Windu (TPM) P4-50A-MCW.