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Review |
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| Sculpt: |
| Asajj Ventress is an original character created for the Clone Wars storylines. Based on an unused design for a female Sith apprentice character that was abandoned in favor of Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress has many Sith-type qualities, but is neither a Sith Master nor an Apprentice-despite the misleading insert card. As seen in the Dark Horse Comics Star Wars: Republic monthly title, as well as the various one-shot Star Wars: Jedi books, she is a tall, lithe, humanoid female with a ghostly complexion and utterly no hair on her head. She does have some slight facial tattooing, but the significance of these markings on her cheeks and temples is unknown at this time. Here she has been sculpted with somewhat African facial features, which all are the more striking because of her pale skin. Her body is thin but shapely, clad in a gray, functional, skin-tight suit that is supplemented by a dark-brownish/grey flowing skirt. Black gloves and boots complement the black high collar she wears under a black, floor-length hooded cloak. She has holsters at each hip for the twin, curved lightsabers that are a gift from her mentor, Count Dooku. The pose suggests a ready-to-fight posture. An imposing figure, to be sure. This sculpt rates an outstanding 9 out of 10. |
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| Paint: |
| Since the majority of Asajj's clothing is very dark, there there are no paint washes except for an area on the front of her suit top. The straps on her gloves are painted a dark brown, the same color as her twin lightsaber holsters and accents on her boots. Thin black straps on her thighs appear more ornamental than functional. Her skirt also has some black and lighter gray stripes that run around the edges. There are about 5 colors in paint, as many of her clothing accessories appear molded in the color they are, such as her gloves, skirt, collar and cloak. Her head, the only skin showing on the character, is molded in white plastic. A gray wash appears to have been applied, and her lips and eyes are both a bright blue. As the paint scheme isn't terribly integral to the look of the figure, since it doesn't in any way detract from it, it gets 8 /10. |
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| Articulation: |
| Asajj has quite a bit of articulation for a figure that is so thin. Ball-jointed shoulders and planer joints where her gloves meet her arms gives her plenty of ways to brandish her twin lightsabers. Her snap-on ball-jointed head can be removed, allowing her cloak to be removed--the cloak restricts her shoulder movement just a bit. She has the regular hip and waist planer joints, for a commendable 8 points of articulation, bringing her a score of 8.5 /10. |
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| Accessories: |
| Included is her removable cloak and twin lightsabers. The lightsaber blades are removable, allowing you to place the handles in the functional holsters. A minimal approach, to be sure, but that's what Siths--and even Sith wannabes--are all about: 8 /10. |
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| Packaging: |
| The same Clone Wars card as the rest of the line, with an brief synopsis of Asajj's past and her recruitment by Count Dooku into the Separatist Forces. The insert depicts original artwork--possibly from the Hasbro design team, possibly from Dark Horse Comics. As this figure was part of the second wave of CW figures, the packaging wasn't as fresh and exciting at the time: 7.5 /10. |
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| Availability: |
| As of this writing, the figure is rather difficult to find at retail, but is available from most online sources. Upon initial release in October 2003, she was in very good supply well into early November. It wasn't long before she became scarce, though, but not as impossible to find as fellow Separatist baddie, the bounty hunter Durge. I think anyone really looking for this figure probably found it after a bit of tireless hunting: 8 /10. |
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| Conclusion: |
| A most impressive debut for a non-canon character. Ventress has been tearing things up in the comic books, and was finally seen in "action" in the Cartoon Network Clone Wars micro-series this past November. It will be interesting to see just where the storyline eventually takes this decidedly deadly young lady. |
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