'Star Wars' Collectibles & Toys Review: 'Star Wars Black Series: Maz Kanata'

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Photo credit and © 2017 Hasbro, Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)

 Well, Dear Reader, it's Tuesday, March 26, 2018, and I'm back with another Star Wars Black Series action figure review. This time around I'll be talking about another figure I received for my recent birthday: Hasbro's Star Wars Black Series: Maz Kanata from director J.J. Abrams' 2015 film, Star Wars - Episode VII: The Force Awakens. 

 Hasbro released its 49th Star Wars Black Series on September 1, 2017 in the same "wave" or shipment that included the following figures: 
  • #50: Elite Praetorian Guard
  • #51: Finn (First Order Disguise)
  • #52: General Leia Organa
  • #53: Captain Poe Dameron
  • #31: AT-AT Driver
  • #35: Snowtrooper
  • #45: Kylo Ren
Of the eight figures in this consignment, five (49-53) were new releases, while the other three were re-releases, as you can see from their ordinal number identifiers. 

The destruction of her castle has forced Maz to become more mobile and take a more hands-on (and blasters-firing) role in the turbulent criminal underworld. She offers help in the struggle against the First Order by pointing the Resistance towards a mysterious new ally. - Hasbro character description

Although the figure based on the ancient humanoid - per Wookieepedia, Maz is over 1000 years old and represents an unknown species - from the Sequel Trilogy's two films was released in advance of Star Wars - Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, its accessories clearly tie Star Wars Black Series: Maz Kanata to The Force Awakens. 

Photo credit and © 2017 Hasbro, Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)

Photo credit and © 2017 Hasbro, Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)
Star Wars Black Series: Maz Kanata is a six-inch scale action figure that replicates the Force-sensitive pirate queen/bar owner based on Takodana. In addition to the figure, the package includes: 
  • DH-17 Blaster
  • Wroshyr Wood Curio Trunk
  • Anakin Skywalker's Lightsaber Hilt
In addition, Maz Kanata's goggles are adjustable, and her vest can be removed and stored in the replica of her wroshyr wood curio trunk, which is one of the action figure's accessories. 

Due to its release date of September 1, 2017, Hasbro's website identifies Star Wars Black Series: Mas Kanata as representing the ancient-but-resilient character as a character from The Last Jedi: 


This 6-inch-scale Maz Kanata figure is carefully detailed to look like the character from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. This figure features premium detail and multiple points of articulation, and includes 2 character-specific accessories. 

That might be technically true; Maz Kanata is seen briefly in a short but crucial scene in Star Wars - Episode VIII, but her curio trunk and Skywalker's lightsaber (or rather, the inactivated hilt) more closely pegs the figure's connection to the previous film in the Sequel Trilogy. 

My Take

Photo credit and © 2017 Hasbro, Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)

I have been collecting Star Wars figures for 41 years. I started in March of 1978, which is when my former neighbors Sheila and Patrick Blanchard gave me the original  Kenner's Land Speeder and two 3.75-inch figures (C-3PO and R2-D2) for my 15th birthday. After that, I acquired most of the Kenner vintage figures and vehicles from the original Star Wars trilogy; however, through a series of happenstances and natural disasters (such as Hurricane Wilma), I've lost some of my most prized possessions, including my first Land Speeder, my original X-Wing and TIE Fighter vehicles, and my 1984 Return of the Jedi Imperial Shuttle. I still have the majority of my 1978-1985 Kenner figures, though quite a few are now missing loose blasters and other weapons. (I also have lots of the figures from Kenner/Hasbro's later lines, and most of those are in their packages.)

Since those halcyon days of my adolescence, much has changed. I’ve grown older, of course, and as a result of changed life circumstances, I have had to adjust to living in a place where I don't have as much space for either storage or display ability. That’s why  I've cut back on my Star Wars figure purchases. Nevertheless, I do buy a few action figures and other collectibles each year whenever a new movie comes out, and my friend - who discovered my love of Star Wars and related collectibles almost four years ago - gives me a few figures or even vehicles on special occasions.

I never planned on leaving my collecting "comfort zone" of the 3.75 inch-scale action figures, but when I received the Darth Vader with Legacy Stand set back in 2017 as a Christmas gift, I've acquired at least 20 of the Star Wars Black Series 6-inch figures. I've bought at least 12 of them on my own; the rest have been gifts. 

Star Wars Black Series: Maz Kanata was, along with Finn (First Order Disguise) part of a four-figure haul that I was given this year for my birthday. She's a rarity in the Black Series collection: a non-human character in a series of figures dominated by either humans or droids. In addition, the legendary pirate queen (whose design was based on a teacher - Rose Gilbert - who taught film director/producer J.J. Abrams and production designer Rick Carter in high school, though not at the same time and unbeknownst to either man until they worked together on The Force Awakens) made her Black Series debut in this 2017 release. 


Kids and fans alike can imagine the biggest battles and missions in the Star Wars saga with figures from Star Wars The Black Series! With exquisite features and decoration, this series embodies the quality and realism that Star Wars devotees love. Hasbro website product description 

Overall, this is a superb figure from Hasbro; the sculpt is well done, especially when you consider that this is one of the more diminutive characters in the Sequel Trilogy. The detailing of the sculpture is nicely done; the texture of the "fabrics" and "animal skin" used to replicate Maz Kanata's costume is simulated so that the figure looks like its wearing clothes made from different materials. She even rocks leg warmers and costume jewelry!

 I haven't seen the films enough times to note whether the figure's outfit is cinematically correct; however, I did notice that Maz's orange skin is depicted here as a more subdued tan or brown-orange hue. It's not 100% accurate, but it looks natural - thus it works for me as a collector. 

As you can see from the promo photos by Hasbro, Star Wars Black Series figures have more points of articulation than the original Kenner action figures from the 1970s and early 1980s. This allows collectors to display the figure in more life-like poses, even though some stances may require additional support from action figure stands, which are sold separately.

I do not foresee that I'll ever open my Star Wars Black Series: Maz Kanata action figure; I don't have a lot of available shelf space at the moment, so I have to be quite picky as to what will go on display and what doesn't. It's more likely that I'll either display the figure in its original package on one of my Ikea "Billy" bookshelves or store it in the closet till we figure out storage/display options. 

That having been said, I think Hasbro's Black Series figures are nicely done, especially when it comes to the sculpts and paint jobs that give them that most desired feature in movie collectibles: realism.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this Star Wars collectibles and toys review as much as I did writing it. Until next time, Dear Reader, clear skies! And May the Force be with you...always. 

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