DARTH BANE Sith Legacy
30th Anniversary Collection Evolutions Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87480 No. 87564
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, helmet, armor pieces (not all shown)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$25.99
Availability: February 2008
Appearances: Expanded Universe

Bio: After serving as a soldier in the Sith Army, Bane trained at Korriban's Sith Academy, where he quickly established his presence as the most powerful student there. He later helped bring upon the destruction of the old Sith order, the Brotherhood of Darkness, which he felt was ruled by weak fools who were preventing the Sith from achieving their true potential. After its destruction, he then reinvented the Sith into the Order of the Sith Lords by establishing the Rule of Two, a structure which limited the number of Sith and eliminated the infighting which had plagued the old order. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo area.

Commentary: Fans ask, fans receive! Darth Bane was originally a footnote in the novelization of the first prequel, but has since gone on to star in a few of his own novels and comics. So if you're a fan of the fiction, this is someone you might recognize, but if you don't, well, just who the heck is this guy? Based on the illustrations of one of the Essential Guides he has a few snap-on clear yellow armor pieces which I gotta say look somewhat goofy. Ditto his torso-- I mean, it's clear yellow. (Well, more or less-- the yellow clear piece is removable but you can see some grooves in his torso underneath.) I can't say that I have a lot of attachments to the character's design, or the authenticity, or really the fact that he exists at all.

What I can say, though, is that it's not a bad toy. Snap-on armor that actually stays in place? That's not something Hasbro is known for, nor is a big giant ridiculous plastic cape with a cloth "skirt" so he can sit when you take off that cape. He's got a goofy (and thankfully removable) battle helmet, and a big purple lightsaber. In short, he looks like a villain right out of the box, even if you don't have any idea where he came from. Given his high collar and wannabe Alice Cooper makeup, this figure could probably have done well as part of the regular line just on the merits of kids going "I want the crazy looking bad guy." As a collector, I can't say I care that this figure exists, or that I'd care if it didn't. It's here, it's OK, I'm used to it. His articulation is essentially that of a super-articulated figure and there's a lot of nice detail here, so fans of the character should dig it. Me, I don't have any emotional investment to the character or its design, so yeah, a big fat "whatever" from me.

Collector's Notes: Packaged along with a new Darth Maul and Darth Nihilus, the set as a whole is selling really well at retail in most places. For me, he's the least compelling of the set-- and remember, I'm not a big KOTOR fan either-- so take that as you will. The set is a decent one, but it's something that should only appeal to fans of the stories beyond the movies. (Admittedly, they're some pretty popular stories.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 680: March 16, 2008