Gentle Giant has produced many products for many licenses, but I think it’s safe to say that their Star Wars mini-busts not only put them on the map, they’ve kept them there. They’ve released hundreds of busts in the series, and some of them rank up there as the finest Star Wars collectibles around. Others…well, not so much.

One dead horse that GG has beaten back to life and then ridden to death again is the use of exclusives. Now, exclusives that merely mean I have to buy them from Bob’s Shop are no big deal, as long as Bob is given enough product to meet demand. But highly limited exclusives, or those restricted by limitations of space and boundary (like Blister exclusives available only in Japan, or one of the U.K. only exclusives) are enough to twist your Wookie hairs.

For an exhibit in Brussels, Germany later this year, GG is producing 2500 Holographic Darth Maul mini-busts. Only 1500 will actually be at the exhibit though (called Star Wars: The Exhibition), and the other 1000 are available only through Gentle Giant’s own webstore. The busts run $55 each, and are a re-issue of the 2007 Darth Maul bust, this time in translucent blue with a light up feature.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to drop me an email at mwc@mwctoys.com, or visit my site Michael’s Review of the Week – Captain Toy. On to the review!

Holographic Darth Maul light up Mini-Bust

Packaging – ***
If you’re acquianted with Gentle Giant’s usual Star Wars bust boxes, then this one will be no surprise. It has the advantage of having a window so you can see the final product, but since this is one you’ll most likely be buying on line, it isn’t quite as useful. He also comes with the nifty little baseball card Certificate of Authenticity, something that most of the basic re-deco busts do not. As I mentioned earlier, he’s limited to 2500.

Sculpting – ****
I loved the sculpt on this bust when it was first released, and it hasn’t gotten any different. They’ve given us Maul in one of his most iconic poses, and the detail is excellent. It won’t be the sculpt that will be an issue, but rather the ability of the viewer to fully appreciate it. Whenever you cast something in a translucent material, the clear properties make it difficult for the human eye to discern the small details and intricate work. There’s no contrast, making it tough to appreciate what’s here.

Paint – N/A
There’s no paint – he’s clear blue.

Design – ***
I mentioned the overall design as part of the sculpt, and it’s the same pose and style as the original bust of course. I love that look, no doubt about it. But this time they cast him in this clear plastic, and it is just plastic. It looks kind of cool at first, but it really is a big bust up, and it felt like one in my hand. The resin base adds some heft, but the overall plasticy feel just hurts the impression of what you’re getting.

The clear plastic also means that glued areas, like hood, show through, marring the overall appearance.

Light Up Feature – ***
The light up feature is powered by three of the small watch/calculator style batteries, and these are included. Pressing a button on the bottom turns it on. The light is nice and bright, and looks good in a slightly darkened room.

Value – **
At 2500 pieces, this isn’t a particularly limited bust. The inaccessibility of the Brussels exhibition makes it tougher for the majority of collectors to get it, but the 1000 that were available on GG’s site helped ease that burden a bit. This version is not as nice, or as important to the collection as the regular release, and at $55, he’s going to cost you a good ten bucks more. Fifty five bucks for a big bust up, even one that lights up? Meh. If you can only afford one Maul mini-bust, stick with the original.

Things to Watch Out For –
Not a thing.

Overall – ***
I love the sculpt and the pose, but that’s because these are the same as the original release. What’s new here is the translucent blue plastic and light up feature, and both of these are decent if not exceptional. It’s a lot of money for a bust made from existing molds, from fairly cheap material, and in a fairly large edition size. I suspect most collectors will consider this another opportunity by Gentle Giant to scam them out of some more of their money.

Where to buy –
Here your options are a bit limited. Gentle Giant’s site sold out of the 1000, and unless you happen to be in Brussels during the exhibition, you’re probably going to have to resort to ebay. You can use MyAuctionLinks to help you find one.

Related Links –
Other Star Wars mini-bust reviews include:

– the Royal Guard, Jawas, Dengar and Zuckuss were the most recent.

– Other Star Wars mini-busts I’ve covered include Chewbacca and Darth Maul, Jedi Luke, Qui-Gon Jinn, Palpatine and Skiff Lando.

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