Tuesday, June 14, 2011

STAR WARS Legacy of the Force: Darth Talon

Presenting from Star wars Legacy of the Force: Darth TalonDarth Talon is actually a part of a 2-pack along with Cade Skywalker who she apprenticed for a while while Cade Skywalker was walking the Dark Side with the One Sith Empire - despite the fact that he nearly killed her. Cade Skywalker later stabs her through the gut, but she lives, on his way to destroying the One Sith Empire and killing Darth Krayt.

I must say the Dark Side never looked so good.

I mean we've had bad-girls in the Star Wars universe before - well mostly good-girls gone bad (i.e. Princess Leia and her daughter Jaina Solo) - the only hot Dark Side babe I can think of prior to this is Mara Jade (Before she became a Skywalker - RIP). But Mara Jade's action figure is no-where near as hot. Further, Darth Talon "fills" better than Maris Brood and has less clothes on then her fellow Twi'lek Jedi Aalya Secura. The only other Force-user figure (Aside from the Steel Bikini Princess Leia) that I can think of that comes close to this is the Force Unleashed  Jedi Shaak Ti - which we'll review at a future date

If Darth Talon is an example of what the women are like on the Dark Side, then no wonder the Sith numbers swelled.

The Star Wars Comic 2-pack containing Darth Talon and Cade Skywalker doesn't say much about the pair. This is what the blister-pack has to say "Years ago, when the Sith attacked the Jedi at Ossus, Cade Skywalker disappeared in a fiery blast. Everyone believes he's dead except Wolf Sazen. And as it turns out, Cade's former Jedi Master is right. Cade is now a disillusioned bounty hunter and pirate who carefully hides his true identity from everyone. But through a series of circumstances, Cade must face his past and battle the ruthless Darth Talon, the Emperor's newly chosen assassin.


It clearly doesn't reveal much about Darth Talon. I do recommend you read the "Star Wars: Legacy of the Force"  comic book from Dark Horse Comics which chronicles the adventures of the descendants of Luke Skywalker, the Solos and generally what happens when they're all well gone and dead. 


But in a nutshell, the Galactic Alliance is no more and a new One Sith Empire stands with a new Emperor named Darth Krayt (As in the Tatooine Krayt Dragon - he was born there). Darth Krayt is A'Sharad Hett, a former Jedi Knight, General in the Clone Wars and former Padawan of Jedi Master Ki-Adi Mundi and the Dark Lady - veeeeerry long story. 


As with Palpatine, Darth Krayt has his "Emperor's Hands" his prime assassins - and Darth Talon is one of them just like Mara Jade used to be an Emperor's Hand to Palpatine. 

After that it's a roller-coaster ride as the One Sith Empire attempts to corrupt the last Skywalker - Cade - who's more like Han Solo than Luke - and turn him into the Dark Side. They eventually capture him and he accepts apprenticeship under Darth Talon - though he nearly kills her as mentioned. Eventually he betrays them and kills Darth Krayt and helps establish a Galactic Federation Triumvirate which, surprisingly, includes another Jedi from the Clone Wars, Jedi Master K'Kruhk (For review another day).

What's to like about Darth Talon?

If you're male - and in some cases, female - and you have to ask that question, I have to ask "Are you blind?"

Darth Talon is without a doubt, one hot "bad ass bad girl!"

You also have to adore the intricacies of Darth Talon's tattoos. The Sith markings cover her entire body. While They are not as intricate as some would like - or as displayed in the comic books - especially around the face area, you have to admire the craftsmanship that went into painting such a small figure. 

And the attention to detail goes on. Darth Talon comes with a personalized lightsaber which is quite unique. The hilt is supposedly made of Yorik coral - which makes it very difficult for other lightsabers to damage. Unfortunately it only looks slightly like her comic-book lightsaber and is appears more metallic than organic - but it is still a unique piece. 


What's not to like about Darth Talon?

The biggest problem I have with this particular figure was that it was released roughly at a time that articulation for Star Wars figures was starting to increase - almost to the level of the 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe level of articulation. So I cannot understand why this particular figure lost articulation - Darth Talon does not have any elbows.

A lot of it, I suppose has to do with Darth Talon - most likely - being a re-paint and re-sculpt of old Asajj Ventress figures - which notoriously did not have any elbows either.

Which is sad because, if you know Darth Talon, then you know that she is one of the most acrobatic of fighters. She combines her dancing skills as a Twi'lek with the ruthless killing efficiency of the Sith which is why Darth Talon is such a memorable character. So to have her figure reduced to this is disappointing. 

The minimal articulation is also clearly seen in Darth Talon's legs. Happily Darth Talon has knees. Sill don't expect any great poses from her. 

I would still highly recommend this figure though especially if you're a hard-core Star Wars collector or a toy-collector who's looking for a very, very nice conversation piece. Darth Talon certainly fills that criteria. The Star Wars Legacy of the Force Comic Pack containing Darth Talon and Cade Skywalker is still available on Amazon for around US$ 40 plus shipping.

2 comments:

  1. I'd like to know where you bought that set. I have an empty spot on my growing toy shelf with Cade Skywalker's name in it.

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  2. I actually had two sets. The first set was purchased in Greenhills here in the Philippines (Toy Black Market), the second set was given to me by my brother-in-law who purchased it in Canada.

    What's interesting about it is that the one purchased in Canada included a green lightsaber for Cade Skywalker.

    The original pack does not have a lightsaber - though there's a mold for it - and even if you look it up on Amazon, Cade does not come with a lightsaber.

    Let me check with my wife who handles/sells my excess inventory if she's sold the spare Cade - no lightsaber - already.

    Cade Skywalker is going on review next week.

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