The Prequel Trilogy revisits of new and old Black Series figures continue, and it's a good thing since I've both been filling in empty gaps while I grew my collection! I've imagined how hard it'll be to get troopers or background characters as much as I'd like to, considering how almost everyone matters in the original two trilogies. So it's great to have a minor-role Jedi turned major character thanks to expanded media and the Chad 501st Legion representation of the Clone Troopers in the Black Series line. Onward to the review!
Here is Aayla Secura in-hand. The figure is depicted in her signature outfit, with a half-torn short and pants that are accompanied by the small loin & butt flaps that are part of the belt as well as the boots and appropriately themed headgear that Twileks would normally wear (which is slightly sculpted at the points of the head rather than printed on). Her right arm and midriff are exposed, with some believing it's a case of sex appeal while it's been said that some warriors tend to wear less for better mobility (at the cost of having thinner layers of protection). In either case, I feel the anatomy works well, especially with the arms being appropriately thin for someone like her. Her lightsaber can peg onto the belt when not in use, though the blade is worryingly difficult to remove. It's a common issue that fans have with the Black Series overall when it comes to Star Wars characters with lightsabers. While the bust itself is painted blue for the exposed skin region, I will at least say that the shade of blue matches the head, midriff, and right arm.
Head sculpt has the feminine beauty that one would expect from Twi'leks, and the blue combined with the more serious expression makes her less of the sex appeal Jabba the Hutt went crazy for in Return of the Jedi and more of the badass female warrior that I'd put up there along with the likes of Leia, Padme (at least pre-Episode 3), and Ahsoka. I also appreciate that none of the facial details are misaligned during the transfer of the paint apps. Her articulation is standard for the line, with a ball jointed head and a neck hinge, shoulders that move front and back, in and out, elbows that bend as well as swivel in lieu of bicep swivels, wrist swivels as well as hinges, a diaphragm joint, hips that move front and back, in and out, thigh swivels, double-jointed knees, and ankle hinges as well as pivots. I don't like how one of her ankle hinges is looser than the other, but she doesn't struggle holding her blue lightsaber. So overall, Aayla Secura is in the same vein as the other Jedi figures who'd be in the same tier as other characters who are not Anakin, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, and Yoda; these B-tier Jedi don't blow many minds as figures beyond looking life-like to the actor presentations (or interpretations of them if they're from other media), but I value that the figure is not a waste of time as we should expect from this line.
Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Up next, we have not the Clone Troopers led by Commander Bly but instead the 501st Clone Trooper; it's no surprise that this figure was going to be included after we last saw the tooling pop up earlier in the line, with the figure previously having been part of a 4-pack sold in Entertainment Earth, albeit with different tooling that updates the figure to look much more accurate compared to the earlier version. Apart from the armor accurately representing the design of the clone troopers, he's got various paint apps that complete the look of a Clone Trooper in the 501st, such as the blue markings on the torso, helmet, shoulders, and legs (with a few blue trims around the wrists). Those paints apps have scratches added intentionally to make the armor worn from the many battles of the Clone Wars, and there are a few dirt and scratch paint apps thrown in to make the figure look less pristine. And to compliment the figure, there is an inner black suit that is covered by the armor as one would expect.
The helmet is sculpted and mostly painted well, but I have to knock a few points off for the way the paint apps are misaligned. The black trim that goes around the helmet is slanted upwards somewhat and the blue on the chin went over where the mouth grille is, making it weirdly look like Squillium from Spongebob in a way. I could customize this helmet to resemble Commander Appo in the Clone Wars if I could. As for his articulation, it's mostly the same as with Aalya, though the Clones get double-jointed elbows that still go to 90 degrees like on the single-jointed elbows while one hand hinges downward while the other hinges inwards. Because of the armor, you would run into some limitations of the articulation unless you know how to bypass those limitations without breaking the toy. And as expected, he has his normal blaster in his hand.
Here are today's subject matters next to Anakin Skywalker, who has been with both the 501st and Aayla in various forms of media, though his association with the blue Clone Troopers is more notable if their role in raiding the Jedi Temple is anything to go by. Much like Aayla, the 501st Clone is worth getting if you're interested in building a Clone Army with all that badassery one would expect from the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, but be sure you copies don't have misaligned paint apps unless you're willing to stomach them. I won't stop unseeing Squillium Fancyson from that trooper.
Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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