Hot Toys Asajj Ventress (TMS196) Preorder

The Hooded Assassin

The black cloak and full-length skirt give you the more imposing standing display. Bring the two blades across the front, turn her eyes toward the figures beside her and adjust the hood around the head sculpt. The bendable wire is in the hood, so that is the part you can shape to frame her face.

Two Sabers Ready

With one curved hilt in each hand, you get Ventress's familiar dual-saber fighting stance. The separate rolling eyes let her look toward one blade while her head is turned slightly away. You can also swap a weapon hand for the Force-choke gesture if you want a threatening pose with less space taken up by the second saber.

The Shorter Combat Outfit

Remove the skirt and the additional bottomwear to use the dark blue shorts and striped leggings. The official gallery shows that outfit in lower fighting poses, giving you a very different arrangement from the cloaked version. Use the stand and work within the joints' natural movement when the finished figure arrives.

The Head Sculpt and Facial Markings

The pale skin, dark lips and blue facial markings make this unmistakably Ventress. The head sculpt gives the animated character a more realistic finish while keeping the bald head and severe expression. There is one head sculpt in the announced inventory, with separate rolling eyes to change the direction of her gaze.

That eye movement matters with a character who spends so much time facing an opponent sideways. You can have her look along a blade or toward someone next to her without turning the whole figure straight ahead. The gallery includes front and three-quarter views of the portrait, along with the hooded display, so you can compare how much of her face each arrangement leaves visible.

Two Outfits in One Box

The velvet skirt and red-and-gold tabard give her the long silhouette from The Clone Wars. The striped waistband, forearm sleeves and leggings carry the costume's blue pattern across the body. Those striped pieces use soft vinyl, while the skirt is velvet, so this outfit combines several materials.

The shorter look uses the supplied top, shorts and leggings, with the skirt and extra bottomwear removed. Both appearances use the same figure. The cloak can change the display again, and its wired hood lets you adjust the opening around her head instead of relying on the fabric to fall exactly where you want it.

Five Hilts, Four Blades

The weapon inventory deserves a proper look because the numbers can be confusing. You get two individually illuminated curved hilts, one illuminated joined hilt, and two unlit curved hilts. The unlit pair can connect together or attach magnetically to the round belt buckle. Hot Toys specifically lists the magnetic attachment for that pair.

The two straight blades and two wave-shaped motion blades swap between the five hilts. Use the straight pair for a cleaner standing pose or the broader motion pieces to suggest a sweeping attack. With the joined hilt, Ventress can carry a double-bladed saber. With the separate pair, she can fight with a weapon in each hand.

Only the three LED hilts have the announced USB lighting. The unlit pair gives you another way to display the weapons, including on the belt. If you want an illuminated cabinet setup, account for the USB-C cable as well as the blades when you arrange her. The cable is a separate purchase.

The Seamless Upper Body

Hot Toys uses silicone for the upper body to keep the shoulders and exposed skin free of visible joint breaks. That suits the cut of the dark blue top, which leaves the chest, shoulders and back visible. The manufacturer lists 18 points of articulation for the complete figure.

The seamless design describes the appearance and construction. The announcement does not provide joint-angle measurements or long-term material tests. Let the finished figure's instructions guide how far you bend the body and how you store it. For our coverage of released figures and their posing, paint and accessories, visit Hot Toys Reviews.

Adding Ventress to a Star Wars Collection

The official photos include Count Dooku and battle droids in group displays. Those figures are separate releases. TMS196 includes Ventress and the parts listed above, with no additional character or droid in the box.

If your collection follows Dathomir's dark-side characters, our Hot Toys Maul TMS187 preorder page covers his separate Shadow Lord release. It is a different series and costume, so consider whether you want a broader Star Wars display or figures from one specific story. Ventress's red blades, pale head sculpt and dark blue outfit give you plenty to work with in either arrangement.