"He is a wound in the Force, more presence than flesh, and in his wake life dies… sacrificing itself to his hunger."
Produced in May 2014, Darth Nihilus was commissioned by a private collector as a gift. While I don't have much knowledge of the character, I have a rabid obsession for all things Star Wars, so this project was right up my alley. The fact that he's a bad-ass Dark Lord of the Sith with a killer design doesn't hurt.
The collector who commissioned the piece is a friend, so I wanted to keep the project as cost-effective as possible. After looking at Nihilus's design, Hasbro's 6" Black Series Darth Maul immediately came to mind as the base. Their costumes are so similar, that, even if not 100% accurate, it's close enough.
The figure is entirely Black Series Maul. I utilized the cloaked head, and realized that the hood peeled right off with a little Force. The mask was sculpted over Darth Maul's face with plumber's putty, with a few greebles glued on for detail. I slightly adapted the mask's design; amped it up by being a little more alien and ghostly.
Just prior to delivery. Darth Maul's non-cloaked head is visible in the bottom left of the plastic bubble. Darth Nihilus was a commission I fell in love with, so it was hard letting him go. The client was ecstatic with the result, so I know he's going to a good home... but I just might have to make another one for myself...
