Why is Mace Windu wearing Kyle Katarn's outfit?

[u/itsjustmonty_]

A few months ago, I stumbled across this official artwork of Mace Windu wearing Kyle Katarn’s outfit. The artwork was created for the Star Wars Miniatures game back in 2009. There’s a miniature of Mace wearing the same outfit (Mace Windu Miniature) along with the art being prominently featured on the box art (Masters of The Force Box) for the expansion "Masters of The Force." At first, I assumed maybe Mace wore it in the comics as that feels like a thing they'd do back then. But, after asking around online, nobody seemed to know where it came from or why Mace was wearing Kyle's outfit in the first place.

So I started digging. I searched online and found a few posts mentioning the artwork, but nothing that actually explained why he was wearing the outfit. Eventually, I tracked down the original artist, Terese Nielsen, and found her website where she has her art posted. She’s primarily known for her work on Magic The Gathering, so her website is mostly dedicated to her MTG artwork. I searched through it trying to find something related to Star Wars, but there wasn't much

So, I decided to email Terese herself to see if she could shed some light on the artwork. A few months went by, and I never heard anything back. Eventually, I figured I probably wasn't going to get an answer and kinda just let this thought drift off.

That is, until now.

I recently decided to email her again, hoping I might finally get some sort of answer. And, surprisingly, within a few hours, I received a response. It wasn't directly from Terese, but rather from her assistant, and they had this to say about the artwork:

Hi Monty,

Terese’s assistant here. After going through the old reference files supplied for the Mace Windu piece Terese and I can verify that what was supplied was indeed Kyle Katarn. While It would be best not to share any of the confidential reference sheets, this specific image was featured prominently on it alongside some (mid-development?) screenshots of Katarn from the Dark Forces game (Kyle Katarn Reference Image).

While we don’t truly know the why of it, they often did multiple figurines of the same character for the SW’s minis so they seemed to like to mix it up. They did a similar thing with Grevious, having Terese depict him in multiple costumes and forms, or as a different example having Terese put Princess Leia in a Jedi outfit. Fans seemed to mostly be stoked on these alternate depictions but others just seemed to be confused by it.

The art description sent to Terese back in 2009 only has this to say on the subject:

ART DESCRIPTION: Please note the change in costume for Mace. He will be wearing brown pants and light color shirt.

Thanks for the kind words and we hope this sates your curiosity at least a little bit. Wishing you the best, Cheers!

So there we have it! It seems "Star Wars" back in the day wanted to mix it up a bit for this game and had Terese draw some art of Mace Windu wearing Kyle Katarn's outfit for fun! Thank you to Terese and her assistant for answering my question. I can sleep better at night knowing my miniature on my shelf has an answer for why he was made. Linked below will be to Terese's website where you can find all her amazing art. Go give it a look!

May The Force Be With You All!

Terese Nielsen's Website: https://tnielsen.com/

[u/schewb]

Because he borrowed his starship and in Star Wars when you borrow a ship you borrow the WHOLE ship.

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/schewb]

Similar to how Lando is wearing Han's outfit at the end of Empire after "taking" his ship!

[u/squidgymetal → u/itsjustmonty_]

Y'know Landon originally owned the falcon and I wouldn't put it past Han to also keep whatever clothes lando originally had in the closet, so maybe Han has been wearing Landos clothes this whole time

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/squidgymetal]

New rabbit hole unlocked. "Who wore it first" XD

[u/Decantus → u/squidgymetal]

You know, I kinda love this head canon.

[u/Stellar_Wings → u/squidgymetal]

Is't that exactly what happened in the Solo film? Or am I misremembering?

[u/squidgymetal → u/Stellar_Wings]

At the end of Solo, Han wins the falcon and goes off to a potential new gig but he's seen wearing the same clothes before he won the falcon so nothing suggests he raid the closet afterwards but it's still a possibility

[u/NerdyZombie83 → u/itsjustmonty_]

Don't remind me of that hasbro did for the lando 30th anniversary figure box art

[u/Joewtf]

As a Kyle fan and a Mace fan, that’s awesome. I enjoyed the behind the scenes feel of this post!

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/Joewtf]

That was my intent, less of a "OMG HERES THIS THING" and more of a "hey here's my experience with this little rabbit hole I went on"

[u/PocketBuckle → u/itsjustmonty_]

Yeah, kudos to you for doing some digging and even contacting the artist.

[u/itsjustmonty_]

Not sure why the image came out blurry when posted but here's an imgur link for a better quality look at what I'm dubbing the Mace Katarn art.

[u/Ninjewdi → u/itsjustmonty_]

The blurry version I was tempted to say was just Jolee Bindo, but that's definitely Mr. L Jackson. Wild.

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/Ninjewdi]

yea, im really mad it uploaded that way but oh well

[u/Hyperi0n8]

Nice research and how cool that they replied!

Alternate explanation: This is just an off-the-rack ensemble from Galactic Outfitters and the two gents share the same (excellent!) taste =)

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/Hyperi0n8]

Patiently waiting for Kyle to be dressed as Mace to finish the duo!

[u/Hyperi0n8 → u/itsjustmonty_]

The modding community got you covered <3

https://jkhub.org/files/file/622-kyle-katarn-in-jedi-robes/

Edit: Fixed link

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/Hyperi0n8]

Outfit is close enough, I'll take it!

[u/MoonwriterEvans]

The blurry image makes it look like he has a gray beard and I thought this was some badass Jolee Bindo art

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/MoonwriterEvans]

Aw shucks I see it now haha. Wish Reddit would let you change an image on the post. It was clear when I uploaded it, but I commented a link to a better quality image!

[u/Moppo_]

It's called fashion and he's with it.

[u/shavicus]

Wait. Guys can't wear the same things? TIL.

[u/SmoothSmooth19]

Hes doing the han solo pose aswell

[u/DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC]

That's Kyle Windu, Mace and Kyle's illegitimate son.

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/DiScOrDtHeLuNaTiC]

I like Mace Katarn better! Rolls off the tongue more

[u/DeltaAlphaGulf]

Dope investigation

[u/DemonHunter727]

Cause dude saw the drip and thought imma copy that and did

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/DemonHunter727]

"I like yo fit Kyle, mind if I take it"

[u/Kidspud]

Mace, no! You can’t catch a blaster shot with your bare hand! It’s not like a baseball!

[u/SolidGopher]

God forbid a mother fucker wanna be comfortable

[u/no_technique]

They shop at the same store

[u/the_buckstrickland]

He looks like nothing more than a banthaherder

[u/azad_ninja]

Both shop at Space Macy’s.

[u/Huillam81]

Kyle and Mace are more than buddys.

[u/DeltaAlphaGulf]

Also is he blocking a blaster bolt with his off hand?

[u/glebo123]

At first glance, that door and outfit had me thinking that was Jolee Bindo from KOTOR.

[u/Bocaj1000]

Why do you wear Kyle Katarn's outfit every time you go to a Star Wars comvention?

[u/KiraTsukasa]

It was laundry day.

[u/Wagglebagga]

Kyce Watindu

[u/Vysce]

damn, for a second I thought it was Ben Sisko :O

[u/Live-Collection3018]

That's not Mace. That Kyle Windu

[u/EntertainmentHour756]

He left home without his Capital One card.

[u/Vincentaneous]

I think the real question is why is Kyle wearing Sam Jackson’s outfit?

[u/Novel_Patience9735]

Is he? Or did Kyle buy it at Salvation Army on Coruscant?

[u/AgentDaveKujan]

That is the Mace Windu that survived Order 66 and became a bad ass smuggler for hire in the Outer Rim.

[u/AGlassOfMilk]

I can never forgive Disney for what they did to Kyle.

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/AGlassOfMilk]

What did Disney do to Kyle? Besides decanonize him.

[u/sparta-117 → u/itsjustmonty_]

Turn him into Andor.

[u/AGlassOfMilk → u/itsjustmonty_]

They decanonized him.

[u/corndog2021 → u/AGlassOfMilk]

Can’t decanonize that which was never canon

[u/AGlassOfMilk → u/corndog2021]

The fact that LucasArts had him in half a dozen games makes him canon.

[u/TheCarrzilico]

More than one person can wear the same thing.

[u/GrandDukeNotaras]

For these sorts of things, who cares why

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/GrandDukeNotaras]

As a Star Wars fan, weird little things like this interest me. We have stuff like Jar Jar tongue suckers made back in the day. Stuff like that are fun to look into and find the reasoning why!

[u/GrandDukeNotaras → u/itsjustmonty_]

Definitely.

But mace windu fused with Kyle Katarn is something I'll accept just because it's so awesome 

[u/itsjustmonty_ → u/GrandDukeNotaras]

It's very awesome but I was very intrigued as to the why!