Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,402: Bala-Tik (The Last Jedi Line Look)

BALA-TIK with Rathtar
The Last Jedi Class A Vehicle Assortment
Item No.: Asst. C1245  No. C1247
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Bala-Tik Figure, Blaster
Action Feature: Falls apart, Force Link sounds
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: Rathtars are dangerous tentacled predators known for their sophisticated techniques as pack hunters.  These slimy horrors were responsible for the infamous Trillia Massacre - which has made them irresistable to decadent collectors seeking exotic pets for their menageries.   (Can from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  When The Force Awakens hit, I was delighted by so many characters and robots and monsters being thrown at us.  As such, I was disappointed by the lack of toys of said ruffians.  I can only assume fans felt the same way in the 1970s when we left the original film with only 20 figures, none of which were a Bantha or Cantina Band or Grand Moff Tarkin or Garindan.  Those would take 20 years.   Bala-Tik, the Scottish-sounding Guavian Death Gang negotiator, only took two years.

The armored figure was made in Vietnam, which I thought to check after removing him from his package because he was designed well.  Figures from China typically have more elements of the coat hanging off the figure, hindering their ability to sit.  Vietnam's factories have been more severe, cutting it off in the back so the figure can easily sit in a vehicle, or on your desk.  I first noticed this on some of the Rogue One figures, as the Vietnamese products were generally better looking and better articulated than their Chinese counterparts.

Force Link sound effects include "You're a dead man," "Take the droid," "Find cover," and "The Rathtar has escaped."   It also makes blaster sounds and screams.

The likeness is pretty good, but not great.   Humans are tough to do well, and while I think the armor is perfect there's something about the eyes that's a smidgen off.  It's good enough, of course, and I'm glad we already had one of his gang to hang out with him.  (More would be nice.)   The figure has no problems standing or holding his rifle, so it ticks all the boxes of "good enough."  By itself I'd gladly pay $8 for it, because it looks nice and it's a new character in the toy format.   After being a collector for so long, new characters are the thing that get me the most excited.   The Rathtar is a nice bonus, so go ahead and grab this set if you see it and enjoy The Force Awakens stuff.   Hasbro is setting a good precedent with the release of more new toys from that movie, and I hope it keeps going long enough to get to the countless other great designs.

Packaging Notes: Playmobil may have a new competitor for biggest waste of space.  The abundance of open air in the box will confound you, as the monster could tuck behind Bala-Tik - it'd be a tight fit - with about 65% of the space inside going unused.  I'm sure it wouldn't look impressive for $20, but they could probably have given us a smaller (or more interesting) box as you really feel like you got taken when you open it and there's so much nothing inside.  It's a good piece, but the presentation leaves much to be desired.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,402: September 4, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,401: Rathtar (The Last Jedi Line Look)

RATHTAR with Bala-Tik
The Last Jedi Class A Vehicle Assortment
Item No.: Asst. C1245  No. C1247
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Bala-Tik Figure, Blaster
Action Feature: Falls apart, Force Link sounds
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: Rathtars are dangerous tentacled predators known for their sophisticated techniques as pack hunters.  These slimy horrors were responsible for the infamous Trillia Massacre - which has made them irresistable to decadent collectors seeking exotic pets for their menageries.   (Can from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  When The Force Awakens hit, one of the biggest disappointments was the discovery that the toy line was over.   Hasbro had virtually no post-movie plans - everything they developed was before the final cut of the film, and that depressed me.  Thankfully they went back to the well and gave us a Rathtar with a pack-in figure we actually wanted.   When it comes to creature figures, it can  be tough to strike the right balance between features and appearance.  The Bantha just had to be furry and seat a Tusken Raider.   The Dewback needed to move a little bit.   A good Rancor Monster should be able to look like he can gobble down a figure.  So what about a Rathtar?

After assembling over a dozen tentacles, I'd advise caution.  It looks cool, but those things need to be shoved in tightly and even then, they're easy to knock loose.  It's not a good form fit, but it's a pretty piece.  The hollow mouth can actually fit an action figure, but not all the way.  (This is a good idea.)   The ghoulish Lovecraftian horror is mostly mouth and guts plus tentacles, a good representation of the movie creature.  The only action figure to speak of is a Force Link sound effect, which includes a number of slurping, wet sounds that would be in line with any tentacle monster or Cthuloid being from another dimension.  There are roars and what also sounds like a rolling sound.

The design is bumpy, warty, and uninviting - just like a good monster should be.   It's smaller than I expected, but seeing as they could roll and jump through small ship corridors I suppose that means they got it exactly right.  It may not be quite as ornate as a Boga or as chomp-tastic as the Opee Sea Killer, but it looks cool and is fun to play with.  Provided you don't lop off his tentacles before a door does!   For $20 it's a worthwhile purchase at today's figure rates.  If Bala-Tik is worth $8 (and he is), $12 for his monster buddy is a bargain.

Packaging Notes: Playmobil may have a new competitor for biggest waste of space.  The abundance of open air in the box will confound you, as the monster could tuck behind Bala-Tik - it'd be a tight fit - with about 65% of the space inside going unused.  I'm sure it wouldn't look impressive for $20, but they could probably have given us a smaller (or more interesting) box as you really feel like you got taken when you open it and there's so much nothing inside.  It's a good piece, but the presentation leaves much to be desired.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,401: September 3, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,400: Chewbacca with Porg (The Last Jedi Line Look)

CHEWBACCA with Porg
The Last Jedi Basic Figure Teal Assortment
Item No.: Asst. C1531  No. C1536
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Bowcaster, Porg figure
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $8.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: Chewbacca, known affectionately to his friends as Chewie, was a male Wookiee warrior, smuggler, and resistance fighter who fought in the Clone Wars, the Galactic Civil War, and the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance.  Porgs were an avian species native to the planet Ahch-To, where Jedi Master Luke Skywalker made his exile in the years following the Battle of Endor.   (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Another movie, another Chewbacca.  We don't get one for every launch day, but we have had quite a few over the last decades.   This one is really tall and better articulated than most, being able to stand and sit with good hip joints complete with a good clearance  His mouth is open and roaring, his hair painted well with a decent fade.   I love that his skin shows and is painted, and that his eyes seem to be blue.  Chewie's bandolier is a separate piece, and it looks great.  

I ran back to my The Force Awakens Millennium Falcon to see if he can sit in it, in particular since no The Last Jedi version seems planned.  Chewie is a tight, awkward fit in the cockpit but fits fine in the med bed, the put around the Dejarik table, and in the gunner station.   This may well be one of my favorite modern Hasbro Chewies because he can sit flat on the floor, which figure figures save for the 1978 original do well.  The fur sculpting is good, and it's consistent with some of the finer efforts out of the company as of late.

Chewbacca's Bowcaster may be the worst ever, unless it breaks in the movie, in which case it's the best ever.  The front part and the scope are separate pieces, not glued on and barely held in with friction.  If it drops, the weapon flies out of his hand and the pieces scatter on your desk.  It's also smaller than other bowcasters.   Long-time readers know I hate customizing or altering a figure in any way, but I'm actually going to advise you to glue this one.  If you knock him over, you may never see the complete bowcaster again.  It comes unpainted and is otherwise interesting.

His Force Link sounds include what sounds like 4 distinctive roars.  When you shove him forward, you get blaster bolts and, eventually, an explosion sound.

He's joined by a Porg, which is probably why you'll buy the figure.  At not even an inch tall, the figure has no Force Link markings and just stands there.  It's cute, it's under 1-inch tall, and the deco is pretty good - it looks sort of like an otter, a seal, a pug, and a puffin.   I anticipate much in-store pilfering to get this accessory.  As of now I am unaware of it being available with other figures, but as I write this Hasbro has kept the contents of the figure assortments partially obfuscated.  The deco is good, it has no articulation, and it's cute.

Overall, it's pretty good.  A Porg is more interesting than a wacky blaster or a big helmet, but the cost/value may not be there.  The Force Link gimmick is cool, but not visually apparent.  This may mean new buyers are going to wait for sales - at $6 or even $7, this is a pretty great set.  More than that, you may be left uninterested in sealing the deal with another version of the best Wookiee first mate in the galaxy.  This is a fun figure, though, and a much greater value than C-3PO.   (Threepio has no accessories.)

Packaging Notes: The basic cardback is lighter and has less material than before, and is much easier to open than the last two films.   There is no bio on the packaging - a shame - and no co-sells.   There are photos of the figure on the box, though, which have been absent for a few years.   I know I say this a lot, but this may be the worst overall 3 3/4-inch packaging for a single basic figure yet - it's about 70% warning labels.and Force Link upsells with no other figures, vehicles, or toys being promoted.  The movie's title "The Last Jedi" is absent from the packaging.  The last time this happened was in 1999 with The Phantom Menace.

Assortment Notes: The basic 3 3/4-inch assortments are split in "Orange" and "Teal" assortments.  There is no orange and no teal on the packaging or cartons - it's sort of like a more obtuse version of "Collection 1" and "Collection 2" or "Jungle/Space" and "Desert/Snow," if you catch my meaning.   This allows stores to be more nimble in their ordering of assortments while giving more product shelf space to 3 3/4-inch action figures.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,400: September 2, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,399: Imperial Probe Droid (The Last Jedi Line Look)

IMPERIAL PROBE DROID with Darth Vader
The Last Jedi Class A Vehicle Assortment
Item No.: Asst. C1245  No. C1246
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Darth Vader, Display Stand, Projectile
Action Feature: Launching Rocket, Force Link sounds
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Tenacious hunters and searches, probe droids (or probots) have a variety of sensors, and the ones employed by the Empire are armed with powerful blasters and, in some models, shields.   (Can from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Since I was a kid, I've loved the Probot, or Imperial Probe Droid in the modern vernacular.   We've had precious few toys from Kenner or Hasbro of this one, like the original in the Turret and Probot Playset, the tiny one in the MicroCollection Hoth Wampa Cave, one in the MicroMachines/Action Fleet ranges, and of course Kenner's deluxe 1996 model which got a decent redeco around 2008.  This new one?  It's better.  It's what you want.  If you're happy with what you have stop reading this, because you might end up blowing $20 on this over the weekend.  Provided you can find it - it's one per case against three of the superbly weird Rathar.

This is the probe I've been wanting.   It comes completely assembled, all you have to do is turn around the legs into a pleasing position and pop him on the display stand.   He has a launching rocket and Force Link sound capabilities.  (Basically, you wear a bracelet that remotely sends power to the toy rather than putting batteries in the toy itself.)  You'll recognize various sounds from the movie as you hold it, and if you shake it you'll get other noises.

The droid has a big articulated head with fake silver wear and tear, red markings, glossy black "eyes", and this perfect dark grey metallic skin.  It's great. It's the best.  I was stunned to find that the antenna on top of its head telescope up and down like in the opening moments of The Empire Strikes Back.  I was also stunned to see that the rocket doesn't fire worth a crap.   You can't win them all.   The undercarriage arms have many joints, but not every "joint" moves - be careful to not damage anything.  Some of the little claws move, and some do not.  At $20 I would prefer they all move, but it's not about what I want, is it?  Is it Hasbro?  (Well, you did a fine job all the same.)


The clear display base has an Empire logo motif while standing up super sturdy.  My little droid friend sits on it without feeling the slightest bit unstable, which is not normal for most figures I buy.  Hasbro did a good job here and other than maybe the price, I can't complain.  (Given Darth Vader alone would probably sell for $7-$8, an extra $12 for the Probot ain't too shabby.)   This robot is better than you might expect in a 5-jointed figure line, so go run out and get it with my blessing.   With a Wampa coming too, it's shaping up to be a good season for The Empire Strikes Back fans... and frankly, I'd rather they spend more time on "legacy" movies for Force Friday and save the new stuff for movie time.   Give me a reason to be excited to buy some toys, I've got plenty of ciphers as it is.

Packaging Notes: Playmobil may have a new competitor for biggest waste of space.  The abundance of open air in the box will confound you, as the robot could tuck behind Darth Vader - it'd be a tight fit - with about 50-60% of the space inside going unused.  I'm sure it wouldn't look impressive for $20, but they could probably have given us a smaller (or more interesting) box as you really feel like you got taken when you open it and there's so much nothing inside.  It's a good piece, but the presentation leaves much to be desired.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,399: September 1, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,398: Vendor Droid (Black, Droid Factory)

VENDOR DROID Black
Star Tours   Droid Factory Customizable Figure
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney?
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Removable limbs
Retail: $12.95
Availability: April 2017
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The CZ-series communications/business droid was a droid series produced by Serv-O-Droid, Inc. The CZ-series was released as Serv-O-Droid began to wane in its position as a dominant droid manufacturer.   (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Commentary:  The new head! The Black Vendor Droid is basically the new head from The Clone Wars, now in a handy glossy black color.   It has a big silver thing on its head, like a hat, with yellow eyes and whatever body you give it.

The glossy black finish is super shiny to a ridiculous extent.   It's gorgeous, and I wish I had a better display to show these sorts of figures off.   It stands, it looks cool, it has articulation.   You know the drill.   So far I've only heard of these in Orlando, but I also don't pay super close attention so maybe they're in Anaheim by now.  The droid is curious in that Disney opted to make this design in colors that were never actually seen on the show, so perhaps those are coming later.  I can hope.  It's still nifty and if we had a decent playset that worked for it, he'd be right at home.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney Hollywood Studios.

Column Notes: We are going on a brief hiatus due to an excessive amount of travel and The Last Jedi launching - so we'll be back with new stuff as quickly as availability allows on or after September 1.  Until then, please visit Galactic Hunter and 16bit.com for more toy news and reviews and dubious opinions.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,398: August 23, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,397: Galen Erso (Rogue One)

GALEN ERSO Zipline Action
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. C1974
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Mouse Droid, Zipline
Action Feature: Zipline
Retail: $7.99
Availability: May 2017
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: A scientific genius, Galen Erso was coerced by the Galactic Empire to help develop weapons of ultimate destruction.  With deep regret, Erso perfected methods to harness the magnifying effects of kyber crystals to power the Death Star's planet-shattering superlaser. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  It took me a while to crack open Galen Erso because I didn't feel great about the line being over - and thanks to someone working somewhere, it isn't.   It's merely one of the later figures.   Hasbro did a great job designing this figure and a good job with the head - coming up with the right amount of scruff and sadness on a human face at this scale  is a challenge, particularly when you have certain cost metrics to meet.  The uniform is a good recreation of the movie, down to the science patch.  The colors maybe could be better, but it's still good.  It looks like Mads Mikkelsen, with a good sculpt slightly marred by soft detail in the plastic.  It's clearly  him, though.

He has no problems sitting, standing, or holding any of his gear.  The zipline fits in his hand better than any other in the line, although its design doesn't lend it to zipping forward particularly well.  It's a good design though.  The blaster is classic fare, also fitting in his hand easily.   What really makes the set sing is the mouse droid, complete with teeny tiny rolling wheels.   I think it's my favorite Hasbro mouse droid so far.

It's fun, it's neat, and I'm kind of amazed it even came out - sometimes these tail-enders vanish.   It's one of few (perhaps the only) scientists the Empire ever gave us as a figure, so it's nice.  Maybe we'll get more some day.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,397: August 21, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,396: Luke Skywalker (SDCC Landspeeder, The Black Series)

LUKE SKYWALKER with Landspeeder / SDCC Debut
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Vehicle Set
Item No.:   No. C1411
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber with removable blade, rifle, hat, poncho, macrobinoculars, X-34 landspeeder
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $90.00
Availability: July 2017
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The X-34 landspeeder was a model of civilian landspeeder manufactured by SoroSuub Corporation and available during the Galactic Civil War between the Galactic Empire and the Alliance to Restore the Republic.   (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  There have been no shortage of 6-inch Luke Skywalker figures over the last year.   A basic boxed version hit in 2016, and now this version hit Comic-Con in a really nice heavy-duty window box with added accessories and deco.  A non-exclusive release of the vehicle is due out in about two weeks.

This new version of Luke should be similar to the next figure - but this one has more accessories.  The figure's clothing has a different cut and a different texture.  Depending on how you pose it, I'd argue this is the superior version.  The plastic is a bit more saturated, reminding me more of the original Kenner action figure - sort of.  The shoes and boots are lighter, as are the pants.  His skin tone is a little less pale, and hte head is completely different.  Now Luke has a less translucent face, wilder, darker brown hair and painted lips that I can't say are perfect, but are better than the previous release.  The portrait is a little bit better, but it seems getting Mark Hamill's hair and face just right may be a scientific impossibility.  Under the right lighting and at the right angles, this looks perfect - but otherwise, it's just pretty good.  Overall, it's better.

His gear includes everything from the previous Luke - Lightsaber, Macrobinoculars - and adds the hat and poncho.  I'm not 100% sure but I believe the poncho is exclusive to this particular convention edition - plus you could give it to Qui-Gon Jinn, if you really wanted to do so.   The figure's articulation is good, but the arm joints may pop off if you're not careful.  They pop easily back in to place, and that's what matters.

The Landspeeder itself is impressive, but gets one tiny detail annoyingly wrong.  As you know, R2-D2 could be mounted to many of the previous Landspeeder toys, as that's how he was transported in the movies.  The instructions show a hole to connect him, but it's in a different place on the final toy and doesn't quite work.   Maybe the non-exclusive edition will fix this.  Everything else is a blast.  Pop off the windshield to pose Luke's hands on the controls.  Two storage bays and an area behind the seats allow for storage of accessories.  A clear plastic piece acts as a stand and something to give it the illusion of hovering, which is a surprisingly good alternative to the spring-loaded wheels we've been given over the years.  It sports a clip for the rifle and an opening hood, complete with an engine with a spinning motor piece.   The spinning element is exclusive to this edition, and probably shouldn't be a selling point if you just want a Landspeeder.

I like this figure a lot - the added gear and vehicle make it great.  As I believe I read the regular edition would be $60, it's probably not worth the premium pricing unless you're a completist, and I would probably say that about most 6-inch convention exclusives as of late.  (Bless you, Hasbro, for not making new characters for the events.)  It's big and impressive, in a nice box with a good heft to it.  You can also display the vehicle in the box after defiling it - I appreciate that.  Get it if you're so inclined, it's pretty good!

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Toy Shop at San Diego Comic-Con. 

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,396: August 16, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,395: Rey (Jedi Training, The Black Series)

REY Jedi Training / SDCC Debut
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure 2-Pack
Item No.:   No. C2120
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber with removable blade, blaster, staff, Luke figure with cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $54.00
Availability: July 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: At long last, Rey has found Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi Master in the galaxy.  Hoping to find a hero of legend, she must unlearn what she has learned as Skywalker challenges her expectations. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  The big surprise of The Force Awakens may have been from its misleading marketing, distracting fans from the fact that Rey seems to be our new Jedi hero.  The figure included BB-8 in her 6-inch debut and enjoyed subsequent variations in later releases, like a snow base and a lightsaber at Kmart and a bonus lightsaber everywhere fine toys were sold.  This is her first new change of costume at this scale, reminding me a bit of the Princess Leia Jedi Knight outfit from one of the Infinities stories.  It's white, with grey and a tiny hint of purple.  It works.  It's good.  There are no cloth elements on this figure, but you do get a holster for her blaster and a removable blade for her lightsaber - sans hook,  natch.

This is a nice figure.   I easily got her posed with the staff slung over her back, pistol in the holster, both hands on the lightsaber, and balanced with zero fuss.  She stands well and it was easy to find her center of gravity.  The figure has no new points of articulation, but she's great - the rocker ankles, bend-and-swivel wrists, and perfectly cut robes allow you to get the most out of this 6-inch scale action figure without a fight.  This is rare - usually the joints have a little wobble and I spend time trying to get them to stand up properly.  Not so here!  Hasbro designed this one pretty much perfectly, and that's tough to do well.

The sculpting is on par, although the textures are a little less pronounced thanks to the choice of the grey used to paint her arms and legs.  The darker purpley-tinged grey on her robes brings out all the folds and detail, even in a dark room though.   Hasbro gave her glossy eyes and lips, with the various brows and highlights painted on straight - they did a good job with the deco.  The boots are nice, and her hair is held down and out of the way for more dynamic poses.   I feel hyperbolic saying "this is the best Rey Hasbro has ever done" but it's true.  It is.   I defy them to do a better one.  (And by that, I mean I hope that they do, soon.)  She has no problems looking determined, holding her accessories, or generally giving me no idea what the movie is about.

If this figure is available near you at a good price, or online, get it.  Don't wait - get it.  If you didn't get the last Rey, this one is better (plus or minus BB-8) with superior paint, a better range of movement, and overall similar articulation.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Toy Shop at San Diego Comic-Con.    The figure's date stamp indicates it was manufactured in April 2017, which means Hasbro has factories that are better at keeping a secret now.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,395: August 14, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,394: Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master, The Black Series)

LUKE SKYWALKER Jedi Master / SDCC Debut
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure 2-Pack
Item No.:   No. C2120
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cloth cloak, Rey figure with accessories
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $54.00
Availability: July 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: After tragedy destroyed his attempt to rebuild the Jedi Knights, Luke Skywalker vanished from the galaxy.  Now, the resistance needs his help to thwart the efforts of the evil First Order. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  If there's one figure fans were made didn't make The Force Awakens' launch window it's Luke Skywalker.  When people asked "Where's Rey?" the answer was usually "Selling slowly until the movie hit theaters," whereas Luke's presence in the movie and the toyline wasn't questioned all that much.  General Leia didn't make the cut, and Han Solo took a while - but Chewbacca was out on day one.  Why?  This sort of thing bothers me, especially since it'd be so, so, so much easier to sell Luke, Han, and Leia over Finn, Rey, and Poe.  Back then.  Now?  I'd say it's a toss-up, mostly.

We're expecting Luke in the main line in about a month, so you should be able to get him in new packaging.  And he's great.   There's no lightsaber, but you get a cloth cape that hangs fairly well and is closer to what would look like a Return of the Jedi prop than something from the prequels.   The cape is light and thin, and hangs fairly well.  It's better than much of what we've seen in the past, but there's always room for improvement.  The figure itself is a lot like an Obi-Wan Kenobi.  The long robes block some leg movement, but not to the extent where the generous leg articulation becomes worthless.  He has double-jointed knees, rocker ankles, swivel thighs, and other bits that just aren't necessary given what the figure is right now.  If he has a big action scene, I would hope they redo him with cloth bits and a lightsaber.  The head sculpt is good with decent deco, but mine has some clear glue melting down from under his hair.   Arm articulation is par for the course, with bend-and-swivel wrists, elbows, and shoulders.

It's Luke! That's all you need to know.  Do you want an old man Luke figure? This is one.  I don't know if there will be other variations of it, but as it is, it's not bad.  I like it enough to have got one at Comic-Con, and it's my hope the regular retail release is unchanged or only slightly different.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Toy Shop at San Diego Comic-Con.    The figure's date stamp indicates it was manufactured in April 2017, which means Hasbro has factories that are better at keeping a secret now.  Luke's belt has a hook for a lightsaber, but the figure itself doesn't have one - perhaps Lucasfilm and Disney are keeping this secret for the main release, or an accessory with a future figure so we can arm Luke at that time?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,394: August 9, 2017