Figure of the Day: Day 411: Luke Skywalker (Dagobah)

LUKE SKYWALKER Dagobah Training
Original Trilogy Collection Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84778
Number: n/a
Includes: Spare head, sparer arms, harness, display base (backpack sold with Yoda)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: July 2004
Appearances: Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Luke Skywalker, one of the heroes of the Rebel Alliance, goes to the planet Dagobah to learn how to be a Jedi Knight. He meets the wise and mysterious Yoda, who teaches Luke how to use the Force to fight the evil Empire. Luke leaves Yoda before his training is finished, because he learns that his friends are in danger and he must go to save them. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves. (He looks better in person, I swear.)

Commentary: Sometimes six points of articulation are just fine. Including a spare set of arms with Luke Skywalker lets the figure assume other poses without unsightly joints on his bare arms. This is something I'd love to see toy companies do more-- I can only assume that spare arms probably cost the same or less than additional articulation, so really, it makes good sense if you need a figure to do something very specific, like salute, or do the "Live Long and Prosper" or what have you. Luke is great-- he's a little sweaty, has a ton of sculpted detail, and his base can connect to other Dagobah bases and be extra awesome. If you want a gaggle of figures to play with on your desk, this quartet of Dagobah figures from 2004 is a fantastic setup that you really can't pass up. Just this year, Hasbro put out a Dagobah Battle Pack using some of the figures from this subset, but sadly this figure was not one of those included, nor were some of the parts needed for Yoda to ride on Luke's back. As such, you need to track down this figure-- it's one of Hasbro's finest and by not getting it, well, you're showing how bad your taste is. Go get it.

Collector's Notes: This figure was available in at least three unique package variants in the USA. First was in the OTC package standing upright. Second was the same packaging, but packaged doing a headstand with the alternate head and arms. Third was a post-OTC package (essentially the same as the first release, minus the OTC logo.) The third release and the second release are the tougher ones to get, and the headstand packaging is totally worth tracking down. I have personally not seen the post-OTC version doing a headstand outside of a mockup. This figure was part of a wave that featured Dagobah R2-D2, Yoda, and a spirit Obi-Wan that are all well worth buying.

Also, the Yoda figure (sold separately) includes the rest of the backpack and can ride along on Luke's back. Finally, this figure's mold was reused in 2006 to make a Dagobah Luke figure as part of a Toys "R" Us exclusive gift set, although it had a different head and yet another set of arms as well as some other changes.

Day 411: June 21, 2007