LUKE SKYWALKER Jedi Knight30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87300
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3025
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, bone, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi
Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.
Bio: Luke's plan to rescue Han from Jabba's palace seems doomed when the young Jedi Knight is thrown unarmed into the rancor pit. But even without his lightsaber, the resourceful Jedi manages to defeat the massive beast by using every item at his disposal, including the bones of its previous victims. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)
Commentary: Hasbro loves Luke Skywalker, and retailers do too. Even though the figures aren't all that great, they're consistent sellers. In a way it's weird, because on paper this particular figure is really good. After all, Hasbro's talented engineers managed to work in a great way to store a lightsaber on his belt, added 14 points of articulation, and gave him that blast-damaged hand specific to the Sail Barge sequence. It should be really great, but sometimes the sum of the parts ain't so great.
Let's start with the head. Luke's skin is dark, as is his hair, and the likeness isn't really there. The hair seems acceptable, but the total face sculpt isn't obviously Luke Skywalker. The soft goods for his tunic, frankly, suck. Hasbro's designers commented that the cloth piece is authentic to the film, but photo reference and numerous action figures sold from 1983 to 2006 say otherwise. Rather than being a proper vest, it's more a towel that goes over the back of his neck and tucks neatly into his belt. I suppose I could be in the wrong, but that would mean every Jedi Luke ever produced by Sideshow, Kenner or Hasbro, is also wrong. I find that difficult to believe. Luke's lightsaber is based on a POTF2-era design, meaning it really doesn't fit in well with the rest of the line in 2007. The lightsaber hilt, however, does fit into Luke's belt quite nicely-- so I can give Hasbro big points for doing a great job there. Seeing a soft goods Jedi cloak would have been a nice touch, but even that wouldn't make this figure a great one. It's just OK-- it's an acceptable toy who can sit or stand or be posed to look neat, but the 2008 Jedi Luke from Hasbro was a big improvement. As such, you can skip this one if you're short on cash.
Collector's Notes: Can't get enough Luke? He's coming back as a pack-in with a Rancor as an upcoming exclusive. It's unknown if Hasbro will attempt to improve the deco or vest in the process.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 821: August 6, 2008
2 comments:
Adam, I know you have long given this figure a serious badmouthing, but I thought he was one of the better Lukes. His articulation is excellent and I like the mean-a$$ look on his face. The vest is a bit cheesy, and I'm *never* a fan of 'mechano-hand' Luke, at least showing it on the figure. But I think this figure deserves more credit; he's a Luke with a lot of personality, which Luke figs don't always have.
The skin color, facial expression, and flat-out incorrect vest are kinda hard to excuse after the fairly good 2004 release. I'm not one to give figures which act as a step backward a pass.
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