LUKE SKYWALKER Battle at the Sarlacc PitThe Legacy Collection Target Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87931 No. 87798
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Sarlacc Pit, Skiff, 4 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $62.99-$72.99
Availability: November 2008
Appearances: Return of the Jedi
Bio: Luke gives Jabba the Hutt one final wanring before he launches an escape using his powerful Jedi abilities. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)
Image: Adam's desk.
Commentary: I get a lot of people asking me what the worst figure ever made is. Well, it might be this Luke Skywalker. Some figures may have worse articulation, poorer accessories, or the inability to stand, but the deco on the head is so bad that nothing can compare. First, let's look at the skin-- Luke is so pale, he's basically translucent. The whites of his eyes blend right in to the plastic color, and a tiny blue dot and eyebrows so poorly painted on it's almost unreal make up the rest of the face. I can't fault the hair too much, but do I have to? This figure is based on the 2004 Jabba's Palace Luke Skywalker, a well-received figure which many (ok, I) feel that hasn't been matched in terms of the quality of this specific outfit. And here Hasbro reissues it so badly that it's probably the worst figure you can add to your collection. I've seen lots of knockoffs, bootlegs, and fan-pressed figures over the years and I assure you that none of them look quite their skin just may be able to glow in the dark. Luke here is special, plus he uses a pre-2001 style of lightsaber blade which ordinarily isn't a huge problem but it certainly doesn't help this release.
Sometimes it doesn't matter if a figure has a good sculpted costume, 14 points of articulation, or what may be a good likeness. Deco can make or break any toy, no matter the line, and this figure exists as the single greatest example that paint matters. The 12-inch collectors have, over the years, frequently repainted the 1990s Kenner head sculpts-- the ones we may not have loved-- and have proven that they are in fact good enough if you just apply the right coloring to them. Here, we have the finest example of Hasbro's factory phoning it in. If you've seen me rail on about how important paint and decoration can be, this is why-- this Luke figure has a good head sculpt, but you'd never know it if this was the only version of the mold you've ever bought. Some samples are better than others (I think mine may be unusually bad), but still-- good lord!
Collector's Notes: If you collect vehicles and playsets, it's entirely possible you will end up with this figure in your collection. It came with a Skiff and a Sarlacc Pit playset, and those things are generally worth your while. The figures that came with it... not so much. But hey, if you ever want to show your friends the worst Luke figure ever made, at least you know which one to get. The set still goes for more than $50, but it's not like you were going to buy it for the figures anyway.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 1,508: March 25, 2011
Pretty awful, but worse that hunchback attack Death Star 2 duel Luke from the first Saga line? There's no way you can paint that figure to make it look better.
ReplyDeletewell if that luke figure was painted as bad as this one then that would truly be the worst figure of all time.
ReplyDelete