Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) (Ahch-To Island) - TBS [P3] - Six Inch Figures (Exclusive)

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.

Meh. We know that sounds a little disinterested, but that’s exactly how we feel about the TARGET exclusive Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) (Ahch-To Island). If you think about it, collectors went from zero to sixty almost overnight. After almost two complete years after Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released in theaters, collectors had not ONE Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) action figure. Hasbro promised that a version was coming in each of their three formats (a rumor JTA broke around Toy Fair 2016), and it was true, but it took just too dang long that many collectors lost interest in the waiting. What’s more, Hasbro overcompensated by releasing so many versions of this character in the action figure line, and none of them can be hailed as definitive. Just like Rey and Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) is seeing one repetitive release after another with Hasbro changing things here and there. But now the repetition has turned in to apathy, and we don’t think Hasbro has any idea what the wait has killed in collectors. The TARGET exclusive Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) (Ahch-To Island) is more of the same. The figure looks alright, but it’s not a homerun hit. The addition of an interchangeable die-cast metal hand and environmental display base are supposed to warrant a $10 price hike, but we’re not so sure that collectors’ expectations will be met here. It would be nice if we’re wrong, but only time will tell if this figure becomes a hit with The Black Series 6” collecting audience, or if we’ll be seeing hordes of this exclusive on an end cap at our local TARGET store after the Christmas season has ended.

With some dramatic paint operations differences (most notably around the eyes), Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) has been repainted, retooled and has been given all-new soft-goods clothing parts which allow him a wider range of movement. The fabrics are beautifully woven, but they’re not perfect. Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) (Ahch-To Island) looks a little strange because of how his belt was approached. The robe parts are cut out, yet the strap sections remain. Then you see the soft-goods through the cutouts. It’s a strange approach, but for better or worse it works. The molded lower skirt is now gone, and you will find that the removable of it has eliminated the rigidness that made this figure difficult to position. Unlike Rey (Jedi Training) (Crait), we won’t go so far to say that Luke looks zombie-like, but he has some weirdness going on with his eyes which varies from figure to figure we have encountered already. Maybe this is part of The Last Jedi plot, or maybe it is just a bad paint job. Either way, this is what we have been handed. It will be curious to see who interprets this approach as a job well done by Hasbro. We’re on the fence about it. We still feel strongly that Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) (Ahch-To Island) looks like a cross between Charlton Heston playing Moses in The Ten Commandments and Gandalf the Grey from Lord of the Rings. There is even something “John Goodman” about him as well as “Jeff Bridges” about him. Luke has a strange hybrid of multiple likenesses going on here. The sculpt is decent. He comes with an interchangeable die-cast metal cybernetic right hand. Sadly, Hasbro didn’t give us an alternate pose with the die-cast metal hand. It is a carbon copy of the plastic molded one.

We truly appreciate the soft-goods outer robe once again. It has been woven into a luxurious fabric and appears to be made of high-quality material. It has a wonderful drape, and it seems like its texture would feel similar to the material used for the real prop in the film. Now that the molded lower robes are gone, you can attain some impressive action poses while the outer robe is worn. Those former posing inabilities we had on former versions have disappeared with this release. Perhaps the true selling point of Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) (Ahch-To Island) is the environmental display base of Ahch-To island. It’s simple. It’s mossy. It’s grassy. And it’s rocky. But it perfectly complements the figure, and in all honesty, Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) looks incredible displayed upon it. We appreciate these environmental backdrops. But we disagree that their inclusions warrant such a significant price hike. Hasbro managed to provide the same types of extras in the Kmart exclusives for only $5 more. But now the upcharge is at least $10, if not more. That is not a fair price increase in our estimation. Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) (Ahch-To Island) retails for $29.99. It shouldn’t retail for more than $24.99 in our opinion. And this should have been the way Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) came into the 6” line. Also, where is his lightsaber? There are many questions, opinions, and comments when it comes to this character. No one can criticize Hasbro for ensuring they got plenty of Sequel Trilogy Luke Skywalker figures out ton the market, but the new directions they’re taking this figure is just forcing collectors to lose interest. Hopefully the new film will regenerate some of the loss.