Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) - TVC - Basic (VC169)

Celebrate the legacy of Star Wars, the action-and-adventure-packed space saga from a galaxy far, far away, with this collection of premium, highly-detailed 3.75-inch scale figures and vehicles. (Each sold sepaartely. Subject to availability.)

In 2019, Hasbro gave collectors one of the greatest gifts: the Luke Skywalker Jedi Destiny Set (Stormtrooper Disguise/X-Wing Pilot/Jedi Knight) Special Action Figure Set. Many collectors couldn’t believe that Hasbro would expend three slots on the main character of Star Wars that Disney decidedly threw out with the bathwater. The three figures included were the best representations of Luke Skywalker offered to collectors. But the moment Hasbro announced the Special Action Figure Set, collectors wanted to know when the three Luke Skywalker action figures would be individually carded. It took a short while before formally announced, but all three have a home in The Vintage Collection basic figure line, and Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) is one of them. This figure is a notable repaint of the figure from 2019’s TVC Luke Skywalker Jedi Destiny Set (Stormtrooper Disguise/X-Wing Pilot/Jedi Knight) Special Action Figure Set. Hasbro redid the Photo Real for a more authentic likeness to actor Mark Hamill. We want to say right at the start that we wish Hasbro kept the card art faithful to the 1985 POTF Luke Skywalker (Imperial Stormtrooper Outfit) release, complete with collectors’ coin. Not different than 2011’s TVC General Lando Calrissian (VC47) figure, Hasbro opted to keep things uncomplicated and placed it on a STAR WARS card back instead. We suppose we should consider it a running change of the original figure. Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) looks terrific on a STAR WARS card, and we’re happy to see this iteration of Luke Skywalker presented in this manner. However, we do wish that Hasbro used the full subtitle of “Imperial Stormtrooper Outfit” or, at the very least, “Stormtrooper Disguise” instead.

We’re all already intimately familiar with Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper). Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) hasn’t looked better. The figure is a retool and repaint of 2019’s TVC Han Solo (Stormtrooper) (VC143) figure. Hasbro added an all-new portrait and a new belt with a permanent commlink, grappling hook, and functioning holster attached. We’re especially proud of Hasbro for the holster. The barrel of the gun slides down into it, and it also hangs close to the body. The newly added feature to Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) dramatically sets the figure apart from the Han Solo (Stormtrooper) (VC143) figure. The updates are holding up well. Still, because they utilize almost all of the same tooling, Han and Luke don’t vary in height, which sadly is a slight disappointment. We haven’t seen a difference in their height outside of the 6” line, so perhaps this is a non-issue altogether. We imagine many collectors would like to see Hasbro adjust their height differences at some point in the line, but we don’t anticipate them revisiting these two characters ever again in the basic figure line. Hasbro cast Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) in a brilliant and crisp white plastic. We’ve also noticed that the figure’s joints within the figure’s articulation system are tight and hold their positions correctly and uncompromisingly. Also, we loved the helmet Hasbro used for Han Solo (Stormtrooper), and it’s lovely to see them use the same one for Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper). It looks as good on Luke Skywalker as it does for Han Solo. Whether you have Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) standing at attention or running through the Death Star’s halls, the figure easily steals the definitive status from all previous versions of this character.

From the perfectly-fitted helmet to the included E-11 blaster, it’s refreshing to get a wonderful repack like Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) as a basic figure again. Surprisingly, Hasbro launched this figure as an exclusive, but we’re happy to know that it has mainstream availability now. Repacks are necessary for a healthy action figure line, so if this practice is required, we can’t think of a better example on how to do this than to re-release Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) singly. One of what Hasbro refers to as the original “Kenner 96,” Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) is a must in The Vintage Collection lineup. Hasbro promised that they’d make the classic Kenner figures a priority in the basic figure line recently, and they appear to be following through with that. With the recently released TVC Han Solo (Stormtrooper) (VC143) figure and Chewbacca (VC141), all we need now is for Hasbro to produce a definitive Princess Leia Organa action figure. It would have to be super-articulated and possess an ultimate status to have the four main heroes in the Death Star escape scenes. The Vintage Collection reboot has come far from its awful relaunch in 2018, but Hasbro still has further to go before it can slow down any momentum the line has. They have to be faithful by releasing main heroes, background aliens, and army builders. It’s the only way the line will survive. And they always have to keep the holy Original Trilogy an area of focus as well. There is nothing wrong with periodic characters from the Sequel trilogy, but the timeline closest to the Battle of Yavin will ensure success for the line. Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper) has an MSRP of $12.99 and is part of a fantastic wave of figures ranging from The Clone Wars to A New Hope.