Force Friday II – Jedi Master Luke Skywalker figure review
I had a number of gripes with The Force Awakens, but one of the biggest was the lack of Luke Skywalker. Sure, he appeared briefly, but that cameo hardly counts. With The Last Jedi, it seems like Luke is going to have a more expanded role. Based on the latest picture however, there’s definitely a lot of speculation as to how that plays out. For Force Friday II, I didn’t have a must purchase list, but when I found a Jedi Master Luke still available, I knew at least one purchase was a lock.
Packaging: I really like the front package. The white and red combination is a fresh color scheme for Hasbro and it’s very eye catching. It’s a great contrast from the black and red dominating most of the action figure aisle. There’s a nice portrait of Luke and a not so subtle insert showcasing the Force Link feature.
Instead of a brief bio explaining Luke’s role in the film, we get more detailed instructions on how to use the new Force Link gimmick. But it’s a little weird to hype something you need to buy something else to use. I’ll cut Hasbro some slack here and assume they had to avoid spoilers and such a generic bio wasn’t worth it. Still, there’s a lot of wasted space on the package back though.
Likeness: It’s ironic how Hasbro still seems to struggle getting Luke’s Original Trilogy likeness down yet nails it right away with Jedi Master Luke. From the cheekbones and slightly sunken in eyes, this is a great 3.75 inch representation of the Original Trilogy’s main hero. The hair looks pretty good despite the lack of stray strands and the expression looks nice and thoughtful.
Luke’s robes and tunics look pretty good with the exception of the hip joint break, which disrupts the flowing visual. The legs are molded into the robes so they’re one piece. Luke’s belt has a clasp for a lightsaber and even though we haven’t seen one yet, it would have been cool to have one for old time’s sake.
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Scale: I haven’t grabbed a 3.75 figure since Revenge of the Sith so I’m just going to have to assume Jedi Luke is scale appropriate. From the very unscientific package to package view, Luke looks to be about the same height as Finn.
Paint: Luke’s Jedi Master outfit is pretty simple and even more streamlined than Obi-Wan Kenobi. That doesn’t lend itself to a very exciting paint job. The outer robe is beige with the tunic a light brown and the main outfit white.
That’s a dull costume and not nearly as eye catching as the Bespin attire or Luke’s Return of the Jedi look. Hasbro executed well on all of this with clean line work and no paint runs on the hair and beard. Even the silver belt buckle is sharp.
Articulation: I’d forgotten the articulation of the 3.75 line. It’s pretty basic and definitely not for those seeking more dynamic poses. Based on the pictures that’s fine for Jedi Master Luke.
Jedi Master Luke has:
- neck
- shoulders
- hip
The articulation is great for dioramas or desks, but you’d be better off grabbing the Black Series version for better movement.
Accessories: Jedi Master Luke has one accessory — his Jedi robe. This fits more like a shell around his shoulders. It can slide back enough to move the arms out and keep it on to a degree. I figure like most folks I was a little disappointed at the lack of a raised hood option.
Worth it? Jedi Master Luke clocked in at $8. That’s not a terrible price, but the lack of accessories hurts him compared to other figures.
Rating: 7 out of 10
The leg design is a little weird, but otherwise this is a strong 3.75 inch version of Luke.
Where to get it? With Force Friday II underway, there’s not a lack of options to find him. Target, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us are probably the best and less frustrating options today. If you want a bundle, go the Entertainment Earth or Amazon.com route.
Order Star Wars The Black Series 6-Inch Action Figure Wave 12 Case from Entertainment Earth!
