Luke Skywalker - TBSA - Six Inch Figures

Luke Skywalker uses the power of the Force and his piloting skills to destroy the Death Star.

It’s rather remarkable that one of the first four The Black Series 6” figure Hasbro ever released is once again getting released to meet collector demand. Luke Skywalker looks better than ever now, thanks to enhanced “photorealistic” paint operations, and this might be as good as he’s going to look for the foreseeable future. It’s difficult to process that we are over a half a decade out from the debut of The Black Series 6” line. Hasbro made the collecting community wait a long time to re-release this figure to the mainstream market again. Some of the original figures in the line need to get out again to help meet demand. What’s more, the “photorealistic” technology makes them look incredibly better than their original releases. Remember when Entertainment Weekly revealed Luke Skywalker (#01) right before NY Toy Fair in 2013? And when he was released later in the year do you remember when he and his wave mates clogged the shelves? The Star Wars collecting world wasn’t immediately ready for the 6” line, but over time it has gained increasing momentum and now it’s bigger than it ever was. The line is now exceeding Hasbro’s expectations. For 2019, Hasbro created The Black Series Archive line. It’s a “greatest hits” assortment, for lack of a better description, and showcases some of the line’s best efforts, but revisited, so they look better than they did when they were released the first time. The packaging is very nice. Hasbro placed the figures on regular card backs this time. There are no more boxes, thankfully. And helping to meet demand brings forth a stronger engagement between Hasbro and the collector.

While Hasbro made improvements to the deco, it feels like this is an early attempt at “photorealistic” technology. It’s doesn’t feel like it looks as good as some as Hasbro’s other recent 6” figures. Your opinion may vary. It’s just the nature of this collecting beast that the figures in it are constantly evolving. But Luke Skywalker changed dramatically here and for the better. We thought at the time that 2013’s TBS [P1] Luke Skywalker (#01) figure came with a perfect paint job. But when compared to the Star Wars Celebration Orlando exclusive, and now The Black Series Archive figure, they pale in comparison (for us at least). It is evident that Hasbro ensured that during the production level that the applications were as clean as possible and that the textures would come through thanks to layered paint operations that were lacking previously. Luke Skywalker isn’t perfect, but he looks better than the previous versions. Between the updated facial applications and the final wash, it’s wonderful to see him looking this great, so many years after his first release, a sculpt that is over five years old now. Luke Skywalker’s skin tone isn’t chalky and flat. It no longer has a sheen to it either. It simply looks terrific. The final figure gives Luke’s face a “life” to the sculpt that the first and second versions don’t have. Perhaps it isn’t perfect, but for us, it is markedly better. The details here are richly and cleanly applied. The flight suit is also more accurate to the on-screen prop. Hasbro adjusted its orange color to give us the best representation of Luke Skywalker possible.

Luke Skywalker, unequivocally, can attain any position you want to display him. Hasbro loaded the figure with ball-jointed articulation, and the “life-saving” rocker ankles (or double ball-jointed ankles if that makes more sense to you) are unbelievably functional and may work the hardest to give Luke Skywalker the free range of motion he rightfully deserves. These are premium points of articulation and do wonders for the action figure. This figure set the stage for The Black Series 6” line in 2013, and it holds up just as well in 2019. From a sculpting perspective, we don’t think that Hasbro could have done much better for Luke Skywalker. Again, we accept he’s not perfect, but this figure looks awesome. The straps hanging around his legs and the hose coming from his chest box look phenomenal. By the way, Hasbro also revised the strap color too. Also, the details like the maps on his left upper arm look fantastic. We suppose third time is the charm. And remember when TBS6 figures came with a generous amount of accessories? Yeah, it’s wonderful to see that again too. He comes with his unique X-wing pilot helmet. It fits perfectly over his head and rests exactly as his nose, and it too has received some paint operation updates. You can turn his head multiple ways, and the helmet looks great no matter at what angle you choose. He also comes with a blaster pistol. It fits very nicely in his right hand. His left hand has been molded in a way so that he can hold his lightsaber. And Hasbro designed the lightsaber to come apart so that you can hang the hilt on his belt by itself. Lengthwise it’s perfect, but its thickness is still too think. With very few nitpicks, Luke Skywalker is wonderful to see again!